* 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. [00:00:07] PLEASE RESIDE. [PRESENTATIONS] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE 60TH YEAR OF THE LUNAR REND DEVEAUX RENDEZVOUS RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. THIS IS, THIS IS CERTAINLY A, UM, A TREMENDOUS HONOR AND OF COURSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FRED FLICKER JURY IS JOINING WITH US, AND LET ME HAVE ALL OF THE GROUP COME UP. YEAH. ALL THIS GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, UH, 'CAUSE THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT. THAT'S THE IMPORTANT ONE, A VERY HISTORICAL MOMENT. AND, UH, AND I'M HONORED. THIS IS THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL IN HOUSTON. WHEREAS ON THE JULY 19TH, 2025, THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINS THE LUNA, UH, RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL OF NASA AND BAY AREA HOUSTON, AND CELEBRATING ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS INCLUDING A KICKOFF PARTY DINING, UH, NIGHT PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT, NON-DENOMINATIONAL SUNSET SERVICE, FASHION SHOW COORDINATION, BALL, AND MORE. AND WHEREAS TIED TO THE ORIGINS OF HOUSTON'S JOHNSON'S SPACE CENTER, THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL BEGAN IN 1965 AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED TO HONOR THE COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO SPACE EXPLORATION, WHILE BRINGING TOGETHER FAMILIES RELOCATING TO THE RAPIDLY GROWING CLEAR LAKE AREA. AND WHEREAS THE FIRST FESTIVAL HELD IN JUNE, 1966, PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SPACE PROGRAM'S HISTORIC 1965, RENDEZVOUS OF GEMINI SIX AND GEMINI SEVEN. AND WHEREAS SINCE THEN, THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL HAS UNITED GENERATIONS OF BAY AREA HOUSTON RESIDENTS THROUGH FARM FELLOWSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY, BECOMING ONE OF THE OLDEST LARGEST CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN THE NASA AND BAY AREA HOUSTON REGION. AND WHEREAS PROCEEDS FROM THE FESTIVAL SUPPORT MAJOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOCAL GRADUATING SENIORS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT BAY AREA HOUSTON, IN THE PAST 15 YEARS ALONE, THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL HAVE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $2 MILLION MAYOR IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND CHARITABLE SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED COUNTLESS HOURS TO THE FESTIVAL'S SUCCESS, ITS ADVISORY BOARD COMPOSED OF PAST CHAIRMAN OVERSEAS THE EVENT EVENT ANNUALLY, WHILE ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDE RESPECTED COMMUNITY LEADERS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE LUNA RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL FOR ITS LONGSTANDING DEDICATION TO ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NASA AND BAY AREA HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR ITS SUCCESSFUL AND MEMORIAL 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. I WAS JUST STAND HERE LISTENING TO YOU THINKING HOW MANY OF US CAN REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE DOING IN 1965, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, UH, IN, AND I GUESS THAT PROBABLY DON'T GO BACK THAT FAR , BUT IT WAS, IT WAS SOME GREAT TIMES AND REALLY PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP. AND SO IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE PAUSE YEAH. AND SEE WHAT THE PROUD CLEAR LAKE COMMUNITY AS IS PRESENTED TO ALL OF US ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, THANK Y'ALL. YOUR CHARITABLE WORK AND, UH, HOSPITALITY AND REALLY JUST FUN. YES. FOR BEING DOWN THERE IN CAL SPRING, INGER, YOU DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND YOU'VE GOT A CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT'S A LONG WAYS FROM CLEAR LAKE TO KINGWOOD, BUT THEY'RE BOTH PROUD COMMUNITIES AND, UH, WE'RE SO HONORED TO BE, UH, IN THEIR PRESENCE TODAY. SO, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 19TH, 2025 IS LEONARD RVO FESTIVAL DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WOW. MILLER HERE. MAYOR, REAL QUICK, [00:05:01] JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK. UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS IS CHIEF OF STAFF. IT'S ON THE BOARD THERE. MM-HMM . KIBBY CARAWAY, WHO HAS BEEN FRIENDS WITH, UH, MY FAMILY FOR PROBABLY 40 YEARS NOW. UH, SO DO GREAT WORK AND JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S 'CAUSE I'M THE OLDEST SERVING PURPOSE IN LUNAR RENDEZVOUS THAT'S PRESENT HERE TODAY. I GET THE HONOR OF SAYING A FEW REMARKS AND I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR, UM, OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM, OUR VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND ALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL. AND YOU, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND YOU COUNCIL MEMBER F FLICKINGER. UM, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION TO OUR AREA. I'M VERY HAPPY AND PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE NO PAID STAFF. EVERY PENNY THAT WE RAISE, UM, GOES TO ORGANIZATIONS. ONLY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE WE HIRED AN HOURLY PERSON, UH, DURING THE SUMMER. AND WE HAVE RAISED, WE WERE LOOKING AT IT, OUR, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR AND I WERE LOOKING AT IT. IT'S, IT'S CLOSE TO ALMOST 3 MILLION NOW OVER THE 60 YEARS THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY RAISED TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO THE ARTS. UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT AND, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE AND HOPEFULLY I KNOW WE SEE, I KNOW YOU WERE JUST AT OUR ROTARY MEETING DOWN THERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. SORRY I MISSED THAT ONE. AND I KNOW YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN COME DOWN THERE QUITE A BIT, AND I KNOW WE'VE SEEN YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES TOO, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL ALL MAKE IT YOUR HOME. UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO HERE AND CITY COUNCIL AND LEADING THIS CITY TO THE GREAT THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MEMORIAL HERMAN HONORING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEMORIAL HERMAN TMC. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, I AM SO HONORED, UH, TO BE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL HERMAN TMCS 100TH [00:10:01] ANNIVERSARY. UH, DR. DAVID CALENDAR, WHO IS THE CEO, UM, AS WELL AS EMILY WEBER, WHO IS THE CEO OF CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HERMAN, UH, ARE WITH ME. BUT WE HAVE TWO BUSLOADS OF MEMORIAL HERMAN EMPLOYEES WITH US. SO I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO STAND WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT Y'ALL. SO WHAT, WHAT STARTED AS A SINGLE HOSPITAL IN 1925 HAS GROWN INTO A CORNERSTONE OF HOUSTON'S HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE WE KNOW TODAY, AND IT'S HARD TO EVEN TRY TO OVERSTATE 'CAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T. THE IMPACT THAT MEMORIAL HERMAN TMC HAS HAD ON OUR CITY SINCE ITS FOUNDING A CENTURY AGO, LITERALLY THE FIRST BUILDING IN TMC, UH, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF FIRSTS AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL I WANNA SAY THE EMPLOYEES OF MEMORIAL HERMANN DO. FROM OUR DOCTORS TO OUR NURSES, ALL THE WAY TO JANITORIAL STAFF, YOU NAME IT. EVERYTHING THESE FOLKS HAVE GONE THROUGH, I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE. SO I THINK BACK TO THE PANDEMIC, I THINK BACK TO A LOT OF THE ANTI-SCIENCE, UH, RHETORIC THAT WE ARE HAVING TO PUSH BACK FROM, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT FUNDING CUTS NOW. AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMES THEIR WAY, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SAVE LIVES. THEY CONTINUE TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THAT INCLUDES HEALTH-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO END GUN VIOLENCE TEAR, AS WELL AS OF COURSE, CHILDREN. MEMORIAL HERMANN AND THEIR DEDICATION, AS I SAID, SAVES LIVES AND HELP MAKES OUR CITY THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN THIS CHAMBER THAT HAS NOT BENEFITED FROM MEMORIAL HERMAN'S EFFORTS. AND WITH THAT, I'LL PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACKNOWLEDGES THE EMPLOYEES OF MEMORIAL HERMAN TMC, INCLUDING CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HERMAN HOSPITAL, AND MEMORIAL HERMAN ROCKETS ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL FOR SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON FOR A CENTURY. IN 1925, HERMAN HOSPITAL OPENED IN THE WORLD RENOWNED TMC, AND IN 1943, IT BECAME THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN TEXAS TO RECEIVE PENICILLIN. IN 1976, HERMAN LIFE FLIGHT NOW MEMORIAL HERMAN LIFE FLIGHT WAS ESTABLISHED AS THE FIRST AIR MEDICAL TRANSPORT SERVICE IN TEXAS. AND THE SECOND IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 1985, CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HERMAN HOSPITAL OPENED ITS DOORS. AND IN 1997, THE MERGER OF MEMORIAL AND HERMAN COMBINED THE RESOURCES OF TWO PROMINENT INSTITUTIONS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT EXPANDED CARE OPTIONS FOR HOUSTONIANS AS A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER, ONLY ONE OF ONLY TWO IN GREATER HOUSTON, THEY CURRENTLY PROVIDE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CARE TO MORE THAN 40,000 PATIENTS EACH YEAR AS THE PRIMARY TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR UT HEALTH. COMB HORNS, MEMORIAL HERMANN, TMC PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL CARE IN GENERAL SURGERY, HEART NEUROSCIENCE, ONCOLOGY, ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION, ORTHOPEDICS, PEDIATRICS, I'M OUT OF BREATH, PRIMARY CARE, TRAUMA, AND WOMEN'S HEALTH. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CONGRATULATES MEMORIAL HERMANN, TMC, AS IT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF SERVICE AND COMMENCE ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PATIENTS AND TO THE GREAT METROPOLIS OF HOUSTON, GROUNDED IN A VISION OF CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KAMAN. YOU'RE SO SMART TO BRING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE OUR FRIENDS AT MEMORIAL HERMAN IN THE MED CENTER. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, COLLEAGUES SEEN A PICTURE OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT IN THE MED CENTER WAS OPEN. YOU NEED TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT WAS WAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY, . AND OVER THE LAST A HUNDRED YEARS, IT HAS, AS YOU CORRECTLY STATED, IMPACTED EVERY ONE OF US. CERTAINLY HOUSTONIANS, WE ALL KNOW, AND ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE OTHER, UH, CARETAKERS. IF YOU'RE SICK, YOU WANT TO GO TO MEMORIAL HERMANN. IF YOU'RE IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU DARN WELL WANT TO GO TO MEMORIAL HERMANN IN THE MED CENTER. SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR REAL ASSETS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED JULY 8TH, 2025, IS MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I'LL, I'LL INVITE DR. CALENDAR TO COME SPEAK FIRST. I DO ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE MANY OF US ON COUNCIL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE AMAZING GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM, WHETHER IT'S FREDDY, I BELIEVE IT'S [00:15:01] BEN, EVERYONE ON THE TEAM. SO WE, WE WANNA GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT AS WELL. BUT DR. CALENDAR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, OFFICIALS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL RECOGNITION. AND MR. HERMAN ESTABLISHED HERMAN HOSPITAL WITH A MARVELOUS BEQUEST, WITH A PROVISO THAT THE HOSPITAL BE ESTABLISHED TO SERVE ALL WHO LIVE IN HOUSTON. REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, OUR ABILITY TO PAY THAT ESTABLISHED A MARVELOUS LEGACY OF SERVICE, WHICH WE HAVE WORKED TO BUILD ON OVER THOSE 100 YEARS. WE INTEND FOR THAT TO BE THE CASE. WELL INTO THE FUTURE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STAFF MEMBERS, PHYSICIANS, NURSES, OTHER PROFESSIONALS HAVE HELPED US DO THAT. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE. AND AGAIN, IT'S OUR INTENTION TO HONOR THAT AS LONG AS WE CAN. WE ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ALL OF YOU, ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITY DEPARTMENT, HEADS EVERY LEADER WHO REPRESENTS THE CITY. BECAUSE WITHOUT YOUR HELP, WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THAT MISSION OF IMPROVING HEALTH FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN HOUSTON AND ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. YES. AND I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE A HUNDRED YEARS WITH MEMORIAL HERMAN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. WE OPENED OUR DOORS ON JULY 1ST, 1925, AND THEN HAVE CONTINUED TO SERVE THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY WITH GEORGE, GEORGE HERMAN BEING OUR FOUNDER AND REALLY LIVING OUT HIS LEGACY TO CARE FOR ALL. WE PARTNER IN OUR STRONG PARTNERS WITH UT HEALTH, MCGOVERN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY PHYSICIAN, EVERY NURSE, EVERY THERAPIST, EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT HAS MADE IT THE EXTRAORDINARY HOSPITAL THAT IT IS TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR RECOGNIZING US, AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE PAST, BUT ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q. MAYOR. MAYOR. MAYOR. WE HAVE A FEW MAYOR, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND MAYOR FOR PRESENTING MEMORIAL HERMAN. I HAVE A SUITE AFFINITY FOR MEMORIAL HERMAN HOSPITAL. MY FIRST REAL JOB WAS AT MEMORIAL HERMAN MEMORIAL CITY. UM, MY MOTHER, UM, WORKED IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND LIED ON MY APPLICATION AND SAID, DON'T TELL THOSE PEOPLE, YOU'RE 14 YEARS OLD. SO I WAS WORKING AND MAKING GOOD MONEY. I WAS THE PBX OPERATOR. AND, UH, THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED MY MASTER COMMUNICATION SKILLS, . AND, UH, I WORKED FROM 2:00 PM TO 11:00 PM AND I DID SOME OVERNIGHTS. SO, AND, UM, I HAD A DEEP CONNECTION AND A FRONT ROW SEAT TO, UH, EMERGENCY CARE THAT HAD TO HAPPEN DURING THAT TIME. ALL TYPES OF PROTOCOLS. THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT CODE BLUE AND CODE PINK AND ALL OF THE THINGS IT TAKES TO RUN A HOSPITAL. UM, MEMORIAL HERMAN HAS ALSO EMPLOYED TWO OF MY AUNTS THROUGH RETIREMENT. SO MANY OF US HAVE A, A CONNECTION THERE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN COMMUNITY ALL THROUGHOUT. AND WHEN I SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR A LEAF, ISDI WITNESSED THAT PARTNERSHIP EXPAND WHEN MEMORIAL HERMAN AND WENT INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH A LEAF ISD. SO ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE TMC, UH, LOCATION, AND WHEN I WORKED AT THE UT MEDICAL, UH, SCHOOL, I WAS FRONT ROW RIGHT NEXT DOOR. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY, WHAT YOU DO FOR PATIENTS, WHAT YOU DO IN COMMUNITY. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING THE FORWARD TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, 100 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE AT MEMORIAL HERMAN TMC. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE AND MADE THEIR WAY TO CITY HALL TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU. UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ALONGSIDE OF YOU. UM, WE'LL ALWAYS MAKE HOUSTON THE NUMBER ONE MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK OF MEMORIAL HERMANN. CONGRATULATIONS. WELCOME. IN THE [00:23:52] NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION EXCUSE. THANK YOU, COLLEEN. AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE GRADIENT GROUP OF HOUSTON WHO WON THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES 2025 GOLD MEDAL AND EMINENT CONCEPTOR AWARD FOR LYNN WYATT SQUARE. MANY OF YOU WERE THERE WHEN WE OPENED LYNN WYATT SQUARE AND WHAT A TREASURE FOR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND, AND ALSO KIND OF APPARENTLY AN ENGINEERING FEAT FOR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. SO LET ME GET RIGHT TO IT. WHEREAS THE BEAUTIFUL LYNN WYATT SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON IS THE RESULT OF A BOLD RE-IMAGINING OF A FULL CITY BLOCK IN THE THEATER DISTRICT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON FIRST AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE GRADIENT GROUP TRANSFORMED THE 1.5 ACRE URBAN PLAZA, BUILT ATOP OF FOUR STORY UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE INTO A DYNAMIC PUBLIC SPACE FOR FARMERS' MARKETS, FOOD TRUCKS, CONCERTS, TRANSIT USERS, AND CASUAL VISITORS ALIKE. AND WHEREAS THE GRADIENT GROUP NAVIGATED COMPLEX PERMITTING, COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ON ADJACENT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AND SECURED CRITICAL RIGHT OF WAY ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENTS TO OVERCOME A 12 FOOT ELEVATION CHANGE ACROSS THE SITE AND INTEGRATE [00:25:01] THREE DISTINCT DISTINCT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT AND UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE WORK NETWORK, AND THE EXISTING GARAGE LID. THAT'S SOME SEXY STUFF, MAN . WHEREAS AS A RESULT OF ITS HARD WORK AND CREATIVITY, THE GRADIENT GROUP RECEIVED THE SPECIAL PROJECTS GOLD MEDAL AWARD FOR ITS CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN OF LYNN WYATT SQUARE AT THE 2025 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS HOSTED BY THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF TEXAS, JUDGED BY EXPERTS FROM GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA, AND INDUSTRY. THE ANNUAL AWARDS HONOR, INNOVATIVE, HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS THAT DEMONSTRATE WHERE DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF ENGINEERING TO SOLVE REAL WORLD CHALLENGES. AND WHEREAS THE GRADIENT GROUPS DESIGNED FOR LYNN WYATT SQUARE WAS FURTHER HONORED WITH THE 2025 EMINENT CONCEPTOR AWARD, TEXAS'S HIGHEST ENGINEERING DISTINCTION. REMARKABLY, THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE AWARDS INCEPTION IN 1975, THAT A SMALL BUSINESS HAS RECEIVED THIS TOP HONOR. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE GRADIENT GROUP FOR ITS VISION, INNOVATION, AND CON CONTRIBUTIONS IN TRANSFORMING LIN WYATT SQUARE INTO AN AWARD-WINNING CIVIC SPACE TODAY, LIN WYATT SQUARE STANDS AS A TREASURED HOUSTON LANDMARK THAT WILL ENDURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU COUNCIL ALCOR AND THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS WITH GRADIENT GROUP. UH, IT'S SO, SO MUCH FUN WHEN FRIENDS RECOGNIZE AND CERTAINLY THEIR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND I WILL PUBLICLY SAY, I THINK THE BEST IS YET TO COME. THANK YOU FOR DEVELOPING THIS, THIS ASSET. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY, CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 8TH, 2025, IS THE GRADIENT GROUP DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS T WAYNE HOLCOMB AND STEPHANIE ANDERSON. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE BOTH GONNA SPEAK, BUT COME ON UP. BUT I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S AN HONOR FOR TWO SMALL TOWN KIDS TO GROW UP AND COME TO THE CITY AND BE ABLE TO LEAVE A MARK ON THE CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO IT'S AN HONOR, EVEN THOUGH MY GREAT GREAT UNCLE OSCAR HOLCOMB WAS MAYOR FOR 23 YEARS, IT FEELS LIKE I WAS ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK. AND I KNOW STEPHANIE FEELS THE SAME WAY. AND EVERY DAY I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH NOT ONLY ONE OF THE BEST ENGINEERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT THE BEST FEMALE ENGINEER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT'S AN HONOR. THANK YOU. YOU WANNA SAY COUNCIL MEMBER? DID, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO, SHE'S OUT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, BIG CONGRATS, UH, TO GRADIENT. UM, AND OUR, ALSO OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION. UH, YOU DESERVE ALL OF THE ACCOLADES THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING YOU FOR TODAY, BUT IT'S THE IN FEELING OF THAT SPACE NOW, WHAT HAS BEEN CREATED THERE THAT IS SO SPECIAL. SO MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION, UM, FOR WHAT GRADIENT HAS DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO. I THINK Y'ALL ALSO HAVE SOME OF YOUR FAMILY IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. AND THIS HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A FAMILY AFFAIR TOO, AND I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT, ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. BUT WOULD Y'ALL LIKE TO INTRODUCE WHO'S HERE WITH YOU TODAY? YES, WE HAVE MY WIFE KAREN, UH, STEPHANIE'S HUSBAND, DREW AND HER TWO CHILDREN, TRACE AND ANDY ARE ALSO WITH US. WE ALSO HAVE, UH, SOME OF THE GRADIENT TEAM MEMBERS, TARA HALL AND CRYSTAL ADAMS AS WELL. RIGHT. AND, AND I SEE A CEC LEADERSHIP IS HERE. UH, AGAIN, ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY. BUT STEPHANIE, YOU WERE SHARING, UH, YOUR KIDS HELPED WITH THAT FINAL PUNCH LIST. UH, SO THEY'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT MEMORY AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [00:31:53] COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER, [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILMAN POLLARD FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS FOR A WORD OF PRAYER? LORD, THANK YOU FOR WAKING US UP TO SEE ANOTHER DAY. LORD, WATCH OVER THIS MEETING. WATCH OVER OUR CITY AS WE INTEND TO DO WORK THAT IS PLEASING TO YOU. GIVE US CLARITY OF MIND AND COMPASSION OF HEART. LORD, WE ALSO PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE TEXAS FLOOD AND ALL THOSE WHO WERE AFFECTED WITH RESPECT TO FAITHS AND ALL RELIGIONS. BUT IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY, AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL PROCEDURAL. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] OH, ROLL CALL. MR. SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER PIT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ WILL BE ABSENT. 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. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JUNE 17TH AND JUNE 24 AND 25. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. MAYOR PROTE. FIRST MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD LINDA SCURLOCK UNDERNEATH KEITH TAYLOR UNDER THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA, NON AGENDA. AND THEN SEAN RUSHING UNDERNEATH LINDA SCURLOCK ALSO UNDER THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS FROM ONE MINUTE TO THREE MINUTE UNDER SARAH HIRSCH MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? I SECOND. NO, JUST A SECOND. I'M SORRY. WHAT? SECOND. SECOND. YEAH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SONYA RICO TO FOLLOW JESUS GONZALEZ UNDER THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. VERY WELL. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAST. I SECOND PUT ME THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE LISA HUNT [00:35:01] TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST, UH, HAVE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME, UH, CHRISTINA ROBERTS AND HER DAUGHTER MCKAYLA, WHO'S GOING INTO THE THIRD GRADE NEXT YEAR, HER SUMMER BREAK. SHE IS HERE FROM MASSACHUSETTS VISITING AND WANTED TO SEE HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS. SO WELCOME TO HOUSTON, Y'ALL. HELLO, WHERE IS SIMON? THE, UM, AGENDA DIRECTOR JUST SAID, WE'RE AT 153 MINUTES, WHICH TRIGGERS OUR RULE OF ONE MINUTE, SO WE'LL BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR GUESTS. BUT, UH, THE RULE REQUIRES ONE MINUTE AND THE CHAIR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE HIS DISCRETION. UH, ANYONE ELSE ON A PROCEDURAL MOTION MEMBERS? BEFORE I CALL THE, UH, OUR FIRST SPEAKER? I KNOW I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL HOUSTONIANS. WE, WE START THIS MEETING WITH A HEAVY HEART. I KNOW WE WILL ALL KNOW WHERE WE WERE FRIDAY WHEN WE HEARD OF THE TRAGEDY IN KERRVILLE, AND WE HAD A GREAT FREEDOM OVER TEXAS FRIDAY NIGHT. BUT IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO CELEBRATE WHEN WE KNEW FELLOW HOUSTONIANS AND TEXANS WERE SUFFERING SUCH A LOSS. I'VE TRIED TO THINK AND TALKED TO SEVERAL OF YOU, HOW WOULD WE BEST AS A CITY RESPECT AND MOURN THE LOSSES? I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT NOT HAVING COUNCIL TODAY AND TOMORROW TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE NEEDED A DAY OF REFLECTION, A DAY OF MOURNING. BUT HAVING CONTACTED, BEING CONTACTED BY SOME OFFICIALS AND FAMILIES, IT WAS BEST TO GO FORWARD WITH OUR WORK AND RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY. AND I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO DO SO. THERE ARE STILL INDIVIDUALS LOST. I DO THINK IT ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNITE AS A CITY IN MOURNING AND RECOGNIZE HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE TO BE WITH OUR FAMILIES, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING SUCH AN UNIMAGINABLE LOSS. I'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE KERRVILLE AND STATE OFFICIALS THAT HOUSTON STANDS READY. HBD HAS A 12 MAN AND LADY TEAM READY UPON NOTICE THAT THEY'RE NEEDED. THEY'RE ON STANDBY. HOUSTON FIRE HAS SINCE 10 TRAINED MEMBERS ARE TACTICAL, TRAINED WITH A TRUCK, AND SIX ARE TRAINED IN SWIFT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE RECOVERY. SO WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, , BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY A STRUGGLE. YOU CAN'T GET IT OFF YOUR MIND. I KNOW WHAT EVERYONE'S THINKING, SO LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I DO THINK AS WE LISTEN TO OUR HOUSTONIAN GUESTS TODAY, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME HOUSTONIANS THAT HAVE LOST THE MOST PRECIOUS THING IN THEIR LIFE. SO LET'S PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND REFLECT AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR DIVISION, BUT A TIME OF UNITY FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY, STATE AND NATION. JOIN ME PLEASE. THANK YOU. I DO BELIEVE THERE WILL, WE WILL BE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY RESPECT AND THE MEMORY OF THE LOSS AND MISSING WHEN THE FAMILIES ARE READY TO ALLOW US TO DO SO. COUNCILMAN OH, AND BEFORE WE CALL OUR FIRST WITNESS, I'LL RECOGNIZE ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE APPROPRIATE AND APPROPRIATE TIME COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. [00:40:01] UM, MY FAMILY HAS A PLACE IN HUNT, TEXAS, JUST RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM THESE SUMMER CAMPS THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR MANY, YOU KNOW, UH, THE PAST FEW DAYS. MY SON IS EN ROUTE THERE NOW, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST VICTIMS IDENTIFIED, WE'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS AND CONTINUE, UM, AS THE CHILDREN, UM, THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS MISSING START TO BE FOUND, UNFORTUNATELY, DECEASED. UM, AS A FAMILY, WE KNOW MANY OF THE VICTIMS. AND TO SAY THIS HITS CLOSE TO HOME IS REALLY HITS CLOSE TO HEART. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOUR CONSIDERATION OF, UH, WHAT TO DO. DELAY, NOT DELAY, HAVE A MEETING, WHAT CAN WE DO? HOW CAN WE HELP? IT'S AT A TIME LIKE THIS, THAT CERTAINLY IS MY BELIEF THAT PRAYERS IS WHAT WE, IT'S WHAT WE CAN OFFER MOST. UM, BUT THE DEVASTATION AND THE LOSS OF LIFE IS SOMETHING I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF US COULD EVER IMAGINE OF. SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN THAT AREA. UM, CLEARLY TO WATCH THE NEWS IS EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, REALLY, I CAN IDENTIFY ON THE NEWS THERE. AND IT'S A, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR MANY. I JUST GOT WORD BEFORE WE STEPPED INTO THE MEETING THAT YET ANOTHER ONE OF THE CHILDREN THAT WAS FOUND WAS ALSO A, A, UH, CHILD OF, OF SOMEONE THAT I KNOW. SO HERE LOCALLY IN HOUSTON. SO, UM, YOUR PRAYERS ARE APPRECIATED. ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS A CITY, I KNOW IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE WHOLE REGION. AND, UM, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE HOLD THEM ALL IN OUR HEARTS AND, AND PRAYERS AT THIS TIME. SO, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT DOESN'T KNOW SOMEBODY WHO'S EITHER LOST SOMEONE OR BEEN IMPACTED IN SOME WAY. AND I THINK THAT GOES FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS WASN'T, UH, A CITY OR A COUNTY THAT WAS IMPACTED, ALTHOUGH IT HAPPENED THERE AND THAT WAS GROUND ZERO. THIS IS THE ENTIRE STATE THAT IS IN MOURNING RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SENSITIVITY IN RESPECTING THE WISHES OF THE FAMILIES. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS. WE, UH, THAT ARE GOING THROUGH UNIMAGINABLE THINGS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH UNIMAGINABLE THINGS RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT I AM SO MOVED AND OVERWHELMED BY THE SPIRIT OF HOUSTON, OF EVERY PERSON ASKING HOW THEY CAN HELP OF BUSINESSES, ASKING HOW THEY CAN HELP OF US SENDING OUR WILDLAND DIVISION. THEY WERE SOME OF THE FIRST TO ANSWER THE CALL. UM, SO I KNOW TRUE TO HOUSTON'S FORM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT UP ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND HOLD THEM CLOSE THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE. AND I HOPE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, AND I SAY APPROPRIATE TIME, WE CAN START TO HAVE OUR OWN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR HOUSTON IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT COMES OUR WAY, UH, TO PROTECT FAMILIES HERE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS SPACE AND THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I THINK, UH, THERE'S NOT ANYBODY THAT WENT TO WORK ON MONDAY THAT DIDN'T HAVE THIS ON THEIR MIND AND CONTINUES TO HAVE IT ON THEIR MIND. I'M STILL GETTING UPDATES AND NOTICES AND, UH, HOUSTON IS HERE FOR TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA JOIN REALLY THE NATION, THAT STATE FOR SURE. UM, AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. MY SON, UM, WAS IN DALLAS FOR JULY 4TH. CALLED ME FIRST THING IN THE MORNING ON HIS, YOU KNOW, FRANTICALLY ON HIS WAY BACK BECAUSE HIS CLASSMATE WAS ONE OF THE COUNSELORS THAT GOT HER KIDS OUT. AND SO WITH THE LOSS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING, WHAT THE PARENTS ARE EXPERIENCING, THE GRANDPARENTS ARE EXPERIENCING, ALSO THE COUNSELORS THAT ARE JUST 20, 18, 21 YEARS OLD, WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IS ALSO INCREDIBLY SAD. AND SO WE JUST, I'M JUST, WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP EVERYONE LIFTED. WE HAVE TO BIND TOGETHER WHEN APPROPRIATE, WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS ARE. I KNOW THAT HOUSTON WILL COME TOGETHER, BUT, UM, THIS IS A GENERATIONAL TRAGEDY. AND, UM, AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW EVERYONE'S JUST GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN, UM, DO. BUT THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THEM AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO COLLECTIVELY PRAY FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. IN REGARD TO RESOURCES, WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER. UH, THE SEARCH AND RESCUE HAS LARGELY BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE COAST GUARD. SO [00:45:01] WE'RE THERE TO ASSIST, BUT THE LEAD RIGHT NOW IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I'M GONNA STEP OUT ABOUT MIDWAY IN OUR SESSION FOR A CONFERENCE CALL, BUT, UM, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HOUSTON STANDS READY TO DO WHATEVER'S POSSIBLE TO HELP AT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, IT'S PRETTY DEVASTATING TO, UM, HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. AND I KNOW THAT HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NO STRANGER TO FLOODS AND THAT ONE DAY OF WATER CAN PERMANENTLY AFFECT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. UM, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE CAMPING ALONGSIDE THE RIVER. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW MANY GIRLS WERE AT CAMP, BUT ALL THE FAMILIES THAT WERE CAMPING ALONGSIDE THE RIVER. AND, UM, SO JUST, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS, UM, AND THAT THEY'RE COMFORTED BY GOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL UP PER SPEAKER L LAPITA TALLEY? GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LUTA MONES TALLI, AND I'M HERE BOTH AS A HOUSTON RESIDENT AND AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST SIX JENSEN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 47 THAT WOULD MOVE ONE OF THE MEETINGS, UM, TO SIX O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. THIS WOULD BE A SMALL BUT POWERFUL CHANGE THAT WOULD MAKE CIVIC PARTICIPATION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS. RIGHT NOW, THE REALITY IS THAT MOST WORKING RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MOST OF MY EAST SIXTH JENSEN FRIENDS, SIMPLY CANNOT ATTEND MIDDAY SESSIONS LIKE TODAY. THEY'RE CARING FOR FAMILIES, WORKING JOBS THAT DON'T OFFER PAID TIME OFF OR RUNNING SMALL BUSINESSES, OR ARE IN SCHOOL. LOSING INCOME OR LEAVING RESPONSIBILITIES BEHIND SHOULD NOT BE A CHOICE FOR ANYONE TO MAKE, JUST TO BE HEARD. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT EQUITY AND PRIVILEGE. FOR SOME OF US WHO CAN COME TO THE MEETINGS LIKE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF OUR WORK, FLEXIBILITY, RESOURCES, OR RETIREMENT. AN EVENING SESSION ONCE A MONTH MEANS MORE PEOPLE WHO CAN SHOW UP, LEARN AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR BELOVED CITY BASED ON THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR AND THEIR HOPES. IT GIVES US ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR WELLBEING AND HELP CREATE A HOUSTON THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL . COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR LUTA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP QUICKLY. YEAH. MY LAST COMMENT IS THIS IS WHAT WE ADVOCATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE, THAT WE SHOULD STAND UP FOR WHAT WE NEED. AND SO MOVING THAT MEETING WOULD REALLY HELP PUSH THAT AND REALLY SHOW OUR RESIDENTS THAT THEY DO HAVE A VOICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I ALSO JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE EAST TEXAS JENSEN AREA, LEADING THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, ADVOCATING FOR, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AS YOU'VE DONE FOR MANY YEARS. UM, IT, IT GOES A LONG WAY. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO DIE, CASTEX STADIUM. THANK YOU. UH, MS. TALLEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. IF, UM, WE WERE TO MOVE THE ONE, UH, WEEK TO 6:00 PM IF YOU HAD AN ISSUE ON THE SECOND WEEK OF THE MONTH THAT YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, AND THE MEETING WAS AT 2:00 PM AND NOT 6:00 PM HOW, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT? LET ME UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. SO IF THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE SECOND WEEK, SO, SO THE ITEM 47 IS TO MOVE THE PUBLIC SESSION ON THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH TO 6:00 PM CORRECT. BUT IF THE ISSUE THAT YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HAPPENED ON THE SECOND WEEK OF THE MONTH, BUT YOU WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO COME AT 2:00 PM UM, BUT ON THE FOURTH OR WHATEVER WEEK WE CHANGED IT TO, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT AT? I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION, AND IT REALLY IS ABOUT KNOWLEDGE. SO IF RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEN THAT MIGHT BE AN AVENUE FOR THAT. IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN SEND IN SOME SORT OF WRITTEN RESPONSE, THAT MIGHT BE AN AVENUE. BUT I THINK BEING PRESENT IN THESE SPACES MM-HMM . AS A FIRST GENERATION LATINA, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. NOT EVEN WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE. RIGHT. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY AND SPACES TO DO THAT, EVEN IF IT IS THAT FOURTH, SORRY, THAT FOURTH MEETING, IT JUST PROVIDES ANOTHER SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY, THEY CAN DO. SO IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL IN OR PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY, WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT VALUE ADDED? IT WOULD BE A VALUE [00:50:01] ADDED. BUT IF YOU'RE AT WORK, RIGHT, AND YOU CAN'T TAKE TIME OFF BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT MAKING MONEY FOR YOUR FAMILY OR YOUR, YOUR JOB JUST DOESN'T ALLOW THAT, THEN YOU CAN'T EVEN HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION EITHER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, BRYCE RANDALL. BRYCE. RANDALL, STACY FAIRCHILD. STACY, TOMMY HOLSTEIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY LISA HUNT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND, UH, SHOUT OUT TO THE SECRETARY FOR GIVING ME UP THIS EARLY. THIS IS GREAT. UM, I'M TOMMY HOLSTEIN WITH BAKER RIPLEY AND I'M DELIGHTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S PROPOSAL TO ALLOW EVENING PUBLIC SESSIONS. AND WE AT BAKER RIPLEY PRIDE OURSELVES ON SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS AS THEY PURSUE THEIR ASPIRATIONS TO EARN, LEARN, BELONG, AND BE WELL, TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL WELLBEING, INCREASE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEAD HEALTHY LIVES, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ESSENTIAL TO THIS, UH, PROPOSAL AND ESSENTIAL TO OUR ORGANIZATION'S, UH, ROLE AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPER AND ADVOCATE, EMPOWERING NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES TO ELEVATE THEIR VOICES. UM, FOR OVER A DECADE, WE'VE HAD OUR COMMUNITY ENGINEERS LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS ENGLISH AND SPANISH LANGUAGE CLASSES OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UM, SOME TAKE PLACE DURING THE DAY, BUT SOME ARE ALSO IN THE EVENING TO ALLOW FOLKS THAT HAVE, UM, DIFFERENT SCHEDULES. UM, NEIGHBORS COMPLETE 15 HOURS OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING. AND ONCE THEY DO, THEY BECOME A COMMUNITY ENGINEER AND JOIN ONE OF SIX COMMUNITY BASED COHORTS. UM, THEY'RE ALL ACROSS TOWN IN THE EAST END AND GULF CREST, GREATER HOBBY IN GULFTON AND THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, AS WELL AS TWO OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. AND, UH, EAST ALDE IN PASADENA. UM, THE COHORTS MEET MONTHLY ON PROJECTS ADDRESSING THEIR COMMUNITY'S GREATEST CONCERNS. UM, HAVE A COUPLE MORE MINUTES, OR NOT A COUPLE MORE BY AS MAYOR. UH, BUT REALLY IT'S ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT. WE DON'T SCRIPT THEM. THESE ARE ISSUES THAT THEY, UM, CARE ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THINGS THAT FALL UNDER Y'ALL'S PURVIEW AS WELL AS THINGS THAT FALL UNDER OTHER, UM, LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT LIKE ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENT OR CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OR ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. UM, SO ALL THAT TO SAY, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THEM. WE USUALLY DON'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEM, BUT THIS IS FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T MAKE IT AT THIS TIME. AND, UM, UH, MAYOR PORT TIM, I ACTUALLY, I, I SHARED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S OFFICE, SEVERAL IDEAS THAT WERE EXACTLY TO YOUR QUESTION. I'D BE HAPPY TO, TO SAY A FEW OF THEM AND FORWARD 'EM YOUR WAY IS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS Y'ALL'S TIME. AND, UM, THANK YOU VERY COGNIZANT THAT IT'S A 24 7 JOB, EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART-TIME. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND TOMMY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU KNOW, BAKER RIPLEY DOES SO MUCH AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, THE COMMUNITY ENGINEERS PROGRAM, ALL THE WORK Y'ALL DO, INCREASING CIVIC PARTICIPATION, UM, FROM VOTING TO OTHER ISSUE ADVOCACY. I'VE MET WITH SOME OF YOUR COMMUNITY ENGINEERS ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT. AND, AND Y'ALL KNOW THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT. UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TODAY. MAYOR PROM, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. TOMMY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE PART OF BAKER RIPLEY. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, WHAT, UM, DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO INCREASE THAT ENGAGEMENT? UM, I THINK THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME WE HAVE THE MEETINGS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE LOTS OF FOLKS THAT CANNOT ATTEND FOR WHATEVER REASONS. MM-HMM . IF WE HAVE IT AT TWO, PEOPLE CAN'T COME. IF WE HAVE IT AT THREE, PEOPLE CAN'T COME. IF WE HAVE IT AT FIVE, PEOPLE CAN'T COME. IF WE HAVE IT AT SIX, UM, WHO WANTS TO BE ON 6 10, 2 88 I 45, UH, AT THAT TIME TO COME DOWN FOR PUBLIC SESSION. UM, I THINK THAT MAKES IT VERY CUMBERSOME. HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE, UM, SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEDIUMS THAT WE CAN EASILY PUT IN PLACE. UM, IF PEOPLE REMEMBER DURING COVID, WE HELD OUR ENTIRE COUNCIL MEETINGS VIRTUALLY. SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ACCESS TO, UM, VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY. WE COULD, UM, ALLOW PEOPLE TO CALL IN. WE COULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE ON TEAMS. UM, IF THE GOAL IS TO ACTUALLY INCREASE PARTICIPATION, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEDIUMS THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE AS OPPOSED TO THE TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO RESIDENTS IN MY COMMUNITY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AT ON SIX 10 COMING DOWNTOWN IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE LOOP TO CITY HALL. SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE VALUE ADDED FOR THE COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEDIUMS, EITHER PHONE CALLS [00:55:01] VIRTUALLY, TO INCREASE ACCESS? UH, I THINK OVERALL ACCESS IS GREAT. THE REALLY, THE THREE CATCHALL IDEAS THAT I SHARED, ONE, ONE IS JUST ON THE PROJECT LEVEL. UM, DOING AN ASSESSMENT OF Y'ALL'S MEETINGS. I I LITERALLY LOOKED UP THE TIMING OF THE LENGTH OF PUBLIC SESSION PLUS AGENDA, UM, FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AND TO HAVE THE STATS. AND THERE COULD GREAT INTERN PROJECT POTENTIALLY TO SEE WHAT WAS ON THE AGENDA THAT WEEK THAT DROVE LENGTHY OR NON LENGTHY DISCUSSION. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED, UH, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER IS, IS THERE A WAY TO ROUTE CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS OR DISCUSSION GENERATING ITEMS CERTAIN WEEKS AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME SORT OF A CATCHALL IN EVENING KNOWING THAT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE THAT CAN'T COME THE SECOND WEEK. UM, IF THEY HAVE A HEADS UP THAT IN THE MONTH OF, UH, COMING UP IN JULY, THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE HORIZON THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT UNTIL THREE DAYS BEFORE AN AGENDA'S POSTED. UH, IF THERE'S A HEADS UP THAT'S GONNA BE COMING THAT COULD GIVE SOMEONE THE DISCRETION TO SAY, OKAY, I CAN MAKE IT THAT LAST EVENING OF THE MONTH TO GET MY COMMENT ACROSS FOR THE NEXT MONTH. UM, THAT'S A ONE OF THEM. THERE ARE A, A COUPLE OTHERS, AND IT'S JUST IN GENERAL, UH, THE MESSAGE I HAVE, I, I WATCHED THE PROPE COMMITTEE MEETING, I WATCHED Y'ALL'S DISCUSSION LAST WEEK. IT'S INCREDIBLY VALID, THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY HERE. UM, WE'RE ABOUT GREATER ACCESS AND, UM, IF THERE'S A MEDIUM, OUR COMMUNITY ENGINEERS, I GUARANTEE YOU HAVE ENGAGED YOU AT CIP MEETINGS AND ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS AT THIS DIOCESE WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO BE HERE, UM, AT THEIR CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS. SO THEY, THEY'RE IN ALL THE ABOVE STRATEGY TO GET TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLKIT TO BE ABLE TO, TO REACH OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MM-HMM . THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT. LISA HUNT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. UM, I COMMENT TO SUPPORT THIS, UM, RECOMMENDATION. AS SOMEONE WHO'S NEWLY RETIRED, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF TIME. UM, I CAN RESEARCH WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA. I CAN COME AND HANG OUT WITH YOU AND LISTEN TO YOU AND HEAR ALL OF THE, UM, VARIETIES OF CONCERNS THAT YOU TAKE SERIOUSLY. BUT I KNOW AS A MEMBER OF THE MONTROSE TOURS BOARD HOLDING OUR MEETINGS AT SIX 30 AT NIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY ENGAGED OUR COMMUNITY AS WE WERE MAKING PLANS. WHILE I MAY NOT HAVE LIKED EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY SAID, MY HUNCH IS YOU DON'T EITHER. BUT WE GOT TO HEAR AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND WE DEVELOP THE CONTEXT AND GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, UM, TO MAKE ACCESS MORE OF AVAILABLE, WHETHER THAT'S ELECTRONICALLY AND, UM, THE TIME OF MEETINGS. AND I KNOW AS PART OF PEOPLE FOR POLK, UM, CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IS REALLY CRITICAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND GROW AS A CITY. THANK YOU. C COUNCILMAN, MA'AM. MS. HUNT. SORRY. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR LISA, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND OFFERING SUPPORT AND ALSO FOR GIVING A, AN EVENING MEETING OF, UH, AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS RAISED THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED IT. AND, UH, I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE EVENING ENGAGEMENTS THAT WE GET TO AND WE MAKE IT THERE. WE MAKE IT THERE ON TIME AND, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC IS AN ISSUE, BUT, UH, THE CITY'S NOT IN WIDESPREAD GRIDLOCK AT 6:00 PM I DO THINK PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET HERE AT 6:00 PM IF THEY PLAN FOR IT. AND, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND OFFERING YOUR SUPPORT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. JUST A SECOND MA'AM. SORRY. UH, CA TATUM. MS. HUNT, YOU SAID SOMETHING CRITICAL IN YOUR COMMENTS. YOU SAID YOU HAVE YOUR MEETINGS AT 6:30 PM IN THE COMMUNITY MM-HMM . AND IT MAKES IT ACCESSIBLE. MM-HMM . FOR THE PEOPLE. AND CITY HALL IS NOT IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, PEOPLE DRIVE 30, 40 MINUTES TO GET TO CITY HALL. I LIVE 18 MILES AWAY FROM CITY HALL AND IT TAKES 45 MINUTES TO GET TO CITY HALL. MM-HMM . SO IT'S NOT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO DID, UM, ELECTRONIC, UH, MEMBERSHIP OR ATTENDANCE. RIGHT. SO THAT PEOPLE COULD, COULD PARTICIPATE THAT WAY. DO YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO CALL IN, PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY, UM, IN PUBLIC SESSION, UM, WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC SESSION HERE AT CITY HALL? YES. AND I WOULD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT TO BE DONE IN THE EVENING BECAUSE I THINK YOU WILL GET A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP AT IN THE EVENING THAN YOU DO AT TWO O'CLOCK. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT EARL HIRSCH. HEY THERE. I'M HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. I'M [01:00:01] HERE TO SPEAK THE PRAISES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HOW ABOUT THAT? HUH? ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I CAME AND TALKED ABOUT A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NEXT TO MY HOUSE. CITY CAME WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO SEE THE CREW. THEY FIXED THE WATER LINE. SO I'M TALKING ABOUT THREE THINGS TODAY. OH, POSSIBLY FOUR. I MIGHT THROW IN THREE 11 PARKS. I HAVE A SON THAT GOES TO THE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM. HANDS DOWN. AMAZING. THE PEOPLE ARE SO VERY CORDIAL, SO MANY, SO MANY THINGS. THEY DO IT A THROWBACK TO A TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. OKAY. YOU COULD PLAY PICKLEBALL, YOU CAN HAVE ARTS AND CRAFTS, BASKETBALL, YOU NAME IT. THEY PROBABLY THROW THEIR HORSESHOES AS WELL. AND IF THERE'S A POOL BY, AS A CITY POOL CLOSE TO IT, THEY GO SWIMMING, THROW IN THEIR FIRST TEE FOR GOLF, 50 BUCKS TO GO GOLF. THEY'RE GONNA DO THAT. AND THAT'S ALL VOLUNTEERS BY FIRST TEE PUBLIC WORKS. AGAIN, I JUST SPOKE ABOUT THE PROJECT NEXT TO ME, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A PROJECT IN YOUR DISTRICT ON CAVALCADE BETWEEN ON MY STREET IS CURRENT, SO IT'S ONE OFF OF CAVALCADE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE DOING, BUT IT WAS THIS BIG PROJECT AND PEOPLE WERE SO VERY CORDIAL. AND YOU THROW IN THEIR, THE CONTRACTORS DITO LIBRARY. I LOVE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND READ BOOKS. GREAT PROGRAMS INCLUDE CHESS. GO TO, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN ON A SATURDAY WHEN THEY PLAY CHESS. YOU'LL SEE AN 80-YEAR-OLD PLAYING WITH AN 8-YEAR-OLD. IT'S A GREAT THING. THAT'S WHEN CAMAN COUNCILOR CAYMAN. OH, I, I WAS GONNA LET YOU FINISH UP REALLY QUICKLY, MR. I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU AS MUCH TIME AS HE WANTS. I'LL. AND THEN, AND THEN I'LL RESPOND. HOW ABOUT THAT ? HE KEEPS SAYING NICE THINGS LIKE THAT. WELL, YOU KNOW, A CONSTANT THEME AMONGST THESE PROGRAMS, IT'S A MIX OF PEOPLE. AND I GOT A 9-YEAR-OLD. HE GOES THERE AT, AT THE, AT THE AFTER AT THE PROGRAM ON STU. THERE'S 38 OF THESE, THESE LOCATIONS AND HE SEES SIX YEAR OLDS AND 13 YEAR OLDS. AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO MEET OTHER KIDS. AND THEY'RE ALL KINDS OF KIDS THAT SHOW UP TO GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE ALL KIDS. NOW LET'S THROW IN 3 0 1 1. IT'S A GREAT THING. PEOPLE CALL UP AND I SAY, HEY, I'M HAVING TO GET MY RECYCLING DONE. AND THEY SAY, HEY, WE'VE BEEN BEHIND. AND I SAID, I'M PATIENT. AND THAT'S ALL THEY CARE ABOUT. AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB. AND I'VE HEARD YOU MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WITH STATE SENATOR AND A MAYOR. AND I'VE HEARD, I MET SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT DIFFERENT VENUES. YOU GUYS ALL BUST YOUR TO DO THIS WORK. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. HIRSH. THANK YOU. UH, I LOVE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP OUR, AFTER OUR SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, BUT ALSO OUR AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, I TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME. OUR PARK STAFF IS IN THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS. WHEN PARENTS CAN'T GET OFF WORK IN TIME, IT IS A SAFE, FREE PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS. AND SOME OF THOSE STAFF STAY. YOU TALK ABOUT CHESS, I SAW AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WHEN THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BE THERE. A PARKS EMPLOYEE, UH, PLAYING CHESS AND TEACHING A, A LITTLE BOY, I BELIEVE WHO WAS NINE, HOW TO PLAY CHESS WITH HIS DAD, WHO WAS RIGHT THERE. 'CAUSE HE WANTED TO TRY OUT FOR THE CHESS TEAM AT SCHOOL. AND THEY ARE SO DEDICATED AND WE NEED MORE OF IT. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR COMMUNITY SPACES ARE SO LIMITED, UH, AND THE WAIT LISTS ARE LONG. BUT I'M SO GLAD YOUR SON HAS BEEN ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM IT. AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR COMING TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF HOPE EMPLOYEES IN THE AUDIENCE. THEY DON'T GET TO HEAR THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK THAT MUCH AS WELL. I SAW SONYA WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT 3 1 1, SHE GOT REALLY EXCITED. UH, SO THANK YOU. LET'S THROW IN THE PARKS PROGRAM THAT THAT PROGRAM IS $30 A WEEK. OKAY, COME ON NOW. DO I DO THAT? OR SOME SOMETHING THAT COSTS YOU, THAT'S A LOT. AND THIS IS VERY, VERY GOOD FOR THE KIDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. JUST COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU EARL FOR COMING. AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. SO OFTEN MANY OF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS HEAR ABOUT ALL OF THE NEGATIVE AND WRONG THINGS, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHERS ARE DOING RIGHT. AND WE DON'T HEAR MUCH OF IT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND CERTAINLY FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ADDRESS, BECAUSE CERTAINLY PEOPLE ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT ALL OF WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN AND WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND WE HOPE TO KEEP 'EM UP. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. PARDON? THANK YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME. NEXT. LINDA MURRAY. CARRIE MCCALL. ADELA PARLET, DOLORES JONES. CARRIE JOHNSON. [01:05:07] GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, GOOD MORNING, AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT WORKER, WORKER. WE'RE MERELY THE FACE OF SOLID WASTE. WE ARE SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF PAIN, A LACK OF EQUIPMENT, AND A LACK OF STAFFING. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A COMMITMENT FOR BETTER POLICE OFFICERS AND BETTER FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT WHERE'S THE COMMITMENT FOR SOLID WASTE? EVERY DAY, ME AND MY COWORKERS GO TO WORK KNOWING THAT 10% OF OUR FLEET WON'T MAKE THE JOB. ANOTHER 25 TO 30% OF THE FLEET WON'T MAKE THE DAY TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY. THE CITY SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE SAMSARA EQUIPMENT THAT'S PUT IN TRUCKS THAT DON'T EVEN WORK. NOW, ME AND MY COWORKERS THAT DO GET A CHANCE TO WORK, WE RIDE AROUND WITH GALLONS OF COOLANT, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OTHER, OTHER, UH, ITEMS THAT MAKE OUR TRUCK WORK. WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MECHANICS. SO WHEN YOU GET A CALL SAYING THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH SOLID WASTE, IT'S NOT JUST A WORKER, WE'RE JUST A MERE REFLECTION OF LACKLUSTER SUPPORT AND AN ADMINISTRATION THAT PERPETUATES, UH, MEDIOCRITY IN SOLID WASTE. I ASK THAT YOU GUYS PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MAKING US A PRIORITY. WE TOO HAVE FAMILIES HERE. WE TOO ENJOY SOME OF THE GOOD LIFE HERE, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I WOULD, UH, EMPHASIZE THAT NO ONE EVER, SONYA, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS, EVER CRITICIZES THE WORKERS. WE KNOW YOUR VALUE. ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS LOOK AT THE EVENING NEWS PHILADELPHIA. SOLID WASTE IS STRIKING CURRENTLY, AND IT'S A TOTAL MESS. THE BREAKDOWN IN THE TRUCKS IS BECAUSE THE CITY BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION WAS BUYING USED TRUCKS, 40 SOME ODD TRUCKS, WERE IN THE REPAIR SHOP TWO WEEKS AGO. WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR AND, UH, HE'LL BE HERE NEXT WEEK TO GIVE US A REPORT ON WHAT HE DISCOVERED, WHAT HE'S DOING ABOUT IT AND WHAT THE FUTURE IS. I'M REAL IMPRESSED WITH HIM. MR. HASSON IS IMPLEMENTING NEW EFFICIENCY MODELS. HE'LL SPEAK TO THE RESOURCES HE NEEDS. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE CHANGE IN DIRECTOR WAS LARGELY, LARGELY THE RECOMMENDATION OF HOPE AND THE SOLID WAKES WORKERS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, BUT I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES. YOU'RE FIRST RESPONDERS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT. WE QUITE OFTEN ACKNOWLEDGE POLICE AND FIRE, CERTAINLY PUBLIC WORKS, SOLID WASTE. I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THE DEPARTMENTS HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, SO THANK YOU. UM, WHEN I WAS RUNNING, CERTAINLY HOPE MADE AN IMPRESSION ON ME AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE. I AM PLEASED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MR. HASSAN TELLS ME THAT HE'S CURRENT. AND I'LL ALSO GO AHEAD AND THROW IN THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS SO CRITICAL TWO WEEKS AGO THAT PROBABLY GOT YOUR ATTENTION. WE SPOKE TO HIM AT THE END OF COUNCIL. HE WAS CURRENT, HAD BEEN PICKED UP THREE DAYS BEFORE HE IS AT COUNCIL, WHICH, WHICH MAYBE THERE'S A MESSAGE THERE THAT MAYBE OUR GOOD FRIENDS THAT TESTIFIED NEED TO BE CURRENT. BUT CERTAINLY YOUR NUMBERS SPEAK FOR ITSELF AND, UH, WE'RE, WE GAVE YOU 30 NEW TRUCKS ABOUT A MONTH AGO. SO IT'S A MATTER OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND RESPECT. AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. I DO. AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. JOHNSON, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I JUST ECHO, UH, WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING. UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE, THE WORKERS WE UNDERSTAND IT'S EQUIPMENT, STAFFING SHORTAGE, THE OPERATIONS, THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR, FOR DECADES. UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING, AND, AND I'VE, I'VE PROBABLY BEEN PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE MAIN ONE TALKING ABOUT A TRASH FEE, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SOMETHING THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK ON PUBLICLY. UM, THAT'LL HELP US RIGHT SIZE THE DEPARTMENT. IT'LL HELP US HELP HELP US COURSE CORRECT A LOT OF WHAT, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT, UM, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT [01:10:01] SOLID WASTE RECEIVES THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED. UM, RIGHT NOW WE RUN ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION, UM, DEPARTMENT, UH, YOU NEED MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT? RIGHT. AND THAT GOES TO PAY, THAT GOES TO EQUIPMENT. UH, BUT THEN ALSO HOW DO YOU RUN YOUR OPERATIONS AS WELL? AND I'M, I'M HAPPY THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE INTERIM DIRECTOR AND TALK TO 'EM ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE. WHAT DOES A HEAVY TRASH ON DEMAND LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN LOOKING AT HOW, HOW WE PICK UP, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN WE PICK UP YOUR, YOUR RECYCLING, UH, WITH THE EXTRA RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE HEAVY, UH, UH, HEAVY TRASH ON DEMAND. SO JUST JUST KNOW THAT, UH, THE WORK IS, IS BEING DONE. I'M, I'M GLAD THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE MAYOR SUPPORT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE START RIGHT SIZING THE DEPARTMENT. AND SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO KNOW, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNCIL'S HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL THE, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT SOLID WASTE. UM, IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO GET IT DONE. SO, UM, PLEASE DON'T, DON'T LEAVE HERE THINKING THAT, THAT WE FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THE PROBLEM. 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT THE CASE. UH, YOU HAVE OUR FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. MR. JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR BEING, BEING HERE. YOU DEFINITELY HAVE SPOKEN FOR, UM, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF, UH, SOLID WASTE. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE HERE AND TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THERE IS A LOT OF, UM, TALK ABOUT TRASH PICKUP AND RECYCLING AND HEAVY TRASH PICKUP. THE NEWS IS COVERING IT. UM, IT IS THE NUMBER ONE PHONE CALL THAT WE RECEIVE IN OUR OFFICE, UM, ON A DAILY BASIS IS, UM, RECYCLING IS BEHIND OR OUR TRASH IS BEHIND. AND WE HAVE CONSTANTLY SHARED WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT, UM, SOLID WASTE HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN ONE OF THE MOST UNDERFUNDED DEPARTMENTS, UM, IN THE CITY. BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE. UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, ONE OF MY BUDGET AMENDMENTS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS FOR THE SIGNING BONUS FOR SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE NEED TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. WE PASSED THAT, UM, SIGNING BONUS, AND I THINK IT WAS FOR 3000, THEN IT WENT TO 5,000, AND THEN WE SAW HEB GAVE OUT A $9,000 SIGNING BONUS AND METRO GAVE OUT, YOU KNOW, A HIGHER SIGNING BONUS. SO WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMPETITION, UM, WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR OUR, UM, WORKERS. AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK YOU DO IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP. UM, HOUSTONIANS ARE UPSET. UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONSTITUENTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPLAIN ABOUT SOLID WASTE. UM, THEIR TRASH NOT BEING PICKED UP. THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT YOU, IT'S A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROCESS. UM, SO I HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE TRUCKS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER PAY. AND AS THE DEPARTMENT GETS BETTER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS ALSO BETTER. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. POLL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS, UH, AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR STANDING BEHIND YOU. UM, IT'S A REALITY THAT WE DO HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT I THINK, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOU AND THOSE WHO WORK WITH YOU OR WHO ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND DO THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS SHOULD BE. RIGHT? FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, UH, USUALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. AND IF WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, WE KNOW THAT OUR CAPACITY ONLY GOES. BUT SO FAR, WHAT ARE THE SUGGESTIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE CAN DO, MAYBE ON A SHORT TERM AND THEN A LONG TERM TO PROVIDE YOU ALL, UH, WITH MORE SUPPORT. MAYBE IT'S JUST CREATING A BETTER WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT. I DON'T KNOW. BUT HEARING DIRECTLY FROM YOU, AND SINCE YOU'RE AT THE MICROPHONE, THE QUESTION IS GONNA BE TO YOU, UH, ON BEHALF OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, WHAT COULD WE DO WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND THE CURRENT CONSTRAINTS TO SUPPORT YOU ALL MORE AND TO CREATE A BETTER WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT, UH, FOR THE DEPARTMENT. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO GIVE US THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY THAT YOU GAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU CAME IN. ONCE YOU GIVE US THE SAME ATTENTION THAT YOU GAVE POLICE OFFICERS JUST RECENTLY, 36% OVER FOUR YEARS, MAKING THE POLICE THE HIGHEST PAID HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, GIVE US THAT SAME TYPE OF ATTENTION. WE DESERVE IT [01:15:01] SERVER. WE SERVICE OVER 400,000 SERVER, UH, RESIDENTS HERE, 400,000. AND YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GIVE A CONTRACT TO OUR COMPETITORS WHO ARE BETTER EQUIPPED, BETTER PAID, AND BETTER MANNED. WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO THIS WORKFORCE? WHY IS THAT MONEY NOT BEING ALLOCATED BACK TO SOLID WASTE? THAT'S A QUESTION OF YOU, SIR. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THAT, UM, WHAT WE DO AS A CITY IS DIFFICULT WHEN WE BUDGET. UM, POLICE AND FIRE ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SOLID WASTE IS ALSO IMPORTANT. YOUR COLLEAGUES BEHIND YOU ARE ALSO IMPORTANT. AND I THINK IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, INCUMBENT UPON US TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH TO ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS PROPERLY. WILL EVERYBODY ALWAYS BE SATISFIED AND HAPPY? NO. I DO KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAD A RECENT CONTRACT, RIGHT? AND THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT YOU AND BARGAIN ON YOUR BEHALF CAME BACK WITH A, UH, PROPOSAL THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE CITY. AND THEN WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THOSE TERMS AS WE GO FORWARD, RIGHT? UM, IN THE FUTURE THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENT NEGOTIATION WITH DIFFERENT TERMS, BUT IN THE INTERIM, WE STILL HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTITUENTS GET, UM, WHAT THEY PAY FOR, RIGHT? AND SO IN THE INTERIM, WE WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS, AS A COUNCIL, AS WELL AS A DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT YOU ALL THE BEST WE CAN. I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PROMISE YOU OVERNIGHT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AND, UH, YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE PROBABLY NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO GET PAID EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL DESERVE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T FIND WAYS TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE GET, UM, THEIR SERVICE, UH, THAT THEY REQUIRE, AS WELL AS YOU ALL TO FEEL SUPPORTED. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE HERE FEELING AS IF, UH, YOUR CONVERSATION IS FALLING ON DEATH'S EARS. WE ALL WANNA SUPPORT YOU, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO DO THAT WITH THE REALITIES OF THE CITY. AND SO, UM, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT'S YOUR ROLE? I'M A SENIOR SIDE LOADER. I'VE BEEN THERE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF. SO IF YOU CAN, IF, IF YOU CAN, YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, CORRECT? YES, SIR. IN YOUR LIMITED TIME HERE, TELL ME SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT IF WE CHANGED IN THE SHORT TERM, IT WOULD INCREASE THE SUPPORT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO LEAD TO BETTER SERVICES FOR THE CONSTITUENTS. SIR. FOR THE MOST PART, ME AND MY COWORKERS WANNA DO ONE THING, A GOOD JOB AT A FAIR WAGE AND DECENT EQUIPMENT. SIR, IF YOU COULD GIVE US 50 NEW TRUCKS, THAT'D BE CHANGING THE CULTURE HERE IN SOLID WASTE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M, I'M GONNA BE LISTENING BEFORE I PROVIDE MY REMARKS. UM, AND SO I'LL, I'LL CHIME IN AFTER SONYA, I THINK YOU'RE THE LAST TO SPEAK. UM, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MEDIA COVERAGE, UH, BECAUSE RESIDENTS ARE RIGHTLY FRUSTRATED, BUT YOU ALL ARE RIGHT, RIGHTFULLY FRUSTRATED. I TALK A LOT ABOUT THE HOURS THAT Y'ALL WORK BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW, AND THE MEDIA COVERAGE HASN'T NECESSARILY REFLECTED THE EXTENT TO WHICH Y'ALL ARE WORKING, THAT YOU'RE UP BEFORE, WE'RE UP, YOU'RE GOING HOME AFTER MOST PEOPLE ARE HOME, YOU'RE WORKING ON THE WEEKEND. SO AS EACH OF THE SPEAKERS COME FORWARD, IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THE SHIFTS THAT YOU WORK AND THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALSO HEAR TODAY. SO THAT, THAT'S MY ASK AS I'M LISTENING TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME TO, UM, CITY HALL CHAMBERS. UM, I AGREE WITH YOU AND I THINK YOUR COMMENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. UM, IN TERMS OF HOW WE INVEST AND WHERE WE INVEST, I WANNA POINT TO THE BUDGET THAT WE PASSED LAST MONTH. IN THAT BUDGET, UH, GAVE, BASICALLY GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE CITY TO ACCEPT, UH, THE RETIREMENT PACKAGES. SO YOUR DEPARTMENT ALONE HAD CLOSE TO 87 INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFIED FOR RETIREMENT. 37 TOOK THE PACKAGE. SOLID WASTE IS ALREADY A LEAN DEPARTMENT KNUCKLE TO BONE. SO NOW YOU HAVE A REDUCTION IN WORKFORCE IN ADDITION TO A FINANCIAL REDUCTION. THE DEPARTMENT, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT ITS BUDGET. SO WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AS EMPLOYEES IS A DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT WE VOTE ON, RIGHT? YOU'RE FILLING OUR VOTES. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. NUMBER ONE. THE SECOND POINT AROUND POLICE AND FIRE, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR CURRENCY AND YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW. UH, POLICE AND FIRE, THEIR UNIONS ARE VERY ACTIVE IN OUR FACE TALKING TO US ONGOING. THIS IS THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME I'VE EVEN SEEN Y'ALL HERE, RIGHT? SO I WANNA GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO STAY ORGANIZED AND STAY IN FRONT OF US ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER. AND, AND BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, YOU HAVE A FRESH [01:20:01] SET OF EYES, RIGHT? YOU'RE COMING TO THE CITY WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF EYES. I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET ACTIVE IN YOUR MUNICIPAL UNION. UM, YOUR COMMAND OF THE ISSUE, YOUR CONFIDENCE IN, IN COMING TO THIS BODY ONE, UM, PUTS YOU IN A GOOD POSITION TO START WORKING WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT, WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM HOPE DURING THE BUDGET. I DID NOT WHEN IT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE REDUCTION OF WORKFORCE, WHEN IT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE REDUCTION OF EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS. AND THIS IMPACTS YOU EVERY DAY, RIGHT? SO, UH, I VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE REDUCTION IN WORKFORCE BECAUSE I KNEW THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN. WE WERE GONNA SEE IT AND WE WERE GONNA FEEL IT. THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT HAPPENS WITH THE VOTES WE TAKE, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WITH THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND SOLID WASTE IS A KEY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY, JUST LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IS AS WELL. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO MORE. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE CAN'T JUST CONTRACT OUT EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE ELSE. 'CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IT REVERBERATES BACK TO YOUR EMPLOYEES. BUT I, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY IN FRONT OF US, AND I THINK YOUR COMMENTS ARE TIMELY. THEY'RE SAGE, AND IT JUST POINTS BACK TO THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT MUNICIPAL WORKERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, JUST AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, OFFICIALS AS WELL. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I KEYED IN ON WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU'RE NOT MECHANICS, BUT YET YOU'RE STILL OUT THERE WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WHATEVER TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE TRUCKS RUNNING. UH, I MET UP WITH, UH, A TEAM THAT WAS DOING THE, UH, LARGE DEBRIS PICKUP THE GARBAGE. AND, UH, THE GENTLEMAN HAD A PROBABLY THREE FOOT LONG ONE BY FOUR TUCKED INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK TO WHERE WHEN HE WENT TO PUT THE TARP OVER, HE HAD TO USE THAT IN ORDER FOR THE TARP TO ACTUALLY GO OVER. IT. WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T DO IT ON HIS OWN. APPARENTLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IS, IS THE ISSUES WITH THOSE AUTOMATIC TARPS THAT GO OVER. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS HE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT IS SPENT WHEN YOU GO TO, UH, OFFLOAD AT THE DUMP, UH, WHEN THE TRUCK GETS FULL, IS, IS THAT A PROBLEM? AGAIN, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE WAS, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT AS WELL. WELL, SIR, WHEN WE GO TO A DEPOSITORY THAT THE, ACTUALLY THE CITY OWNS, BUT IT'S RAN BY A PRIVATE CORPORATION, WE'VE BEEN SUBJECTED TO WAITING AS OPPOSED TO GOING IN WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE, HEY, HE WAS TELLING ME THEY'VE HAD TO WAIT UP TO A COUPLE HOURS TO, TO OFFLOAD. THAT'S A GOOD DAY. OKAY, THANK YOU. OFF ALCORN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU SIR FOR COMING. WE DO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I AM INTERESTED MAYOR, IN HEARING WHAT THE NEW DIRECTOR HAS TO SAY ABOUT LOGISTICS AND WHAT HE'S CHANGING. BUT I'VE BEEN SITTING AT THIS TABLE A LONG TIME AND WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT NEEDS IS MORE RESOURCES. YOU NEED BETTER TRUCKS, YOU NEED BETTER PAY. WE NEED A TRASH FEE. COUNCILOR DAVIS COUNCILOR, THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR FOR COMING IN, MY FRIEND AND, AND ADDRESSING AND BRINGING THIS BEFORE US. AND I JUST LIKE TO COMMENT AS FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, AS MANY OF YOU WHO WORKED FOR IT, THE COMPETITION THAT THE CITY HAS, RIGHT? IN REGARDS TO KEEPING THE MANPOWER THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG CITY AND THE COMPETITION IS GREAT. SO LET ME JUST ASK FOR MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I'VE, THIS IS MY FIRST TERM HERE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES, UH, SOLID WASTE AND OR UNIONS HAVE BEEN HERE. BUT LEMME ASK YOU, HOW LONG HAVE YOU'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH EQUIPMENT? HOW LONG COUNCILMAN ALCON JUST ADDRESS? HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? YES, SIR. FOR YEARS. I'VE BEEN HERE 18 MONTHS AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR 19 MONTHS. AB ABSOLUTELY, AND, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS, AND THIS IS NOT FOR ANY PARTICULAR SIDE OR WHATEVER, BUT HERE'S THE DEAL. IF IT TOOK YEARS TO GET HERE, IT CERTAINLY AIN'T GONNA BE A QUICK FIX TO DO IT TOMORROW, RIGHT? AND I THINK ALL OF YOU BOTH UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE MOVES, BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. WE ALL GET THAT ISSUE ABOUT TRASH AND STUFF. I SEE IT DRIVING DOWN THE ROADS IN MANY PLACES THAT THE SOLID WASTE ARE STRETCHED BEYOND. BUT THAT PROBLEM WITH RESOURCES, I THINK IS THE REALLY KEY ISSUE. AND I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO GET THAT DIRECTION. YES, WE'VE HAD SOME BUDGET CHANGES, BUT ALL THAT WAS DUE TO THE FACT TO TRY TO GET US HOPEFULLY BETTER TO DO MORE GOING FORWARD. SO, AND I'M SURE AS THE OTHERS THAT I CERTAINLY WANT TO SEE YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE AS, AS WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY. AND ALSO TO GIVE YOU THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB. YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT IT, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR PRESENCE, MY FRIEND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [01:25:01] UH, PART OF THE REST OF THE STORY IS, IS THE OPERATION THAT THE CITY GAVE YOU YEARS AGO IN TERMS OF RECYCLING A LONG TERM CONTRACT WITH AN OUTSTATE SPANISH FIRM THAT THE CITY ENTERED INTO THAT HAS ONE DROP OFF FOR THIS ENTIRE CITY. WE'RE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING WITH ANOTHER CORPORATION THAT WOULD HAVE EIGHT. SO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER JUST SAID, THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN, WE INHERITED THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A PROFILE ISSUE. BUT WE'LL HAVE YOUR DIRECTOR, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, SINCE THERE WAS AN EXCHANGE OF A WHILE AGO, YOUR NEW DIRECTOR, HAVE YOU SEEN IMPROVEMENTS? YES. OKAY. THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE FACTS THAT NEED TO BE PUT ON THE TABLE AND HE'LL BE HERE NEXT WEEK. WE ARE CURRENT. HE IS DOING THE BEST HE CAN. IT'S A MANAGEMENT AS MUCH AS A RESOURCE. BEFORE HE GOT THERE, WEDNESDAY WAS THE OFFICIAL DAY OFF. YOU KNOW IT, AND I KNOW IT, IT WAS RIGGED SO PEOPLE WOULD GET OVERTIME. SO YOU KNOW, YOU ARE DOING YOUR PART, BUT LET'S HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. SOME ARE NOT EVEN HERE, SOME ARE HERE THAT, UH, ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT ON RECYCLING LONG TERM THAT HAD ONE DROP OFF FOR 600 SQUARE MILES. WE'RE WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT. THIS MR. HASSAN IS THE REAL DEAL. HE'S EMPLOYEE FRIENDLY. Y'ALL ALL KNOW THAT. AND YOU ALSO KNOW YOU'RE CURRENT. AND THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE CURRENT IS 'CAUSE YOU WORK. WEEKENDS. I MONITOR IT. I TALK TO HIM EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. OF COURSE, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES. THIS ENTIRE CITY NEEDS MORE RESOURCES. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S AS MUCH MANAGEMENT AS IT IS RESOURCES. IF WE GET BOTH, WE'LL BE DEFINITELY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR WHAT YOU GO THROUGH. I KNOW YOUR LONG HOURS, YOUR DANGEROUS WORK. I THANK GOD THAT YOU HAVE A UNION AND I KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE YOUR UNION IS. I'M SORRY, SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM 'EM. I HEAR FROM 'EM ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR UNION. SO THANK YOU. HOPE LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND GO FORWARD. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TIME FOR POLITICS AND IT'S A TIME TO GET THINGS DONE. NOW'S THE TIME TO GET THINGS DONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. NEXT RUSSELL HARRISON. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RUSSELL HARRISON. I AM THE HOPE DISTRICT REP OF SOLID WASTE. I'VE BEEN WITH SOLID WASTE FOR NOW FOUR YEARS AS A SENIOR SIDE LOADER. I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO CHANGE THE MORALE AND THE MISTREATMENT OF MY FELLOW COWORKERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING YOUR ADMINISTRATION. THINGS HAVE IMPROVED, BUT WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY SHOULD MAKE, SHOULD DO TO MAKE SURE OUR WORKDAY RUNS SMOOTHLY AND THAT WE'RE, THAT THEY ARE RENDERED SERVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SHOULD BE PLACED OUT AT 6:00 PM BEFORE THE SCHEDULED WORK DAY AND NO LATER THAN 7:00 AM THE DAY OF PICKUP. PLEASE PLACE YOUR CONTAINERS ON THE CURBS AND THE HANDLE FACING THE HOUSES. CONTAINERS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE, NOT BLOCKED BY ANY OBSTACLES TO INCLUDE ANY PARK, CARS, TREES, MAILBOX, FENCED IN. IF THE DRIVER FEEL THAT THEY MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE EQUIPMENT OR THE PRIVATE PROPERTY SERVICE WILL NOT BE RENDERED. LEAVE THREE FEET BETWEEN GARBAGE CANS AND RECYCLE CANS SO THAT TRUCKS CAN SAFELY OPERATE. AND PLEASE DO NOT PUT PLACE HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, YARD WEIGHS HOT ASH OR COALS DEAD ANIMALS. CONSTRUCTION, UH, DEMOLITION MATERIAL OR DEBRIS. THE LID MUST BE PROPERLY CLOSED OR DEBRIS WILL FIT, UH, FALL OUT INTO THE STREET AND SERVICE AND CAN, WILL NOT BE SERVICED IF IT'S OVERFLOWED. [01:30:01] WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IF EVERYONE TOOK THE TIME TO KNOW THE RULES AND FOLLOW THEM. IT WILL MAKE OUR JOBS EASY AND IT HELPS US TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE IF WE DO NOT STOP TO TAKE A PIC. IF WE DID NOT HAVE TO STOP TO TAKE A PICTURE OF WRONG DEBRIS, RECYCLE CART, WE WOULD HAVE TIME TO GET UP THE RECYCLING OR GARBAGE AS WELL, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT SLOWS US DOWN. AND THEN AS WELL AS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, CONTAMINATED WHEN YOUR CAN IS CONTAMINATED, WE HAVE TO STOP DOING WHAT WE DOING IN ORDER TO GO TO THE LANDFILL. AND IF WE ALL DO OUR PART AND GO ALONG AND HELP US TO PROVIDE CUSTOMERS OUTSTANDING SERVICE, MAYOR PROTE MCKENSY STATED, MR. HARRISON, WHAT YOU HAVE JUST DONE IS LET US KNOW THAT WE NEED A MAJOR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. UM, YOU HAVE LISTED ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE ON A DAILY BASIS AND YOUR COLLEAGUES SEE ON A DAILY BASIS THAT I BET A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW, UM, THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. UM, YOU, YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT. UM, MAYOR, WE SHOULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT, UM, WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR, HOW WE DO AN COMPREHENSIVE, UM, EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IF, IF THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE SOLID WASTE DRIVERS AS WELL. EXCELLENT IDEA. THANK YOU SIR. CRAIG SIMMONS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UH, I'VE LISTENED AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAIN THING I'VE HEARD PERTAINING TO SOLID WASTE IS RESOURCES. I BELIEVE I HAVE SOMETHING THAT IF YOU ALL BACKED US, I THINK THAT IT WOULD HELP TO TAKE THE CITY TO A NEW LEVEL. AND WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF IS A NEW CITY ORDINANCE TO KEEP VEHICLES OFF THE STREETS WHEN WE GO THROUGH TO SERVICE THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR 23 AND A HALF YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON THAT WHOLE TIME, SO I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS GOING ON BEFORE I GOT TO THE CITY. SO I, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED. AND I, I FEEL LIKE OTHER CITY SERVICES WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT AS WELL. I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES, I'VE LOOKED AT NEW YORK AND LA THEY HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THAT, BUT THEY USE STREET SWEEPERS, BUT WE DON'T USE STREET SWEEPERS HERE, OF COURSE. BUT YOU CAN USE SOME OF THE SAME RULES THAT THEY USE HERE FOR US PERTAINING TO THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT WE GO UP AND DOWN THESE STREETS ON TO SERVICE THE CITIZENS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITIZENS ARE FRUSTRATED JUST LIKE WE ARE, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. THE CITY BELONGS TO ALL OF US. IT'S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. SO IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO ASSIST US WITH THAT. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE TATUM. MR. SIMEON, ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE CARS THAT ARE PARKED ON THE STREET ARE BLOCKING THE WAY SO THAT YOU CAN'T PULL THE TRUCK IN? YES, MA'AM. AND SO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS, IF WE COULD ON TRASH PICKUP DAY, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO HAVE THEIR CARS PARKED ON THE STREET, AND THAT WOULD EXPEDITE, UM, YOUR TRASH, THAT THAT'S PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR EDUCATING PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ASK PEOPLE NOT TO BLOCK. UM, THE WAY IT'S, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. AND I KNOW THAT'S CUMBERSOME FOR, UM, THE DRIVERS TO TRY TO MANEUVER AROUND PEOPLE'S CARS AND PICK UP THE TRASH. UM, I I, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT ACCESSIBLE. UM, WE KNOW THAT SOME STREETS ARE WIDER THAN OTHERS. YES. UM, AND IT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER WHEN THERE IS A WIDER STREET. BUT CARS BLOCKING THE WAY IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVERS. AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN, UH, ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO CLEAN OUT THEIR GARAGES AND PARK THOSE CARS IN THE GARAGE. YES, MA'AM. NEXT, NO COUNCIL, NO COUNSELOR AND PLUMBER. I'M SORRY, PLUMBER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. SO IN NEW YORK, THAT WORKS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MOVE THEIR CARS ON CERTAIN DAYS YES. AND PARK IN DIFFERENT AREAS. SO WE KNOW OTHER CITIES DO IT. SO I THINK IT'S JUST THE MATTER OF JUST FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO IT, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FROM AN EFFICIENCIES PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN'T ACCESS THEM FAST ENOUGH. I MEAN, THAT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA. YES. TO REALLY, THIS IS WHY WE NEED Y'ALL HERE BECAUSE Y'ALL [01:35:01] ARE EXPERIENCING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. YES, MA'AM. AND, UM, AS COUNCILOR POLLARD SAID, AND YOU'RE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM. SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA. AND I, AND I, I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD MIND THE INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GET, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THEY HAVE, IS JUST TO GET THEIR TRASH PICKED UP TIMELY, UM, AND EFFICIENTLY. SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT IDEA. I THINK WE'RE GONNA DEFINITELY MU THAT AROUND. AND I, I THINK THAT THE OTHER TWO REASONS TOO. WE TALKED ABOUT FINANCES FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. OKAY. THOSE OTHER CITIES ALSO CHARGE A FEE. YEAH. BUT THAT'S, BUT THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. I'M ALL IN WITH MY COUNSELORS, AT LEAST MY TWO NEIGHBORS RIGHT HERE. AND I'M ALL IN WITH A FEE . YES. AND I, I KNOW, YEAH. THE CITY OF LA CHARGED ME BETWEEN 60, $65 PER TICKET IN ONE YEAR. THEY MADE $134 MILLION. I MEAN, WE, WE, WE OBVIOUSLY WANNA BE, YOU KNOW, MINDFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SENIORS, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE WANNA BE MINDFUL. IT'S GETTING REALLY DIFFICULT TO LIVE RIGHT NOW. SO WE WANNA BE MINDFUL OF THAT PIECE. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO, UP TO UPRIGHT, UM, YOUR DEPARTMENT IS BIO AFI AND, UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, INCORPORATING HEAVY TRAFFIC PICKUP, RECYCLING, PICKUP, AND YOUR NORMAL TRASH PICKUP. YES, MA'AM. UM, COMPLIMENTARY. THAT JUST SOUNDS LIKE A LOT FOR ALL OF Y'ALL TO DO. SO, UM, NOW I THINK THOSE ARE TWO REALLY GREAT OPTIONS ON THE TABLE. AND, UM, AND I'M DEFINITELY WILLING TO WORK WITH ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE, ON THE ORDINANCE TO, UM, HAVE PARKED CAR, A PARKED CAR SCHEDULE OR ROTATION ON SCHEDULE. YEAH. THAT'S BRILLIANT. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE LAST THING. YOU ALL IMPLEMENT THAT. I LIKE TO HAVE MY NAME ATTACHED TO IT IN SOME WAY. . HEY. HEY. LEMME TELL YOU THIS, YOU ARE OFFICIALLY ON RECORD. IT IS. WHAT TIME IS IT RIGHT NOW? WE GOING, WE'RE GONNA MARK THE TIMES, WE CAN PULL THE RECORDING SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE, WE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. ABSOLUTELY. YES. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, NEXT. JESUS. JESUS GONZALEZ. HELLO, HOW ARE Y'ALL? UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JESUS GONZALEZ. I WORK AT SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. I AM A UNION MEMBER AND A UNION STEWARD. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT ON OUR DAILY OPERATIONS, SOLID WASTE. I ARRIVE AND I CLOCK IN AT 5 53 EVERY MORNING HOPING THERE'S A TRUCK, HOPING THAT THERE IS A TRUCK AVAILABLE. I HAVE A NEW TRUCK, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN TWO AND A HALF MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S OUT, BECAUSE IT, IT IS AN OUTSIDE SERVICE WAITING ON PARTS THAT CANNOT BE FOUND. SO I WAIT UNTIL THE YARD IS CLEARED AND I TAKE WHATEVER TRUCK IS LEFT OVER. I DO MY PRE-TRIP INSPECTION AND USUALLY THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. LOW FLUIDS, AIR LEAKS, MECHANICAL ISSUES. I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP. BUT THE SHOP IS OVERFLOWED WITH TRUCKS FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE MECHANICS ARE DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN, BUT THEY'RE SHORT STAFFED AND OVERWHELMED. I AM LUCKY IF I GET TO LEAVE THE YARD BY 6:37 AM THEN I SIT IN HOUSTON TRAFFIC FOR 30 MINUTES. I GET TO THE ROUTE BETWEEN SEVEN TO EIGHT, SOMETIMES EVEN LATER. I GET A LOAD IN, USUALLY ABOUT 10 OR 12 TONS OF GARBAGE. TAKE IT TO THE DUMP, GO AHEAD. UH, TAKE IT TO THE DUMP. AND I WAIT AT THE DUMP FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO. USUALLY IT'S BACKED UP. EVERYONE USES THOSE DUMPS, TRANSFER STATIONS, EVERY PRIVATE COMPANY, EVERY CITY VEHICLE. THEN I DRIVE BACK TO THE ROUTE IN TRAFFIC, GET THERE AS FAST AS I CAN, AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEES HOW, HOW LATE I'LL BE OUT THERE. SOME DRIVERS BREAK DOWN, SOME DRIVERS LEAVE AT TWO 30 WHEN THEIR SHIFT IS OVER ON A MONDAY. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO PICK UP MY ROUTE BY TWO 30. AND IF I BREAK DOWN ON THAT SAME ON THE NEXT MONDAY, I'LL HAVE THREE DRIVERS THERE HELPING ME FINISH THAT ROUTE BY 6:00 PM IT'S NOT THE DRIVERS, IT'S THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE TRUCKS THAT'S HURTING OPERATIONS. I'M HERE EVERY DAY AT 5 45 READY TO WORK. WE ALSO DEAL WITH CONSTANT CHALLENGES WITH RESIDENTS. CANS PLACED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, CANS NEXT TO VEHICLES, OVERFLOWING GARBAGE. WE HAVE TO STOP. WE HAVE TO STOP. SEPARATE THE CANS, TAG THEM, TAKE THE PICTURES, LOG INTO RUBICON, SEND THE INFORMATION TO 3 1 1, AND OUR SUPERVISORS. ALL THAT TAKES TIME. WE'RE HERE DOING OUR BEST. LATELY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENTS WITH OVERTIME ISSUES, HPD, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SOLID WASTE. I GET IT. BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE EMERGENCIES FOR POLICE, EMTS, AND FIREFIGHTERS TO DO. BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE GARBAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN COVID HIT, WE WERE LABELED ESSENTIAL WORKERS. WE CAME TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT NOW WE'RE STILL ESSENTIAL. JUST [01:40:01] WITHOUT THE SUPPORT, WE COULD BARELY GET THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO DO OUR JOB. THE MORALE IS LOW, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING. NEW HIRES WALK AWAY AFTER A FEW WEEKS, ONCE THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST. THE ONES WHO STAY DO NOT THE THE ONES WHO STAY, THEY STAY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE WORK. EVEN THE STRONGEST AMONG US ARE BURNING OUT. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. AND YET THINGS. AND WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, THE BLAME ALWAYS SEEMS TO FALL ON THE DRIVERS. THE PUBLIC SEES THE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD AND ASSUME WE'RE THE PROBLEM. AND WE ARE FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE. YOU CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, ARE THE LEADERS OF THIS CITY AND THIS OPERATION. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SUCCEED WHEN PURCHASING NEW TRUCKS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE FRONTLINE WORKERS SHOULD BE INVOLVED. BOTH DRIVERS AND MECHANICS. WE KNOW WHAT EQUIPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. WE KNOW WHAT EQUIPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE. WE KNOW WHAT FAILS. IT DOESN'T HELP TO SPEND TAXPAYERS MONEY ON TRUCKS THAT CAN'T LAST A YEAR OR DO THE JOB. WE'RE NOT. TRUCKS BREAK DOWN AND WE REPORT IT. WE NEED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, NOT TOLD, JUST KEEP PUSHING. ONE EXAMPLE IS OUR AIR CONDITIONING. WE'RE SITTING ON A, ON TOP OF A 350 DEGREE ENGINE. AC FAILURE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE CONSIDERED A BREAKDOWN, ESPECIALLY IN HOUSTON SUMMERS. HEAT EXHAUSTION IS REAL. FATIGUE IS REAL. OUR SAFETY SHOULD MATTER. WE ALSO NEED BETTER UNIFORMS, ESPECIALLY COOLER ONES DURING THE SUMMER. THEIR CURRENT MECHANICAL STYLES ARE TOO THICK AND HEAVY. FOR HOUSTON'S HEAT, THEY TRAP SWEAT, RESTRICT AIR AIRFLOW, AND MAKE AND MAKE AN, UH, ALREADY TOUGH JOB. EVEN HARDER SOMETIMES. BREATHABLE LIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN KEEPING US SAFE AND COMFORTABLE. LET'S TACKLE THE, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. RECYCLING BEAM LEFT BEHIND HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IT'S ALWAYS BEHIND. IT'S SIMPLE. THE TRUCKS ARE CONSTANTLY BREAKING DOWN. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE DRIVER'S SCHEDULED TO HANDLE RECYCLING ARE REDIRECTED TO GO PICK UP THE BLACK CANS BECAUSE GARBAGE IS ALWAYS PRIORITY. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE. NO ONE WANTS OUR CITY OVERRUN WITH RATS AND RODENTS. SO WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED FOR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL. THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE CONTRACTING OUT OUR WORK SIMPLY BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN IS FAILING. LETTING OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS COME IN AND DO OUR JOBS, NOT ONLY UNDERCUTS US, IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT THE CITY DOESN'T TRUST OR SUPPORT ITS OWN WORKFORCE. WHY NOT INVEST IN US? INVEST IN YOUR OWN TEAM. SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY DESPITE THE CHALLENGES. THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT FROM LEADERSHIP WILL GO A LONG WAY IN BOOSTING MORALE. ANOTHER COMMITMENT IS TO OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THERE'S AN EXAMPLE I WANT TO SPEAK ON. BILINGUAL PAY. I WAS TOLD I WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR BILINGUAL PAY, BUT WHEN I APPLIED, I WAS DECLINED. WHY? BECAUSE I DON'T USE IT ENOUGH. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. IF ONE CITIZEN COMES UP TO ME AND SPEAKS TO ME IN SPANISH AND I HELP THEM, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. THAT INTERACTION MATTERS. THAT RESIDENT FEELS SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD. THAT IS PUBLIC SERVICE, THAT'S VALUE. AND IT DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED. WE ALSO GET PATRONIZED FAR TOO OFTEN. WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING ASKED, HOW MUCH LONGER? WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG? SO AND SO WOULD'VE BEEN DONE BY NOW. THESE COMMENTS DON'T HELP MORALE. THEY CHIP AWAY AT IT EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY WE'RE DEALING WITH BROKEN EQUIPMENT, BACKED UP DUMPS, OVERFLOWING ROUTES, AND CONSTANT REROUTING. BUT INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE BEING MICROMANAGED, TRACKED ON TABLETS, WATCHED BY CAMERAS AND SECOND GUESS AT EVERY TURN, WE KNOW OUR SUPERVISORS ARE OVERWHELMED AS WELL. AND THESE COMMENTS ARE WHAT THEY ARE HEARING. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN ONE SUPERVISOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE AND THEY STILL HAVE TO GO IN AND DO THEIR OFFICE WORK AND COMPLETE IT. WE'RE ALL EXHAUSTED, BUT WE KEEP PUSHING. SO INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR, MONITOR US, INVEST THAT MONEY [01:45:01] IN THE TRUCK AND TOOLS WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DO OUR JOBS. WE DON'T NEED MORE EYES ON US. WE NEED MORE HELP UNDER US. THE TRUTH IS, EMPLOYEES GET FRUSTRATED, EXHAUSTED, DEALING WITH PROBLEMS DAY AFTER DAY, BROKEN TRUCKS, SHORT STAFFING, DELAYS AND BLAME. WE'RE EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS DEALING WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT, LONG HOURS, BROKEN TRUCKS, AND OFTEN FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS. THE WORK WE DO ISN'T JUST HARD. IT'S ESSENTIAL. THERE'S CONSTANT STRESS. AND WE PUT THE PRESSURE ON OURSELVES TO DO THE JOB RIGHT? BUT THIS JOB MAKES MORE, TAKES MORE THAN PHYSICAL STRENGTH. IT TAKES MENTAL TOUGHNESS. I'VE SEEN COWORKERS HIT THEIR LIMIT, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE WEAK, BUT BECAUSE THEY CARE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE. WE'RE STILL HERE. WE GRIND EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO. WE DO IT FOR OUR FAMILIES, WE DO IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DO IT FOR OUR CITY. WE NEEDED A DEPARTMENTAL RAISE FOR SOME MORE MONEY. WHAT WE WON WITH THE UNION IN OUR CONTRACT WAS GREAT FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. BUT OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS ITS OWN. IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY PEOPLE IN SOLID WASTE, YOU NEED TO PAY THEM ACCORDINGLY. SOLID WASTE DESERVES ITS OWN SPECIFIC COMPENSATION INCREASE. MAKE IT WORTH IT. WE LIVE IN A FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND YET I'M BARELY ABLE TO PAY MY BILLS WHILE SUPPORTING A HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR. I SHOW UP EVERY DAY, GIVE EVERYTHING I'VE GOT, AND I STILL LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. I WANT BETTER, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR MY KIDS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEND MY CHILDREN TO COLLEGE. I WANT THEM TO SEE WHAT HARD WORK LOOKS LIKE. AND I ALSO WANT THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES I DIDN'T HAVE. I DON'T WANT THEM TO FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS AND BECOME A GARBAGE MAN. I WANT THEM UP THERE WITH YOU ALL MAKING BIG DECISIONS, PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. EVERY PARENT WANTS A FUTURE THAT'S BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD. WE ARE OUT HERE EVERY DAY, RAIN OR SHINE, HEAT OR COLD, DOING OUR JOBS WITH PRIDE. BUT PRIDE CAN ONLY CARRY US SO FAR WITHOUT BACKUP. WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT WORKS AS HARD AS WE DO EVERY DAY FOR THIS CITY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL TO COME GET IN ONE OF THESE OLD TRUCKS AND COME PICK UP SOME GARBAGE WITH ME. , WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. UH, MR. GONZALEZ, I WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE, UH, WHAT I HAD ASKED EARLIER WAS TO HELP US SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THE PICTURE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING, GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AT CLOSE TO 5:00 AM RUN YOUR CHECKS ON EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING ON WEDNESDAYS, AND DO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO TO SIT IN A HOT CAR OR TRUCK. MM-HMM . AND GET HOME WHEN YOU DO. UH, I WILL SAY, UH, MY SON CLOCKED OUT AT SEVEN 30 LAST NIGHT. EXACTLY. SEVEN 30 LAST NIGHT. 14 AND A HALF HOURS. SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. 14 AND A HALF HOURS. 14 AND A HALF HOURS. AND UH, $23 AN HOUR AIN'T GOING TO CUT IT. YEP. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE ALL I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO YOU ALL AND HEAR YOU ALL. BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE AND THE VOICE TO SAY WHAT'S UP AND WHAT THIS IS LIKE. UH, I I DO WANNA ADD THOUGH, MY SON DOES WANNA BE A GARBAGE MAN. UH, AND, AND ANYTIME Y'ALL COME DOWN THAT STREET, OUR DRIVERS ARE SO KIND, PATIENT AS YOU SEE KIDS RUN OUT, YOU ARE THEIR HEROES. UM, BUT I WILL ADD THAT YOU ARE OUR HEROES AS WELL. AND WE KNOW THAT FROM NOT JUST HARVEY, NOT JUST FROM AMELDA, NOT JUST FROM TAX DAY, NOT JUST FROM MEMORIAL DAY, BUT WINTER STORM URI AND THE DEBRIS PICKUP. EVERY FREEZE WE'VE HAD AND THE LIST GOES ON AND EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRASH PICKUP UNDER STATE LAW, TRASH HAS TO BE PICKED UP BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK. AND Y'ALL ARE THE ONES THAT ENSURE THAT WE, UH, ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. YOU TALK ABOUT RECYCLING AND I DO BELIEVE RECYCLING IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND IT HELPS DIVERT WASTE AWAY FROM OUR LANDFILLS SO THAT DOWN THE ROAD Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE EVEN FARTHER. RIGHT. UH, RELATED TO THAT. AND IT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS MORE. AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A GARBAGE FEE FOR HOW MANY YEARS NOW. AND I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS [01:50:01] IN THE AUDIENCE. I APPRECIATE THAT HE'S HERE. HE ADVOCATED, UH, ON THIS VERY ISSUE AS WELL. THE, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, UM, THE PRIVATE COMPANY. SO EVERYONE, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND IT IS STANDING IN THE SAME LINE. AND MAYOR, I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME WAY, UH, I DON'T WANNA GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE OTHER PRI WITH THE PRIVATE COMPANIES, BUT AGAIN, AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IS THERE NOT AN EXPEDITED LINE OR WAY WE CAN GET OUR CITY OF HOUSTON TRUCKS IN AND OUT, UM, AS OPPOSED TO OFFICE CONTRACTORS AS OPPOSED TO RIGHT. EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT AND THE SERVICES OF THE CITY HAVE TO CONTINUE AND ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN BE DOING AS WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER LOCATIONS, UM, TO HELP ASSIST IN THAT WAY IN THE MEANTIME TO HELP MITIGATE. BUT AGAIN, MR. GONZALEZ, TO EVERYONE, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM SONYA, UM, BUT YOU PAINTED THE PICTURE AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION? IS THERE SOMETHING IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT STATES THAT THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THE PHOTOS AND DOC DOCUMENTATION WHEN THE TRASH BIN'S OVERFLOWING? WELL, THEY CAN'T, YOU CAN'T JUST PASS BY. I MEAN WE CAN, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET IN TROUBLE. YOU'RE GONNA GET A CALL FOR AN SR TO GO BACK AND PICK IT UP. SO, OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT AND SAYING THE RE GIVING THEM A REASON WHY THEIR CAN WAS NOT PICKED UP. MM-HMM . SO YOU EITHER HAVE TO GET OUT, TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOUR IPAD, WHICH PROBABLY COSTS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T EVEN NEED. 'CAUSE I GOT A LITTLE TAG THAT I CAN JUST PUT ON IT. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, YOU COULD GIMME THAT MONEY ON MY PAYCHECK INSTEAD . I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT. UM, BUT YEAH, WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT EVERY REASON OR ANY CAN THAT WE PASS UP AND YOU CAN'T JUST TAG IT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR DOCUMENT. WE, WE CAN TAG IT. BUT YOU HAVE TO DOCUMENT IT TOO THOUGH. RIGHT? RIGHT. AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE ARE BEING TOLD TO DO BOTH. WE'RE TAKING PICTURES. THAT SEEMS LIKE IT SEEMS. YEAH. I MEAN THAT'S ALSO I THINK A SPACE THAT WE CAN WORK ON AS WELL. 'CAUSE THAT JUST SOUNDS LIKE TOO MUCH WORK FOR Y'ALL TO DO. I MEAN, IF YOU GOTTA GO PICK UP 1500 CANS AND YOU GOTTA STOP DOING THAT ALL THE TIME. YEAH. IT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME. YOU'RE GONNA BE OUT THERE 14, 15 HOURS A NIGHT. RIGHT. AND I, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE TRY TO UM, DO EVERYTHING RIGHT BY OUR RESIDENTS, BUT OUR RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO RIGHT BY YOU GUYS. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT AS WELL IS, UM, AND I THINK THE RESIDENTS, WHEN YOU, WHEN THEY GET A TAG AND THEY REALIZE THEIR CANS ARE NOT GONNA GET, GONNA GET PICKED UP, I THINK THAT THEY'RE ALSO GONNA SAY NO. THAT THAT DOESN'T MATTER. NO, IT DOESN'T MATTER. INTERESTING. IT DON'T MATTER. OKAY. THEY'RE GOING, THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE THEIR CANS ONE INCH APART NO MATTER WHAT. THAT'S AN ISSUE. 'CAUSE YOU GOTTA MAKE SURE IF YOU REACH OUT AND TRY TO GRAB THAT CAN AND YOU DUMP THAT CAN NEXT TO IT, GUESS WHAT YOU GOTTA DO? YOU GOTTA GET OUT, GO PICK UP ALL THAT TRASH. YOU JUST DROP AND PUT IT BACK IN THAT CAN SEPARATE THEM CANS. IT'S SO, SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT, BECAUSE WHENEVER I PUT MY CANS OUT AT MY FRONT HOUSE, MY KID WILL GO OUT THERE 'CAUSE Y'ALL HAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TOP OF THE LID AND HE'LL GO OUT THERE AND HE'LL LIKE, MOM, IT'S GOTTA BE SPREAD OUT. AND I WAS LIKE, WELL REALLY? YEAH. 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THE CAN. AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH. YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU KNOW? SO, UM, I LIKED YOUR SON. YEAH. . I DO TOO. I DO TOO. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, MR. BUILDER, REAL QUICK. UH, AN IDEA ABOUT KEEPING IT GOING. THREE SHIFTS ON THE, ON THE FEET, HAVE 'EM WORKING. YOU KNOW, DAY SHIFT, NIGHT SHIFT, GRAVEYARD SHIFT. KEEP THE TRUCKS MOVING. THANK YOU, SIR. VERY GOOD SUGGESTION, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL SEE YOU IN THE TRUCK. . GOT IT. SONYA RICO. OH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY NAME IS SONYA RICO AND I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR HOPE AFSCME LOCAL 1, 2, 3. WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE YOUR SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEWS MEDIA COVERAGE THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING LATELY. UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY THE WORST MAKES THE NEWS. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES THERE ARE VALID REASONS AS TO WHY THE SERVICES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. FOR EXAMPLE, A GENTLEMAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTED HIS RECYCLING HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED FOR SIX MONTHS, I'M SORRY, FOR SIX WEEKS. WHEN MANAGEMENT WENT OUT THERE TO INVESTIGATE HIS CAN WAS ACTUALLY PLACED BEHIND A MOTOR VEHICLE AND HAD BEEN THERE FOR SIX WEEKS. THAT'S THE REASON IT WASN'T PICKED UP. THERE WAS TWO VIOLATIONS, IT WAS BLOCKED BY A VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT AT THE CURBSIDE. SO THAT WOULD BE A VALID REASON WHY IT WASN'T SERVICED. UM, AS A 3 1 1 OPERATOR, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY DO NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE RULES. I INCLUDE MYSELF BECAUSE I ALSO LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEE WHAT MY NEIGHBORS AND OTHERS AROUND MY COMMUNITY ARE DOING AS I DRIVE AROUND. SOMEWHERE WE HAVE DROPPED THE BALL AND ENFORCEMENT IS NEEDED. CRAIG'S IDEA OF A CITY ORDINANCE FOR VEHICLES TO BE PARKED ALONG THE CURB DURING, UH, PICKUP HOURS IS ALSO A GREAT IDEA. NOT ONLY IS IT A SAFETY CONCERN, BUT ALSO WOULD ALLOW THEM TO COMPLETE THE ROUTES FASTER. HOWEVER, THE REAL PROBLEM IS EQUIPMENT. EVEN [01:55:01] IF THE DEPARTMENT WERE TO HIRE 20 DRIVERS TODAY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THE WORK. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED MORE EQUIPMENT TO BE PURCHASED. I KNOW MR. GLASSCOCK TOLD ME THERE'S MORE TRUCKS COMING IN OCTOBER. HOWEVER, WHEN WE GIVE PEOPLE ACCOLADES FOR SAVING MONEY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAVING IT IN THE RIGHT PLACES. PREVIOUS SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR RECEIVED RECOGNITION FOR SAVING THE CITY SO MUCH MONEY WAY BACK THEN. BUT NOW LOOK AT WHAT THOSE SAVINGS ACTUALLY MEANT. THEY STOPPED PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND STOPPED INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE IN AREAS SUCH AS COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND BASIC NEEDS LIKE UNIFORMS. THE DEPARTMENT, HOWEVER, WAS ALWAYS TOP HEAVY. SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO SAVE MONEY THERE. I GUESS WHEN MR. WOLF CAME IN, HE STARTED ORDERING EQUIPMENT WHEN YOU, WHICH HE RECOGNIZED WAS BADLY NEEDED. HOWEVER, WITH COVID, EVERYTHING IS STILL NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE. EQUIPMENT TAKES LONGER TO GET THAN IT DID IN THE PAST. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED CONTRACTORS TO COME IN AND HELP, BUT AS THEIR PRESIDENT, WE WILL ONLY SUPPORT CONTRACTORS WHO HELP OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES WHILE IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO FIX OUR STAFFING AND IMPROVE THE EQUIPMENT. AS A TAX PAYING RESIDENT AND EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD HISTORY WITH CONTRACTORS IN THE PAST. AN EXAMPLE HAPPENS DURING OUR WEATHER EMERGENCIES. WE HIRE ALL THESE CONTRACTORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEIR PRIORITY IS GETTING PAID. THEY DAMAGE BOTH PRIVATE PROPERTY AND CITY INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS SIDEWALKS AND CURBS. SO DOES THIS REALLY HELP? AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE AS A 3 1 1 TELECOMMUNICATOR, I WILL GET THOSE COMPLAINT CALLS COMING IN. CONTRACTORS DON'T KNOW ALL OF OUR RULES AND NO ONE IN THE PAST HAS EVER HELD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THEIR PRIORITIES ARE NOT TO SERVICE THE CITIZENS, BUT PROFIT FOR THEIR COMPANY. SO WHILE THIS MAY BE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, WE NEED A PERMANENT ONE. WE NEED TO INVEST MORE MONEY IN SOLID WASTE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH EQUIPMENT AND THEIR COMPENSATION SHOULD BE COMPARABLE TO WHAT OTHER BUSINESSES ARE PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES. WE NEED A GARBAGE FEE AS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A NEED. IT IS NOT A WANT AT THIS TIME. AND WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE COMING IN, I AM SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED. ENFORCEMENT IS ALSO A MUST. MRUS HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL WITH ME THAT HE'S GONNA START AN ENFORCEMENT TEAM. I APPLAUD HIM FOR THAT BECAUSE ENFORCEMENT IS KEY TO MAKING SURE THAT THE RULES ARE FOLLOWED. WE THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR IN THIS DEPARTMENT. THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN GREAT. WE HAVE THE MORALE HAS STARTED TO GO UP. IMPROVEMENTS IN A LOT OF AREAS HAS GONE, HAS GROWN. IT'S A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE THAN WHEN YOU VISIT SOLID WASTE. NOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO THOUGH, AND MR. LARRYS INHERITED A MESS. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW IS GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. A LOT OF THESE WORKERS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN LIVING LIKE THIS FOR YEARS, RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING, AND IT'S BEEN SO HARD TO TRY TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS COMING RIGHT? BECAUSE WHEN YOU'VE LIVED LIKE THIS FOR SO LONG, TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY CHANGE HAS BEEN REALLY HARD. AS THEIR PRESIDENT, I VISIT THEM ONCE, I VISIT EVERY SERVICE CENTER ONCE A WEEK, EVERY MONTH. AND THEY ARE IN DENIAL STILL OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN MISTREATED FOR SO LONG. SO IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO BELIEVE. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT MR. LARIA HAS SOME AWESOME IDEAS. I DO BELIEVE HE IS THE CHANGE THAT THIS DEPARTMENT NEEDS. AND HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH HIM AND WITH ALL OF US, WE CAN GET IT DONE. THANK YOU, SONYA. UH, YOU AND I KNOW WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO COME BACK AND RUN FOR MAYOR THAT THINGS WERE NOT WORKING WELL. SURE. THINGS I REMEMBER WERE WORKING. I'D BE IN THE SENATE MM-HMM . SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NO EXCUSES. WE'RE LISTENING. WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOU WANTED A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. YES. I THINK WE HAVE A REAL LEADER. HE'S CHANGING THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. HE'S DOING THE INVENTORY OF THE BROKEN VEHICLES. HE'S ALSO USING SOME COMMON SENSE THAT WHERE YOU DON'T TAKE A VEHICLE OUT OF OPERATION BECAUSE OF A BUSTED TAILLIGHT. YOU GOTTA BE SMART. FIX THE TAIL LIGHT AFTER YOU PICK UP THE TRASH. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU. WELCOME. LIKE I SAID, NO EXCUSES. WE KNOW THE PROBLEM. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS LONGER THAN SOME OF US, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND SONYA, THANK YOU. AND EVERYONE WHO CAME TODAY TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW, YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO WITH HOPE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, UH, THAT DO SUCH VITAL WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS, THE FEEDBACK THAT [02:00:01] Y'ALL GAVE BECAUSE IT LED TO A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME, SOME REAL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE. UM, SOME FIXES, YOU KNOW, THE NEED FOR AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN, THE NEED FOR, UH, FEE MORE REVENUE. UM, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THIS TOP OF MIND BECAUSE THE CITIZENS EXPECT US TO DELIVER ON THIS SERVICE. IT'S A CORE CITY SERVICE. AND WE KNOW THAT THE SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES ARE OUT THERE DOING SUCH HARD WORK EVERY DAY AND IN A LOT OF VARIOUS CONDITIONS. AND I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU, THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW DIRECTOR TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, SONYA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, AND FOR EVERYONE THAT'S HERE, UH, FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT. I THINK ONE OF THE, UH, THE THINGS THAT NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IS GARBAGE FEE, TRASH FEE, GARBAGE FEE, TRASH FEE JUST NEEDS TO BE SAID. RIGHT? AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, AND I SAID THIS LAST YEAR, I SUBMITTED THE, THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, NOT JUST FOR A GARBAGE FEE, BUT ON DEMAND, UH, HEAVY TRASH. I'VE ALSO SUBMITTED FOR A DEVELOPER FEE. WE'VE HAD ABOUT 45,000 NEW, UH, HOMES BEING ADDED TO THE, TO THE LIST OVER THE LAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS. UH, THAT'S $28 THAT WE COULD ADD HAVE GOTTEN FROM THAT, RIGHT? UH, THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO SEE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES COME IN. UM, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND I'VE SAID THIS LAST YEAR, I SAID IT THIS YEAR, IT'S A HARD DECISION. UH, NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT INCREASED FEES OR TAXES. IT'S, UH, IT'S AN, AN ELECTION, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, ELECTION WORDS THAT YOU NEVER WANNA PUT OUT THERE. BUT I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO SAYING THAT IF THAT COST ME AN ELECTION, I AM AM. OKAY? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO RIGHT SIZE THIS DEPARTMENT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS HORSESHOE NEEDS TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ELECTED TO DO. AND, AND WE JUST NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH AT THE END OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE. BECAUSE WHAT I SEE, UH, WORKERS HERE, UH, FEELING LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE AT FAULT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE MEDIA'S BEEN PUTTING IT OUT THERE. I I JUST, I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN. WE KNOW BY STATE LAW, THE TRASH BLACK TRASH CAN IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE PICKED UP. I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION WHEN A TRASH FEE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. AND IT WAS WHEN WE STARTED DOING HEAVY TRASH. AND THAT WAS DECADES AGO, NOT 10 YEARS AGO, BUT AT LEAST 20 YEARS AGO. AND SO, AGAIN, THE TOUGH DECISION HAS TO BE MADE HERE. I AM COMMITTED TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AT EVERY CIVIC CLUB, WHICH I'VE HAD. AND QUITE FRANKLY, MOST FOLKS ARE OKAY WITH IT. MOST FOLKS ARE OKAY WITH IT. AND SO, UH, NOW IT'S MORE OF ACTION. HOW DO WE GET TO THAT POINT? UM, I'M WITH YOU ALL. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE REST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE HAVE TO, WE KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. LISTEN, WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION. WE KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. AND SO MAKING THAT TOUGH DECISION IS ACTUALLY PART OF THAT SOLUTION. SO I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING THAT TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A, A WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU KNOW IT'S SAFE. IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU, YOU FEEL CONFIDENT TO COME TO DO YOUR WORK. UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT ALLOWS YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THE, THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WANNA, THAT YOU WANT TO, UH, COMPLETE. AND SO, UM, TO MY COLLEAGUES, TRASH FEE, TRASH FEE, TRASH FEE, TRASH FEE, MAYOR PROTI, CAST STATE, THANK YOU SONYA. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE ALONG WITH ALL OF THE SOLID WASTE, UM, EMPLOYEES. YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT TRIGGERED MY THOUGHT WHEN YOU SAID WE NEED TO, UM, RAMP UP ENFORCEMENT. I BET EVERY SOLID WASTE DRIVER CAN PINPOINT CONTRACTORS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ON AIR CONDITIONS, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ON CARPET, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ON TOILETS, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ON FENCES. MM-HMM. BECAUSE THEY PUT THEIR HEAVY TRASH OUT EVERY MONTH, UM, FROM THEIR BUSINESS AS OPPOSED TO THAT BEING RESIDENTIAL TRASH. RIGHT? AND WE DON'T HAVE ENFORCEMENT FOR THAT. RIGHT? AND THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO PICK THAT UP EVERY MONTH IS TAKING AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL HEAVY TRASH PICKUP THAT WE PROVIDE AS A SERVICE TO THE CITY, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE DO NEED TO, UM, RAMP UP ENFORCEMENT AND WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WHEN PEOPLE, WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A NEW FENCE. WHERE DOES ALL THIS FENCE DEBRIS COME FROM? RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHOULDN'T PICK IT UP. UM, AND THEN I SAY THAT THINKING IT'LL END UP ON THE DEAD END AND ON THAT ON WEST AIRPORT. UM, SO IT, IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM. BUT WE DO NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS. AND I THINK WITH THE, UM, EMPLOYEES BEING HERE TODAY, THIS IS DEFINITELY A START OF THE CONVERSATIONS ON HOW WE FIX THIS ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UM, FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. BUT I'D BE INTERESTED [02:05:01] IN DISTRICT A, THOSE, THOSE HOUSES THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, , THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT STACY FAIRCHILD TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE LEE, EITHER ONE. THANK YOU MAYOR. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE. THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS STACY FAIRCHILD AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22, THE WASHINGTON AVENUE COALITION MEMORIAL PARK, WHERE I SERVE AS PRESIDENT. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? IT'S LOUD OVER HERE. FOR YEARS, I'VE LISTENED TO RESIDENTS STAND AT THIS PODIUM AND VOICE THE SAME CONCERN, QUOTE UNQUOTE. I HAD TO TAKE OFF TIME FROM WORK JUST TO BE HERE OR I COULDN'T SPEAK ON PAST ISSUES 'CAUSE I CAN'T MAKE IT DOWNTOWN DURING THE DAY. SO PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC SESSION OFTEN REQUIRES USING A HALF A DAY OF VACATION. AND MANY HOUSTONIANS SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THAT. THAT'S WHY WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO HOLD ONE EVENING PUBLIC SESSION A MONTH. THIS IS ABOUT ACCESS MORE THAN IT IS CONVENIENCE. ALL RESIDENTS DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE TO BE HEARD. AND WE APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS CASTILLO, PECK AND ALCORN AND HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THE MEASURE. WE ALSO URGE THAT MAJOR AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN, AND ESPECIALLY COMMUNITY DRIVEN ITEMS, THOSE INVOLVING PARTICULARLY LAND USE, QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAFETY. GO THROUGH AT LEAST ONE EVENING PUBLIC SESSION BEFORE A VOTE. SO YOU CAN SCHEDULE YOUR, SO YOU CAN SCHEDULE YOUR ITEMS THAT YOU BRING BEFORE THE COUNCIL. UM, ACCORDINGLY, IF THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE, WE ASK THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE BE CONSULTED AND A HYBRID SESSION OFFERED. IF TIME IS LIMITED, THESE STEPS WOULD BUILD PUBLIC TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY. AND IS SOMEONE WHO HAS PERSONALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN DRAFTING THE MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM FOR THE LAST THREE ELECTION CYCLES. AND ALSO THE, UH, AT LARGE CANDIDATE FORUMS FOR THE LAST THREE ELECTION CYCLES THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY PUT ON. AND ALSO THE DISTRICT C AND DISTRICT H FORUMS. THE, YOU KNOW, THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED, WOULD YOU SUPPORT HOLDING PUBLIC SESSION AT NIGHT ONCE A MONTH? AND EVERY ELECTION CYCLE, EVERY CANDIDATE SAID, ABSOLUTELY. SO HERE WE ARE. I WAS GOING AND, AND, AND JUST KNOW THAT EVERY TIME SAID NO. WHAT'D I SAY, STACY? THAT . SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALLOWING COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO ALCORN, HEY IS AND PECK, THIS IS A WIDE OPEN THIS FORWARD. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UM, AND LET'S, LET'S DO A TRIAL. 'CAUSE I HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT, OH, YOU KNOW, WELL MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET A LOT OF PARTICIPATION. LET'S, LET'S TRIAL THIS AND SEE IF IT WORKS FOR SIX MONTHS OR WHATEVER. AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO BACK TO REGULAR, YOU KNOW, FOUR TIMES A WEEK ON TUESDAY AT TWO. THANK YOU. UH, SEE, I CAN SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND I CAN TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS SUCH AS THE MAYOR, POT TEMS MENTIONED, I ABOUT DOING IT. I CAN'T, MAYOR, I CAN'T HEAR YOU ABOUT DOING IT VIRTUAL, BUT I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST IF WE CONTINUE THE CURRENT MODEL THAT IN MY WORLD THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT YOU'VE GOTTA SIGN UP TODAY BEFORE AT THREE O'CLOCK YOU CAN'T GET UP THIS MORNING, DECIDE YOU WANT TO COME TO COUNCIL. RIGHT. BAD PRACTICE. UH, AND MAYOR, THE OTHER, AND I WOULD ALSO EMPHASIZE WE NEED A BETTER COMMITTEE SYSTEM SO WE CAN VET THE THINGS. SO WE CAN HAVE HEARINGS AND THE COMMITTEES COULD TAKE A STAND IN RECOMMENDATIONS. NOW IT'S PRETTY MUCH HERE FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS MM-HMM . SO ANYWAY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP TO LOOK AT. AND YOU WOULD BE INVOLVED OBVIOUSLY. THANK YOU. AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE SHOULD BE AT THAT TABLE. I DON'T DISAGREE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, I DID, GO AHEAD. MAYOR PRO, DO YOU, DID YOU NEED TO FINISH YOUR COMMENT? NO, GO AHEAD. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. SO IF WE MOVE TO ONE WEEK OF EVENING MEETINGS MM-HMM . IF YOUR ISSUE THAT YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS WAS TAKEN UP ON THE SECOND WEEK OF THE MONTH MM-HMM . BUT THE EVENING MEETING WAS ON THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH MM-HMM . UM, HOW WOULD THAT SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR THE PERSON THAT CAN ONLY COME IN THE EVENING? WELL, [02:10:01] I THINK YOU MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT, UH, TO ALLOW FOR, UH, THERE TO BE A HYBRID SESSION. YOU GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE. AND ALSO, UH, LIKE I SAID IN MY COMMENTS, MY INITIAL COMMENTS, I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD CONSIDER THAT FOURTH SESSION. WHENEVER YOU ARE PUTTING ITEMS FORWARD, YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME TO, YOU KNOW, UM, ADD IT INTO THE SCHEDULE. SO IF, IF IT REALLY NEEDS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO MAJOR ISSUES OR COMMUNITY DRIVEN ITEMS, UM, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULE IT ON THAT FOURTH, FOURTH WEEK. SO I I, I I HEAR YOU. BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE IN A LOT OF, UM, SITUATIONS. I THINK THAT, UM, IF YOU HAD TO DE DECIDE IF YOU WANTED TO DO AN EVENING MEETING OR A VIRTUAL, UM, WHERE PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE BY CALLING IN OR ON TEAMS MM-HMM . WOULD YOU PREFER A EVENING MEETING OR, OR VIRTUAL CALLING IN ON TEAMS? I WOULD PREFER AN EVENING MEETING. AND HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE A LOT OF, UH, ONCE A MONTH. YES. YES. SO ONCE A MONTH AND THEN YOU COULD DO HYBRIDS FOR THE OTHER THREE. YOU COULD ADD THAT IN. SO IF YOU WERE IN MY SITUATION AND YOU HAD A STAFF MM-HMM . THAT COMES IN AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING MM-HMM . ON THE DAY OF THE FOURTH TUESDAY MM-HMM . UM, HOW WOULD YOU, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE YOUR STAFF? I WOULD TELL MY STAFF TO COME IN LATE, WE'RE SERVING THE PUBLIC AND WHO WOULD WORK IN THE OFFICE DURING THAT DAY? YOU WOULD JUST GET TO IT LATER. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE COVERAGE, YOU WOULD MAKE THAT, YOU WOULD HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY. OKAY. SORRY. I USED TO RUN A GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, SO I'M USED TO NO, I, I HEAR YOU. OKAY. UM, THE OTHER QUESTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL, COUNCIL, MAYOR S SIR, YOU TALKED ABOUT KIND OF ON A TRIAL. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT DOING IT ONCE A QUARTER TO RECEIVE THE ATTENDANCE AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S REALLY IN DEMAND OR NOT? I WOULD SAY DO IT ONCE A MONTH AND IF IT'S NOT WORKING, THEN GO TO ONCE A QUARTER. AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN JUST GET RID OF IT ALL TOGETHER. OKAY. THANKS. AND GO TO VIRTUAL, ADD A VIRTUAL COUNCILOR. CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND STACY, UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR SERVICE TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY VIA THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, YOU KNOW, I I THINK YOU BRING UP A REALLY INTERESTING IDEA ABOUT THE TRIAL PERIOD TO SEE, UH, IF THIS WORKS. I DO THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD NOT TRY SOMETHING OUT OF FEAR AND HYPOTHETICALS, BUT TRY IT. AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT, THEN WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. WE DO. ABSOLUTELY. WE DO MEET EVERY WEEK. RIGHT. AND I THINK PEOPLE DO EXPECT US TO WORK TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. YEP. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONSENSUS AND A LOT OF SUPPORT. AND IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT TWEAKING IT, UH, TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE SIGNUP DEADLINE. MM-HMM . AND IF WE'RE GONNA PUT SOME KIND OF SUNSET CLAUSE ON THIS, LET'S ALSO GET RID OF THAT MONDAY 3:00 PM DEADLINE. UH, WHILE WE'RE AT IT TO ALLOW FOR EVEN MORE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IF THEY DON'T MEET, UH, THAT SIGNUP PERIOD. AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, MAYOR AS A COMMUNICATOR, AND BEING IN THIS ROLE FOR SINCE 2018, OR, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CAPACITY IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME TO ADJUST, THEY WILLINGLY DO SO. SO IF YOU GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN AHEAD, THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION AROUND WHATEVER THE TOPIC OR ITEM IS. SO, THANK YOU FOR COUNCILOR CAYMAN. STACEY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT. UM, I KNOW YOU ALSO, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TODAY 'CAUSE THE, YOU KNOW, TIME IS LIMITED, BUT YOU ALSO WANTED TO COME TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, FUEGOS. AND I DID WANNA THANK, UH, CHAIRWOMAN PECK, UH, WHO HAS BEEN BRINGING TOGETHER NOT ONLY MY OFFICE, BUT ALL THE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, UH, WITH THE FIRE MARSHALS MM-HMM . TO REALLY START TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, DEMAND SOLUTIONS AS TO HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ISSUE. MM-HMM . UM, SO I DID, AGAIN, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TIME TODAY, BUT I, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE THE PARTNERSHIP HAPPENING AROUND THE HORSESHOE, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK, UM, IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AS IT PERTAINS TO CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY MM-HMM . BECAUSE IT, IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE. AND I CAN COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND TALK ABOUT THAT. I, I HAVE NO DOUBT AND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT, [02:15:01] UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ IS CHAIR OF QUALITY OF LIFE HAS ALSO BEEN VERY ENGAGED. SO THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, MAYOR, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAS BEEN, UH, REALLY COMING TO THE TABLE COLLABORATIVELY, UM, TO TRY TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS WITH THE PARTNERSHIP OF CITY LEGAL, UM, TO GET AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE CAN DO UNDER NOT JUST CITY ORDINANCE, BUT STATE LAW AS WELL. MM-HMM . COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. I WAS, I REMEMBER THAT QUESTION BEING ASKED MM-HMM . WHEN WE WERE RUNNING MM-HMM . MM-HMM . UM, BUT I AM ALL IN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SOME OTHER CONVENIENT TIME. MM-HMM . WELL, I DON'T THINK COMING AT TWO O'CLOCK IS CONVENIENT, BUT SOME OTHER TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY SHARE. AND I THINK THAT ALSO PEOPLE LIKE TO BE AT THE MICROPHONE AND THEY LIKE TO TALK TO THE MAYOR DIRECTLY. THEY LIKE TO BE IN THE SPACE WITH US. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT OFTEN, BUT, UM, IT GIVES PEOPLE SOME LEVEL OF, UM, I DON'T KNOW, KIND OF RESPECT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THEM MM-HMM . AND HEARING THEM AT A MIC. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. MM-HMM . AND, UM, AND LIKE YOU SAID, IF IT DOESN'T WORK, YOU PUSH IT TO QUARTER. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, WE TAKE IT OFF ALTOGETHER, BUT I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH A SHOT. MM-HMM . SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S ONE DAY A MONTH. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, STACEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR A VARIETY OF ISSUES. I NOTE THAT THE AGENDA TODAY IS TWO FULL PAGES, UH, LEGAL SIDE PAGES, UH, OF SPEAKERS. YOU WERE LISTED AT THE TOP RIGHT. AND SO YOU WERE A LATE ARRIVAL NO PROBLEM. BUT INCLUDING YOU, THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS. MM-HMM . THE REST OF THIS MEETING, PROBABLY ABOUT 90% OF IT IS TO SPEAK ON NON-AG AGENDA ITEMS. MM-HMM . SO I, I HEAR THE POINT BEING MADE ABOUT, WELL, WHAT IF YOUR ISSUE IS NOT ON THAT PARTICULAR AGENDA? BUT THE MOST OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. THE ENTIRE SOLID WASTE DISCUSSION, NOT ON THE AGENDA INSPECTORS IN THE DISTRICT CONCRETE BATCH PLANT, POLK STREET, NOT ON, ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW. SO, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU. LET'S, LET'S GIVE IT A TRY, SEE HOW IT GOES. IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, WE CAN ALWAYS DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPROACH. JIM CASTEX. TATUM. THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THE, THE CONCERN I HAVE, AND I SAY THIS IN WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, MANY DAYS THAT WE ARE HERE ON TUESDAYS MM-HMM . WHEN THE MEETING IS OVER, THERE ARE FOUR, MAYBE FIVE PEOPLE HERE. UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO LEAVE. THEY HAVE THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO. AND I CLOSE THE MEETING, I ADJOURN, I RECESS THE MEETING, AND I COME BACK ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS FOR MY EIGHT O'CLOCK MEETING WITH THE MAYOR. AND I THINK THAT IF WE MOVE TO SIX O'CLOCK MEETINGS, THAT WOULD PUT US LEAVING AT 9:10 PM UH, WHETHER IT'S ONCE A MONTH OR EVERY TUESDAY, I THINK THAT THERE IS CONSIDERATION TO BE HAD THAT, UM, MANY DAYS WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM, WHICH IS A CONCERN FOR ME. I THINK THAT IT'S EASY TO SAY, YES, WE'LL BE HERE, BUT ATTENDANCE RECORDS SHOW WE DON'T, WE AREN'T HERE. UM, AND SO I DO WANT US TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. I THINK THAT RESIDENTS HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THEIR ISSUES ADDRESSED WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, IF THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT MM-HMM . UH, WHETHER WE HAVE THE MEETING AT 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM MM-HMM . THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CANNOT COME TO CITY HALL MM-HMM . BUT IF THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT, IF WE HAVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO CALL IN OR TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY, I THINK WE INCREASE ENGAGEMENT EXPONENTIALLY BECAUSE NOW WE AREN'T LOOKING AT THE LOCATION OF THE MEETING, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT ACCESS TO THE MEETING. AND IF YOU WANT TO COME IN PERSON, YOU CAN COME IN PERSON. IF THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO YOU, YOU CAN CALL IN. WE HELD OUR ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS VIRTUALLY DURING COVID MM-HMM . SO THE CITY HAS THE TECHNOLOGY. YEP. UM, MOST CITIES, UH, HAVE HYBRID MEETINGS. MM-HMM . UH, MOST CITIES ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SPEAK VIA THE PHONE, VIA ZOOM TEAMS, WEBEX. UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON USES TEAMS. I THINK THAT IT, IT IS, UM, MORE IMPORTANT TO ALLOW [02:20:01] MORE PEOPLE TO ACCESS AS OPPOSED TO THE TIME WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON ARE NOT GOING TO DRIVE FROM FORT BEND HOUSTON AT 6:00 PM TO COME TO CITY HALL. IT IS CUMBERSOME TO BE ON SIX 10 AT FIVE O'CLOCK, JUST LIKE IT'S CUMBERSOME TO LEAVE WORK AT 2:00 PM. HOWEVER, IF WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE, THEN I THINK WE CAPTURE MORE OF THE CAPABILITIES FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT. MM-HMM . MAY I COMMENT? SURE. SO, UH, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE POST COVID USED TO MEET EVERY MONTH IN THE CITY HALL ANNEX AT SIX 30. WE ALL MADE IT FROM ALL ACROSS HOUSTON. IT WAS A PRIORITY. IT WAS PLANNED. WE WERE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, ARRIVING BETWEEN SIX AND SIX 15 TO GO THROUGH SECURITY, AND WE ALL MADE IT. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT COMES DOWN TO PLANNING, COMMUNICATION, AND PRIORITIES. SO, AND I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR MORE ACCESS THAN LESS. UH, AND I DO AGREE WITH YOU IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION. IF, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO TRY THE VIRTUAL OPTION, I WOULD SAY DO IT IN TANDEM WITH THE, UM, THE, UM, THE NIGHT SESSION. SO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ON THE FOURTH WEEK OR DEPEND, IT'S, IT'S UP TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. UM, HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE, UH, TUESDAY SESSION AT TWO O'CLOCK, A HYBRID MEETING, VIRTUAL, AND THEN DO THE, UM, THE IN PERSON ON THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH. YOU COULD ALSO HAVE THAT HYBRID AS WELL IN THE EVENING. SO I WOULD SAY I, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR MORE THAN, UM, AND, AND I DO LIKE YOUR PROPOSAL. UH, I, I JUST THINK AN EVENING SESSION, LET'S JUST SEE WHERE THE CHIPS FALL AND WE CAN REASSESS, YOU KNOW, CALL IT IN SIX MONTHS OR EVEN THREE MONTHS. IF, IF NOBODY'S SHOWING UP TO NIGHT SESSIONS, UM, THEN, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO IT QUARTERLY AND SEE IF THAT WORKS. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD ENGAGE THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE SO THAT THEY CAN COMMUNICATE OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THIS IS AN OPTION FOR THEM. SO ENGAGING THEM FROM THE BEGINNING, PARTICULARLY ON AN ITEM LIKE THIS, WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT, IT PROVIDES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND VISIT WITH YOU ALL, UM, AND BRING THEIR ISSUE. UM, I, I THINK IS, IS BEST. I, I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. SHANDY'S ON 19TH, SHE HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH DRAINAGE NEXT DOOR TO HER. SHE CANNOT BE HERE BECAUSE PHYSICALLY, AND SHE CANNOT CHIME IN VIRTUALLY, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? SHE'S RUNNING A RESTAURANT AND A LOT OF TIMES SHE'S COOKING THE FOOD 12, 14 HOURS A DAY. SO, YOU KNOW, SHE CAN ARRANGE, SHE, IF SHE HAS ENOUGH PLANNING, SHE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE HERE. RIGHT. AND I THINK WE CAN SAY, IF YOU, IF YOU ARRANGE AND HAVE ENOUGH PLANNING, YOU CAN BE HERE AT ANY TIME, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NOTICED MM-HMM . THAT THAT CAN WORK FOR ANY TIME. MM-HMM . UM, I, I THINK ABOUT THE RESIDENTS IN ALAMEDA PLAZA. MM-HMM . WE HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT IS PROBABLY THREE MILES AWAY FROM THEIR HOUSE, A COMMUNITY ROOM AT THE, UM, HPD CENTER, PROBABLY THREE MILES AWAY FROM THEIR HOUSE. AND SO THEIR CIVIC CLUB MEETING, YOU KNOW, I SAID, WELL, WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T Y'ALL WANNA MEET AT THE COMMUNITY ROOM? AND MANY OF THOSE SENIORS, THEY DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT. AND SO WE MET ON THEIR BASKETBALL COURT BECAUSE THEY COULD JUST WALK THERE WITH THEIR LAWN CHAIR. SO I, I MEAN, IT MAY BE ACCESSIBLE FOR SOME, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE TIME THAT WE DO IT, IT WON'T BE ACCESSIBLE FOR, FOR ALL. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT IF THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY, WE HAVE TO USE MULTIPLE MEDIUMS AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST AN EVENING MEDIUM. 'CAUSE THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE EITHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRIVING TO CITY HALL IN HOUSTON TRAFFIC. BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, FOR ALL THAT WE DO INTRODUCE AN EVENING MEETING WITH HYBRID ACCESS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN SAY, WE'VE DONE IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED IT, IT DIDN'T WORK, OR IT DID WORK, AND WE ADJUST GOING FORWARD. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF IT. MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IS, I MEAN, WHENEVER I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ACROSS THE CITY, THEY'RE [02:25:01] LIKE, HECK YEAH, . YEAH, I WOULD ACTUALLY COME. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN. SO IT BECOMES, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF YOU DELIVER THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTIONS THAN YOU DO. MM-HMM . UM, AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REACH THAT YOU, YOU HAVEN'T JUST FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER. MM-HMM . SO I THINK THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE IS CRITICAL TO AN ITEM LIKE THIS. RIGHT. SO ANYWAY, I, I SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. MM-HMM . COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. STATES, GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING, PEOPLE SAY A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF, DON'T THEY? THAT THEY DON'T DO WHEN THEY GET THERE. SO, UH, BUT LET ME JUST SAY ALSO TOO, TO THE FACT IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE, STATISTICALLY THERE ARE 11 DISTRICTS MM-HMM . FIVE AT LARGE. MM-HMM . SO THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY WANT THIS STATISTICALLY, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THEY'RE IN? THERE'S NO NUMBERS. NOBODY PRESENTED A NUMBER AS TO HOW MANY DISTRICTS ARE THERE. BAKER RIPLEY CAME AND TALKED ABOUT THEY'RE DOING IT, HOW MANY BAKER RIPPLES ARE IN HOW MANY DISTRICTS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DATA AND WE TALK ABOUT WHO IS IT? YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S THE NUMBER, WHAT'S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAY I WANT TO COME? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE LOOKING, NOW YOU MADE THE STATEMENT, CONSIDERING THE PEOPLE THAT SAY EVERYBODY GOT DIFFERENT MINUTES. ONE, ONE MINUTE, SOME TWO MINUTES, SOME THREE MINUTE. SO IF YOU GOT, IF YOU GOT 50 PEOPLE WITH THREE MINUTES MM-HMM . RIGHT? MM-HMM . THEN THE ONE MINUTE, TWO MINUTE PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT TILL ALL OF THE THREE MINUTES GET OUTTA THE WAY. MM-HMM. OR VICE VERSA. MM-HMM . RIGHT. SO, GREAT IDEA, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERABLE. AND THEN WHO'S GONNA BE HERE? I THINK AM MAYOR PRO TEM WAS BRINGING THAT STATEMENT. SPEAKING OF COUNCIL, WELL, WHO IS GONNA BE HERE? I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO VOLUNTEERS MM-HMM . 70 HOURS A WEEK APPROXIMATELY, TO ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY TIMES I AM UP TILL 4:00 AM BECAUSE OF BAR NOISE VEHICLES THAT HAVE ISSUES, LOITERING, UH, JUST PEOPLE BEING WOKEN UP AT NIGHT. SO I, YOU KNOW, I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS. AND, AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS, THAT'S RELATIVE TO ME. YEAH. I MEAN, WE COULD ARGUE THAT ON ANY ITEM, RIGHT? SURE, SURE. SO, UM, I, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY IT. AND WHEN WE GO TO PEOPLE CONSIDERING THE FACT IS THAT IF WE SERVE, THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T GO TO THEM. MM-HMM . YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE LADY AT THE RESTAURANT THAT COULDN'T BE HERE. RIGHT? I'M SURE SHE'S IN A DISTRICT. SHE'S IN DISTRICT B. OKAY. SO IF, SO THE PERSON GOES TO THEM. SHE, SHE, SHE OPERATES HER BUSINESS IN C BUT SHE LIVES IN B WHERE THE ISSUE IS. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. WELL, VICE IN MY STANDPOINT MM-HMM . BUT YOU SEE MY POINT. MM-HMM . I MEAN, IF IT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT, THEN YOU GO YOUR OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EITHER OR FOR THAT MATTER. SO, OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S, THE PROBLEM IS IN B AS IN BOY . SO THANK YOU. ANY THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL RAMIREZ. MOTION. OF COURSE. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, PROCEDURAL MOTION. MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE REAM TARIK UP ON THE, UH, THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST RIGHT BEHIND ANN LEE. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION'S BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT SPEAKER. ANNIE LEE MURRAY, AND I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC, AND I SW ALL THE WAY. SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER, GREEN TARIK. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS REEM TARIK, AND I SERVE AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OUTREACH COORDINATOR AT AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY [02:30:01] TO SPEAK TODAY. FIRST, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, CASTILLO, RAMIREZ, AND PLUMBER, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. I TRULY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOUR TEAM STAY RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY UPDATE AND TO INVITE YOU AND YOUR OFFICES TO TAKE PART ON TUESDAY, JULY 15TH AT 6:00 PM THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WILL HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING AT THE HERRERA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA. THIS MEETING IS ABOUT THE AIR PERMIT RENEWAL FOR HEIDELBERG MATERIALS, SOUTH TEXAS CONCRETE, LLC, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 7 72 0 1 WEST HARDY ROAD IN NEAR NORTHSIDE. IN DISTRICT H, THIS PERMIT WOULD ALLOW THE FACILITY TO OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. THE PLANT WOULD PRODUCE UP TO 300 CUBIC YARDS OF CONCRETE EACH HOUR. MORE THAN 4,800 RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN ONE MILE RADIUS OF THE SITE. MANY OF THEM ARE CHILDREN, ELDERLY, AND WORKING FAMILIES. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE THAN 95% PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND MANY HOUSEHOLDS SPEAK SPANISH AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE. CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS LIKE THIS ONE, RELEASE FINE DUST, SILICA AND OTHER HARMFUL GLUTEN THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND CANCER, THE NEAR NORTH SIDE ALREADY HAS HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN THE COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY. THIS PERMIT WOULD MAKE THESE HEALTH PROBLEMS MUCH WORSE. IN FACT, I LIVE NEAR A FACILITY LIKE THIS ONE, AND I HOPE TO RAISE A FAMILY IN HOUSTON. I CAN SAY FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE POLLUTION, NOISE, AND HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC HURT NOT ONLY OUR HEALTH, BUT ALSO OUR SENSE OF PEACE. THIS IS WHY I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. PLEASE JOIN US ON JULY 15TH AND STAND WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ASKING FOR CLEAR INFORMATION, STRONGER HEALTH PROTECTIONS, AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN SPREADING THE WORD. SO IF YOUR OFFICES ARE ABLE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION IN YOUR NEWSLETTER, PLEASE LET LET US KNOW, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THE INFORMATION. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO A HEALTHIER HOUSTON FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MS. TARRICK. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. AND REEM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS GONNA BE IN MY NEWSLETTER GOING OUT ON FRIDAY. I APPRECIATE, UH, THE ADVOCACY OF AIRLINES HOUSTON, AND, UH, I ALSO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, UH, TO BE PRESENT AT THIS MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. MR. RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU, REEM, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE INFORMATION. CAN YOU SEND US INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS PARTICULAR PLANT HAS HAD VIOLATIONS IN THE PAST? IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY VIOLATIONS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO TCEQ. I HAVE INITIATED AN INQUIRY TO, UM, POLLUTION CONTROL THE CITY'S POLLUTION CONTROL TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM, BUT I WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION WHEN I DO CONNECT WITH YOUR OFFICE. GOT IT. THANK YOU AGAIN. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE. UM, QUESTION. DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, OF THE DATA, DO WE HAVE ANY AIR QUALITY MONITORS CLOSE TO THIS AREA AND HAVE DATA? WE DO. WE DO, INDEED. DO. WOULD YOU SHARE THAT WITH MY OFFICE, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING AIRLINE SAYS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, JUST A PERMIT IS FOR RENEWAL. IT IS. YES. DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THE PLANT'S BEEN THERE? UM, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. UM, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. FIND OUT. THAT'S ALL. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LINDA MURRAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY, TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN THOMAS. HELLO, MS. MURRAY. I KNOW YOU STOLE MY HAIR DUE FROM THE SIXTIES. OH, WELL, LOOK, I'M GLAD I COULD REMIND YOU OF THE GOODNESS, , THEY FOUND SOMETHING THEY FORGOT TO STEAL. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE MISSED THOSE CENTER POINT COMMERCIALS THAT THEY'RE AIRING EVERY MINUTE ON THE MINUTE IN EVERY, ON EVERY STATION? WHO'S MISSED ANY OF HOW MANY? HAVEN'T SEEN ANY? WE ALL HAVE. TALKING TO MIC. TALKING TO MIC TALK BEHIND ONE OF THE MICROPHONES FOR US SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. I'M SO LOUD. MY HUSBAND TELL YOU IT REACHES. ALRIGHT. I CENTRAL POINT. I'VE BEEN TO THE MEETINGS. THEY SENT PEOPLE THERE, MR. POLLARD AND EVERYBODY THAT THEY SENT, CAN YOU BELIEVE A COMMUNITY SERVICE PERSON? SHE SAID, WELL, YOU HAVEN'T FILED A CLAIM. I SAID, YOU NEVER EVEN GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILE A CLAIM. THEY, UH, THEY CHARGED US FOR MONTHS OF SERVICE. WE DID NOT GET, UH, THEY OWE ME $500. THAT'S FROM 2024. TWO MONTHS OF SERVICE I DIDN'T GET. NOW WHEN THEY PUT IN THE POLLS, I DON'T HAVE A RE A REFRIGERATOR [02:35:01] WORKING OR A WASHING MACHINE WORKING, BECAUSE ARBITRARILY IT JUST GOES OFF. AND IT TOOK A CONGRESSIONAL ACT TO GET THEM TO AT LEAST GIVE US A LITTLE NOTICE ABOUT IT COMING ON. THEY, IF THEY, TO DO A COMMERCIAL ADVERTISE MUST COST THEM. OH, MAYBE 28,000. CUT OUT 10 COMMERCIALS. 2200 80,000. YOU CAN GIVE THE 300,000 PEOPLE THAT LOST ELECTRICITY, A THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEY HAVEN'T REPLACED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THEY HAVEN'T REPLACED ANYTHING. AND THEY SEND PEOPLE IN. AND NONE OF THE PEOPLE, I HAVE THEIR CARDS. I WROTE THEM. THEY HAVE NEVER GOTTEN BACK TO US. THEY ALL TOLD US IT'S NOT THEIR JOB. THE COMMUNITY SERVICE. IT WASN'T HER DEPARTMENT. WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? COMMUNITY SERVICE. MS. THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. MURRAY . MS. MURRAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I AM GOING TO, UH, CALL THE CENTER POINT REP THAT I KNOW, AND I'M GONNA GIVE HIM YOUR NUMBER AND ASK HIM TO CALL YOU AND TELL THEM WHEN THEY DO, THEY'RE GONNA TELL ME THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET BACK TO UHUH. NO, NO, NO, NO. I'M, I'M GONNA CALL THE CENTER POINT REP THAT I KNOW AND, AND HAVE THEM GIVE YOU A CALL. 16 MILLION. THE NEXT SPEAKER, MAUREEN THOMAS. MAUREEN THOMAS. NEXT SPEAKER. ALAN HAWKINS. ALAN HAWKINS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALFREDO FRANKLIN. HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M ALLEN HAWKINS, BUT I SEE, UH, CAN WE STEP BEHIND ONE OF THE MICROPHONES? UH, I'M ALLEN HAWKINS, AND I HAD MANY OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THE FACILITIES THAT WE WORK IN IS OVERWHELMED WITH DRUGS, SEXUAL, ALL KIND OF STUFF GOING ON NOW, ALSO STEALING EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THERE. THE WAY WE CAN TRAP THIS AND CATCH THIS, THE SUPERVISORS THAT'S OVER THESE PEOPLE, THEY DO NOT GO OUT WITH THESE PEOPLE TO THE JOB SITE. YOU GOT FIVE IN THE TRUCK. YOU SEND SEVEN PEOPLE OUT AND TWO OF 'EM GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO DO THE WORK. AND THIS GOING AT MCCARTY. BAD, BAD. I WORKED AT THE MCCARTY FACILITY. I WORKED OFFSHORE ON DRILLING RIGS. THE PEOPLE THAT THEY MOVE UP, IT'S A CLIQUE GOING ON. AND TO CATCH THESE PEOPLE IN, IN WITH THIS CLIQUE, YOU NEED TO SEND SOMEBODY OUT THERE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THAT'S GONNA DO SOMETHING. THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. NOT ANYTHING. Y'ALL HADN'T SENT NOBODY OUT THERE. Y'ALL REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. HOLD, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. MR. HAWKINS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM SIR. MR. MR. HAWKINS RIGHT HERE. YOU WANT TO GIVE US SOME MORE CLARIFICATION ON IN, UH, INSIGHT INTO INSIGHT? YOU GOT THE SUPERVISOR? NO. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. UM, WHICH DEPARTMENT YOU WORK IN? HOW LONG YOU BEEN WITH THE I WORK IN THE DRAINAGE. I WORKED THERE THREE AND A HALF YEARS ON THE FLOOD, UP ON THE, UH, BRAXTON COAL UP ON THE NECK. SEXUAL ACTS IS GOING ON THERE, UNPROFESSIONAL DRESSING GOING ON THERE. AND ONE PERSON DO THE TEST THAT Y'ALL SENT OUT FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT AND JUST GET YOUR NAME AND DO THE TEST FOR 'EM. SO THEREFORE, ME AS AN OLDER PERSON THAT KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE CHAINSAW, A LAWN MOWER, A BACKHOE, A FRONT END LOADER, UH, UH, TAKE CARE OF STUFF, UH, MY HOUSE, YOU CAN EAT OFF THE FLOOR. I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY HOUSE SHOULD BE LIKE THAT, BUT THE CITY, MY, MY DADDY RETIRED FROM THE CITY. MY UNCLE AL CAPERS HAWKINS, ALL OF THEM WERE SUPERVISED FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE SUPERVISORS, I, I HAD WENT IN TO THE SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE WITH THE HEAD DOWN. WHAT YOU DOING, MAN? OH, TAKING A NAP. BUT LET ME TAKE A NAP. WHAT YOU DO TO ME, LET ME SIT IN [02:40:01] CITY VEHICLE BEHIND THE BUILDING AND PLAY WITH MY PHONE. I'M UP ON THE FRONT END LOADER. I GO IN AND GET, GET TRASH. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M PICKING UP OR WHAT I'M PUTTING IN THE DUMP TRUCK OUT AT THE SITE, THE DUMP SITE, WHICH MY, MY DADDY RAN FOR A LONG TIME AS A HEAVY EQUIP MAN, KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT Y'ALL PEOPLE NEED TO GET THESE SUPERVISORS THAT BEEN THERE. THERE'S A CLICK GOING ON. EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT WHEN Y'ALL SHOW UP. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? WHEN Y'ALL SHOW UP, THEY GOODY GOODY. Y'ALL NEED TO SEND SOME UNDERCOVER PEOPLE OUT THERE AT THEM LITTLE FACILITIES. IF I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA BE A SUPERVISOR AND THEN I'M GONNA GO BACK IN MY OFFICE. THAT AIN'T SUPERVISION. I GOT DOWN. I WORK WITH MY PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD. THEY GET BEHIND. THAT'S WHY WE BEHIND WE BEHIND BECAUSE YOU SEND SEVEN PEOPLE OUT. TWO, GET OUT. THEY OUT THERE. THEY HAD ME PUSHING WATER WHEN WE GOT PUMPS TO PUMP WATER, GO TO SCHOOL. I'M GONNA MOVE HIM OR HER UP. AND SHE DON'T KNOW AS MUCH AS I KNOW NOW, IT'S THE CL BECAUSE THEY ALL STICKING TOGETHER. WELL, I, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. AND, UH, WE AS A COUNCIL WILL LOOK INTO THAT BASED ON, WELL, YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO IT. IT IS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME. STEALING. THEY LEAN, THEY THE CITY LOSING MONEY BECAUSE THEY OWN EQUIPMENT AND THEY LET THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY TAKE THE EQUIPMENT HOME. I REPAIR IT. I KNOW. I SAW IT. I DONE SEEN, I DONE SAW THE STEALING. OH, YOU WRONG. DON'T, DON'T, DON'T TELL ON JOHN. BOY, YOU GOT MY HEAD BOSS BUYING STOLEN MERCHANDISE ON THE CITY FACILITY. BUT IF I BOUGHT, OH, HEY MAN, YOU DID THIS, YOU DID THAT. HEY, WE NEED SOME NEW LEADERS. WE NEED NEW LEADERS. THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE 15, 20 YEARS, WHY GIVE, GIVE, GIVE, TRAIN JOHN DOE HOW TO DO SO. MI MR. HAWKINS, WE, WE'LL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP ON YOUR COMMENTS. THANK, WELL Y'ALL SAY YES, BUT I AIN'T SAW IT YET. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. HAWKINS. I AIN'T SAW IT YET. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. ALFREDA FRANKLIN. ALFREDA FRANKLIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY TO BE FOLLOWED. EXCUSE MS. FRANKLIN. HERE, ALFREDA FRANKLIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERROL REESE. PERSON AT THE PODIUM. MS. FRANKLIN, ARE YOU HERE? YES, GO AHEAD. WE, WE JUST NEED MS. FRANKLIN AT THE PODIUM. GO AHEAD. BUT CAN THEY STAND THERE? YEAH, NO, THEY CAN STAND THERE. ABSOLUTELY. HI, MY NAME IS ALFREDA FRANKLIN, UH, WITH THE HOUSTON MOTORCYCLE SET. I DO HAVE HERE TODAY WITH ME HARD RIDERS, MOTORCYCLE CLUB, KINGS OF THE SOUTH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, OMAN'S MC, UH, CROWN JEWELS, VIRTUAL CREATION, AND OTHER BYSTANDERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY REQUESTING JUSTICE FOR BIKERS IN OUR CITY. WHETHER IT BE TICKETING, UM, ARRESTING THEM, CHARGING THEM WITH THE CRIMES THEY HAVE CREATED FOR RECKLESSLY, RECKLESSNESS AND ACTS. WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR HELP ON OUR ROADWAYS JUST ALONE. IN 2024, WE HAD OVER 10,000 FATALITIES AT, RIGHT, I MEAN, RIGHT IN OUR CITY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE HAD A MOTORCYCLIST THAT WAS, UM, DOING ROAD RAGE. SOMEONE DOING ROAD RAGE TOWARDS THEM. THEY, UH, PUSHED HIM OVER 45, DROPPED A HUNDRED FEET. WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF OUR BROTHERS, KINGS OF THE SOUTH, UM, MOTORCYCLISTS, UM, THAT WAS HIT BY A FEMALE THAT WAS DRIVING, UM, 60 MILES AN HOUR, HIT HIM DEAD IN THE MIDDLE, SPLIT HIS BIKE IN HALF. HE HAD ON HIS HELMET WHERE HIS HELMET PEEL HIS SKULL WHERE HE WAS AT THAT TIME, DECEASED. HIS DAUGHTER DID SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT. SHE'S ASKING FOR JUSTICE. WE'RE ASKING FOR JUSTICE ON THE ROADWAYS. WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR OUR DAY IN THE CITY TO RIDE PEACEFULLY AND MAKE IT HOME ALIVE. DUE TO THE FACT GEORGE FLOYD MAY HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD, BUT YOUNGS SAMPSON HAS CHANGED THE HOUSTON MOTORCYCLE SET. YES. A LOT OF US ARE ANGRY ABOUT IT. WE'RE UPSET ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT ALL THE BIKERS THAT ARE DOING THESE THINGS. WE ARE THE GOOD BIKERS. WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE. SO WHEN WE GET OUT [02:45:01] HERE, WE ARE PILLARS OF Y'ALL COMMUNITY. WE GO INTO Y'ALL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. WE MENTOR YOUR KIDS SO THEY DON'T COME BACK OUT ON THIS STREET. WE DO A LOT FOR EASTER. WE DO ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOLIDAYS BACK TO SCHOOL. WE'RE OUT THERE. CHANNEL 13 HAS COVERED US SEVERAL TIMES. WE ARE PILLARS OF YOUR COMMUNITY DOING GOOD THINGS. AND WE ARE ASKING FOR JUSTICE. THE YOUNG LADY THAT DID HIT THE BIKER, THE DETECTIVES DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE SHE IS NOW. 'CAUSE IF SHE WAS FOREIGN, SHE'S GONE. WE WANT JUSTICE. WHEN, I'M SORRY TO SAY, WHEN TURNER WAS HERE, SHEILA JACKSON LEE, THEY STOOD UP, THEY HELPED US. THEY, THEY CAME AND SEEN HOW WE HANDLED EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD HELP US. THEY SHOWED US DIFFERENT WAYS. WE HAVE A BILL RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, 24 65 THAT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE HOUSE SINCE 2023. THAT HAS NOT BEEN VOTED ON TO WHERE WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY A ANY HELP ON THE ROADWAYS. YES, WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP, BUT AT THAT TIME, WE'VE DONE SO MANY AWARENESSES IN OUR CITY. SO MANY. AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE CARS ARE JUST HITTING THEM, KILLING THEM, LAYING US TO REST. WE LAY ON THE GROUNDS FOUR AND A HALF HOURS WHILE YOU TAKE, WHILE THE AMBULANCE IS TAKING THE PERSON THAT HIT THEM TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE CAN LEAVE AND, AND GET OUT OF OUR CITY AND WE CAN'T FIND HER. GUESS WHAT? NO ONE IS GETTING JUSTICE AT THAT TIME. WE ARE HERE TODAY. WE'RE ASKING YOU, WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR HELP BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO KEEP THESE BIKERS CALM. THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING. I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER OPTION. WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO EX EXERCISE OUR CIVIL RIGHTS TO ASSEMBLE PEACEFULLY IN THIS COMMUNITY TO GET JUSTICE OR OUR WORD OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND THIS CITY HEARD, OR OUR VOICES AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE ARE COPS, THERE ARE, UM, LAWYERS, DOCTORS, CITY COUNCILS. DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT, DID Y'ALL. WE ARE CLUBS, WE HAVE RULES. WE FOLLOW RULES. WE HAVE OUR CITY. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. RIGHT? THOSE OTHER BIKES OUT HERE DOING THESE LITTLE STUNTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT US. WE RIDE HARLEY. HALF OF US DON'T HAVE, UM, UH, RADIATORS. YEAH. SO WE CAN'T SIT IN TRAFFIC WHILE THE TRAFFIC IS THERE. WE HAVE TO GO AROUND OR IT'S GONNA STALL OUT. THEN SOMEBODY'S GONNA COME FLYING BY AND HIT US. WE'RE NOT THE OTHER SPORTS BIKE THAT'S DOING ALL THE WILLIES AND ALL THE CRAZY STUFF. WE ARE YOUR GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO'S TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY FOR BEING IN A WORSER RECESSION THAN WHAT IT IS. AND AGAIN, I STAND HERE FOR YOU AS THEY STAND BEHIND ME. WE NEED YOUR HELP. AND WE DON'T GET THAT. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. WE DON'T WANNA SHUT DOWN YOUR CITY. IT'S 9,000 BIKES. AND WE HAVE OTHER, UH, OTHERS AROUND OUR NATION. 'CAUSE SOME OF US ARE NATIONAL CLUBS AND THEY WILL COME FROM EVERYWHERE. ALL WE WANT IS HELP LIKE, UH, TURNER AND SHEILA HELPED US, AND THEN GET SOME STUFF DONE. IF YOU CAN'T HELP US, GIVE US OUR DAY IN THE CITY AND LET US RIDE THE FREEWAY PEACEFULLY AND LET US MAKE IT HOME TO OUR WITH KIDS. 'CAUSE WE HAVE A 9-YEAR-OLD CRYING RIGHT TO US. RIGHT? NOT TODAY. SHE WANT HER DADDY. HE WAS A GOOD PERSON. HE'S A GOOD PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND GUESS WHAT, ALL WE CAN DO IS STAND HERE. MS. FRANKLIN. UH, WE ARE, WE ARE VERY SORRY FOR THE LOSS THAT YOUR MOTORCYCLE TEAM, YOUR CLUB, UM, HAS EXPERIENCED. UM, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT, UM, MORE PATROL ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE VERY, UM, WELL AWARE OF THE ROAD RAGE THAT'S HAPPENING ON OUR HIGHWAYS. UM, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING RECKLESS. UM, AND HAVING, UM, MOTORCYCLISTS, UM, WE ALL HAVE TO SHARE OUR HIGHWAYS. WE HAVE TO SHARE THOSE STREETS. AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE, UM, ARE AWARE OF THE RULES OF THE ROAD. UM, NOT ONLY FOR THE THE CYCLISTS BUT FOR THE MOTORISTS. UM, AS WE ARE BOTH, UM, TRAVELING ON OUR, ON OUR ROADWAYS, WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR MOTORISTS THAT ARE DRIVING ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ARE SAFE. UM, AND I THINK THAT PART OF THE REASON THE ADMINISTRATION HAS, UM, PUT MORE PATROL ON THE HIGHWAYS IS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY WITH, WITH THE ROAD RAGE. SO WE DO WANT TO ASSIST AND, UM, PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED. UM, I THINK THAT, UM, OFFICER LAHAR, IS HE HERE? YEAH, HE'S HERE. IS OFFICER LAHAR HERE? UM, I, I WANT, UH, HIM TO TALK TO HER AND THE, THE TEAM ABOUT [02:50:01] THE CASE. I, I, I'M, I'M NOT AWARE OF WHERE, WHERE THE CASE IS. YES, WE HAVE HER NAME. WE HAVE HER DATE OF BIRTH. YES. AND WE CAN, WE CAN LET THE OFFICER TALK WITH YOU AND KIND OF GIVE YOU WHERE THEY ARE WITH THAT. UM, THEY CAN'T FIND HER. WE'VE ALREADY TALKED TO EM. NO, NO, NO, NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT WITH THE CASE. YES. NOT, NOT WITH HER, BUT WITH THE, WITH THE ACTUAL CASE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THIS PERSON AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, UM, ENCOURAGE HPD TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, DID YOU HAVE A, A COMMENT VERY BRIEFLY AND ALSO A PROCEDURAL MOTION TO FOLLOW UP, MS. FRANKLIN? I DID WANNA THANK YOU AND EVERYONE FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. UM, ON THE ISSUE OF SAFETY OF ON OUR ROADS FOR EVERYONE, UM, FOR OUR MOTORCYCLISTS. UM, LOOK, MY HUSBAND WAS JUST IN A HIT AND, UH, RUN OVER THE WEEKEND. THANK GOD HE IS FINE, BUT OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN. OKAY. UH OH, A FEW, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK, WITHIN 24 HOURS, THREE BICYCLISTS WERE HIT AND KILLED. AND WE DO NOT SEE ENOUGH ARRESTS AND PER AND PROSECUTIONS, THANK YOU. WHEN CYCLISTS AND MOTORCYCLISTS ARE HIT, THAT IS A CRIME. SOMEBODY'S LIFE WAS LOST OR THEY WERE SEVERELY UH, INJURED. THEIR LIFE HAS FOREVER CHANGED. THEIR FAMILY'S LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I HEAR YOU. UM, I APPRECIATE THAT HBDS IN THE BACK WAITING TO MEET WITH Y'ALL AS WELL. UM, BUT AGAIN, Y'ALL ARE SPEAKING FOR, FOR YOUR CLUB AND YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU'RE ALSO SPEAKING FOR A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YES. LAST YEAR WAS THE DEADLIEST YEAR ON OUR ROADS FOR EVERYONE. UH, AND SOMETHING'S GOTTA CHANGE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YEAH. JUST HAD A QUESTION REGARDING THE WOMAN HIT THE BICYCLIST OR, OR I'M SORRY, THE MOTORCYCLIST AND WITH THE FATALITY, WERE THEY ARRESTED? UM, THE YOUNG LADY, SHE PLAYED LIKE SHE WAS HURT. THEY TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEN SHE DISAPPEARED. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND WELL, I DO HAVE ONE MOTORCYCLIST HERE WITH ME. SHE'S OVER HERE. SHE CAN'T EVEN WALK BECAUSE SHE, WELL, SHE CAN BARELY WALK AND SHE'S TRYING TO GET HER STRENGTH BACK BECAUSE SHE WAS HIT THE SAME WAY. AND SHE'S SITTING OVER THERE RIGHT NOW. SHE CAN'T EVEN STAND LIKE, LIKE WE CAN UP HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AND, UH, VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE SITUATION OF ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES THERE. UM, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THAT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND FORMER MAYOR TURNER, UH, WOULD HELP IN WHAT, IN WHAT SPECIFIC WAYS WERE THEY HELPING THAT WE CAN KNOW ABOUT AND AND MAYBE DO THE SAME? THEY COME OUT TO OUR EVENTS TO SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING, YOU KNOW, THE DUE DILIGENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ARE. NOT ONLY THAT THEY HELPED US GOT THIS BILL UP INTO THE HOUSE, 24 65 BILL NUMBER, BUT THEY'RE NOT VOTING ON IT. WHY CARRIED THE BILL? I DON'T KNOW. THESE ARE THE LAWS FROM CALIFORNIA AND UTAH THAT WE FEEL THAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT HERE IN TEXAS. 'CAUSE IT WILL SAVE A LOT OF LIVES. NOT ONLY THAT, WE GET TO MAKE IT HOME TO OUR FAMILIES. RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. 'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, LANE SPLITTING, THAT'S ANOTHER THING WHEN, LIKE I SAID, WHEN THESE BIKES DON'T HAVE, UM, RADIATORS, THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GO ON THE SIDE. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE SIT THERE AND OPEN UP THE DOOR ON US ON PURPOSE TO MAKE US FALL. YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT TYPE OF THING. THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL HERE IS FOR. THAT'S WHAT WE SAID. WHO'S THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, DO YOU KNOW? UM, STATE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A COPY OF IT. THIS IS STATE SENATOR RON REYNOLDS. MAYBE I APPROACH RON REYNOLDS. OKAY, WE CAN GET IT FROM STATE REP BRIAN REYNOLDS. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND SO, AS I WAS SAYING, LIKE, UM, SHEILA AND, UH, MAYOR TURNER, THEY DID GET REAL IN TUNE WITH A LOT OF THE BIKERS, A LOT OF THE CLUBS. SO THEY WOULD COME OUT, HELP US WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. ASK, THEY WOULD CALL US TO COME AND HELP THEM WITH A LOT OF THE CITY THINGS THAT WE WOULD GO OUT, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESS, WHATEVER THEY CALL US, WE SHOW UP AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. 24 65. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY ASKING YOU ALL FOR HELP. WE DON'T WANNA GO TO THE OTHER NECESSARY MEASURES, BUT IF WE DON'T, NO ONE GETS HELP. WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO SAY, WELL, OFFICER LAHAR, WE, MY LIFE, YOUR LIFE, YOUR GRANDMOTHER, YOUR KIDS, YOUR GRANDFATHER, WE WANT THE, THE ROADS TO BE SAFE FOR US ALL. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. OFFICER LAHAR IS HERE AND, AND HE CAN TALK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. YES MA'AM. AND WE'LL DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO KEEP ALL OF US SAFE ON THE ROADS. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE UP, KIM. I AM GONNA MISPRONOUNCE IT. SOC OR SAKI. SO, AND, UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY IAN EK SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS [02:55:01] KIM SOUK AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF WILLOW MEADOW CIVIC CLUB THAT IS CLOSE TO SIX 10 AND STILL A LINK AND IT HAS FOUR SECTIONS AND THREE ARE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR PRO TAM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, DISTRICT K. AND ONE SECTION OF THE NORTH SECTION IS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER AB CAYMAN, ABBY CAYMAN OF DISTRICT C. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THE, UM, RESIDENTS ARE VERY HAPPY THAT, UH, YOU HAVE, UM, GOOD OUTCOMES WITH WHAT YOU DO. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, WHO DID PROPOSE A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, ALSO REFERRED TO AS AN INSPECTOR, UH, FOR EACH CITY DISTRICT. AND IN THE RECENT APPROVED $7 BILLION, UH, BUDGET, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS WERE SHIFTED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ESTIMATED THAT SAVED SEVEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED MILLION DOLLARS. SO I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. SO THIS HAS LED TO OVERALL DEPARTMENTAL CUTS. SO IT'S MY BELIEF THAT THESE POSITIONS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, ALSO KNOWN AS INSPECTORS, ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF HOUSTON AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO INSPECT SITES FOR HIGH GRASS JUNK AND OR ABANDONED VEHICLES AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. AND THEY'RE RESPONSIVE TO QUESTIONS FROM PUBLIC CIVIC GROUPS, CONTRACTORS, TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND BUSINESSES. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF KEEPING HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL IS THE MAIN THING. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, KIM. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO, UH, CONTINUE THE ADVOCACY. WE WILL DEFINITELY SHARE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WE'VE GOT A GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UM, AN INSPECTOR IN EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS. SO THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. NEXT SPEAKER, ROL RES RE I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. IAN LAB. CAN THIS COME UP TO POLLARD HEIGHT OR DOES IT STAY PUT? WE'RE WE'RE READY FOR YOU. GO AHEAD. IS THAT POSSIBLE? IT DOES NOT GO THAT. I, I THINK THAT LISTEN FROM ONE TALL PERSON TO ANOTHER, SIR. THAT'S JUST HOW AS IT GOES, . OKAY. FIRST DO I HAVE, IS IT ONLY ONE MINUTE RIGHT NOW? YES, THAT I HAVE. OKAY. BUT GO AHEAD AND WE'LL LET YOU WRAP IT UP. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS IAN LACH AND MANY OF YOU KNOW ME ALREADY. I KNOW MOST OF Y'ALL ALREADY TOO. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M A PROFESSIONAL CIVIL ENGINEER WITH 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I WORKED AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR 11 YEARS, UH, THAT ENDED LAST THURSDAY, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE ABOUT. UM, THAT ENDED AND OVER THOSE 11 YEARS, I REALLY WORKED HARD TO BRING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO ROADWAYS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, AND I FEEL LIKE IN SOMETIMES THAT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. OTHER TIMES IT WAS CHALLENGING. UM, BUT NOW I SPEAK TO YOU NOT AS CITY OF HOUSTON STAFF, BUT AS AN EAST END RESIDENT, A THIRD GENERATION EAST IN RESIDENT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT I SEE AS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT CHALLENGES IN THE EAST END RIGHT NOW. Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT FROM, UH, SEVERAL SPEAKERS OVER MONTHS. THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT POLK STREET. AND THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I FEEL PARTICULARLY QUALIFIED TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS ISSUE, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO OVER TOO MANY IN TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING IN MY OWN TIME ON THIS ISSUE SINCE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT IN FEBRUARY THROUGH THE SIGNS POSTED ON POLK STREET, UM, IN MY OWN TIME, NOT ON CITY TIME. UH, IN THAT TIME SINCE I BEGAN TALKING WITH OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE EAST END, WE WENT OUT AND TALKED WITH MANY BUSINESS OWNERS, MANY RESIDENTS, AND WE HAD, WE HAD TWO MAIN CAMP FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN. I THINK Y'ALL NEED TO HEAR THESE. WELL, I'VE HEARD FROM ONE GROUP THAT SAYS, I'M FURIOUS ABOUT THIS. WHY DIDN'T I HEAR ABOUT THIS? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHY DID I HEAR ABOUT THIS FROM MY NEIGHBOR AND NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL? THE OTHER CAMP TELLS ME THIS IS WHAT THE CITY ALWAYS DOES. THE CITY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE EAST END. WHY SHOULD I FIGHT IT? THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. THAT'S WHAT I HEAR IS THAT THE CITY WE WANT TO LIVE IN POLK STREET IS VERY IMPORTANT. UM, AND IF I COULD MOVE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HAS BEEN LOST IS THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THIS THAT MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. THAT CAN MAKE IT THE GRBA GREAT EXPANSION THAT SERVES ALL OF HOUSTON AND ALSO [03:00:01] SERVES TO CONNECT THE EAST END. WE DO NOT, WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THIS GRB EXPANSION IS BEING RUSHED AND THERE'S NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS ABOUT IT. IT'S A $2 BILLION RUSH JOB. AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE HERE, BUT A $2 BILLION PROJECT SHOULD BE DELIBERATE. IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL HOUSTON. AND WE CAN STILL DO THAT WITH THIS. BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED. ONE OTHER THOUGHT. UM, THIS IS NOT JUST AN EAST END ISSUE. UH, WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMUTERS WHO CAN'T USE POLK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE TECHSTAR RAMP THAT'S CLOSED DOWN. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD FROM THEM, YOU MAY NOT HAVE MAY, THEY MIGHT JUST THINK IT'S TEMPORARY. THEY CAN'T COME TO WORK ON POLK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE TXDOT HAS THE RAMP CLOSED DOWN TO THE END OF JULY. THEY'RE COMING FROM DISTRICTS, BCIE DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE, ALL OVER THE SOUTHWEST, SOUTHEAST J UH, PARTS OF GI MEAN, THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER THAT PART OF DOWNTOWN OR TOWN. THEY'RE COMING UP AND A LOT OF 'EM GET TO, TO TOYOTA CENTER. THEY GET DOWNTOWN TO WORK, THEY GET TO THE GRB ON POLK. THAT REP IS GONNA OPEN AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND THEY'RE GONNA THINK, OH, THANK GOODNESS I CAN GET BACK TO WHERE I NEED TO GO. THE WAY THEY'RE GONNA FIND OUT IN JUST A COUPLE MONTHS THAT, OH NO, THAT'S JUST A TEMPORARY RELIEF. THEY'RE GONNA FIND OUT WHEN THEY SEE THE ROAD CLOSED SIGNS AND THEY COME TO ASK Y'ALL, WHAT IS THIS? AND Y'ALL WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THIS AT SOME POINT TO ABANDON THE STREET. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, PEOPLE WILL CALL YOU WHEN THEY SAY, HOW COULD MY COUNCIL MEMBER LET THIS HAPPEN? WHY? GO AHEAD. YOU LET THIS HAPPEN. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT, WRAP IT UP. AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO HAVE YOUR ANSWERS READY BECAUSE THAT WILL BE COMING. ONE, ONE QUICK THOUGHT. GIVE 20 SECONDS. THERE IS AN ABILITY TO BUILD A PO POLK BRIDGE. I SAY THIS AS A CIVIL ENGINEER, THAT BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS IN THE PAST THAT ARE NO LONGER VALID, WE CAN NOW DO IT. THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED, BUT THE GRB HAS TO BE BUILT IN TANDEM WITH IT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. REALLY QUICKLY, IAN, I JUST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. UM, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ON THIS SIDE OF THE MIC BEFORE AND UH, IT'S A DIFFERENT ROLE FOR YOU, BUT YOU DO IT WITH SUCH PASSION AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE CITY FOR I BELIEVE OVER A DECADE. AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IAN IS THE ONE THAT WOULD COME AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS BASED ON RESIDENT FEEDBACK AS TO HOW TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER IN AN INNOVATIVE AND MODERN WAY BASED ON BEST PRACTICES IN ENGINEERING. AND YOU NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING FOR NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU NEVER STOPPED WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH COUNCIL OR WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. AND I WANNA PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HELD ON AS LONG AS YOU COULD, BUT YOU ALSO CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES YOU HAVE ARE SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THEM MORE. UM, BUT AGAIN, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU ARE BEHIND THE WORK THAT HAS COME FORWARD TO TRANSFORM THIS CITY AND TO SAVE LIVES. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I HAVE TWO PROCEDURE MOTION COUNCIL, FORMER AND CASTILLO. NEXT SPEAKER ROL RES. LADERRICK STEELS. LADERRICK STEELS. NEXT SPEAKER. EDDIE BAND. EDDIE BAND TO FOLLOW HIM. OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM HERE WITH THE PROPERTY THAT I OWN ON OLD SPANISH TRAIL. IT'S A FREESTANDING CLUB OR BUILDING THAT THE TENANT IS USING AS AN ILLEGAL CLUB EX TENANT, IF I MAY SAY. AND THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS. ONE IS THE CLUB PART AND ONE IS THEIR BEING THERE PAST THEIR UH, UH, LEASE TERM. I'M NOT HERE TO ASK YOU FOR THE LEASE OR FOR POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY AS MUCH AS I'M TRYING TO ASK YOU WHY HAVE I REACHED TO 3 1 1 [03:05:01] AND I HAVE NAMES FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS. H-P-D-T-A-B-C MAJOR. I CAN NAME NAMES IF YOU WANT ME. I HAVE IT ALL WITH PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAILS BACK AND FORTH FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. UH, PUBLIC WORKS, HPD, SENIOR PRECINCT, ONE PRECINCT SEVEN SOUTHEAST, DRT AND FIRE MARSHAL AS WELL. THANK YOU. RECENTLY SOMETHING CAME FRUITFUL. I GOT A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF THE OFFICERS I'M WORKING WITH AND UH, HIS REPORT SAID THAT ON SIX 16, POLICE AND FIRE MARSHALS WERE MET AT THAT LOCATION. THEY FOUND MARIJUANA, EDIBLE, THC, COCAINE, METH PILLS AND HEROIN INSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT. FIRE MARSHALS WROTE SEVERAL FRAUD CODE VIOLATIONS, CITATION, AND ONE PERSON WAS ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. IF I DO A LITTLE BIT OF GAZEBO IN THE BACKYARD OF MY HOUSE, I'M GONNA HAVE TONS OF CARS. FIRE MARSHAL THE CITY, HOA STOPPING ME FROM DOING ANYTHING. I'M WONDERING WHY DO THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE CITY HPD DA OFFICE NOT SHUT 'EM DOWN? THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR THAT IS BECAUSE AS A LANDLORD, GOD FORBID ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THERE, THEY GO AFTER ME, NOT AFTER THE TENANT. SO I'M HELPLESS. YOU'RE THE PROPERTY OWNER, RIGHT? YES, SIR. ALRIGHT, AND YOU AND THESE ARE TENANTS THAT ARE UNDER A CONTRACT WITH YOU EXPIRED BACK IN DECEMBER. OKAY. AND SO AS THE LANDLORD, HAVE YOU LOCKED THEM OUT? I DID. THEY LOCKED ME BACK OUT AND, AND THEY FILED A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ME UNTIL I CLEARED THAT. IT TOOK TWO MONTHS. I WENT TO CONSTABLE MR. PHILLIPS, SMOKEY PRECINCT SEVEN, AND I ASKED HIM, WHAT'S GOING ON? HE GOES, SINCE YOU HAVE A LEASE WITH HIM, I CANNOT INTERVENE BECAUSE I NEED TO HAVE A COURT ORDER WITH A OF POSSESSION. THESE PEOPLE, I DON'T WANNA SAY ANYTHING BAD HERE, BUT I'M HA AGAIN, FORGIVE ME, I HAVE MY COURTS IN ORDER WITH TONS OF MONEY TO EVICT THEM. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING HERE, BUT WHY ARE THEY STILL IN PUBLIC WORKS? KEEP SENDING ME VIOLATIONS. I I HAVE ONE NEXT WEEK I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY CARD. I'M NOT IN YOUR, THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT, BUT YOU'RE THE PROPERTY OWNER. YES. IF YOU, IF IF YOU I TRIED REACHING YOU, MR. UH, ED, I'M A FRIEND OF ANAN. OKAY. I SEND YOU THAT MESSAGE. ALRIGHT. I TRIED TO REACH TO EVERY PERSON I COULD THINK OF. LISTEN, AND TO YOU AS WELL. MA'AM. WE, I'M GONNA SPEAK TO YOU AFTER THIS. OKAY? I'LL BE HONORED SIR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL GET IT DONE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HOLD ON. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. ACTUALLY WANNA DO A PROCEDURAL MOTION, OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. SHE'S GONNA MOVE. KEVIN STRICKLAND, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THINK I MAYOR. PRETEND I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE KEVIN STRICKLAND UNDER, I GUESS IT'D BE SANDRA EVANS. IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? SANDRA EVANS. OKAY. WAIT, THANK YOU. GIMME A SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, YOU HAVE A PROCEDURE MOTION? YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ASHLEY BIAS TO FOLLOW KEVIN STRICKLAND. IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND. A SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. SANDRA EVANS CA SANDRA EVANS IS SANDRA EVANS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN STRICKLAND. HELLO, MS. EVANS. GO AHEAD. OKAY. I'VE, I'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A NEIGHBOR MICROPHONE. I'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE NEIGHBOR HARASSING ME FOR OVER 12 YEARS. AND I HAVE HERE, UM, REPORTS FOR OVER POLICE REPORTS FROM OVER 12 YEARS. AND THE RECENT ONE, I CALLED THE POLICE OUT BECAUSE THEY CAME HITTING MY WINDOW AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND WOKE ME UP. AND I'M HEARING THREATS. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE, MY BELIEF IS THEY HAVE A DEVICE TO HEAR WHAT I'M DOING IN MY HOUSE. UM, IT'S JUST PURE HARASSMENT. AND I DON'T LIVE IN [03:10:01] MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF FEAR. I OVERHEARD THEM SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO KILL ME. SO WHEN I CALL THE AUTHORITIES, THEY SAY I DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF. BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, LIKE I SAY, OVER 12 YEARS AND SINCE TWO MORE PEOPLE MOVED IN THE HOME, IT IS HEIGHTENED. IT'S, AND GOT TO THE POINT OF KILLING ME NOW. SO, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT IN MY HOME AND I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME. YOU KNOW, I REALLY NEED HELP. UM, INGRAM IS HERE FROM, UH, DISTRICT D UH, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S, UH, ASSISTANT AND SHE CAN HELP YOU. AND, UM, OFFICER LAHAR IS ALSO HERE, INGRAM, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE. SO IF YOU CAN SEE INGRAM, SHE WILL ASSIST YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. BEST WISHES TO YOU NEXT SPEAKER. KEVIN STRICKLAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY BIAZ BIAS. HELLO, KEVIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, UM, PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER HEIGHTS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S PROPOSAL FOR THE ONE PUBLIC SESSION A MONTH AT 6:00 PM THAT A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE OPPOSED TO. THIS IS DISAPPOINTING. UM, I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS HAVE PROTESTED IN THE LAST, SINCE IN THIS YEAR BECAUSE OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK. UM, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO ADDRESS OUR ELECTED LEADERS, BUT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR MANY PEOPLE DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETS AT SIX 30 JUST FOR THIS REASON, SINCE WE JUST CELEBRATED THE 4TH OF JULY. I'D REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT IN PERSON. WE HAVE A FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND YOU HEARD THE MOTORCYCLE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT OUR RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE. YOU CAN'T REALLY DO THAT OVER ZOOM. I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF PUBLIC SESSIONS AND IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THAT SORT OF INTERACTION WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS HOUSTONIANS, THE WAY IT HAPPENS IN PERSON. UM, MOST COMMUNITY MEETINGS ARE NO LONGER DONE BY ZOOM FOR A REASON. CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T DO THE PUBLIC SESSION MEETINGS BY ZOOM FOR A REASON. UM, SO YOU'VE NOW RECEIVED MORE THAN 80 EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL, SO I URGE YOU TO, UM, TO VOTE FOR IT. ONE, ONE MORE THING. SINCE THE, UH, SOLID WASTE PEOPLE, IF THERE'S ANY COMMUNITY LEADERS STILL WATCHING AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD, I'M GONNA DO IT FOR MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO REACH OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD THE PROBLEMS THAT SOLID WASTE INCURS EVERY DAY. UM, MY PARTICULAR STREET, WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT IT'S CLEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T. SO IF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS COULD REACH OUT TO YOUR RESIDENTS WITHOUT BEING OBNOXIOUS ABOUT IT AND SAY, HEY, COULD YOU PUT THE PAN CANS APART, THE COMMON SENSE DISTANCE, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY RAISED, I THINK WE COULD MAKE THEIR JOB, UH, A LOT EASIER. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO DO THAT. COUNCILMAN KAMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. OH, KEVIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE, I GUESS THE PRODUCTIVE SUGGESTION. AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING AGAIN, AS A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, PERHAPS AS WE PACKAGE SOME OF THE MESSAGING, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE CAN REALLY TAKE LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNICATING AND DISSEMINATING AND ACTIVATING. UM, SO I'LL, I'LL LOOK TO YOU AND OTHERS WITH THE, WITHIN THE ALLIANCE TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S ON US TO REALLY PACKAGE SOME OF THAT, THAT MESSAGING AS WELL. THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS COMES TO OUR MEETINGS AND JAMES HAS EXPLAINED TO US THE CHALLENGES FACED BY, UH, SOLID WASTE. BUT WE NEED TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE COULD DO TO REALLY HELP 'EM OUT. 'CAUSE I MEAN, I MEAN, HOW COULD YOU NOT LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE AND NOT SYMPATHIZE WITH THE REALLY TOUGH JOB THAT THEY DO? AND I REALLY HOPE HOUSTONIANS ARE NOT BEING MEAN TO THEM WHEN THEY'VE GOT SUCH A DIFFICULT JOB TO DO. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILE. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, AND OFFERING YOUR WORDS OF SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ASHLEY BIAS. ASHLEY BIAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEANETTE HURSTON. HELLO, ASHLEY. HELLO. HI. UM, I LIVE IN DISTRICT H I'M ACROSS THE STREET FROM A RESIDENCE ON EGYPT STREET. UM, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS NOT JUST THE ISO, BUT IT'S LIKE A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD. UM, THEY DON'T HAVE WORKING PLUMBING. THEY USE EXTENSION CORDS TO GET ELECTRICITY FROM THE NEW BUILDS THAT ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, THEY'RE ALSO STEALING FROM AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DISPOSE OF HUMAN FECES LIKE IN OUT AND PUT IT OUTSIDE. THERE'S, UM, [03:15:01] LIKE A BASS SMELL OF URINE, FECES, ANIMALS. UM, THE, THEY HAVE EXTREME JUNK, LIKE EXTREME TO THREE TO FIVE FEET TALL OF JUNK. UM, SOLID WASTE DOES COME CLEAN IT UP, BUT THEN THEY STARTED RIGHT BACK TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER. UM, I'VE EMAILED EV LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR OFFICE, UM, I'VE BEEN TOLD PLENTY OF TIMES THAT, OH, YOU KNOW, TEXAS HAS A PRO STRONG PROPERTY, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO. WE CAN JUST KEEP, UM, SENDING THEM CITATIONS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW LIKE WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE FOR THIS INSTANCE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S, IT'S A HEALTH HAZARD AS, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, AN EYESORE. AND IT'S JUST NOT FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THE, THE HOUSE IS BEHIND ON TAXES. LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING, AND THEY CAN JUST KEEP BEING A NUISANCE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM ASHLEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, UM, RAISING THIS ISSUE IN A, IN A PUBLIC WAY. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS PROPERTY, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAS BEEN ATTENDED TO NUMEROUS TIMES, UH, BY SOLID WASTE, AND WE'VE HAD PUBLIC WORKS OUT THERE. WE'VE HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OUT THERE, AND CITATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, TRASH HAS BEEN PICKED UP, AND IT'S LITERALLY BACK THE NEXT DAY. UM, I, UM, THIS TRASH HAS TO BE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE HOME BECAUSE WE'RE ABATING LARGE PILES OF DEBRIS AND THEN SHOWS UP THE NEXT DAY. UM, I WILL SAY THAT THE BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, DOES HAVE A FOLLOW UP INSPECTION SCHEDULED FOR JULY THE 10TH. SO, UM, THEY WILL GO TO SEE IF THEY'VE BEEN, OR IF THE PROPERTY'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, SOME OF THEIR VIOLATIONS. UM, SEPARATE OF THAT, THE PERMITTING CENTER IS ALSO, UH, SEEKING TO OBTAIN A WARRANT TO GAIN AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER THE PROPERTY, UH, TO ABATE NUISANCE VIOLATIONS. UM, AND IF THEY OBTAIN IT, THEN THEY CAN, UH, ENTER WITHIN 10 DAYS. MM-HMM . SO THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR Y'ALL. UM, AND I THINK YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE, THE HEALTH COMPONENT, UH, BECAUSE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ONE GROUP THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD OUT THERE. MM-HMM . UH, BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT IS, THAT IS A GOOD NEXT STEP, WHICH, UM, MY OFFICE WILL HELP FACILITATE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER PROPERTIES SIMILAR TO THIS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UM, IT IS, IT IS A TIME CONSUMING PROCESS AND IT DOES TAKE TIME. UM, BUT KNOW THAT ME AND MY TEAM ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING Y'ALL. UM, IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. UM, WE'VE HAD HPD OUT THERE FOR, FOR SOME OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, UM, CRIME RELATED THINGS THAT BEEN GOING ON, PROBABLY LEGAL BOARDING, LIKE IS. YEP. AND SO I THINK YOU BEING HERE, UH, WILL HELP, YOU KNOW, KEEP THIS TOP OF MIND FOR, FOR THE DEPARTMENTS WE'RE WORK IN THIS, BRING SOME MORE EYES TO THE SITUATION BECAUSE, UH, WE NEED IT. HONESTLY. WE, WE NEED, WE NEED SOME REAL SOLUTIONS HERE. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER SO HE CAN HELP WITH THAT SITUATION. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JEANETTE HURSTON. JEANETTE HURSTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBIN ALLEN . HELLO, MS. HURSTON. HI. HOW ARE Y'ALL TODAY? PICK A MICROPHONE, WHICHEVER ONE YOU LIKE THE BEST. RED. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. UH, START? YES, MA'AM, WE'RE READY. OH, I WAS, UH, HERE BECAUSE I'M HAVING MAJOR, MAJOR PROBLEMS AT THE APARTMENT, UH, COMPLEX. I'VE BEEN LIVING FOR 13 YEARS PLUS, AND, UH, I'VE BEEN SPRAYED WITH CHEMICALS. YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF KIMS GUM TALKING ABOUT. UM, WELL, ANYWAY, DROPPED DOWN IN MY EAR FROM OUT, OUT OF THE VENT AND WHATEVER THE, THAT THEY, THEY'RE MAKING STUFF UP THERE AND, AND IT COST ME TO HAVE PSORIASIS. I'VE BEEN, UH, OH. I'VE BEEN, IT'S, IT'S SO MUCH. I HAD SO MUCH IN MY MIND. I COME HERE READY TO ASK. SO, UH, THAT I COULD TALK TO THE MAYOR PRIVATELY BECAUSE THIS IS MAJOR AND, AND, AND I FEEL BY ME SPEAKING LIVES COULD BE IN JEOPARDY. ONE MINDFUL ONE, AND OUT HERE. AND, AND THEN, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE, JUST 30 MINUTES TO TRY. AND I'M 70 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T THINK FAST LIKE I USED TO. AND IT'S A LOT OF MESS. [03:20:02] UH, WHERE I LIVE AT MS. HURSTON, UM, INGRAM IS HERE, UM, FROM DISTRICT D AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK TO YOU AND HELP YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AND THEN IF WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WE WILL. BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND TALKING TO INGRAM, SHE WORKS ON BEHALF OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, CHARLES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. BEST WISHES TO YOU. OH, OKAY. THANK NEXT SPEAKER, ROBIN ALLEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEITH TAYLOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? NAME IS ROBIN ALLEN. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF HEATHER CREST POST OAK VILLAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I REMEMBER YOU COUNCILMAN ACORN. UM, REASON WHY I'M HERE, I CONCUR WITH THE YOUNG LADY. EGYPT JUST SAID, UM, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENFORCEMENT, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE, UM, US GETTING OUR INSPECTORS. THAT'S WHERE THEIR ACCOUNTABILITY COME FROM. SO I'M GONNA READ OFF A FEW STATS FOR YOU GUYS. UH, 12 4 0 5 SOUTH MAINE. DIRT DUMP. UH, USED TO BE AN OLD MCDONALD'S THERE BACK IN THE DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT. MM-HMM . UM, BUT IT'S A DIRT MOUND THERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DUMPING. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CHEMICALS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DIRT IT IS. 12 8 70 SOUTH POST OAK AND ALLEN, SAME THING. TRASH DUMP DEBRIS. IT USED TO BE AN OLD U-HAUL. UM, IT'S JUST A DILAPIDATED BUILDING. 12 9 13 SOUTH POST OAK. AN ABANDONED OLD LAW OFFICE THAT'S BEEN THERE PROBABLY 20 PLUS YEARS. UM, IT'S NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AS A DANGEROUS BUILDING 'CAUSE IT WAS BEFORE I GOT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 13,500 SOUTH POST OAK, A BUSINESS OWNER THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY, WHICH I DO HAVE PICTURES. I'M GONNA PASS 'EM AROUND IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND. YES. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. UH, THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY HAS A, UM, PERSON'S NAME ON IT. IT'S JUST A GROUP OF PICTURES. AND, UH, WE HAVE CALLED HIM. GO AHEAD. WE HAVE CALLED HIM. HE'S CLEANED IT UP. YES. IT'S A HOMELESS PROBLEM, BUT HE NEEDS TO KEEP HIS PROPERTY CLEAN. SIMPLE AS THAT. UH, HIGHWAY 90 FROM HIGHWAY 90 FROM SOUTH POST OAK, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ESPLANADE. WE HAVING PROBLEM WITH OVERGROWN, UH, ESPLANADE, UH, OBSTRUCTION, UM, SOME AREAS. AND THAT GOES FROM HIRING CLARKTON 90 THAT GOES FROM FUQUA TO SOUTH POST OAK. OUR ARE JUST NOT BEING KEPT CLEAN. CHANNEL 1 51, THEY SAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CUT TWICE A YEAR. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN CUT THIS YEAR AT ALL. THE GRASS IS LEASED ABOUT SIX FEET. 'CAUSE I'M FIVE SEVEN. UM, ILLEGAL DUMPING ON 49 98 SIMS BROOK. IT OBSTRUCTING THAT CHANNEL 1 51 THAT PERMITS THE FLOW FROM WATER FROM COMING DOWN. THAT CHANNEL RUNS BEHIND MY CIVIC CLUB, MY AREA FROM CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE, ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH, AND IT DEADS INTO GRISSOM ELEMENTARY. OKAY. POST OAK VILLAGE PARK. SOME OF THOSE PICTURES Y'ALL LOOKING AT, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN OVER BETWEEN THAT FENCE. AND SO THEY'RE LAYING THEIR, UH, LAUNDRY TO BE WASHED AND DRIED OUT ON THE FENCE THAT THE CITY PUT UP. OKAY. 53 31 PRUDENCE DRIVE. COUPLE OF AUTO PARTS. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES. UM, THEY LEAVE THE CARS, SOME OF THEM ON BLOCKS ON THE STREET PAST THE BUSINESS HOURS. UM, BANDIT SIGNS, THEY JUST RECENTLY PICKED SOME OF THOSE UP. I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT. BUT THEY DID A GOOD THING. AND THEN THEY TURNED AROUND AND HAD THE LEFT, THE BANDIT SIGNS, SOME OF THEM ARE STILL OUT WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE ONE ON THE CORNER OF KATINA AND RIPPLE BROOK, UH, THAT'S STILL THERE TODAY. BUT IN THE MAJOR ADES, THEY HAVE REMOVED ALL OF THOSE SIGNS. SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING. I FEEL IF WE HAVE THE INSPECTORS THERE WILL HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS, WHEN THEY'RE SAY THEY'RE GETTING DONE, THAT THEY'RE GETTING DONE. BECAUSE SOME OF THE REPORTS THAT WE RECEIVE, THEY'LL SAY THAT THEY'RE GETTING DONE AND THE CASE IS CLOSED. BUT THEN I GO OUT THERE AND THAT CASE IS STILL THERE. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. SO WE NEED TO CLEAN THIS UP. I'M NOT HAPPY FROM SOUTH. ONCE YOU CROSS THE HUMP. I USED TO TELL LARRY THIS ALL THE TIME. HEAD SOUTH TOWARD 22, 34, DISTRICT A, DON'T LOOK WELL TO ME, AND WE NEED IT CLEANED UP AND FIXED. THANK YOU FOR, UH, COMING AND FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU AND YOUR, UM, NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING AND WORKING ALONGSIDE THE DISTRICT K OFFICE. UM, AND WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THAT INSPECTOR YES. UM, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD OUR OWN INSPECTOR MM-HMM . A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WE COULD TAKE CARE OF. AND WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO WE COULD ACTUALLY WORK WITH. RIGHT. AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THESE ISSUES WERE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF. UM, OUR OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INSPECTOR AND WORK ALONGSIDE THE CIVIC CLUBS AND THE HOAS. MM-HMM . UM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND ALLOWING MY [03:25:01] COLLEAGUES TO ALSO HEAR WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE OUR OWN INSPECTOR IN OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS TO HELP TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KEITH TAYLOR, TO BE FOLLOWED BY LINDA SPURLOCK. HELLO, KEITH. AFTERNOON. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. UM, PARTICULARLY, UH, VICE MAYOR, UH, PRO TEMP, UH, MARTHA CASTEX TAYLOR, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, MY, UH, DISTRICT K, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KEITH TAYLOR, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARM CLARK CIVIC CLUB, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS IN THE BRENTWOOD AND PAMELA HEIGHTS COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT K. FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY, I I, I'LL, I'LL GET TO THE, TO THE POINT. UH, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE TRASH. WE HEARD, UH, EXTENSIVE TESTIMONY, UH, ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY. SO I WON'T BELABOR THAT POINT. BUT I WILL SAY THIS, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ MADE A VERY GOOD POINT EARLIER ABOUT, UH, THE, THE NEED FOR TRASH FEE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE REPETITIVE CIRCULAR TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS. WE KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME, SOME POLITICAL COURAGE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REALIZE THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IN TERMS OF TRUCKS, THE, THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS THAT ARE GONNA BE NEEDED FOR GROWING A CITY LIKE HOUSTON IS GONNA BE IN THE MILLIONS. OKAY? THEY'RE GONNA BE PERSONNEL COSTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT. IT'S JUST A HARD REALITY. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO, TO BE PREPARED TO TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO JUSTIFY THE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO AFFECT THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED. OTHERWISE, IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND NOT MOVING THE BALL FORWARD IN TERMS OF SCORING A TOUCHDOWN. OKAY? SO PLEASE, PLEASE HAVE THOSE, THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. UM, I, I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, THE NEED, UH, FOR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AGENTS AS, UH, VICE MAYOR PORT TEM ADVOCATED FOR EARLIER, WE'RE GONNA NEED THOSE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN EACH DISTRICT. IT'S REALLY NO DIFFERENT FROM A COP ON THE BEAT. YOU HAVE CERTAIN COPS WHO HAVE CERTAIN BEATS THAT THEY COVER. THOSE ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS OR THE SES FOR THAT PARTICULAR BEAT. WE NEED THOSE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD AGENTS IN EACH DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S NEEDED AND THE NECESSARY FOLLOW UP, NOT JUST REPORTING, UH, ISSUES TO 3 1 1. AND THEN THEY, THEY, THEY'D BE CHECKED OFF WITHOUT HAVING THE ACCOUNTABILITY TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ACTUALLY COMPLETED. NOT JUST REPORTED, BUT COMPLETED. AND SO THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD AGENTS WOULD HAVE THAT CAPACITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT. SO THAT WOULD BE AN INVESTMENT THAT I THINK WOULD BE WELL WORTH YOUR CONSIDERATION. UM, ANOTHER ISSUE I WANT TO MENTION IS, UH, THE, UH, CITY DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE TEAMS, WE'RE GONNA NEED THEM TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT'S BEING REPORTED TO THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE, UH, PICTURES THAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER, THERE'S TRASH BEING LEFT OUT. UH, THERE, THERE ARE NEIGHBORS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, PARK THEIR VEHICLES ON THE FRONT LAWN. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT LOOKS TACKY AND THAT DEGRADES THE QUALITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED THE DRT TO ENFORCE THOSE, UH, FRONT YARD, NO FRONT YARD PARKING ORDINANCE TO CITE THOSE INDIVIDUALS, TO FORCE THEM TO STOP. UM, SOME PEOPLE TEND TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES ON THE STREETS FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. AND THAT'S A PROBLEM, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IN TERMS OF VEHICLES MOVING BACK AND FORTH, IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE SOLID WASTE TEAM THAT YOU JUST HEARD THEIR, THEIR TESTIMONY EARLIER. SO WE'RE GONNA NEED THE DRT TO DO THEIR JOBS OF THE SMALLER LEVEL CRIMES, IF YOU WILL. BUT ENFORCEMENT IS GONNA NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO AFFECT CHANGE IN THAT REGARD. SO, I WANNA ASK YOU ALL TO INSIST THAT THE DRT, UH, NOT JUST PRIORITIZE THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE MURDERS AND THE DRUG DEALING AND OTHER THINGS, BUT WE NEED THE, THE OTHER, [03:30:01] UH, COMMUNITY NUISANCE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS 'EM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR ADVOCACY, KEITH AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AS THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR CIVIC CLUB. UM, I THINK YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT PROHIBITED YARD PARKING. RESIDENTS GO THROUGH A LOT OF EFFORT TO APPLY FOR PROHIBITED YARD PARKING. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EFFORT IS ALSO BEING RETURNED WHEN WE ARE ENFORCING IT, BECAUSE IT IS A NUISANCE. UM, AND IT IS VERY TIME CONSUMING, UM, TO GET THAT DESIGNATION. UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE DESIGNATED PROHIBITED YARD PARKING. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN, UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO OPT OUT IF YOU DON'T WANT IT, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. UM, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE WITH THE, UM, DRT TEAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING UP ON THE, ON THOSE ISSUES. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THEIR PIP MEETINGS IN THE EVENINGS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE OFFICERS, UM, AT THOSE MEETINGS TO CONTINUE TO SAY, WE NEED YOU TO HELP US ENFORCE THOSE. SO, SURE, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES. UM, AND WE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR CIVIC CLUBS AND HOA LEADERS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, LINDA SCURLOCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY SEAN TAYLOR. HMM. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS LINDA SCURLOCK. I THINK I'VE HAD, WHAT I HAD DOWN HERE IS HEAVY TRASH, WHICH IS STILL OUT. UH, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, BUT IT'S KILLING OUR LUNGS. YOU GETTING PEOPLE COMING BY, THROWING THEIR TRASH ON YOURS. UM, AND, UH, RODENTS. I HAVE A POSSUM THAT VISITS ME EVERY NIGHT. YOU KNOW, MY CAMERAS PICKED THEM UP, SO I HAD A RACCOON. ALL OF THAT. PEOPLE PUT OUT TH TRASH, YOU KNOW, SNAKES, RATS, SO ON. ALSO, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, HAVING AN INSPECTOR FOR DISTRICT K. WE NEED ONE. AND MY LAST THING IS PYP ED YARD PARKING. THE DRTS DO NOT, UH, ENFORCE THAT ANYMORE. THEY TOLD US TO CALL 3 1 1. I CALLED 3 1 1 3 1 1 PUSHED ME OVER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE PERSON WHO ANSWERED SAID, WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. ANYBODY CAN PARK. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PARK IN YOUR YARD. NO, YOU CAN'T. SO IT, IT IS, IT'S KICKING THE CUR, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. UH, A LOT OF US WENT THROUGH A LOT OF EXPENSE AND TIME, AND I'VE HAD IT SINCE 2010 IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 20 YEARS, SO I GUESS I GOT A FEW MORE YEARS ON IT. BUT, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED BY SOMEBODY. AS I SAID, THE DRTS SAID THEY WILL NOT DO THAT ANYMORE. OKAY, SO 3 1 1, THEY SHIFT US OVER TO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, MR. ON, ON A SECOND. AND, AND I RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC WORKS, HPD, ABOUT THIS VERY THING BECAUSE YOU, YOU GUYS DO GO TO A LOT OF TROUBLE TO GET THESE PAR, PAR PYP, YOU KNOW, DEALS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. NOBODY'S ENFORCING 'EM, RIGHT? POLICE DON'T WANNA DO IT SOLID. ALL THE DAWN INSPECTORS ARE NOW AT PUBLIC WORKS. THEY WERE GOING OUT THERE AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE PULLING GUNS ON 'EM AND STUFF. SO IT'S, IT'S A BIG ISSUE. AND IT'S, IT'S GOTTA BE RESOLVED. I WAS ASSURED THAT AT THE DIRECTOR LEVEL, THEY WERE, THEY WERE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. THEY WERE GONNA FIND A CLEAR PATH TO ENFORCEMENT. BUT I, I AM, I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AND I KNOW, UH, NO RESIDENTS ARE TOO. AND, AND, UM, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM. YOU SHOULD HAVE TO JUST, WHOLE CITY SHOULD BE PYP AND YOU SHOULD JUST HAVE TO OPT OUT OF IT. AND, AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE INSPECTOR, THAT'S SOMETHING YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR YEARS. UM, GETTING INSPECTORS IN THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS WHERE THEY CAN REALLY KNOW THE PRO PROBLEMS. SO THANKS FOR COMING. LEMME SAY THIS, UH, UH, MS. HAN, UH, YOU WERE THE PERSON WHO I CALLED, UH, BACK DURING THE DAY ABOUT THAT OLD MCDONALD'S. OH YEAH. AND THEY WENT OUT AND DID A CITATION ON THEM. SO IT'S STILL A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS. I THINK IT WAS 21, I THINK THAT I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT. AND THEY DID GIVE THE OWNER A CITATION. SO FOR RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH, IT'S A DUMPING GROUND FOR EVERYTHING. AND NOW IT HAS, IT SAID, MOUNDS OF DIRT, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY'RE STARTING TO THROW PALLETS OUT THERE. IT'S JUST AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. SO I WILL TELL YOU, MS. SCURLOCK, THAT, UM, WE PULLED OUR CAMERA FOOTAGE, UM, AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS THAT ARE DUMPING FIELD ALL OVER THE CITY. UM, WE'VE GOT SOME [03:35:01] LICENSE PLATES. UM, WE'VE TURNED THOSE INTO ENVIRONMENTAL. AND WE KNOW THAT AT NIGHT, UM, CONTRACTORS ARE DUMPING JUST PILES OF DIRT MM-HMM . ALL ACROSS THE, THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IT, IT IS FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE DUMPING PILES OF DIRT BECAUSE THEY ARE CONTRACTORS AND THEY WORK, THEY HAVE THEIR TRUCKS IN THEIR TRAILERS. YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE GOT SOME LICENSE PLATES. THEY'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE, THOSE FOLKS. IT'S A, IT'S A CONSTANT PROBLEM. YOU CLEAN IT UP THE NEXT DAY. SOMEBODY ELSE IS, IS, IS DUMPING IN, IN THOSE SPACES. SO, SO IT'S, WE, WE'LL KEEP, WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON IT. OKAY. THEY HAVE MOVED DOWN THE STREET. MM-HMM . ON, ON SOUTH POST OAK. WE GOT THAT TRASH CAN REMOVED THAT, THAT DUMPSTER REMOVED ON THERE. NOW THEY'RE DUMPING TRASH THERE. NOW THE CAR DEALERSHIP HAS A LOT OF TRASH OUT THERE. YEAH. IT'S A CONSTANT THING. AND, UH, IT SAID THEY'RE STARTING TO DUMP THE DIRT ON THAT LOT, RIGHT, RIGHT THERE AT POST OAK. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT DIRT COMES FROM. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT DIRT COMES FROM. WE HAVE PICTURES AND I'LL, I'LL SHOOT 'EM TO YOU SO YOU CAN SEE 'EM. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE, THEY ARE BACKING THEIR TRAILERS IN, AND THE TRAILERS ARE FULL OF DIRT THAT THEY EITHER GOT FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE OR FROM A, A JOB SITE THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, AND THEY NEED TO GET RID OF THE FIELD AND THEY JUST GO DUMP IT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. RIGHT. IS RIDICULOUS. THOSE OWNERS SHOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, CHARGED WITH THAT. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER AS WELL. I, I THINK THAT MANY OF THE DISTRICTS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT, UM, MANY OF THE RESIDENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. AND WE CREATED WHAT WAS CALLED DISTRICT J PATROL, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. AND RESIDENTS WOULD GO TO DISTRICT J PATROL.COM AND THEY CAN UPLOAD PHOTOS. THEY CAN, THEY CAN WRITE A COMMENT ABOUT A LOW LEVEL QUALITY OF LIFE, CRIME AND VIOLATION, SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, JUNK MOTOR VEHICLES, PARKING ON THE LAWN, UM, PANHANDLING, TRESPASSING, SOMETHING THAT, UH, AFFECTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN A DRT OFFICER WOULD GET THAT REPORT AND OUR OFFICE WOULD USE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO PAY OVERTIME DOLLARS SO THAT THEY COULD ONLY FOCUS ON THE SUBMISSIONS. OKAY. AND THE COOL THING ABOUT IT WAS THE OFFICERS WOULD THEN HAVE TO REPORT BACK ON THE SITE WHAT WAS ADDRESSED. OKAY? AND ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY SUBMITTED REPORTS WAS PROHIBITIVE YARD PARKING. AND THE DRT OFFICERS UNDER THE DISTRICT J PATROL, THEY WOULD GO OUT THERE AND ADDRESS PYP AND THEY WOULD EVEN WRITE THE TICKETS. IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT HPD WILL NO LONGER ADDRESS PYP. NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS. UM, BUT I THINK AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND JUST COUNCIL MEMBERS AS A WHOLE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE. IT'S, IT'S NOT ONLY A QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, PROBLEM, BUT IT BRINGS DOWN THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE AESTHETICS, THE PROPERTY VALUES, EVERYTHING. IT JUST, IT'S JUST A BAD LOOK. AND SO, UH, I'M GONNA FIGHT TO TRY TO GET THAT REINSTATED. UM, I KNOW ONE OF THE ISSUES FROM HPD IS THEY'RE GONNA SAY THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO SUCH A LOWER LEVEL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE ON A ROUTINE BASIS. BUT IF, IF, IN MY CIRCUMSTANCE, IF I'M PAYING FOR THE OVERTIME DOLLARS FOR THEM TO DO THAT, THEN I THINK THAT IS WHAT SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. AND, UM, I KNOW I'M GONNA PUSH IT FOR MY AREA. AND I, I, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO REALLY STRESS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE PYP IS SOMETHING THAT HPD SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO. AND ALSO LOOK AT AN ORDINANCE, AS YOU ALL MENTIONED, THAT THE ENTIRE CITY, UH, SHOULD BE UNDER THAT PURVIEW. AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN IT, THEN YOU CAN OPT OUT. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I GET YOUR NEWSLETTER, SO I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR DISTRICT. ALRIGHT, COOL. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND MS. MS. SPURLOCK. SPURLOCK SCURLOCK. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. AND, UM, THE OTHERS WHO HAVE COME DOWN ABOUT THE PROHIBITED YARD PARKING, I, I THINK, THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT. AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. IT'S ENFORCEMENT AND, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION REALLY NEEDS TO DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE THE PROHIBITED YARD PARKING. IS IT GONNA BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? IS IT GONNA BE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH TOOK OVER THE FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AT LEAST AS IT RELATES TO ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT'S RIPE TO COME BEFORE, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HOST THAT [03:40:01] SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN EXTENDED DISCUSSION OF IT. BUT THERE ARE SOME DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, UH, WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE ENFORCED. AND, UM, UH, I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YOU KNOW, ALL DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. 'CAUSE IT, IT GOES ACROSS THE CITY. AND SO, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SEAN TAYLOR. SEAN RUSHING. RUSHING. HI, I AM SEAN RUSHING, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF ADVOCATING FOR AN INSPECTOR FOR EACH DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY DISTRICT K WHERE I LIVE. I LIVE IN M CLARK. I'M 57 YEARS OLD, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE 53 YEARS. I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I BELIEVE ARE NOT EDUCATED ON HOW TO HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. HOW TO FOLLOW THE RULES THAT THE CITY AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO ENFORCE. SO, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATIONS OF THIS EVENING, OR HEARD SOMEONE TALK ABOUT LIKE A EDUCATION ONE-ON-ONE FOR COMMUNITIES, AND I JUST THINK WE SHOULD DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. 'CAUSE SOMEONE YOUNG LIKE ME, SOME OF THESE THINGS YOU DESCRIBED TODAY, I'M VERY UNFAMILIAR WITH. AND I KNOW MY HUSBAND CALLS 3 1 1. WE HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE NEEDED TO TURN OUR TRASH CAN A CERTAIN WAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO US. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I JUST THINK WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND I THINK THAT IF WE HAD AN INSPECTOR ASSIGNED TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE COULD CALL, THEN WE COULD BE PARTNERS VERSUS BEING AGAINST EACH OTHER, THAT WE ALL COULD WORK TOGETHER. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL MY INSPECTOR WHAT THE, UM, SOLID WASTE PEOPLE SHARED AND HOW WE COULD IMPROVE THAT BY, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING BETTER. I PASSED BY A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE THE OTHER DAY, AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW DIDN'T HANG UP THE PHONE. AND I SAID, LOOK AT ALL OF THAT OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE, RIGHT? AND I OFFENDED HER, RIGHT? BUT IT WASN'T A CONVERSATION FOR HER, REALLY. IT WAS JUST A CONVERSATION FOR ME AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. BUT I DON'T THINK SHE REALLY KNEW BECAUSE HER FRIENDS CALLED ME AND SAID, SEAN, WELL WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRASH? I WAS LIKE, IT'S TOO MUCH. LIKE, IT'S REALLY TOO MUCH. AND MY NEIGHBORS I KNOW DO CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AND AT THE END OF THEIR DAY, THEY PARK THEIR TRAILERS OUT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE FOR DAYS ON THE WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, AND THEY BRING ALL THAT STUFF BACK. BUT DO I REALLY GO OVER THERE BY MYSELF AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION? THAT MIGHT NOT BE SAFE FOR ME. BUT IF WE COULD WORK WITH A CITY INSPECTOR AND BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY THROUGH CONVERSATION, I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING AND A HEALTHY OUTCOME FIRST. ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS. AND I KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER FROM DISTRICT K, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER RESIDENTS FROM DISTRICT K THAT ARE HERE. I, UM, SEE MS. UH, LINDA WRIGHT AND MS. WILL TURNER. I SEE SOME OTHER RESIDENTS FROM BRENTWOOD THAT ARE HERE. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND, AND, AND COMING DOWN TO, UH, CITY HALL COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. I WAS SORRY. I AM CRAZY. I WAS JUST GONNA ADD, I'M, I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTORS IS, IS A GREAT IDEA AND WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE NOT EV NOT ONE MAN'S TRASH IS NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S TREASURER. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY, THAT'S A PROBLEM. SO YEAH, I'M, I'M ON BOARD. HOWEVER WE CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, YOU RANDY TREVINO. RANDY TREVINO. NEXT SPEAKER SHEILA. WED WEDGWORTH SHEILA WEDGWORTH TO BE FOLLOWED BY LORENA. PUT KELVIN. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SHEILA WEDGWORTH. HOW ARE YOU? I LIVE IN CONROE, TEXAS. UM, I'M SPEAKING ON, UH, BEHALF OF AN INCIDENT I WAS INVOLVED IN ON APRIL THE 12TH. I KNOW IT'S BEEN SOME TIME AND I'VE MADE IT HERE BECAUSE I'VE TRIED OTHER AVENUES TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND I'M GETTING NOWHERE WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY OUTTA MY OWN POCKET TO PROVE MY INNOCENCE. UM, WE WERE, I WAS ACTUALLY HERE IN Y'ALL'S AREA. UH, ME AND MY FRIEND, WE HAD COME UP. I, LIKE I SAID, I LIVE IN CONROE. SHE LIVES IN HUNTSVILLE. AND WE HAD COME UP TO GO TO THE POST. THEY HAD LIKE A LITTLE MARKET THERE AT THE POST THAT DAY. AND WE HAD GONE THERE EARLIER. AND, UH, THEN WE WERE GONNA GO HAVE LUNCH AT THE QUA CLUB. AS WE WERE UP, WE, WE WENT THROUGH, [03:45:01] UM, THE PARKING LOT AND DECIDED WE WEREN'T GONNA PAY THE HIGH PRICE FEE FOR THE VALET PARKING. SO WE MADE THE BLOCK. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, UH, UH, WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS WE WERE COMING INTO A CURVE ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, WE HAD TURNED OFF HOUSTON ONTO WASHINGTON AVENUE, HEADED TOWARDS THE AQUARIUM. UH, A HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER IN HIS PATROL VEHICLE. HE HAD A FEMALE OFFICER WITH HIM. UH, WE WERE ALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD HEADED EAST. UH OH. GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. OKAY, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. UH, WE WERE GOING TALK BEHIND THE MICROPHONE TOO, SO WE CAN HEAR YOU BETTER. I'M SORRY, . THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, AS WE WERE MAKING THE CURVE, THE HOUSTON POLICE ARE IN HIS VEHICLE. HE CAME, UH, BESIDE ME. I'M RIGHT HERE. I'M STARING OUT THE ROAD. NOT, WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING. HE WAS TALKING TO HER. YOU COULD TELL 'CAUSE SHE WAS TURNED LOOKING TOWARDS HIM. I HAD GLANCED OVER AND YOU COULD SEE HER HAND UP. WE GET AROUND RIGHT AS WE MADE THE CURB RIGHT BEFORE THERE WAS A CROSSWALK. AND THERE'S NO MARKINGS ON THIS ROAD EITHER. IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. WASHINGTON AVENUE MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY CHECK THAT OUT FOR THE ROADWAY. ANYWAY, HE CAME OVER AND JUST SLAMMED RIGHT INTO MY FRONT QUARTER PANEL. I MEAN, I WATCHED HIM, I SEEN HIM DO IT. I MEAN, AND WHEN HE HIT ME, IT KNOCKED ME OVER TO THE CURB A LITTLE BIT. BUT WHEN HE LOOKED, HE LOOKED OVER AT ME LIKE THAT. AND THEN HE GOT HIS STEERING WHEEL AND JERKED IT. SO I'VE CALLED AND I'VE ASKED, SO HOW DID Y'ALL SUCCUMB TO THAT? HE HIT ME BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, I'M, I HAVE INTEGRITY AND I'M TELLING YOU THE GOD HONEST TRUTH. AND I WOULDN'T COME THIS FAR TO CITY COUNCIL TO TELL YOU ABOUT A LITTLE ACCIDENT. BUT IT'S ON MY RECORD. AND I'VE HAD MANY OTHER TICKETS. YES, I'VE BEEN AT FAULT FOR HIM. AND YES, I LINE UP TO IT, BUT HE DEFINITELY HIT ME. THERE WAS CAMERAS ALL IN THE AREA AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT AND WE FOUND THAT, THEY SAID I WAS AT FAULT. WE CAME TO THE AREA AND MY HUSBAND AND I SCOURED THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LOOKED AT ALL THE CAMERAS ON ALL THE BUILDINGS. I, I WENT INTO ALL THE BUILDINGS AND THERE THAT HAD CAMERAS AND, UH, EVEN CALLED ANOTHER ONE THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE HAD A CAMERA, BUT THEY COULDN'T SEE YOU. BUT EVERYBODY, THE, UH, IT HAPPENED RIGHT BY OR RIGHT IN FRONT OF WHERE THE HOUSTON PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY OFFICE IS THERE ON WASHINGTON AND THEY HAVE CAMERAS ALL AROUND THEIR BUILDING. WELL, THEY, THEY LOOKED FOR THE CAMERA FOOTAGE AND THEY SAID THAT THE CAMERAS WEREN'T WORKING AT THE TIME OF MY ACCIDENT. HOW CONVENIENT. ANYWAY, UH, FINALLY THE SECOND TIME THEY WENT BACK, THEY SAID THEY DID HAVE FOOTAGE. HOWEVER, THE FOOTAGE I SAID WAS VERY GRAINY. SO MY QUESTION WAS, THERE'S FIVE OR SIX CAMERAS, OR THEY ALL GRAINY OR DID JUST CHECK ALL OF THEM. NO. SO MY VOICE IS, I WANT TO BE HEARD AND I WANT IT TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATED BY OTHER PEOPLE. THE VEHICULAR CRIMES DIVISION, THEY CAME OUT, TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF FOR THEM TO ARRIVE OUT TO DO THE INVESTIGATION. AND I MEAN, THEY HAD TO COME FROM NORTH HOUSTON, THEY SAID, AND I MEAN, THE OFFICER THAT RAN INTO ME, HE IS TOTALLY LYING. HE KNOWS HE HIT ME. I MEAN, I, I WATCHED HIM AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I'VE CALLED THE ACCIDENT, UH, REVIEW BOARD THAT, UH, DOES REENACTMENTS OF, OF, YOU KNOW, BUT I, MY CAR WASN'T, NO, I WAS ACTUALLY IN A LOANER VEHICLE, WHICH IS SAD. BUT, UM, UM, I'LL GIVE YOU MY THOUGHT PROCESS AGAIN. UH, WHEN, WHEN WE TURNED THE, OR WHEN SHE DID THE REPORT, SHE CAME BACK AND SAID, SHE DIDN'T EVER CALL ME. IT JUST, IT WAS JUST POSTED TWO WEEKS AFTER. AND SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS AT FAULT SHOWING THAT I RAN INTO HIM. I DIDN'T. AND I, AND HER REPORTING WAS WRONG. AND I FOUND OUT THEY DO HAVE BODY CAMS AND HER BODY CAMS. SHE NEEDS TO, SHE NEEDS TO RE-LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE SHE SAT THERE AND SHE WAS WRITING MY REPORT OUT WHEN I WAS TELLING HER WHAT HAPPENED. AND SHE JUST WENT, HMM. JUST, JUST LIKE THAT. SHE'S STANDING HERE WHEN SHE DO THE, AND WHEN I SAID WHEN HE RAN OVER AND, OR, YOU KNOW, RAN INTO MY LANE, IT HIT ME AND, YOU KNOW, DIRT ME TO THE, I I DIDN'T TELL HER AT THE CURB. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL LATER WHEN WE, THEY TOOK PICTURES AND I TOOK PICTURES. SO LET, LET, LET US SEE IF WE CAN HELP YOU. OKAY? I, I GET, GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. DID YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE I ASK, UM, UH, SERGEANT LAHAR TO ASSIST? NO, I WAS, I WAS GONNA SAY I, I'LL, I'LL SPEAK WITH YOU PRIVATELY. OKAY. AND, UH, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET YOU SOME RECOURSE. WELL, THANK, I MEAN, I'VE GONE THROUGH INTERNAL AFFAIRS. I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T WANNA STAY ANYMORE. AND I KNOW YOU FEEL LIKE I'M BRANDING UNDERST AND I AM UNDERSTAND. I NO, I UNDERSTAND YOU. YOU DON'T WANNA STAY ANYMORE. JUST, UH, RIGHT. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING, UHHUH. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT SPEAKER LORRAINA PUT KELVIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH HIRSCH. [03:50:01] HUH? BELIEVE THAT. I BELIEVE. GOOD EVENING, MA'AM. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS LORRAINE KELVIN AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A PROBLEM. I WAS, UH, I WAS DOWN IN COLORADO. UM, I WAS LIVING IN TEXAS, BUT I WENT THERE FOR SCHOOL, BIBLE COLLEGE. SO WHEN I CAME, MY HUSBAND HAD A STROKE. HE GOT THAT COVID-19 SHOCK. SO HE HAD TO GO TO CONVALESCENT HOME. SO I HAD TO GET A SMALL PLACE FOR ME AND MY TWO CHILDREN. WE, I HAVE ADOPTED CHILDREN, THREE ADOPTED KIDS. THEY'RE REALLY MY COUSINS. AND THE APARTMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 14 FOUR, $1,440. 1000. UH, YEAH. AND EVERY MONTH THEY KEEP, UH, VELCRO, VELCRO IN MORE THINGS TO MY BRANCH, WHICH I CAN'T PAY. THEY PUT STUFF LIKE WATER, AND THEN THEY PUT THE TRASH, WHICH IS $44. AND THEN THEY PUT YARD MAINTENANCE. AND I TOLD THE LADY THAT I'M IN A FIXED BUDGET. I, I PICKED THIS 'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT I CAN AFFORD. I CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING. AND MY KIDS THAT WEREN'T WORKING, THEY FINALLY GET A JOB. MY DAUGHTER GOT A JOB SO WE COULD, UM, PAY THE RENT. BUT MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST TO SAW HER BLOOD TO BE KEEPING UP. ONE 14, THEN WENT TO 16 AND WENT 18. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST ONE ON THE FOURTH. AND I STAYED TWO DAYS. I CAME BACK. SHE PUT AN EVICTION NOTICE ON MY DOOR. SO I HAD TO GO AND TRY. WE HAVE TO GET ALL THE MONEY. WE PAY THE MONEY. WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE OWNER IS OR WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS. BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THE, I WENT TO THE LIBRARY AND THE LADY TOLD ME IT WAS RAM THE EX OR SOMEBODY WAS THE CEO. SO I TRY TO CALL THE OFFICE. I TRY TO, I'M CALLING ALL OVER. I JUST NEED SOMEONE TO TELL THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN'T DO THAT. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE, UM, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE APARTMENT, IT'S A 15 BUILDING, 193 UNITS. AND THEY'RE NOT, WELL, LET ME, UH, YOU KNOW, MY PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FOR THEM. AND SO THEY'RE SCARED. THEY'RE SCARED TO COME OUT AND THEY'RE SCARED TO DOING, BUT THEY'RE STILL PAYING RENT AND MY PREMISES ON UNTIL THEY CAUGHT GET CAUGHT. THEY PAY THE RENT, THINGS SHOULD BE FIXED UP. SO THEY'RE SCARED TO SPEAK UP. SO I WASN'T BREASTED AS A BABY. I LIKE TO SPEAK. I'M SPEAKING UP. SOMEBODY HAS TO FIX THAT BUILDING. IT'S TERRIBLE. THEY NEED CAMERAS TO THE BACK. I WOULD SAY THAT'S MY SUGGESTION AND SECURITY GUARD, BECAUSE BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN THAT APARTMENT. IT'S NOT A NICE PLACE WHEN I COME OUT, WHEN IT'S RAIN, I GO STRAIGHT IN WATER. 'CAUSE THE WA THE PUMP, THE PIPES ARE BUSTED AND THE WATER ALL OVER. AND THEY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO TO GO TO. THERE'S NOBODY TO GO TO. YOU CALL THE OFFICE AND IF YOU GO IN THE OFFICE AND YOU DON'T MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, THEY DISMISS YOU. IT IS. SO I JUST NEED HELP SOMEBODY TO CHECK THESE LADIES OUT. THERE'S A LADY THERE, IRENE ORTEGA, AND SHE'S LIKE A ROOSTER GOING AROUND IN THE, YOU KNOW, BAND. AND THIS, THIS THE CITY LIMITS, OR IS IT IN THE COUNTY? YES, IT'S UH, IT'S AN, UH, 1 2 8 0 1 CHAMPION, UH, FOREST DRIVE, JUMPING FOREST DRIVE. AND IT'S IN THE CITY PROPERTY PARKING, THE, YEAH. OKAY. LIMITED. IT'S LIMITED. RENEE, CAN YOU, UH, WORK WITH HER AND GET HER SOME, SOME ASSISTANCE? YEAH. THANK YOU MA'AM. OKAY. IT WAS A PLEASURE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. BEST WISHES TO YOU. YES, MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH HIRSCH. SARAH HIRSCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT GALLEGOS. GOTCHA. HELLO EVERYONE. UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO RESPECT EVERYBODY'S TIME AND KEEP THIS TO A MINUTE. UM, SO MAYOR PRO TIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS SARAH HIRSCH. I AM AN EASTON RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE TO RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LOCAL STREET CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE EAST END AND DOWNTOWN. SPECIFICALLY THE CONSEQUENCES OF HOUSTON FIRST'S DECISION TO CLOSE POLK STREET AND BUILD WITHIN BELL STREET'S RIGHT OF WAY. UM, HERE'S THE CENTRAL ISSUE. IF BOTH POLK AND BELL ARE REMOVED AS EXIT AS FREEWAY EXITS, TEXA DOT WILL BE FORCED TO CONVERT LELAND, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OUR DETOUR PLAN, UH, INTO A FREEWAY EXIT. UM, THAT DOESN'T JUST CHANGE THE FUNCTION OF LELAND, IT LIMITS ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN DESTINATIONS LIKE THE TOYOTA CENTER, DISCOVERY GREEN AND THE GRB. UH, AND IT DUMPS TRAFFIC ONTO A STREET THAT DOESN'T EVEN GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN. UM, SO EITHER HOUSTON FIRST OR THE CITY IS MAKING UNILATERAL DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT MOBILITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS FOR THE NEXT HALF OF A CENTURY AT LEAST. UM, I'M GONNA FOCUS ON EXAMPLE TWO. I'VE GOT A PACKET FOR YOU GUYS. UM, WE'VE ACQ, UH, THEY, HOUSTON FIRST HAS ACQUIRED THE BELL STREET RIGHT OF WAY. IT'S LIKE A LITTLE CURVE AREA. [03:55:01] CAN I WRAP UP? GO AHEAD. OKAY. UM, UH, THIS REMOVES ANOTHER POTENTIAL FREEWAY EXIT. AND WITH THE REMOVAL OF BELL STREET BRIDGE, BELLE WILL NO LONGER BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE FUTURE FREEWAY FROM EITHER DIRECTION. THIS MEANS BELL STREET IS GOING TO BE ISOLATED FROM THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUND SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY TRAFFIC. TO MITIGATE THIS. THEY'RE ALSO PLANNING TO MAKE A BLOCK OF HAMILTON, UH, AND A BLOCK OF BELL INTO TWO WAY STREETS. UH, ONE OF WHICH GOES ALONG THE FEEDER. IT'S, IT'S A MESS. UH, BUT, UH, ANYWAYS, UH, THAT'S ALL I GOT. I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE PACKET REAL QUICK. THIS IS MY STATEMENT THAT I WAS GONNA READ. UM, THIS IS A MAP THAT, THAT YOU CAN, UH, LOOK AT WHEN YOU SEE THE EXAMPLES. IT'S 1, 2, 3. UM, THIS IS A LITTLE, UH, THIS IS A CITATION FROM THE REPORT ON EXAMPLE TWO, THE TRAFFIC REPORT THAT HOUSTON FIRST PUT OUT. THIS IS A CITATION FROM THE TRAFFIC REPORT THAT HOUSTON FIRST, UH, PUT OUT. AND THIS IS A BINGO CARD. UH, WE USE THIS TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT THE QUESTIONS, UH, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKED IN THE TRAFFIC, UH, STUDY, UH, SHOULD HAVE BEEN OR SHOULD BE. SO I'M GONNA PASS THAT OVER HERE. AND, UH, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT GALLEGOS, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M ROBERT GALLEGOS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I'M HERE AS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTED DISTRICT I FOR 10 YEARS AS THE, AS AN EAST END COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND ORGANI ORGANIZER FOR THE PAST 40 PLUS YEARS, A CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M HERE AS A PROUD, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE EAST END, WHO DEEPLY VALUES THE CHARACTER AND CONNECTIVITY THAT POLK STREET BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE NOT JUST FOR A STREET, BUT FOR A SPIRIT. A SPIRIT THAT LIVES IN POLK STREET AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT CONNECTS. BECAUSE POLK STREET IS MORE THAN ASPHALT AND INTERSECTIONS. IT'S A LIFELINE, A CORRIDOR OR SMALL BUSINESSES FLOURISH. NEIGHBORS AND HOUSTONIANS CONNECT TO OUR RICH CULTURE. IT'S CLOSE, IT'S CLOSURE. DOESN'T JUST ALTER TRAFFIC. IT RESHAPES LIVES AND DISRUPTS LIVELIHOODS AND DISTANCES. PEOPLE FROM WHAT MAKES THE EAST END SPECIAL DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN. THIS ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT A ROADWAY, IT'S ABOUT THE ROADWAY THAT ALLOWS OUR COMMUNITY TO BE. AS A FORMER DISTRICT I COUNCIL MEMBER SERVING FROM 2014 TO 2023, THERE WERE NO PLANS TO CLOSE POKE STREET. I MET SEVERAL TIMES WITH TEXDOT, ALONG WITH MY FORMER STAFF MEMBERS, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ AND DANIEL SANTA MARIA AND TDOT MADE IT CLEAR THAT POLK STREET, THAT POLK STREET WOULD NOT BE CLOSED DUE TO THE PROPOSED I 45 OR I 69 REALIGNMENT BEHIND THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. I SERVED ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD REPRESENTING CITY COUNCIL, AND THERE WERE NO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CLOSING POKE STREET THROUGH 2023. I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT CLOSURE ISN'T THE FIRST STEP, BUT THE LAST RESORT. GREAT CITIES AREN'T BUILT BY ERASING STREETS. THEY'RE BUILT BY EMPOWERING THEM. BE THE COUNCIL THAT SAYS YES TO ADAPTIVE REUSE AND YES TO COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLANNING. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE COMPLEX REASONS BEHIND THIS PROPOSED CLOSURE, BUT I ASK WITH WHAT VISION ARE WE ADVANCING? IF IT ERASES WHAT MAKES OUR CITY LIVABLE, WALKABLE, AND WELCOMING, WE CAN TURN POLK STREET INTO A SYMBOL OF WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE WHEN LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, OWNERS, THE THOUSANDS OF COMMUTERS THAT USE POLK STREET DAILY, GOING TO AND FROM WORK. AND TO AND FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUES. LET'S LEAD BOLDLY. LET'S INVEST IN THOUGHTFUL ALTERNATIVES, TRAFFIC MITIGATION, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLING ENHANCEMENTS THROUGH CREATIVE DESIGNS AND NOT CLOSURES. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, LET POLK STREET BE PART OF YOUR LEGACY OF LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST, BECAUSE THE HEART OF A CITY DOESN'T LIVE IN ITS CONVENTIONS. IT LIVES IN ITS STREETS THAT MAKE THE FABRIC AND HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY. AND TODAY, I ASK YOU TO KEEP THE HEART BEATING STRONG [04:00:01] AND IMPOSE OPPOSED OF CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER SHELTON MOD SHELTON MODEL. NEXT SPEAKER. KRISTEN LEWIS. MM-HMM . KRISTEN LEWIS. HELLO, COUNSEL. HELLO. HI. UM, MY NAME IS KRISTEN JOY LEWIS. I'VE EXPERIENCED AND HAVE NOW OVERCOME, UH, SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. THANK YOU TO JESUS. AND I WAS SEVERE AND I'M STILL IN TREATMENT. BUT CURRENTLY I'M ASYMPTOMATIC. I HAVE RECOVERED TO THE POINT OF RETURNING TO MY NORMAL LIFE. HOWEVER, NOW I HAVE A HURDLE OF OVERCOMING INEQUALITY AND DISCRIMINATION BY SOCIETY. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OF DISCRIMINATION AND DISREGARD OF THE HOMELESS CITIZENS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE DISCRIMINATION THAT I EXPERIENCED AT STAR HOPE IS TRAUMATIC. I HAVE A POSSIBLE SOLUTION, AND WE NEED AN ANSWER TO THE ABUNDANT HOMELESS POPULATION. PROBLEM. OVER 50% ARE MENTALLY ILL, SOME OF WHICH ARE UNDIAGNOSED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE AFRAID OF DISCRIMINATION AND THEY HAVE LACK OF RESOURCES AND FEAR OF REJECTION FROM SOCIETY IN THIS CITY. THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR THE DEAF, THE BLIND, AND THE CRIPPLE. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE NO RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH EXCEPT A, UH, EXCEPT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS GROUP HOMES OF WHICH THEY ARE EXPLOITED, MISTREATED, AND MET BY CON ARTISTS. AND SOMETIMES TRAFFICKING AND THE PSYCH HOSPITALS ARE ONLY TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS. I BELIEVE THE OUTLINE OF A SOLUTION SHOULD COME FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS DILEMMA FIRSTHAND. I HAVE BEEN IN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES OVER HALF MY LIFESPAN. I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN GROUP HOMES AND NOW SHELTERS. I KNOW WHAT ONE NEEDS AS A RECIPIENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE. SINCE LIABILITY IS SUCH A CONCERN, THEN YES, YOU NEED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS NURSES, TECHNICIANS, THERAPISTS, AND EVEN PHYSICIANS. AND ANY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL MAKE SURE THIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD MAKE HAS ALL THE THINGS THAT A PERSON WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE NEEDS, SEEING AS THOUGH YOU EXCLUDE THEM FROM REGULAR SHELTERS BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE A LIABILITY. THEREFORE, MAKE SURE IT IS EQUAL AND PUBLICIZED, NOT JUST MEDIOCRE TREATMENT. AND SPARE NO EXPENSE SUCH AS YOU DO STAR OF HOPE AND PUBLICIZE IT. BECAUSE AFTER ALL, IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT FOR THE REGULAR, YOU CAN AFFORD IT. FOR US, MY EXPERIENCE AT STAR HOPE WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC. I WAS AMBUSHED BY SECURITY AND FORCED TO LEAVE DUE TO A MENTAL DISABILITY I DID NOT AUDITION FOR, WHICH I WAS WARNED 10 DAYS BEFORE I WAS DISMISSED, THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN BY TWO STAFF MEMBERS. AND I'M TOLD I HAVE RIGHTS. WHICH REMINDS ME, DOES A DISABILITY ACT APPLY TO THE HOMELESS CITIZENS WITH DISABILITY OR RESTORE HOPE ABOVE THE LAW? I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. THAT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED. BUT LIKE THE COUNTLESS OTHERS THAT HAVE PROBABLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING BEFORE ME ARRIVING, JUST LIKE THE WOMAN WHO WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE DAY BEFORE I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE BECAUSE SHE LOOKED MANIC. THE PROBLEM, THE PLAN TO, UH, PUT A FACILITY LIKE THIS IN PLACE IS NOT YET COMPLETE. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE A FACILITY NEEDS TO BE CREATED THAT CATERS TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. JUST LIKE IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUILD NUMEROUS SHORT TERM FAC, PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES THAT ONLY HOUSE YOU FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND THEY MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT AND THEN DISMISS YOU TO THE STREET. THAT IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO BUILD A FACILITY OF THIS MAGNITUDE. IF YOU GAVE THE MONEY TO STAR HOPE, YOU'LL GIVE THE MONEY TO US. IF THIS DREAM I HAVE OF THIS FACILITY COMES TRUE, IT WILL NOT JUST BENEFIT US. BUT IT WILL ALSO BENEFIT UNCLE SAM BECAUSE THESE VERY PEOPLE THAT YOU CAST AWAY WILL BE REHABILITATED AND TURNED INTO TAX PAYING CITIZENS. THEY'LL BE REHABILITATED AND TURNED INTO PEOPLE THAT YOU COULD NEVER EVEN IMAGINE THAT THEY COULD BE. [04:05:01] THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS ABOUT CUTTING COSTS. WELL, THIS PLAN WILL PUT MONEY BACK IN HIS POCKETS, THE GOVERNMENT'S POCKETS. MS. LEWIS, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO YES MA'AM. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. UM, OFFICER LAHAR, IF YOU, UM, WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH HER, UH, AND TAKE HER CONCERNS ABOUT STAR HOPE WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. I I HAVE ONE THING TO ASK. GO GO. JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. UM, IT'S MORE OF A FAVOR. I'M FLEEING A ABUSIVE HOME. OKAY. I'VE BEEN DISMISSED FROM STAR OF HOPE, SO I CAN'T GO THERE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE A MENTAL DISABILITY AND THEY WON'T TAKE ME. SO DO YOU HAVE A SOLUTION? SPEAK WITH OFFICER LAHAR AND HE CAN HELP YOU. OH, OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES TO YOU. YES MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE BLACKWELL. MICHELLE BLACKWELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE MINYARD. OKAY. ALRIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MS. BLACKWELL. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG WAIT. I SAT HERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I KNOW. SO, YES. OKAY, SO MY NAME IS MS. BLACKWELL AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY TWIN SISTER. SHE LIVES ON WAY ACROSS TOWN. AND MY ASK IS, THIS IS DEALING WITH, UM, HER FENCE. SHE'S TRYING TO REPAIR HER FENCE ON HER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, BUT SHE'S FACING, UM, CHALLENGES ON ALL THREE SIDES TO THE LEFT, TO THE RIGHT, AND TO THE BACK. THERE'S LIKE TREES PUSHING ON HER. UM, TREES ARE PUSHING ON HER FENCE. IT'S LITERALLY TO THE POINT WHERE THE FENCE IS LEANED OVER. SO FAR IT'S LEANED OVER SO FAR TO THE POINT, ONLY GRAVITY OR GOD IS KEEPING IT UP BECAUSE UNDER A NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT FENCE SHOULD JUST FELL ON DOWN. AND THEN IN THE BACK FENCE, THE, THE BACK FENCE, THE TREE IS LIKE UP OVER HER SHED. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THE, THE, THE GRASS IS ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE FEET HIGH. THAT'S WHAT SHE'S TELLING ME. AND THEN SHE'S LOOKING AT ANOTHER TREE PUSHING AGAINST HER FENCE. SO SHE HAS SAID THAT SHE HAD CONTACTED 3 1 1, I GUESS SINCE 2024, WHATEVER. SHE SAID THAT SHE COULDN'T FIND HER TRACKING NUMBER. SO SHE SAID SHE LOOKED AND SHE WAS TRYING TO LOOK UP IN THE NUMBER IN HER SYSTEM BY STREET NUMBER. AND WHEN SHE LOOKED UP IN THE COMPUTER, SOMETHING SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GONE. BUT SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY DID REACH OUT TO MY SISTER ON YESTERDAY. THEY CAME OUT THERE AND THEY TOLD HER, UM, THEY TOLD HER, I GUESS WHO LIVED AT ONE OF THE, THE EMPTY LOTS THAT WAS ALL SURROUND THESE THREE LOTS AROUND HER, WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO LIVED THERE. AND THEY TOLD HER, UM, SHE, COULD SHE CONTACT THE OWNERS OR WHOEVER. AND I'M LOOKING AT WHY WOULD THE BURDEN BE ON HER? 'CAUSE LIKE TWO OF THOSE LOTS, THERE'S NO MAILBOX THERE. MY SISTER COULDN'T EVEN RE UH, GET IN CONTACT WITH THOSE PEOPLE TO MOVE THE TREE BACK. CAN YOU CUT THE GRASS? SO MY ASK IS, CAN SOMEBODY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, CAN SOMEBODY REACH OUT TO THESE? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE OR THAT OWN THOSE THREE LOTS TO THE, TO THE LEFT MY SISTER'S HOUSE. TO THE RIGHT TO THE BACK. FIGURE OUT WHO LIVES THERE AND CAN Y'ALL, UH, CALL THEM, REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW, CAN YOU MOVE YOUR TREE BACK? CAN YOU CUT YOUR GRASS SO MY SISTER CAN TRY TO REPAIR HER FENCE. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, THERE'S A, IT COULD BE A STORM COMING, YOU KNOW, I SAY WE ALREADY KNOW THAT STORM HIT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN TEXAS. WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO HIT HERE IN HOUSTON. AND MY SISTER'S NOT, YOU KNOW, HER, HER HOME AND EVERYTHING'S NOT PREPARED. AND THEN I'M LOOKING AT, WHEN MY SISTER SHOWED ME PICTURES OF HER HOME, I LITERALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS LIVING IN A WILDERNESS. AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT THAT CAUSED A, A DEVALUE WITH WHEN PEOPLE LOOKING AT HER HOME, IF SHE WERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE SAY WHO WOULD WANNA BUY A HOME? LOOK LIKE YOU, YOU'RE SITTING IN THE LORD IS IN THE WILDERNESS. YES. MS. BLACKWELL, WE GET IT. UM, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO. OKAY, MS. BLACKWELL. YES. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YES. THANK YOU. WE'LL WORK WITH YOU TO GET YOUR SISTER CONNECTED TO THE, TO HER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. SO THAT SHE CAN WORK WITH THEM ON, ON GETTING THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. YES. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO, OKAY. SO IT MEANS THE, SO THAT MEANS THE BURDEN WON'T BE LEFT ON HER TRYING TO CONTACT WHOEVER THAT WHOEVER IT IS, THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE THREE LOTS AND TRY TO HELP THEM. WELL, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, EXCUSE ME. WE'RE GONNA GET YOUR SISTER CONNECTED TO HER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. OH, OKAY. SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. OKAY. WELL, ALRIGHT. WELL THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL, ALL THE HELP. IS I, I'M JUST TRYING TO SMILE ABOUT IT. I, I TOLD MY TWIN SISTER. I'M, I'M, I WAS SITTING HERE. I SAT IN THAT BACK. I, RIGHT. IT WAS JUST A LONG, LONG, HARD DAY. SO I, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO, I CAME HERE TRYING TO HELP MY TWIN SISTER. SO THANK Y'ALL. YEP. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'LL DEFINITELY TRY TO GET HER SOME ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. SHE COULD HAVE NEXT SPEAKER. KATHERINE MINARD. KATHERINE MINARD. KATHERINE MINARD. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSE ZUNIGA. JOSE ZUNIGA. JOSE ZUNIGA. NEXT SPEAKER. NIA COLBERT. NIA COLBERT. NIA COLBERT. NEXT SPEAKER DARL HARPER. DARL HARPER. DARL HARPER. NEXT SPEAKER JOSEPH SMITH. JOSEPH SMITH. [04:10:01] JOSEPH SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER, MICHELLE EGEN BAR. MICHELLE EGEN. NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA ALLEN. SANDRA ALLEN. NEXT SPEAKER. CARRIE RICE. CARRIE RICE. NEXT SPEAKER STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER MARCY INGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROY HIRSCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROTE AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANKS TO EACH OF YOU THAT HAS GENEROUSLY ENGAGED WITH PEOPLE FOR LK REGARDING POLK STREET OPTIONS. WE WERE EXCITED LAST WEEK TO GET THE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION'S TRAFFIC REPORT. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT TRAFFIC REPORT WAS INSUFFICIENT NOT ONLY IN THE SCOPE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT ALSO IN ITS FAILURE TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF CONNECTIVITY THAT WAS MOVING EAST TO WEST FROM DOWNTOWN INTO POINTS EAST. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS, UH, FROM METRO AND PUBLIC WORKS AND THE MISSING SPEAKER THAT WAS NOT INVITED FROM TDOT. THOSE FOLKS WERE JUST NOT GIVEN SUFFICIENT TIME OR OPPORTUNITY TO ANALYZE AND RESPOND TO HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION'S PLAN. NO ONE HAS PRESENTED FACTS OR FIGURES SHOWING HOW THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET TRULY VISITED BENEFITS RESIDENTS. HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION HAS NOT SHOWN HOW A BETTER VISITOR EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS WHAT THIS ABANDONMENT HINGES UPON, ACTUALLY TRANSLATES TO A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR HOUSTONIANS. WELL, TEXAS LAW DOES ALLOW FOR CONSIDERATION OF STREET ABANDONMENT BY CITY COUNCIL. THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION PLAN ABANDONMENT IS AN IMPROVEMENT FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE A VISION FOR AN EXPANDED GRB THAT PRESERVES EAST WEST CONNECTION AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR A BETTER POLK STREET OPTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ROY HIRSCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY ART SMITH, MAYOR PRO TEM. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M ROY HIRSCH FROM THE EAST END AND A AND A MEMBER OF PEOPLE FOR POLK. SINCE THE HOUSTON FIRST PUBLIC MEETING, JULY 1ST AT THE GRB, THE EAST END AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES ARE STILL LEFT TWISTING IN THE WIND UNDER THE SWORD OF DAM LEAVES WITHOUT FURTHER ILLUMINATION OR ELUCIDATION TO ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT WERE EXPRESSED AT THE MARCH 17TH TOWN HALL. WHY WON'T HOUSTON FIRST SHARE THE METRICS THEY USE TO DETERMINE THEIR BA, THEIR BUSINESS MODEL? THAT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL DOESN'T ALLOW POLK TO REMAIN VIABLE WHILE OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE INCORPORATED MAJOR THOROUGH AFFAIRS INTO THEIR CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSIONS, DALLAS, PHILADELPHIA, LOS ANGELES, JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHY IS HOUSTON FIRST ALLOWED TO IMPOSE THEIR BUSINESS MODEL TO THE DETRIMENT OF EAST END BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE? HAVE THE 2 BILLION, HAVE THEY 2 BILLION BETTER REASONS WE APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE AND ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE POLK STREET ABANDONMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER ART SMITH. ART SMITH BE FOLLOWED BY COFFEE ELBA. HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING? YEAH, YOU KNOW, UM, I HAD A HEARING THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE ANNEX BUILDING. IT HAS TO DO WITH SOMEONE THEY PASSING OUT. RENEE IS PASSING OUT SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A FEMALE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ALWAYS SAY IF YOU, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. BUT I NEED Y'ALL HELP AS FAR AS THE CITY COUNCIL MALE TEAM. I NEED Y'ALL HELP BECAUSE RIGHT HERE IS A FEMALE THAT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE NAME OF HARRISON. THAT'S ALL THIS, UH, ATTORNEY HERE, UH, ROCHELLE WATTS. ALL SHE ANNOUNCED WAS, WAS HARRISON AND ROCHELLE KEPT ACTING AS IF SHE WAS HIRED BY THIS LADY, EVEN THOUGH SHE WORKS FOR THE CITY. SHE'S A CITY ATTORNEY. SHE WAS PRETTY MUCH WORKING AS IF SHE WAS WORKING AT A PRIVATE LAW FIRM OR SOMETHING. BUT THIS HARRISON LADY ADMITTED UNDER OATH THAT SHE CUT MY LOCK TRESPASSED ONTO MY GATE BREAKING AND ENTERING AND TRIED TO GET INTO MY HOME. I BELIEVE SHE CAME DOWN HERE FROM CALIFORNIA TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRYING TO KILL MY WIFE AND I AT OUR PROPERTY AT 42 25 ROUNDS. NOW, HARRISON IS THE ONLY ONE. I MEAN THIS, THIS, THIS LAWYER WATTS [04:15:01] THAT REPRESENT THE CITY. SHE KNOWS THIS PERSON, UH, FULL NAME. BUT SHE KEPT SAYING THAT THE PERSON OWNED MY HOUSE. IT'S LIKE, AND THEN HARRISON TRIED TO TELL ME SHE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ADVERSE POSSESSION. SHE GONNA TELL ME THAT I DON'T LIVE WHERE I STAY. SHE, I GOT MY ADDRESS ON MY OWN DRIVER'S LICENSE. THE, THE, THE BY GOD'S GRACE, THE, THE, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS AN ATTORNEY DOWNTOWN. THERE WAS A, UM, A JUDGE DOWNTOWN THAT JUST APPROVED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER. I HAD TO TAKE IT. I HAD TO GO AND SUE THE CITY. Y'ALL AND THE JUDGE, THE COMPETENT JUDGE IN COURT, 61, JUST APPROVED OUR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER. A COMPETENT JUDGE. BUT THIS FEMALE WATT WHO'S AN ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY, SHE'S CORRUPT. SHE'S CORRUPT, AND SHE NEEDS TO BE FIRED. WE ALREADY GONNA FILE, I'M GONNA FILE, UH, UH, WITH THE STATE BAR AGAINST HER ALREADY. BUT IF Y'ALL CAN SEE THIS FEMALE THAT'S IN THIS PICTURE, SHE CAME ON TO RECORD, UH, WATTS ANNOUNCED HER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ALL CORRUPT PUBLIC WORKS. THEY ALL CORRUPT, BUT THEY TRYING TO HIDE THIS WOMAN. SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL, CAN Y'ALL HELP ME FIND OUT THIS PERSON'S FULL NAME? BECAUSE THIS IS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS ONLY ANNOUNCED BY HARRISON. HARRISON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SHE ADMITTED UNDER OATH THAT SHE CAME TO MY PROPERTY, CUT MY LOCK. OH, YOU GOT ALL THOSE CAMERAS OUT THERE. YOU GOT ALL THOSE TRESPASS SIGNS UP. AND THEN AFTER ADMITTING THAT, AND THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE LOCK, MR. AFTER ADMITTING THAT SHE, THEN THEY RULING HER FAVOR. MR. SMITH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UM, WE ARE GOING TO ASK, UH, SERGEANT LAHAR TO, UM, HELP YOU. HE HAS, UM, YOU'VE EXPRESSED YOUR CONCERNS. MM-HMM . AND WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE CAN TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME INFORMATION TO YOU ABOUT THE HARRISON THAT YOU, YOU SPEAK OF. Y'ALL CAN TRY TO GIVE ME A FULL NAME. UH, SERGEANT LAHARS GONNA HELP YOU. OKAY? THANK YOU. YES. NEXT SPEAKER. COFFEE L BAY COFFEE L BAY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? MY SUBJECT IS, UM, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HEARD ABOUT A CRIME IN FAVORED THE CRIMINAL. THEY LET SOMEONE FROM LA FLY TO HOUSTON AND COMMIT A CRIME WITHIN OUR CITY. SO DEN AND I CAME HERE SO THE MAYOR CAN KNOW ABOUT THIS. AND YOU GUYS ALSO MM-HMM . AND, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY, LASHAUN, ROCHELLE WATTS, SHE REPRESENTED THIS LADY AS IF THAT WAS HER CLIENT. AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE CITY ATTORNEY SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND SHE WAS VERY BIASED. AND WHEN IT WAS OUR TURN TO TALK IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AT THE CITY, UH, SHE BULLIED THE CHAIRPERSON, CARDENAS, I BELIEVE THAT'S HIS NAME AND THE ENTIRE PANEL. AND SHE JUST STARTED TALKING AND HOLDING HER HAND OUT AS AN ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY. LIKE TALK TO THE HAND LIKE SHE WAS AT HOME, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT WAS VERY UNETHICAL. SO THIS WOMAN, HARRISON, SHE HAD TO, SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY HER WHOLE NAME, BUT ART HAD TO STATE HIS WHOLE NAME AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. AND THEN SHE COMMIT, SHE ADMIT TO A CRIME BY SAYING SHE LOCKED THE GATE. THAT'S CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, TRESPASS, BURGLARY, WALKING UP TO OUR PROPERTY. SO LIKE ART SAID, HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HER WHOLE NAME SINCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING CHAIR PEEING PANEL REQUESTED HIS ENTIRE NAME. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, AND THAT CITY ATTORNEY DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HER NAME IS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO REQUEST TO SEE IF Y'ALL CAN GET HER WHOLE NAME BECAUSE SHE SPOKE AT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING WITHOUT EVEN BEING ON THE LIST TO SPEAK. OKAY? OKAY. OFFICER LAHAR, CAN YOU, CAN YOU HELP THE HOW Y'ALL ALL THIS WHOLE COUNTY, Y'ALL ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT Y'ALL DON'T ASK NO QUESTIONS. ALL OF Y'ALL, Y'ALL DON'T ASK NO EXTRA QUESTIONS TO EXTEND OUR CONVERSATION. BUT THESE PEOPLE CAN COME DOWN HERE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MR. SMITH. THAT'S NOT RIGHT, MAN. NEXT SPEAKER. SHIRA DELO. CHIARA DELO. HELLO, MR. LOS THE MORNING COUNCIL. Y'ALL, I HAVE ONLY ONE QUESTION. I HAD FIVE, BUT I'M GONNA CUT IT DOWN TO ONE. I'M READY TO GO. UH, NAM, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH NAM CONTACTED ME ABOUT A PLACE TO STAY? MM-HMM . 'CAUSE I'M HOMELESS. AND, UH, HOMELESS COALITION EMAILED ME AND SAID I HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE LIST. IS THAT PROTOCOL? IS THIS HOW THIS SUPPOSED TO WORK? SOMEONE GIVES ME HELP AND A PLACE TO SAY THAT I STAY AND THEN THE COALITION EMAILS ME ON JUNE 24TH, MY BIRTHDAY, MATTER OF FACT. AND TELL ME I HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE LIST. IS THIS HOW THIS SUPPOSED TO WORK? OR WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO, WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO SEE? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS? WELL, TELL, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE LIST FOR HOUSING. YES. NAM CONTACT ME JUNE THE 18TH SAID THAT I HAD A PLACE . THEY FOUND THEY GOT A PLACE FOR ME TO STAY CONVENIENT ACROSS THE STREET FROM HHC UP [04:20:01] ON LOWY. DID DID YOU GO THERE? WERE YOU ABLE TO GO THERE? NO, BECAUSE THE COUNT, UH, COALITION EMAILED ME ON THE 24TH AND SAID, YOU GOTTA GO BACK ON THE LIST. I'M JUST AS DUMBFOUNDED. RENEE. UM, I THINK REBECCA HELPED HER LAST TIME. CAN YOU REACH OUT TO REBECCA AND FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY IT IS SO WE CAN MAKE SURE SHE GETS THE HELP THAT SHE NEEDS? BECAUSE I MEAN, SHE'S COME HERE A COUPLE TIMES, WE NEED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HER HOUSING. SEND HER CAN CAN YOU YES. TALK TO YOU, TALK TO RENEE AND WE'LL TRY TO GET YOU SOME ANSWERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. NEXT SPEAKER. LSA. . ARE YOU LSA? YES. IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH AMARI. GO AHEAD SIR. . HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL. HELLO , SIR. WELCOME Y'ALL. UM, YES. UM, I'M HERE ACTUALLY SPEAKING ABOUT HPD AND AGAIN, WE HAVE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED. AGAIN, I WENT TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I GOT A LETTER. THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE OFFICER. I FILED A CLAIM. I'M NOT GONNA BE GOING BACK AND FORTH. WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE CHIEF. I FIGURED IT OUT 'CAUSE I SPOKE WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT IT. MM-HMM . THANK GOD . IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET AN ATTORNEY IN LIKE CIVIL MATTERS. BUT I DIDN'T HIRED ONE. I JUST SPOKE TO ONE. 'CAUSE YOU USED TO, UM, FROM HARRISON COUNTY UP THERE AND BY, UM, MICHIGAN. I THINK IT IS. KNOW WHERE THAT IS. IT'S UP, UH, UP, IT'S UP ON, ON THE NORTH ANYWAY. OH, CALEBS UP THERE . SO SORRY. AND YOU KNOW I WALTER VIOLATED Y'ALL. YOUR, YOUR TIME THERE FIRED. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED Y'ALL. AND THERE'S LAWSUITS GOING ON. GONNA BE, BUT I NEEDED SETTLEMENT Y'ALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND KNOCK ON DIS LOOKING THE JUDGE, AND I'M NOT GONNA BE GOING BACK AND FORTH BEING DISCRIMINATED, BEING DISRESPECTED, GOING TO A HUNDRED TRAVIS STREET. SERGEANTS WITHIN THE 1200 CHARTER STREET ARE ABUSING THEIR AUTHORITY AND HAVE MR. MR. ELLIS YEAH. THAT NEEDS, THEY NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT FIRED FOR THEIR ABUSIVE AUTHORITY. I THANK YOU. AND WE'RE 10 OH GRAND AND NO ONE'S GONNA MAKE MY MOUTH SHUT. I APPRECIATE YOU HERE AND I'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE. THANK YOU. THAT GETS HIS ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS, I'M NOT HERE ON THIS NO MORE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, . THANK YOU, SIR. BUT I NEED, I NEED TO SPEAK AND, AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, Y'ALL, I CAN GIVE MY PHONE NUMBER ANYWAY. OKAY. WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET IT FROM YOU AND THEN I NEED THE SETTLEMENT Y'ALL. 'CAUSE OTHERWISE THERE'S LAWSUITS. OKAY. AND I'M GONNA HIRE AN ATTORNEY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. YEAH. FROM THERE. HE, HE USED TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OVER HERE AND UM, I THINK THAT JUDGE COOK SUPPERS. YEAH. BUT, UH, I USED, HE USED TO WORK I THINK IN 20, I THINK 11 I THINK. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, WELL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, HERE. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK Y'ALL. OKAY. TAKE CARE. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSEPH. JOSEPH, UM, AMARI. JOSEPH AMARI. I HEAR JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB CLEMENTI TO ROUND IT OUT. TODAY WE, I SEE TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. ARE Y'ALL SCHEDULED TO SPEAK? NO. NO. OKAY. BEST THANK GOD. BEST LAST. OKAY. UM, WELL I WANTED TO SAY THIS. WHO IS ROSIE? ROSIE IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND SHE'S ALSO AN ACTRESS. SHE WAS ON THE COMMERCIAL FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM ON COMCAST. AND WHILE SHE'S ALSO, UH, AN BESIDES BEING AN ACTRESS, SHE'S FITNESS INSTRUCTOR AND YOGA AND, UH, AEROBICS AND, UM, A NUTRITIONIST. AND AT ANY RATE, SHE USED TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND, UM, IN CALIFORNIA WHEN SHE WAS A HIGH SCHOOLER. AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY THIS IS, I WANT TO PROMOTE HER BECAUSE SHE'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND I'M GONNA LIVE WITH Y'ALL TO MUSIC OF HERS. IT'S CALLED LOVE SPELL . JACOB, COME ON. JACOB. [04:25:02] DO YOU SEE ME? SEE ME, SEE ME? I'M HERE. I'M HERE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOGIE. ALRIGHT, JACOB, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. IF YOU WANNA SEND US THAT SONG, NOT HERS. WE, WE WILL LISTEN TO IT IN OUR SPARE TIME. OH, TELL ME NO WHAT ELSE YOU PLAY FOR YOU BEYONCE, BABY. I'M GONNA PLAY. THANK YOU JACOB. GIRL WILL THE GIRL COUNCIL [RECESS] MEMBERS, WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AIMS COMPANIES. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AIMS COMPANIES. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH DL GLOVER, INC. ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GRAVA LLC. ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH RECOM INC. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES INC. ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH TEXAS PRIDE UTILITIES LLC ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH TOTAL CONTRACTING LIMITED. ITEM 12, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DISCLAIMING A 60 FOOT WIDE OLD MAIN STREET FROM WEST BELFORT AVENUE NORTHEAST TO BUFFALO SPEEDWAY. ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST, FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SER JOBS FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST INC. ITEM 14 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. DISTRICT ITEM 15, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO ACCEPT TWO GRANT AWARDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. FULL AWARD OF HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDS. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. ITEM 17 TO ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PUMP SOLUTIONS INC. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 4 0 9 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CITY WORKS SOFTWARE LICENSE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH AZTECA SYSTEMS LLC ITEM 19. ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAYER SERVICES. LP ITEM 20, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RECE AND NICHOLS, INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 600 BLOCK OF EAST 16TH STREET BETWEEN OXFORD STREET AND BLUNT STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. UH, ITEM 22 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 600 BLOCK OF RIDGE STREET BETWEEN REAGAN STREET AND NORTH SABINE STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE AND THE 800 BLOCK NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF WENDELL STREET BETWEEN JULIAN STREET AND REAGAN STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRED. THE CONTINUED USE OF MCDONALD STREET FROM STEELMAN STREET NORTH TO ITS TERMINUS LOCATED IN THE JOHN REMAN SURVEY ABSTRACT 6 42 ABANDONING THE EASEMENT TO C-T-C-U-W PROPERTIES LLC ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,895,000 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL ITEM 20, THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF 20. ITEM 25 ABOVE ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $19,213,474 44 CENTS AND $3,879,762 [04:30:02] 9 CENTS AND $53,595,241 73 CENTS A WARDEN CONTRACT TO HARPER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION LLC. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 26 ABOVE ITEM 28. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $136,500 AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN STATE OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR 2025 HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 28. ITEM 30, ORDINANCE APPROVED APPROVING $168,735 OUT OF DEBT OH AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR 2025 HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 30. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $12,243,474 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $315,000 AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HDR ENGINEERING INC. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO BEST TRASH LLCA DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO BROWN AEROBIC SERVICE COMPANY INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 36, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DUTY CALLS LLCA FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DOUBLE OAK EROSION INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION LLCA FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT COAL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO HOLCOMB ENVIRONMENTAL OIL SERVICES, LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO STREAM ENVIRONMENTAL LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT COAL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SUNCOAST RESOURCES LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 42, AN ORDINANCE ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SUNNY PRESSURE WASHING LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 43, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO VIOLA ES TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC AT TEXAS LIABILITY COM, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 44 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO VICTORIA GARCIA DOING BUSINESS AS GARZA'S WASH A TEXAS SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT WA SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE TO WASTE CONNECTIONS OF TEXAS, A LI TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 46 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,703,990 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENG ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND FRIES AND NICHOLS, INC. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND WAS ITEM 25 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 25TH. ITEM 47, ORDINANCE AMENDED SECTION TWO DASH TWO OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE REGARDING THE TIME AND LOCATION OF COUNCIL MEETING. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS CASTEK, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND THIS WAS ITEM 39 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 25TH AND ITEM 48, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING SECTIONS FIVE DASH 46 AND FIVE DASH 80 OF THE [04:35:01] CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO DANCE HALLS THAT IMPOSE A DRESS CODE. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 8TH AND NINTH, 2025. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, HAVE A BLESSED WEDNESDAY. [RECONVENE] COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER. FIRST [HEARINGS] WE HAVE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. I UNDERSTAND MR. JONES IS PRESENT AND MELISSA AND MELISSA. ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN PROCEED MR. JONES. ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UM, TODAY I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED, UH, MAY 31ST, 2025. IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 370.1 MILLION OR 14.3% OF EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THIS IS 38.6 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 175.8 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES EXCLUDING DEBT. UH, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR REVENUE PROJECTION BY 16 MILLION, UH, FROM LAST MONTH'S REPORT. PROPERTY TAX INCREASED BY 13.5 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, UH, PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS. INTEREST INCOME INCREASED BY 2.3 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST EARNINGS ON DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS ON OUR EXPENDITURES, WE ARE PROTECTING NO CHANGE FROM LAST MONTH. SO MOVING ON TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AGAIN, UH, WE'RE PROTECTING NO CHANGES FOR OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE RATING AGENCY'S GUIDANCE OF 25% FROM TIME TO TIME. THE CITY'S ENTERPRISE CREDITS HAVE EXCEEDED THIS THRESHOLD ON AN INTERIM BASIS AS THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN LARGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ON MAJOR EXPANSIONS. AND FINALLY, ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF CITY CONTROLLER, WE DO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN CENTRAL TEXAS AS THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE DEVASTATING AFTERMATH OF THE FLASH FLOODING. THANK YOU ALL. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU, SIR. MELISSA. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE 11 PLUS ONE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 31ST, 2025. FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 11 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND ONE MONTH OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 96.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 27.9 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH PROJECTION IS DUE TO $14.3 MILLION INCREASE IN SALES TAX DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS AND 13.6 MILLION, UH, INCREASE IN GENERAL PROPERTY TAX DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED COLLECTIONS. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 61.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH. UH, TOGETHER WITH THE REVENUE CHANGES, WE'RE PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE 408.7 MILLION, WHICH IS 27.9 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH, AND REPRESENTS 15.8% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES NOT INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. FUNDING THAT FUND BALANCE IS 214.4 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5%. UH, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL, UM, GOOD NEWS I MENTIONED AT THE BFA COMMITTEE MEETING YESTERDAY. UM, WE DID HAVE OUR ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE, UM, CONDUCTED BY THE MOODY'S RATING AGENCY, AND MOODY'S HAS AFFIRMED THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S, UH, STRONG, UH, AA THREE RATING WITH A AND CONFIRMED OUR STABLE OUTLOOK. UM, WE DID HAVE SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RATING AGENCY, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS AS WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THEY WENT TO THEIR, UH, RATING COMMITTEE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THEY AFFIRMED OUR RATING, UM, FOR THEIR ANNUAL REVIEW. SO I DID WANNA GIVE, UM, KUDOS TO THE ENTIRE FINANCE WORKING GROUP TEAM, UM, THAT WENT INTO EDUCATING THE RATING AGENCIES ON, UH, OUR FINANCIAL POSITION. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT, UH, RECOGNIZED CHAIRMAN ALCORN RAMIREZ. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. NO, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU, DIRECTOR AND YOUR STAFF, UH, THE INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, THE RATING, UM, REMAINING, UH, STABLE AND, AND THAT IS ALL GOOD NEWS AND IT'S AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, AN OBJECTIVE SOURCE, LOOKING [04:40:01] AT WHAT THE CITY'S DOING AND SAYING, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THAT'S THE WAY I INTERPRET IT. SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED MAY 31ST, 2025. SECOND CASTILLO MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK EACH OF YOU FOR A FINE JOB. NEXT, UH, PUBLIC HEARING. MR. SECRETARY, YOU BRING UP ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR ONE APPLICANT SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT. VERY GOOD. WE DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER. ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER, AND GUESS WHO HE IS? , DOMINIQUE MAZO. . GOOD MORNING MAYOR. AND THE HORSESHOE. THANK YOU. YES. NUMBER ONE, GET THIS OUTTA THE WAY. I DID TAKE THE 96 TO THE RED LINE, WALKED OVER HERE. SO THE, NORMALLY ON A FRIDAY I'LL LOOK AT THE AGENDA OR THAT'S COMING UP AND SEE IF I WANNA SPEAK AT IT. AND I, THIS AGAIN, I BROUGHT THIS UP MAYBE LAST YEAR, BUT NUMBER ONE, THIS EVENT OR THIS LOCATION IS LOCATED IN KATY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, OR THE PART OF HOUSTON C LIMITS IS OUT IN KATY PRAIRIE. AND MY CONCERN IS, YES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT'S OVER THERE. SO MAY I THINK THE THING IS, I KNOW CITY CHARTER DID BANDS THINGS. I KNOW TEXAS OVER MEETING OF ALL THE MANS THINGS, BUT I THINK, AND MAYOR, EVEN, EVEN YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE DONE. MAYBE WE NEED ONE HERE AND ONE OUT THERE. AND WITH PUBLIC HEARING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE WHOLE HORSESHOE THERE. I THINK MAYBE YOU OR THE, UH, PRO TIM OR THE ASSISTANT PRO TIM CAN RUN THAT MEETING. AND ALSO TOO, I WAS LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENTATION. YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SHARE THE JOY WITH EVERYONE? WHAT, SIR? YOU DO NOT WANT ME TO SHARE THE JOY WITH EVERYONE. OH, OKAY. . I'M JUST, I'M JUST MAKING JUST CHANGE. NO, NO, NO. UH, THE OTHER THING TOO IS ON THE THING WITH THE, THERE WAS, THERE WAS A, A STATEMENT, A LETTER SAYING WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT. AND AS IT WAS APPROVED AT THE, UH, ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I THINK THERE, THERE PROBABLY WAS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO LINK THAT UP SO THAT I AS A VOTER AND A PERSON IN HOUSTON CAN LOOK AT THAT POWERPOINT. AND, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS HAD MORE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION. THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE. AND I THINK IT BRINGS UP TO A POINT THAT'S GONNA BE BROUGHT UP TODAY IS, UH, ACTUALLY HOW DO, HOW DOES THE PUBLIC APPROACH THIS COUNCIL? UH, I THINK, MARIO, YOUR PROPOSAL IS ON THE AGENDA LATER, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT ABBY AND YOU DID IN, ON THE 11TH STREET PROJECT, UH, MEETING ON A SATURDAY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO BE WITH AN OPEN MEETINGS LAW. WE HAVE TECHNICAL ISSUES ALSO TOO. I THINK WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THESE, LETTING PEOPLE COME TO THESE MEETINGS VIA ZOOM OR TEAMS. WE GOT PEOPLE THAT CANNOT, CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE. AND WE ARE IN NOT THREE COUNTIES, BUT FOUR. AND I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN A NURSING HOME, THEY CAN PARTICIPATE THAT WAY. UH, NOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK WHEN I TALK TO THE CITY, UM, SECRETARY TO MAKE SURE THAT I, I OR WHOEVER IS GONNA GO BY ZOOM IS LIVING IN THE CITY. BUT, SO WITH THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE'LL TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT. THANK YOU CAST. MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. I SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND, CLOSE THE HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY HEARINGS CLOSED. OKAY, NOW YOUR MAYOR'S REPORT [MAYOR'S REPORT] NOW, MEMBERS, THE, UH, MAYOR'S REPORT WE HAD SCHEDULED TODAY, THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE FOR DOWNTOWN AND EAST SIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UM, WE WANTED EVERYONE TO HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS NECESSARY TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT. IT'S THE SAME CIVILITY ORDINANCE [04:45:01] THAT WE'VE PASSED. AND WHEN I GOT HERE AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW ONE, I SAID, WHY? JUST FOR THIS AREA AND, UH, QUESTION THE ENFORCEMENT OF IT. UH, IT'S A TOOL THAT'S BEEN USED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE HAVE MORE RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN, ADDITIONAL, UH, ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT'S IN THE THEATER DISTRICT OR NEAR THE, UH, GEORGE BROWN. UM, THERE APPEARS TO BE, AND I'M GONNA BRING UP TWO OF OUR OUTSTANDING, UH, LEADERSHIP PERSONS, BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. UH, A SOLUTION TO THE HOMELESS CONDITIONS IS A TOP PRIORITY. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LISTED FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE. CERTAINLY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND I KNOW ALL OF US SHARE THAT WE'VE MADE PROGRESS. UM, DARCY JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU HAD YOUR RECEPTION AT ALLEN'S LANDING, UH, SIX MONTHS AGO. THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT IT HAS BEEN, UH, COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CENTRAL HOUSTON. UH, SO THAT'S THE PROGRESS THAT WE WANNA POINT TO. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. SHE AND I HAVE BEEN AT MULTIPLE SITES LOOKING FOR SHELTER AND, UH, RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR THE HOMELESS CARE, HEALTHCARE, FOOD. THE, UH, HUD SECRETARY TOOK IT IN, WENT OUT TO, UH, HARRIS COUNTY CENTER, UH, THE NAVIGATION CENTER, UH, WE'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. AND SO NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT THAT MIKE NICHOLS AND CHIEF SATTERWHITE, TWO OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS THAT I'VE PROBABLY EVER MET, UH, WERE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE MIKE COMING FROM THE HOMELESS COALITION. CHIEF SATTERWHITE BRINGS HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AND HPD EXPERIENCE WHERE HE'S DEALT WITH THE HOMELESS IN A COMPASSIONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEIN FOR YEARS. SO I ASKED THEM TO COME GIVE US A REPORT, WHAT THE INTENT OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IS, AND THE IMPACT THEY'LL BELIEVE, AND THEY CAN ALSO ELABORATE ON OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL SITES AND ADDITIONAL, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. JUST LAST WEEK, WE HAVE FOUNDATIONS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN MY OFFICE, WE'RE GETTING CONTRIBUTIONS. AND SO THIS IS JUST GONNA BE ANOTHER TOOL IN THE KIT IF COUNSEL APPROVES IT TO WHERE WE CAN ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO PLEASE GO GET OUT OF THE ELEMENTS, GET HEALTHCARE, FOOD, AND A BED THAT ARE NOT RECEIVING IT. IT'S JUST WRONG FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THOSE CONDITIONS. AND IT'S WRONG FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE TO ENGAGE THIS POPULATION IN PUBLIC SPACES. UH, WHEN I LEAVE THE OFFICE SOMETIME LATE, THERE WILL BE FEEDING AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS STILL PERPETUATING A PROBLEM THERE IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE HOMELESS IN THAT LOCATION. SO DO A LOT OF HARD WORK AND, AND THE, AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. HOUSTON ENDOWMENT THAT TIME WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GIVE A, A LINEUP OF THE FOUNDATIONS AND THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HELPING US. UH, SIGNIFICANT FUNDS. WE'RE USING SOME OF OUR HUD RECOVERY FUNDS FOR SHELTERS, WHICH WILL KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE ELEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE HARVEY STORM AND LONGER ONE WAY HOME HAS DONE ITS PART, BUT IT ALWAYS INCLUDED PEOPLE BACKED UP ON THE STREET. WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THAT. SO, MIKE, IF YOU AND CHIEF DERITE WILL COME, I'LL CERTAINLY YIELD TO, TO YOU TO TELL US WHY YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A HUMANE STEP FORWARD THAT'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY NOT CRIMINALIZED HOMELESSNESS. NONE OF US ARE GONNA DO THAT, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR. SO MIKE, THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU. AND CHIEF IS, UH, OUR HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR THAT HAS MANY [04:50:01] RESPONSIBILITIES. MIKE, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE GETTING READY FOR, UH, ANY CONTINGENCY. UH, BUT I'LL SAY ONE MORE TIME, THE TEAM I'VE PUT IN PLACE IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SO MIKE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I'LL YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, MAYOR, FOR YOUR ONGOING PATIENCE IN AN AREA THAT YOU DON'T WANNA BE PATIENT ABOUT, WHICH IS HELPING PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET. UM, WHEN THE MAYOR WALKED CAME INTO OFFICE AS YOU, AS YOU HEARD, HE SAID HOMELESSNESS WAS ONE OF HIS KEY PRIORITIES AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. AND HE SAW THINGS DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT MADE HIM PUT TOGETHER THIS TEAM. AND, UM, AND THIS IS UNIQUE IN THE STATE. UM, CHIEF DERITE AND I WENT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON SENT CHIEF SATTERWHITE WHO HAS HIS EXPERTISE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, UH, WAYNE YOUNG, WHO HAS AN EXPERTISE IN MENTAL HEALTH. KELLY YOUNG, WHO HAS A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE IN MOVING HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSING. AND MYSELF, NO OTHER CITIES HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM FOR THIS APPROACH. AND HOMELESSNESS, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, IS A COMPLEX ISSUE THAT REQUIRES MULTIPLE TOOLS TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE OFF THE STREET. UM, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS TEAM, AND I'VE LEARNED TREMENDOUS, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FROM CHIEF SATTERWHITE AS WE WALK THROUGH. CHIEF, IF I CAN START AND LET YOU FINISH, IF THAT'S OKAY? YES, PLEASE. UM, BEFORE WE WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED REVISIONS OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND HOW IT SUPPORTS THE IN STREET HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE SOME OF THE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. UH, THESE, THESE ARE STILL EARLY EFFORTS ON LAY, BUT THEY DO LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR BOTH POLICY AND PRACTICE. CAN I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? RECENTLY, IN JUNE OF 25 6, STRATEGIC ITEMS TIED TO THE ENTRY HOMELESSNESS FUND WERE PRESENTED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE AND ARE SLATED TO GO TO COUNCIL IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS. THESE PROMISED RECIPIENTS, SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENTS, THESE PROPOSED SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENTS WITH PARTNERS LIKE SEARCH THE HARRIS CENTER FAMILY ENDEAVORS. THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER REPRESENT A $5.1 MILLION INVESTMENT TO REACH APPROXIMATELY 1600 INDIVIDUALS. THE FUNDING, WHICH WE HOPE WILL, WILL GO THROUGH, WILL SUPPORT THOSE CRITICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING HOUSING OUTREACH AND DIVERSION, SHELTER AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BEDS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. ALREADY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS HAS GONE THROUGH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TO GO TO HOUSING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW LIVING ON THE STREET. THESE INVESTMENTS REINFORCE OUR COMMITMENT TO COORDINATED CARE AND LONG-TERM HOUSING OUTCOMES. THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, UH, SLIDE THREE. THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, UH, WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CITIES. WHEN WE VISITED SEATTLE, PORTLAND, LOS ANGELES, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE COORDINATION THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN AGENCIES. THANKS TO OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE HARRIS CENTER AND THE SOBERING CENTER, WE'VE EXPANDED OUR CAPACITY TO MEET INDIVIDUALS NEEDS IN REAL TIME, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN CRISIS. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE REVISION REINFORCES THIS APPROACH. IT ENSURES THAT WHEN THEY ARE NOT ON IT ENSURES THAT WHEN UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS ARE ENGAGED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY'RE NOT ONLY MADE AWARE OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT ALSO PRESENTED WITH A PATH TO SERVICES AND HOUSING. SLIDE FOUR, OUR MISSION REMAINS CLEAR TO OFFER A HUMANE AND HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO STREET HOMELESSNESS BY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND CONNECTING THEM TO REAL SUPPORT. THANKS TO COLLABORATIONS ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE'RE SEEING MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. UM, THE SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS RECENT DATA THAT REFLECTS EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND POSITIVE RESULTS MADE POSSIBLE BY COORDINATED PLANNING AND DEDICATED LEADER PARTNERSHIP. AND JUST TO GO THROUGH THAT, AGAIN, WE GET THESE, WE GET THESE DATA ON A DAILY BASIS. UM, THE BEACON WE AROUND, AROUND THE BEACON, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS PARTNER, WE CONNECTED 25 PEOPLE WHO WERE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS TO A HOUSING SOLUTION. CHARTRES, 68 INDIVIDUALS, UH, WERE ENGAGED, AND 46 WERE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO A HOUSING SOLUTION. YOU HEARD THE SUCCESSES AT BAYOU PLACE IN ALLEN'S LANDING. THOSE [04:55:01] FO THOSE PLACES WHICH WERE REALLY UNUSABLE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ARE NOW ABLE TO BE USED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SLEEPING THERE ARE NOW HOUSED OR IN A HOUSING SOLUTION. SLIDE FIVE. SOME OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE, ONE OF THE CLIENT STORIES THAT GO WITH A LADY NAMED MARY. AND THIS IS A LADY WHO HAS LIVED ON THE STREETS FOR OVER A DECADE, CYCLING THROUGH HOMELESSNESS AND CRISIS. SHE HAS SUFFERED FROM SEVERE UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS AND HAS HAD OVER 400, 400 ENCOUNTERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT DOES NOT CONSIDER THE MANY, MANY TIMES SHE'S BEEN, SHE'S BEEN IN EMERGENCY, UH, HOSPITAL CARE. AND THE COST OF THAT IS, IS UNMEASURABLE. DURING THOSE, UH, CHARTRES IN INITIATIVE, MARY WAS TRANSPORTED TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL AND IS NOW IN INPATIENT MENTAL TREATMENT AND RECEIVED THE ONGOING SUPPORT SHE NEEDS. THIS CASE UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRUCTURED COMPASSION RESPONSE, ONE THAT BLENDS ENGAGEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE. WITHOUT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND OUR STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS, PARTICULARLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO KNOWS WHERE MARY WOULD BE TODAY, MARY'S STORY IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE COMBINE STRUCTURED REINFORCEMENT, CLINICAL SUPPORT AND OUTREACH COORDINATION. THIS ENSURES THAT EVEN THOSE WHO CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES STILL RECEIVE THE CARE AND DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE. CHIEF , UH, THANKS MIKE. SO FIRST MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UH, AND TAKING THIS HUGE COMPLEX ISSUE ON AS A CITY. IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT, IT'S NOT EASY, IT'S A PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UH, IT'S A TRAVESTY THAT AFFECTS MANY MAJOR CITIES AND MID CITIES, SIDE CITIES AND EVEN MORE. AND, UH, AND FRANKLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY YEAR ON THE STREETS, UH, IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE NATION, UH, DUE TO STREET HOMELESSNESS. SO WE REALLY WANNA CORRECT THIS. SO THANK YOU. IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UH, IMPORTANT. AND I WANNA THANK MIKE AND KELLY YOUNG OVER COALITION AND, UH, WAYNE YOUNG OVER HARRIS CENTER, AND THEY JUST REPRESENT ENTIRE TEAMS, UH, THAT ARE WORKING WITH US IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SO, UH, TRULY IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS IF EVERYBODY, UH, JOINS AND WE ALL PULL IN THE SAME DIRECTION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO I'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT, UH, REALLY THREE THINGS. UM, THAT, UH, LAWS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, IS THE CAMP, UH, THE, UH, CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND THE, UH, REVISION OF IT, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE. UH, ONE IS A STATEWIDE CAMPING BAN THAT WAS PASSED IN 2021. AND AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAD, IT WAS DISCUSSED A LOT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS PASSING FORWARD, IT'S, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON THAT STATEWIDE BAN IN TERMS OF SETTING UP TENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THE WHOLE GOAL WAS TO ADDRESS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW UNHEALTHY THEY ARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE AND FOR EVERYBODY AROUND THEM. UH, BUT INTERNALLY IN THE CITY, WE HAVE OUR CIVILITY ORDINANCE, WHICH IS, UH, CURRENTLY 40 DASH 3 52 ON THE MUNICIPAL, UH, ORDINANCE CODE FOR THOSE THAT ARE WANTING TO LOOK IT UP. AND, AND BASICALLY IN THAT REGARD, THAT WAS WHAT THE CITY DID TO CREATE, TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM LOCALLY. UH, SIMPLY PUT, THERE ARE AREAS IN THE CITY THAT ARE REALLY MOST IMPACTED AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THAT. AND THEY HAVE, THERE IS PROVISION WITHIN, UM, THE ORDINANCE WHERE THE CITY CAN APPLY AS YOU ALL HAVE KNOW, YOU ALL KNOW, AND, UH, WITH A, A NUMBER OF SIGNATURES. UH, AND THEN COMING BEFORE COUNCIL TO GET THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS, A SPECIFIC AREA DESIGNATED AS A CIVILITY ZONE. THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, UH, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE. AND SINCE THEN, I BELIEVE IT'S 11 MORE THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED WITH ONE REAR RECENTLY BEING ADDED. SO THERE'S A ABOUT 12. AND SO IF YOU THINK, UH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE, THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WERE PROBABLY MOST IMPACTED BY STREET HOMELESSNESS, WHERE THEY'RE SEEING PEOPLE SUFFERING LIVING ON OUR STREETS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS. AND THE COMMUNITIES BECAME VERY ALARMED AND VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THAT THAT BRINGS. AND THEY WANT TO ADDRESS IT NOW, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ORDINANCE. UH, IT HAS PROVISIONS, IT ALLOWS, UH, IN THOSE AREAS. UH, IT, UH, IT, UH, DENIES THE, THE ABILITY TO SIT DOWN, LIE DOWN, OR TO LEAVE YOUR BELONGINGS ON A PUBLIC SPACE, A SIDEWALK, UH, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM AND 11:00 PM AT 11:00 PM YOU CAN THEN DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. YOU CAN SIT DOWN, LIE DOWN AND DROP ALL YOUR STUFF ON THE PROPERTY. AND, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, MANY TIMES EVEN DURING OUR FREEZE, WE SAW PEOPLE ROLLED UP IN, IN LESS THAN A BLANKET ON, ON OUR STREETS, AND WE ALL SEE IT EVERY DAY. IF YOU'RE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN, THE MAYOR JUST REFERENCED WHAT HE SEES WHEN HE LEAVES WORK EVERY DAY, UH, LEAVES THE OFFICE. AND SO IT IS, IT IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A TRAVESTY, AND MOST, IT [05:00:01] IS MOST IMPORTANTLY, A TRAVESTY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE LYING ON THOSE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THAT. SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. UH, I WAS THE CAPTAIN OVER AT THE DOWNTOWN, UM, UM, AREA CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, UH, BACK IN 2013. AND, AND THE STREET HOMELESSNESS WAS A HUGE, UM, CONCERN AND COMPLAINT BY THE PUBLIC, AND WE WOULD ADDRESS IT AS MUCH AS WE COULD, BUT WE ALL KNEW THAT AS OF 11:00 PM THEY COULD, AND THEY KNEW TOO. THEY COULD LAY DOWN AND, AND, AND GO AND UM, AND GO TO SLEEP, DROP THEIR STUFF. AND IT MADE A VERY, REALLY DIFFICULT PROBLEM. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S, IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE LYING ON, ON THE STREET OUT IN THE OPEN PUBLIC, YOU ARE VULNERABLE TO ANYBODY THAT ELSE MIGHT BE COMING ALONG PREDATORS. AND WE KNOW THAT HAPPENS. UH, PEOPLE THAT WILL COME BY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM, UH, CONFLICT WILL EMERGE. UH, THE ELEMENTS, THE WEATHER, WE ALL SEE IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE DISEASE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, THAT HAPPEN FROM LIVING OUTSIDE ON THAT STREET AND LIVING IN THAT LIFE, UH, IS, IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, HAS A TRAGIC LIFE AND A TRAGIC END TO IT. AND SO WE WANT TO CORRECT THAT. BUT WE WERE HAMPERED BECAUSE OF THE ORDINANCE. IT SAYS YOU CAN AT 11, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS ARE MENTALLY ILL. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW, UH, THEIR OWN PERILOUS SITUATION. THEY HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, THEY HAVE HOW THEY ENDED UP THERE BECAUSE NOBODY IS BORN WANTING TO BE HOMELESS. HOW THEY ENDED UP THERE, MAYBE BY THEIR DECISION, MAYBE BY SOMEBODY ELSE'S THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THEY ENDED UP THERE, BUT THEY DIDN'T START THEIR LIFE WANTING TO BE THERE. AND, BUT THAT'S WHERE THERE WILL, IT WILL END IF THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE ON OUR STREETS. SO THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO CHANGE, AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T KNOW ANOTHER LIFE AND THEY'RE RESISTANT TO THE THINGS THAT WE ARE OFFERING SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THAT LIFE AND THERE'S A LACK OF TRUST AND ALL THOSE THINGS. AND BY LAW, IF THEY CAN LAY DOWN, THEN THEY WILL JUST CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL WE LOSE THEM. AND OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU REMAIN OUTSIDE, WHEN YOU'RE LIVING ON, ON THE STREETS. UH, HUMANS DO WHAT HUMANS DO. AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CHALLENGES AROUND THAT AND, AND, AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE PUBLIC. THERE'S FEAR FOR PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR TOWN THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT ARE PLAGUED BY IT EVERY DAY, UH, WHEN THAT THOSE PERSONS ARE, ARE BASICALLY WASTING AWAY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ANY OF US WANT TO HAPPEN. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES. OUR CHALLENGE IS, IS THE LACK OF RESOURCES. UH, WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING. WE HAVE LIMITED HOUSING AVAIL, UH, RESOURCES RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE LIMITED BEDS IN, UH, IN FACILITIES THAT WE CAN TAKE THEM TO. I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE STARTED THIS EFFORT BACK AT THE END OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE STARTED WITH ALLEN'S LANDING. THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT, UH, IT WAS A PARK. YOU CANNOT BE IN OUR PARK OVERNIGHT. UM, AND SO WE COULD ENFORCE THAT. SO WE ADDRESSED ALAN'S LANDING FIRST. AND, AND MIKE LET TALKED ABOUT THE RE THE RESPONSE WE GOT AND THE SUCCESS WE HAD BY GETTING MORE THAN HALF THE PEOPLE. AND I THINK THERE WAS OVER 40 THAT WERE OVER THERE REGULARLY. MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE FOLKS TOOK OUR HELP, AND NOW THEY'RE IN HOUSING OR ON A HOUSING PATH, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING. THE OTHER HALF SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT WE TOLD 'EM, OKAY, THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE IN THE PARK OVERNIGHT. THEN WE MOVED ON TO BAGBY AND WE, WE WE'RE WORKING, UM, TRANQUILITY PARK AND LBJ AND ON THESE PARKS OVER ON THIS SIDE, SAME CONCEPT. UM, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT WE HAVE, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND, AND EVERYONE FOR, FOR HELPING US. THIS, WE HAVE, UH, POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT, TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND, AND NOT JUST HOUSTON POLICE. UH, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW COLLABORATION BETWEEN, UM, THE, UM, HPD METRO POLICE AND, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE HAVE ALL SIGNED ON BECAUSE OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WHEN I SAY THAT WE MOVE TO THE SPEED OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS, UH, TO, TO PAY THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PULL OFFICERS OFF OF OTHER NORMAL ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE YOU NEED NEIGHBORHOODS COVERED AND YOU NEED OTHER THINGS HANDLED. SO THIS IS IN ADDITION. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE HANDLING THIS, IS THAT THESE ARE EXTRAS AND THESE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED AND THEY'RE SIGNING UP TO DO THESE TYPES OF POSITION, THESE TYPES OF ROLES. AND THEY, I WILL SAY TO THEIR POINT VERY QUICKLY, UH, AND IT'S A GOOD, IT'S HEARTWARMING. THEY, THEY REALLY LIKE DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING OUT AND THEY'RE OFFERING HELP. OUR WHOLE STRATEGY IS TO GO OUT. SO WE, WE SEND OUT, UH, NONPROFITS FIRST TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE A SPECIFIC AREA THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON. THEY OFFER HELP. THEY ASSESS THE INDIVIDUALS. THEY, THEY WORK ON SOLUTIONS. THEY DEVELOP A PLAN, UH, WHEN THEY HAVE DONE THEN, AND THEN THEY WILL GO IN AND THEY WILL MAKE OFFERS. [05:05:01] AND FOR THOSE THAT ACCEPT, THEY'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED, THEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL COME IN FOR THOSE THAT DID NOT ACCEPT AT THAT TIME, THAT ARE STILL IN THOSE AREAS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON. AND WE DO THE SAME THING. WE'RE OFFERING HELP. WE'RE OFFERING A BED AT NIGHT FOR THEM TO GO TO. RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT TEAM FOR HELPING US OUT ON THAT. AND THEN WE'RE OFFERING SOLUTIONS POST THAT. BUT IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT OUR HELP, THEN WE'RE KINDLY SAYING, WELL, OKAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT OUR HELP, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THIS. AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS BEHAVIOR. YOU CAN'T LIE DOWN OR SIT DOWN OR GO TO SLEEP IN A PARK. YOU CAN'T BE THERE OVERNIGHT ON A SIDEWALK. YOU CAN'T BE THERE. UH, YOU CAN'T DO THOSE THINGS. NOW, UH, NOW, RIGHT NOW, FROM 7:00 AM TO 11:00 PM AND WE'RE AT WHAT WE'RE ASKING AS YOU EXTEND THAT TO, UH, TO 24 OUT INTO, TO AROUND THE CLOCK, UM, THIS IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THOSE AREAS, AND WE REALLY WANT TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REMAINING IN THOSE AREAS TO ACCEPT OUR HELP. IT'S THE PATH WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE HELPED. THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE SAVED, AND IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY. SO RIGHT NOW, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE, WE HAVE MANY OF YOU THAT, UH, THAT GO OVER ON AT, AROUND THE GEORGE R ROUND, THE CONVENTION CENTER. UH, IF YOU GO OVER THERE RECENTLY, LATELY, I RECOMMEND YOU DO GO TAKE A LOOK AT CHARTRES AND THE 59 CORRIDOR. THAT WAS THE OPERATION THAT WE DID AT THE VERY END OF MAY. THAT WAS WHERE WE RAN IN. WE, WE ENCOUNTERED MARY AND WE FINALLY GOT MARRIED TO ACCEPT OUR HELP. AND WE GOT HER TO A PLACE WHERE SHE'S OFF THE STREETS AND HOPEFULLY FOR FOREVERMORE TO A BETTER LIFE AND A CHANCE AT A, AT A THRIVING LIFE. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE WENT NEXT, AND WE WORKED THAT AREA FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK THAT AREA. UH, AND EVERYBODY IN THAT AREA IS VERY THANKFUL. I GET LOTS OF GREAT REPORTS. WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. GOOD REPORTS ARE GOOD. I'LL, I TAKE THE GOOD NEWS AND I TAKE THE BAD. UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THE BAD IS SOMETHING I NEED TO CORRECT AND I CAN WORK ON THAT. BUT, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. SO THAT IS THE NATURE OF, OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, NO, NOT ANYTIME, BUT AGAIN, EARLY ON I SAID WE HAVE TO MOVE THE SPEED OF RESOURCES. WHAT WE DO NOT WANNA DO, WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AVOIDING AT ALL COSTS IS DISPLACEMENT. MEANING THAT WHAT WE DON'T WANNA DO IS GO INTO AN AREA AND, AND GO IN AND JUST MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF THERE. THAT IS NOT THE INTENT. ALL THAT WE'RE DOING IS OFFERING HELP AND THEN TELLING THEM THAT THE BEHAVIOR YOU'RE ENGAGED IN, YOU CAN'T DO. YOU HAVE TO GET UP, YOU HAVE TO STAND UP, YOU HAVE TO MOVE ALONG. UH, WHAT WE ARE NOT, UH, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE PUSHED OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA END UP IN SOMEONE ELSE'S NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY'RE GONNA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO FAR OUR, OUR STRATEGY, OUR PLAN HAS MANAGED TO AVOID THAT. OVERWHELMINGLY, WE START WITH HOUSING AND GET 'EM INTO HELP. AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, WE SAY, BECAUSE IT'S A LIMITED AREA, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. MOST OF 'EM JUST COMPLY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT SECOND OR THIRD TIME THAT WE GO BACK TO THERE, BECAUSE WE ARE LEAVING THOSE OFFICERS IN THAT AREA, THEY'RE NOW, THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME, THEY'RE STARTING TO ACCEPT OUR HELP BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I'VE ALWAYS SAID WHAT WE ALLOW, WE ENCOURAGE, WE NEED TO DO SOME THINGS DIFFERENTLY. WE ARE ASKING RIGHT NOW TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE, UH, IN A, IN A VERY STRATEGIC WAY, MEANING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND THE CIVIL ZONE. REASON BEING IS THAT WE RIGHT NOW DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH BEDS TO GO ANYWHERE BEYOND THAT. AND WE DON'T WANT TO WORK IN AN AREA THAT WE DON'T HAVE RESOURCES, A BED TO OFFER, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF WE DO, ULTIMATELY THAT WILL CAUSE DISPLACEMENT AND OTHER PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED. THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THAT ONLY MOVES THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T WANNA MOVE THE PROBLEM. WE WANNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS. AND I ASSURE YOU THAT THE OFFICERS DOING THIS, UM, EVERYBODY'S WORKING IN THE MOST HUMANE AND COMPASSIONATE MANNER POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THIS AND TO RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. I DON'T THINK THE CITY'S EVER REALLY DONE IT QUITE THIS WAY BEFORE. UH, SO WE ARE IN NEW TERRITORY AND CHANGING THE ORDINANCE WILL HELP US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT POINT OF NOTE, MOST OTHER MAJOR CITIES ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE 24 7 ON THEIR ORDINANCES. YOU CAN LOOK AT DALLAS, YOU CAN LOOK AT SAN ANTONIO. THEY ALREADY HAVE IT. OTHERS, A LOT OF OTHER MAJOR CITIES. UM, SO WE'VE BEEN VERY, UM, NOT AS RESTRICTIVE AS OTHER CITIES. WE'RE DOING SOME GOOD THINGS. WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS. 102 PEOPLE TO DATE SINCE WE STARTED THIS INITIATIVE ARE NOW ON HOUSING OR ON A HOUSING SOLUTION. 102. WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS, BUT WE DO NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP AND SUPPORT IN THAT. ONE QUICK NOTE ON THE CIVIL, ON THE, UH, THE MENTAL HEALTH BILL, UM, IT SHOULD BE NOTED, WE, MIKE MENTIONED IT, WE WENT TO AUSTIN, UH, TO PRESS FOR THE CHANGE. I SAID THAT THERE [05:10:01] ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE SO MENTALLY ILL AND THEY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN SITUATION, AND THEY ARE DYING ON THE STREETS. THIS SENATE BILL CHAIN THAT JUST, JUST PASSED AND HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR IS GONNA ALLOW US TO HANDLE, UH, PEOPLE LIKE MARY BECAUSE UNDER THE OLD HEALTH CODE, UH, WHICH IS 5 7 3 STATE HEALTH CODE, UM, IF YOU WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY IMMINENTLY IN DANGER OF YOUR, YOUR LIFE OR OTHERS IN, UH, IN DANGER, WE REALLY HAD LITTLE WE COULD DO IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY DETENTION ORDERS. SO UNLESS A PERSON WAS SAY, STANDING ON TOP OF A, A, A HIGHEST PLACE AND THREATENING TO JUMP OR TRYING TO HARM SOMEBODY ELSE THERE, WE WERE LIMITED ON WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THIS NEW PASSAGE OF THE LAW. WE CAN NOW LOOK AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH MANY TIMES, LIKE MARY, THAT HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND MPC AND OTHER, OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITIES. UH, AND, AND THE, AND THE PROCESS IS, IS THAT WE TAKE THEM THERE AND THEY GO THERE. AND THE HOSPITALS THAT DO GREAT JOBS, THE, YOU KNOW, THE NBC, THEY ALL DO A GREAT JOB. THEY GIVE THEM THE MEDICATIONS THEY NEED, THEY STABILIZE THEM, AND THEY GET THEM TO A POINT, AND THEN THEY RELEASE THEM. AND THE CYCLE CONTINUES. AND IT'S, AND IT, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S, IT REALLY DOES NOT SOLVE THAT PERSON'S PROBLEM. SO THEY ULTIMATELY WILL DEMI HAVE, MEET THEIR DEMISE LIVING THAT WAY, BUT ALSO, UH, IT'S, IT'S A DANGER TO OUR OFFICERS AND TO EVERY FIRST RESPONDER BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TO RESPOND TO THEM WHEN THEY'RE IN CRISIS. WHEN THEY'RE IN CRISIS. AND SO NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THAT IS A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. AND WE'VE SEEN THOSE IN TRAGICALLY WHEN OFFICERS HAVE TO, UH, THIS LAW WILL ALLOW US TO LOOK AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE KNOW, WHO HAVE BEEN AND OUT SO MANY TIMES, KNOWN INDIVIDUALS THAT REALLY NEED HELP DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS FROM MEDICAL, UH, PROFESSIONALS. AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM BEFORE A JUDGE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY, JOHN SMITH REALLY NEEDS LONGER TERM HELP. FOUR HOURS AT BEN TODD, FOUR HOURS AT NPC IS NOT GONNA SOLVE JOHN SMITH'S PROBLEM. THEY NEED 30, 60, 90 DAYS OF REALLY INTENSE ACUTE CARE UNDER SPECIALISTS. THIS LAW WILL NOW ALLOW US, BECAUSE THEY, THEY MEET THE CRITERIA TO TAKE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GET THEM REAL HELP AND HOPEFULLY ON A PATH TO A THRIVING LIFE AND NOT WHERE THEY'RE HEADED DOWN. I BETTER STOP THERE. I'VE TALKED A LOT. HOW YOU DOING? I YOU MORE POINTS AND THEN WE'LL GO THEN WE'LL DO, DO WHAT YOU NEED. THE TWO POINTS ARE, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS ORDINANCE PASSES BECAUSE WE NEED TO BREAK THE HABITS AND CYCLES OF ALL THE FOLKS. NOT JUST THE FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO HELP. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SITUATION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW IS PEOPLE COME TO DOWNTOWN, THEY SLEEP ON THE STREETS. THEN YOU HAVE THESE GROUPS WHO WANT TO COME HELP AND THEY BRING FOOD AND, AND FORGET TO BRING THE TRASH CANS WITH THEM. AND IT HAS A CYCLE. WHAT THIS DOES IS IT BEGINS TO BREAK THAT HABIT OF PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN, SLEEPING DOWNTOWN, GETTING FOOD, AND THEY BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT, IS THERE ANOTHER WAY AROUND? SO THIS IS JUST A TOOL. SECONDLY, WE DO HAVE ADEQUATE BEDS AVAILABLE TO HANDLE THIS DOWNTOWN AREA. WE DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE BEDS TO HANDLE THE REST OF THE CITY. AND I KNOW IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ALL OF YOU. 'CAUSE I GET YOUR EMAILS ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN YOUR DISTRICTS THAT ARE THAT, THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT. I DO. I WILL SAY TO YOU, THE MAYOR MENTIONED IT. THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE CAN DO IS MENTION IT. THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIAL PHILANTHROPIC MONEY COMING INTO THE SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF THIS WORK. UH, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. UH, SECONDLY, AS YOU, AS YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE, UH, FUNDS FROM THE DIRECTIO AND BARREL HAVE $41 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS THAT'S COMING INTO THIS. AND THE OTHER PART, WE ARE NEGOTIATING. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT. WE ARE NEGOTIATING FOR A FACILITY WITH SOME MORE BEDS THAT WILL ALSO ADD TO WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE RECOVERY CENTER, HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, AND AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER. 'CAUSE WE NEED SOME MORE BEDS IN THIS AREA. AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. THE FUNDING IS COMING QUICKLY, BUT THIS IS A GREAT STEP AND IT FITS BECAUSE IT'S JUST DOWNTOWN. AND I KNOW THIS FRUSTRATION ABOUT WHY IS IT JUST DOWNTOWN? THIS IS THE AREA THAT WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT IN WHERE WE HAVE ADEQUATE BEDS AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR CLEARLY PUTTING A FACE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT OTHER PIECES OF THE SOLUTION. LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA CALLING ME, WANTS TO JOIN, UH, HAS IDEAS ABOUT A TRUE REENTRY PROGRAM, WHICH WILL ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. [05:15:01] WE'VE HEARD FROM THE LAND COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE THAT WILL HELP US IN THE NEGOTIATIONS OF ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. THE, UH, AREA NORTH OF THE STADIUM. YOU MENTIONED CHARTERS. UH, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN CARTER ADMITTED SHE NEGOTIATED WITH FISHES AND BREAD. THERE WAS A BREAD AND FISHES. LO LOAVES, LOAVES, LOAVES, LOAVES AND FISHES. PLUS I KNOW THEY WERE FEEDING A LOT OF FOLKS THERE TO GET THEM IN. RESIDENTIAL. UH, THE CASE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, MIKE, NO ONE WILL EVER SAY IT. YOU WON'T UNLESS I DO. YOU CALL ME IN THE EVENING AND WANT TO PUT A MOTHER AND HER FIVE CHILDREN IN A HOTEL. MIKE IS NOT ONLY BRINGING HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, HE'S BRINGING HIS FAITH TO THIS JOB. IF YOU DIDN'T DETECT IT IN HIS DESCRIPTION THIS MORNING. UH, AND MIKE BRINGS HIS RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE THE CHIEF AND I ACTUALLY DURING A FREEZE, BEGGED THE LADY ON THE CORNER OF SHEPHERD IN RICHMOND. MM-HMM . I MEAN, 20 DEGREE WEATHER TO ALLOW US TO PUT HER IN A SHELTER. SHE WOULDN'T GO. WE ALSO AT MOODY PARK, IF YOU TALK TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE CASE WORK, THERE'S SO MANY OF 'EM. JUST NEEDED A LITTLE OF ASSISTANCE. THE LADY HAD LOST HER HOUSE IN BAYTOWN. SHE ENDED UP IN MOODY PARK. WHAT IS HER PLAN? I JUST NEED TO GET TO LITTLE ROCK WITH MY FAMILY. SO WE GAVE HER AIRFARE. THE REALLY MISSION OF THIS IS IF YOU GET FOLKS IN A TREATMENT FACILITY, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ABOUT HALF OF 'EM, IF YOU GIVE 'EM A CASEWORKER, WE CAN SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS. THE OTHER HALF EITHER HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE GONNA BE MORE INVOLVED. BUT THIS IS JUST A TOOL, UH, REQUESTED BY TWO CLEAR EXPERTS ON THIS. WE'LL MONITOR IT VERY CAREFULLY, BUT, UH, IT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THE COUNCIL WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR AND, UH, CHIEF AND DIRECTOR, MIKE AND LARRY. UH, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING AND, AND YOU KNOW THAT CERTAINLY, UM, MY, MY WORD IS RUN. WE GOTTA, GOTTA RUN, GOTTA RUN. BUT I CANNOT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE HAVING SPENT SOME TIME ON THE STREETS AND CONTINUE TO, UM, OUT AND OUTREACH. I I WILL SAY THAT TODAY AFTER THIS MEETING, I WILL BE GOING OVER TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER TO, UM, SEND OFF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WE COAXED INTO HOMELESS. UH, I MEAN INTO, EXCUSE ME, INTO SHELTER FROM A TENT ON THE STREET ABOUT, IT'S A MONTH AGO NOW, I GUESS BY NOW. FIVE WEEKS, YOU KNOW, THE THREE DOGS. AND WE, IT'S JUST A LOT. UH, TELL 'EM WHAT YOU, WHAT WE DID WITH THE DOG, GET A EARLY MORNING. THE DOGS HAVE BEEN IN A BOARDING, SO THEY, YEAH. SO EARLY MORNING PHONE CALLS A LOT ABOUT THIS ONE, BUT THE THREE DOGS HAVE BEEN BOARDED BY, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL IN TOWN WHO HAPPENS TO BE A, A GOOD FRIEND, WHO IS HIS, UH, HIS HEART FOR ANIMALS IS JUST DON SANDERS WAY. NO, I'M NOT GONNA CALL DON SANDERS OUT, BUT ANYWAY, DON SANDERS. BUT ANYWAY, DON HAS BEEN PAYING FOR THE BOARDING OF THESE DOGS BECAUSE HE'S SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS. BUT ANYWAY, LONG STORY. YESTERDAY BY, UH, I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY GOOD FRIEND, UH, KENNETH, UM, WITH SALVATION ARMY. I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE'D BEEN WITH STAR OF HOPE, KENNETH EKINS. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AND, AND, UH, I CALL HER THREE DOG, CHRISTINE FOR THREE DOG. CHRISTINE IS GETTING ON A BUS TODAY TO GO TO DALLAS TO BE WITH HER DAUGHTER, TO LIVE WITH HER DAUGHTER. SHE'S TAKING ONE DOG WITH HER. THEY'RE ALL THREE SERVICE DOGS. ONE DOG WITH HER AND THE OTHER TWO, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, WORK TO GET THEM, UH, ADOPTED TO DON IS, DON IS ADAMANT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, SO WE'RE GONNA DO THIS. ALL THAT TO SAY, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE ABILITY TO BE ON THE STREET AND TALK TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND SAY, YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL THIS STUFF HERE, SHOULD STILL BE THERE. REMEMBER THE LADY IN THE TENT NEXT TO HER, LARRY, RIGHT? I HAVE CONTACT WITH HER, AND I BELIEVE AT SOME POINT SHE WILL GO INTO SHELTER AS WELL, TO, TO BE, BE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GOT TO BE RESCUED. THEY ARE ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PUT OUT ON THE STREET, THE 90-YEAR-OLD ON THE EAST END. I CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA TO GO AND TALK TO THAT 90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO HAS NO IDEA WHERE SHE IS, HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN THERE. [05:20:01] SHE'S EATING FILTHY, DIRTY FOOD THAT'S BEEN DISCARDED BY THOSE THAT HAVE FED OVER THE WEEKEND, THAT HAVE THROWN THEIR TRASH AWAY. THERE'S FILTH, THERE'S HUMAN WASTE, AND SHE'S EATING THE LEFTOVERS. THAT IS INHUMANE. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM TO HELP THESE PEOPLE, THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL DIE ON THE STREETS. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND. THE OTHER THING I WANNA ADD, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON A MISSION FOR THE PAST SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS, I GUESS, GOING ON NINE, 10 MONTHS NOW, IDENTIFYING SPACES. MM-HMM . WITH THE, WITH THE HELP OF PHILANTHROPY OUT THERE. WE HAVE, I CAN ASSURE YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED A TOTAL, WHETHER IT'S FOR REENTRY, WE'RE NOT SURE YET, BUT A TOTAL OF IMMEDIATE 800 BEDS. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. AND WE NEED THE, WE NEED THE RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, IT IS MY BELIEF, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT, I'M GONNA THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE, ALL TOTAL FOR ALL THREE OF 'EM, JUST TO STAND THEM UP, IS IT'S ABOUT A $50 MILLION DEAL. AND THEN PARTNER WITH MANY OF THE AGENCIES IN TOWN AND GET THE SERVICES WE NEED. THIS IS DOABLE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. MM-HMM . RIGHT? MM-HMM . I MET WITH H-I-S-D-A COUPLE DAYS AGO, AND I JUST WANNA THROW THIS NUMBER OUT AS WELL. I'VE ALWAYS HAD, MIKE, WE GO BACK LONG TIME AGO ON THIS CONVERSATION. THE, UH, THE PIT COUNT EVERY YEAR SHOWS A NUMBER. HISD CURRENTLY SHOWS THAT IN THE 20 24, 25 SCHOOL YEAR, THEIR ACCOUNT IS 6,360 HOMELESS STUDENTS. I ADD THIS ONLY TO SAY, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT, BY DEFINITION OF THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT, AS WE KNOW, IT DEFINES THEM AS NOT HAVING A PERMANENT PLACE, SLEEPING IN A CAR, SLEEPING IN A PARK, SLEEPING IN A, A WAREHOUSE, AN ABANDONED BUILDING, YOU KNOW, WITH A PARENT ON SOMEONE'S SOFA. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, THAT ARE HOMELESS, THAT WE'RE ALSO, AT SOME POINT, A LARGE PERCENTAGE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH TO PROVIDE HOUSING IF WE CAN SOLVE ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME. AND THE FIRST ARE THOSE WHO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES, IT WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE THROUGH FOR THOSE THAT CAN HELP THEMSELVES AND JUST NEED THAT HAND UP. THIS IS, THIS IS STEP ONE TO, TO REALLY, REALLY DIGGING IN DEEP TO THIS PROBLEM. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SPENT THE TIME AND THE ENERGY, BECAUSE CERTAINLY IT'S A PASSION OF MINE, AND I KNOW TOGETHER THIS CITY CAN END HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO, AND YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME, BECAUSE I KNOW, MIKE, YOUR PATIENCE WEARS THIN SOMETIMES. BUT THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, PARTICULARLY YOUR RESEARCH OF FINDING LOCATIONS. MM-HMM . LOCATIONS THAT YOU DISCOVERED THAT ARE WORKING TO USE. MAYOR, CAN I ADD THAT ON MAY 29TH, WHEN WE STARTED THE CHARTRES INITIATIVE, UM, IT WAS POURING RAIN AND IT WAS NOT COMFORTABLE. AND, UM, THE CONDITIONS WERE LESS THAN IDEAL. OBVIOUSLY, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WAS RIGHT THERE WITH US, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND SHE STAYED THE WHOLE TIME AS WE WERE GETTING PEOPLE OFFERING HELP, HOUSING AND ALL THOSE THINGS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS EFFORT. TRULY, UH, WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU CHIEF. UH, GOT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I GET THIS PHONE CALL AND I SAID, DON'T WORRY, I'M SAFE. I'VE GOT SOMEBODY WITH ME. I'M JUST TALKING TO THE FEEDERS ON THE STREETS TRYING TO CONNECT THEM TO SAY, LOOK, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GREAT, BUT THE TRASH THAT GO STAYS BEHIND THE 90-YEAR-OLD ON THE OTHER CORNER IS COMING ON, YOU KNOW, AND PICKING UP THE LEFTOVER FOOD. AND SO LARRY'S ALWAYS GETTING THE CALLS AND SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE? BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AFTER ME. YES, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING TO BOTH OF YOU. AND I TOO, WANNA ECHO MY APPRECIATION. UM, I DUNNO IF TWO MORE COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS TO BE LEADING THIS EFFORT, UH, I KNOW YOU BOTH EVEN GO OUT OF POCKET TO HELP WHEN YOU CAN. UM, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, UH, UNDER CHAPTER 40, UH, BASED ON MY REVIEW, IT DOESN'T SPECIFY WHAT LEVEL OF CITATION MM-HMM . THIS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS. DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? YES. IT'S JUST A, IT'S JUST A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR. UH, THE MAXIMUM FINE WOULD BE $500. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A CRIMINALIZATION OF THE HOMELESS. THIS IS USING EVERY TOOL WE CAN TO TRY TO HELP THEM. UM, IF, IF THE LAW IS PREVENTIVE OF US TRYING TO HELP THEM THEN, AND IT JUST IS, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW. [05:25:01] SO, UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, IF THEY DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, THEY TURN US DOWN IN THE HELP AND AT 11:00 PM THEY LAY DOWN, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. AND SO THIS IS JUST HELPING US SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. WE CARE ABOUT YOU. WE ARE GIVING YOU AN OFFER OF HELP. I WISH WE COULD GO THROUGHOUT THE CITY RIGHT NOW. I WISH WE COULD. WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE BEDS. LIKE MIKE SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE BEDS FOR THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET 'EM, THOSE THAT MIGHT BE HOUSING READY. A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT, AND THEY NEED, THEY NEED A TRANSITION. THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE PLACES BECAUSE WE NEED A PLACE TO GET THEM READY FOR HOUSING. RIGHT. THEY'RE JUST NOT THERE. SO, SO, BUT THAT'S THE THING IS THAT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A MINOR FINE. THEY WON'T PAY IT. UH, BUT IT MIGHT GIVE US ANOTHER TOOL FOR APPROACH. IT MIGHT EVEN GIVE US ANOTHER TOOL TO TAKE THEM ON A DIVERSION SPACE TO THE SOBERING CENTER SOMEPLACE ELSE. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WE SAY WE CALL IT A MINOR FINE, BUT $500 TO SOMEBODY THAT'S ALREADY LIVING ON THE STREET IS MAJOR. AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE SAYING, HEY, THIS IS A TOOL. HOWEVER, TALK ME THROUGH WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT INDIVIDUAL, OKAY, THEY REFUSE TO, TO MOVE. SO DO THEY GET A CITATION? ARE THEY ARRESTED? WHAT IS THE PROCESS? WALK ME THROUGH THAT INTERACTION WITH HPD. SO FIRST I WANNA BREAK DOWN THAT IT'S, IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A, YOU HA UNLESS THEY'RE TRESPASSING ON SOMEBODY'S PRIVATE PROPERTY, IF THEY'RE ON A SIDEWALK, UH, IT'S NOT A YOU HAVE TO MOVE. IT'S A, YOU CANNOT LIE DOWN OR SIT DOWN OR LIE AND DROP ALL YOUR BELONGINGS ON THE SIDEWALK. IT HAS, THEY CAN STAY THERE. EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO WALK ON THE PUBLIC SIDEWALK AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT INTERFERING WITH ANYBODY ELSE'S RIGHTS. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. SO IT'S NOT A, YOU HAVE TO MOVE, IT'S, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. YOU HAVE TO GET UP, YOU GOTTA PICK YOUR STUFF UP. YOU CAN'T DO THOSE THINGS. NOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY BASICALLY SAY, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THIS. I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO LIE HERE. I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO LEAVE MY STUFF HERE. I'M NOT GONNA OBEY ANY OF THE LAWS THAT THE CITY HAS ENACTED. AND THIS RIGHT NOW IS FROM 7:00 AM TO 11:00 PM WE CAN ENFORCE THAT. THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS, DECADE, AND YET YOU DON'T, THERE'S JUST NOT A BIG GRAB UP OF FOLKS. BUT WE CAN ISSUE THEM A CITATION AND WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY, UH, AND THEN DIVERT THEM. AND THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY USUALLY END UP GOING TO, UH, THE SOBERING CENTER. OR THEY COULD GO TO THE HARRIS CENTER, WHICH IS AT 61 60, WHERE THEY HAVE HELP. VERY FEW OF 'EM ACTUALLY GO TO THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER, THE JAIL, UH, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE THE SPACE THERE FOR THAT. IT'S REALLY NOT INTENDED THAT WAY, UNLESS THEY HAVE OTHER CHARGES. A LOT OF THEM HAVE OTHER WARRANTS, CHARGES THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEN THEY WILL END UP AT JOINT PRO AT THE JAIL. BUT FOR MOST OF THEM, IT IS, WE MIGHT TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY. AND THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW, SINCE WE STARTED, THIS IS 21. THAT'S HOW MANY ARRESTS, AND MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN, UH, THEY'VE BEEN VIOLATIONS, BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN OTHER, YOU KNOW, POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS, THINGS LIKE THAT. RIGHT. SO, SO I, I GUESS WHAT I WANNA CAUTION AND, AND, AND ASSURE MAYBE THAT'S A BETTER WORD, THIS IS NOT A CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR HOMELESS. NOT AT ALL. THIS IS USING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THEM TO ACCEPT OUR HELP, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THIS, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM ON THE STREETS. AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE KNOW HOW IT ENDS. RIGHT. AND YOU REFERRED TO, UM, THE SENATE BILL EXPANSION OR IMPROVEMENT. YES. UH, 1164. 64. THANK YOU. YES. THAT STANDING ALONE ALLOWS AN OFFICER OR A CITY OFFICIAL TO, UM, ADDRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S, UH, SCENARIO WITHOUT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. IS THAT CORRECT? SO IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY NOW THAT IS EATING HER EATING IN A VERY UNSANITARY WAY AND IS CLEARLY IN NEED OF HELP, THAT SENATE BILL WOULD ALLOW US TO ADDRESS THAT. SO, YES. NOT, YOU KNOW, IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I DID THIS A LONG TIME. YOU, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE. SOMEONE DIGGING THROUGH OUR GARBAGE CAN FOR FOOD IS, IS NOT THAT PERSON'S IN JEOPARDY. THAT PERSON'S IN, IN THERE, THERE'S A DIRE SITUATION OCCURRING THERE. SO THAT ALONE MIGHT WARRANT AN OFFICER OR A, A A, YOU KNOW, EMS FIRE, ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, PROFESSION TO APPROACH AND SAY, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? AND THEN OF COURSE, SUBSEQUENTLY FROM THAT, WE MIGHT DETERMINE THAT THEY, MAN, THIS PERSON MIGHT BE, HAVE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. THEY MIGHT BE PRESENTING THAT WAY. IF IT'S A ONE TIME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT THE, THE LAW WAS REALLY LOOKING AT BECAUSE THAT PERSON SADLY, MIGHT HAVE JUST FALLEN INTO HOMELESSNESS. THEY MAY HAVE OTHER ISSUES. THEY MAY HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. THERE MIGHT BE OTHER THINGS TO WORK ON WHEN WE'RE, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. AND, AND WHILE THE, THE LAW IS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH, IF THEY ARE IN DIRE STRAITS, WE COULD, WE COULD APPLY IT. BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT ARE THE, ARE THE ONES, LIKE WERE THE CASE THAT WE DESCRIBED AND THE ONE THAT COUNCILMAN RICARD DESCRIBED, THE ONES THAT WE KNOW, [05:30:01] I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE TO ARTICULATE AND JUSTIFY BEFORE A JUDGE CORRECT. FOR ANY KIND OF LONGER TERM COMMITMENT. AND THEY'RE NOT JUST PROBABLY GONNA ACCEPT A ONE OFF. THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO SEE THAT THIS PERSON HAS A HISTORY. AND CLEARLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. RIGHT. AND I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW WE DO THINGS IN HOUSTON IS DIFFERENT. AND I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT, AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THE WORK. RIGHT. STARTED IN 2011, WE ARE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED REDUCTIONS IN, UM, OUR UNHOUSED POPULATIONS. BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO. YES. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN THE WORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE. AND WHILE WHY Y'ALL ARE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THAT, WE MENTIONED METRO PD, THE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT. YES. WHEN I SAY IN HOUSTON, WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, RIGHT? MM-HMM . OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAMS ARE PARTNERED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS. THAT'S CORRECT. UH, WE HAVE OUR OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS WITHIN HPD, STATE OF THE ART, UH, INNOVATIVE POLICING THAT'S BASED ON COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. SO BEING, AGAIN, PARTNERED WITH CLINICIANS OR HAVING THAT IPAD TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH A CLINICIAN, IS EVERY OFFICER THAT'S GOING OUT OR EVERY TEAM AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND CITYWIDE, 'CAUSE LI RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, RIGHT. WILL EACH INDIVIDUAL BE EITHER TRAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH, UH, EXPERTISE OR INTERACTIONS, OR BE WILL CLINICIANS BE ON SITE DURING THOSE INTERACTIONS? 'CAUSE AGAIN, IF WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM METRO PD AND I, I RESPECT THEM. MM-HMM . UH, ARE, ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS, ARE NOW SERVING THERE, RIGHT? FROM HPD. YES, THEY ARE. UH, BUT CERTAIN LEVELS OF TRAINING MAY NOT TRANSLATE INTO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND JURISDICTIONS. DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M GETTING AT? SO WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE PLAN THERE? SO, YES, MA'AM. AND I UNDERSTAND. SO THERE'S REGULAR, IT STARTS WITH REGULAR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LEADERSHIP. UM, CHIEF 10, WHO'S NOW THE CHIEF OVER METRO IS FULLY 100% A PARTNER TO, UH, TO US. HE AND I TALK ALMOST EVERY DAY ON THIS. AND HE, THE, THE MEN AND WOMEN SIGNING UP AT METRO HAVE THIS TRAINING. THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TRAINING. SO YOU, IF YOU THINK ABOUT OUR HOT TEAM, UH, THAT ARE WORKING WITH CLINICIANS AND OUR CT TEAM, THEY PROBABLY HAVE MORE CLASSES AND MORE HOURS THAN, THAN OTHER OFFICERS. BUT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW GOES THROUGH T COLE MANDATED TRAINING ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH. AND THIS IS A REGULAR PART OF, OF THE RHYTHM OF THEIR TRAINING AND UPDATES AND ALL THOSE THINGS. SO EVERYBODY OUT THERE HAS HAD TRAINING, PROBABLY SOME WILL HAVE MORE THAN OTHERS, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR CAREER. THE, THAT'S WHY WE ALSO PROVIDE OPERATING, UH, PROCEDURES TO THEM, SOPS FOR HOW WE WANT THINGS TO BE DONE AND WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS. AND SO THERE'S A SUPERVISOR WITH EVERY SQUAD THAT I HAVE OUT THERE WORKING ON, ON THE INITIATIVE WE HAVE GOING, UH, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON I WANT TO SAY THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF, OF WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE GOING ON THAT I MENTIONED IN THE EVENING AND AT NIGHT. UH, OTHER TEAMS, HOT TEAMS AND EVERYONE ARE WORKING, BUT WE ALL KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MOST, THE, THE BEST CHANCE AT RESOLVING THIS PEACEFULLY, SAFELY, AND HUMANELY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SO THEY ALL HAVE THAT TRAINING. YES. AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THOUGH, IS IF, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY WHO, UM, IS IN MENTAL CRISIS, RIGHT? UH, HAS A UNSAFE INTERACTION WITH POLICE, AND THAT OFFICER IS PUT AT RISK MM-HMM . THAT IS A MAJOR OFFENSE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. AND THEN, UH, MIKE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ONCE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS ON THEIR RECORD, THEY'RE PROHIBITED AND PRECLUDED FROM HOUSING IN SUPPORTIVE SHELTER SERVICES. SO THEY NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IF THAT, UH, IF THEY HAVE THAT ON THEIR RECORD. OKAY. THE GOING TO THE LIMITED BEDS THAT WE HAVE FIRST, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE EXAMPLES AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, AND, YOU KNOW, GOING TO, I SAY CHARTERS, I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE SAY CHARTISTS, UM, THE 46 OF 68 RIGHT FROM CHARTERS, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER 22? SOME OF 'EM ARE STILL THERE. THEY JUST HAVE TO COMPLY. YOU KNOW, MEANING THAT THEY HAD TO GET UP AND THEY HAD TO PICK THEIR STUFF UP. UH, SOME OF THEM DO MOVE, UH, TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. THAT IS TRUE. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO AVOID DISPLACEMENT, BUT WE CAN'T CONTROL WHERE PEOPLE GO. UH, AND EVENTUALLY WE WILL GET THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE THAT THAT MIGHT THINK, WELL, I'LL JUST GO HERE AND DO IT. THEY MIGHT, ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT AS, AS YOU ALL GIVE US MORE SUPPORT AND PHILANTHROPY AND STATE AND FEDERAL AND ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE ARE LEANING INTO AS A TEAM, WE WILL GET THERE [05:35:01] TOO. EVENTUALLY. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT ANYWHERE. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE OFFERED THEM SOMETHING BETTER AND WE NEED THEM TO TAKE WHAT WE'RE OFFERING. AND MIKE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADEQUATE BED CAPACITY, SURE. BOTH OF YOU HAVE SAID WE DO NOT YET HAVE ADEQUATE BED CAPACITY. THE BEDS THAT WE DO HAVE, SOME ARE AT THE SOBERING CENTER, SOME ARE IN OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITIES. CORRECT. AND WE'RE TRYING TO STAND UP MORE, WHICH IS, AGAIN, I FULLY SUPPORT WITH THE BEDS THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THOSE ARE, SOME OF THOSE ARE SHELTER BEDS. CORRECT. IS THAT CORRECT? ARE THERE BARRIERS AT CERTAIN SHELTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, RESTRICTIONS? SO CAN YOU TAKE, THERE ARE CLEARLY BARRIERS AT CERTAIN, UH, AREAS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE FUND MORE BEDS TO FAITH-BASED GROUPS. PART OF THAT NEGOTIATION IS TO LOWER THOSE BARRIERS. SO WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT, AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF BEDS, THE ACCESS TO THOSE BEDS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SHELTERS, AND WE GIVE THEM OTHER CHOICES. UM, I WANT TO ADD ONE OTHER THING ON THIS, ON THIS ISSUE. I KNOW THIS, THERE IS GRAVE CONCERN ON THIS IS A CRIMINALIZATION ACTIVITY. THE OFFICERS DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYBODY TO THE JPC. THAT'S NOT EVEN IN THEIR INTEREST. I SAW THE NUMBER WAS A 1.4% ARREST. IT'S JUST NOT IN THEIR INTEREST. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SOME TOOLS TO HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE ON. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY WILL LOOK AT LARRY AND SAY, HEY, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THE LAW ALLOWS THEM TO SLEEP ON THE STREET. THIS IS A TOOL TO HELP PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS. AND I, I REALLY THINK WE HAVE TO SEE IT THAT WAY. AND THE END RESULT IS NOT GONNA BE A CRIMINALIZATION EXCEPT FOR A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT, UM, GOING BACK TO THE SHELTER BARRIERS THOUGH, BECAUSE MM-HMM . WITHOUT, UH, SECURITY PERSONNEL, I WOULD NOT WANT TO GO TO SOME OF THOSE SHELTERS. UM, THEY'RE NOT, SOME OF THEM, AND I'M NOT SPEAKING TO OUR GREAT PARTNERS, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MEN'S AREAS. UH, THERE ARE BARRIERS. WHEN I WAS DEALING WITH CHIEF, WE WORKED TOGETHER. THERE WERE FAMILIES THAT CAME INTO WEST GRADE DURING THE FREEZE WITH LITTLE CHILDREN. YES. THE FATHERS DID NOT WANT TO BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR KIDS. MM-HMM . FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T WANNA BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PETS OR FORCED TO RELINQUISH THEIR BELONGINGS, WHICH IS ALL THAT THEY OWN. UM, THERE'S ALSO, I BELIEVE SOME PROGRAMS, RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS OR NOT RESTRICTIONS, RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS. IS THAT CORRECT? SO IF YOU DO NOT ADHERE TO THAT PARTICULAR FAITH, YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO GO TO THOSE, UH, PROGRAMS AND CLASSES. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. BUT NOT AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER. CORRECT. AND NOT AT THE, UH, HISTORY RECOVERY CENTER AND NOT AT HARRIS HEALTH. AND HOW MANY BEDS, THOUGH, ARE AVAILABLE THERE, AND ARE WE INCLUDING IN OUR AVAILABILITY BEDS NUMBER BEYOND THAT? A AGAIN, WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE ADEQUATE BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE SHELTERS AND IN THE HOMELESS SYSTEM. HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. I WILL BE BACK TO YOU IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL BEDS AND SERVICES TO DO SOLVE A BIGGER PROBLEM. BUT FOR DOWNTOWN, WE FEEL LIKE THERE ARE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF BEDS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE TAKING THIS SMALLER PLACE, SMALLER TOUCH. AND AGAIN, A NUMBER OF YOU WISHES WISH THAT WE COULD GO TO YOUR DISTRICTS. WE CANNOT DO THAT YET. RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND. BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. UNDERSTAND. AND WHEN YOU COME BACK, I WOULD LIKE THOUGH A BREAKDOWN OF NUMBERS OF HOW MANY BEDS ARE AVAILABLE WITH RESTRICTIONS VERSUS NOT. BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SOME SHELTERS REQUIRE NO SUBSTANCE USE. SO SOMEONE'S NOT GONNA GO THERE VERSUS GETTING THEM INTO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT CAN HELP TREAT THEM AND GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT. THANK YOU. AND LASTLY, UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT, UH, BEFORE THIS SAYS, COME TO A VOTE, UH, UNDER CHAPTER 40 DASH 3 53 SUBSECTION, I, UH, WHENEVER WE HAVE, AS A COUNCIL, UH, APPROVED A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER THE CURRENT CIVILITY ORDINANCE, THIS SUBSECTION REQUIRES THAT HPD COME AND PRESENT, UM, CITY COUNCIL WITH EVIDENCE SUBSTANTIATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT A PARTICULAR AREA WITHIN THE CITY EXHIBITS A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENCE OF THE KINDS OF CONDUCT ADDRESSED BY THE ARTICLE AND MAKES THE FINDINGS REQUIRED UNDER, AND IT LISTS DIFFERENT SUBSECTIONS. SO I, I JUST WANNA POINT THAT OUT. MM-HMM . UM, BECAUSE FOR EVERY TIME THIS, THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE HAS COME, WE HAVE HAD THAT, UH, EVIDENTIARY PRESENTATION. I DON'T DOUBT THAT THE NUMBERS ARE THERE, BUT FROM A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE, I WANNA POINT THAT OUT AS WELL. THE NUMBERS ARE DEFINITELY THERE. WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS. THE DOWNTOWN AREA HAS, I THINK THE NUMBERS I SAW WERE FIVE OR SIX TIMES MORE INCIDENTS THAN ANY OTHER AREA. UNDERSTOOD. [05:40:01] COUNCIL MEMBER MURRAY, THE EARLIER YOUR PREMISE ON THE EARLIER IS, IS CORRECT. A LOT. SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS DO HAVE RULES, AND THEY HAVE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE ARE BARRIERS, UH, TO, TO THOSE BEDS AND OTHERS ARE FULL. THAT'S WHY WE SAY WE NEED MORE BEDS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE FULL OR HAVE BARRIERS, AND THEY CAN ONLY SERVE A VERY SPECIFIC POPULATION. ONE OF OUR MOST CHALLENGING POPULATIONS TO DEAL WITH ARE SINGLE MEN ON THE STREET. AND THAT'S WHY I, WE ASK THAT THAT SUPPORT, AS THE MAYOR LEADS ON THAT, YOU KNOW, TO GET, TO GET MORE FACILITIES, TO GET THOSE BEDS SO THAT WE CAN BRIDGE THEM TO SOMETHING BETTER. SO IT IS CORRECT. WE, WE, WE ARE WORKING, WE'RE ASKING ONLY FOR DOWNTOWN. AND, AND THE, AND THE IDO IS BECAUSE WE, WE WILL BE STRUGGLING FOR THOSE BEDS RIGHT NOW. AND WE CERTAINLY CAN'T EXPAND BEYOND THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S JUST, AGAIN, PUTTING MYSELF IN SOME OF THEM, THEIR POSITIONS, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE THAT THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. MM-HMM . AND WE'RE SAYING YOU EITHER NEED TO GO THERE IF OTHER BEDS ARE FULL MM-HMM . OR HERE'S YOUR CITATION. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. THEY WON'T, THEY DON'T WANNA GO TO CERTAIN PLACES. THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. RIGHT. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. YOU MENTIONED FAMILIES AND, UH, AND I WILL SAY IT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT, BUT THERE'S OVER $3 MILLION IN DIVERSION FUNDING IN THE IN STREET HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM THAT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT AND IS ALWAYS USEFUL FOR FAMILIES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE HAD, HAVEN'T HAD SINCE THE END OF THE COVID MONEY. RIGHT. AND THAT'S TERRIFIC. AND LOOK, WE, WE'VE FUNDED, WE USE SOME OF OUR CITY DOLLARS RIGHT. TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER. THAT'S RIGHT. UM, A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION ARE, UH, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. BUT THOSE BEDS FILLED UP IMMEDIATELY. UH, SO I, I, I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU. I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT EVERYTHING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. I JUST HAVE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE WITH SOME OF THIS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BEDS THAT ARE NEEDED WITHOUT BARRIERS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, CHIEF SAND WHITE, AND DIRECTOR NICHOLS. JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, THE PRESENTATION TODAY, UM, AS A DOWNTOWN COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE EAST DOWNTOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, THE CALLS THAT WE RECEIVED AS A STAFFER THAT WE RECEIVED AT THE BEACON, HISTORICALLY LONG CHARGES, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING GOOD WORK FOR OVER A DECADE ON HOUSING NOW AT A POINT WHERE THE HARDEST TO HOUSE HAS BEEN THE CONVERSATION MM-HMM . FOR AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS MM-HMM . UM, I THINK, I THINK THIS IS A, A, A GREAT COMPASSIONATE WAY TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THESE, THESE, UH, THESE CHALLENGES. UM, THIS RECENT FREEZE, I HAD TWO FOLKS THAT, THAT, UH, PASSED AWAY, THAT STAYED OUT. UM, THEY WERE ENGAGED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO FIND SHELTER. WE HAD SHELTER. UM, BUT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE, WHETHER IT WAS MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UM, THEY JUST WEREN'T AT A CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YES, LET ME GET OFF OF THE STREETS. AND SO, UM, I, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THIS. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AS WELL. UH, I WANNA SAY THAT PUBLICLY. UM, I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE, THE MOST, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL THING TO SAY, 'CAUSE YOU FOLKS DON'T LIKE THIS FOR, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. BUT I THINK THE, THE MANNER OF WHICH Y'ALL ARE MOVING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT. SO THE CONVERSATION YOU JUST HAD, UH, CLARIFYING A LOT OF THE, THE, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MISINFORMATION OR, OR INFORMATION THAT FOLKS MIGHT PRESUME TO BE HAPPENING, THIS IS NOT CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS. UH, THIS IS REALLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO, UH, NOW REACH THE HARDEST TO HOUSE. UM, QUICK QUESTION. UH, THIS CIVILITY, UH, ORDINANCE THAT, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, IT DOESN'T CREATE A NEW BOUNDARY, RIGHT? WE'RE JUST ADDRESSING ALREADY EXISTING AND RIGHT NOW DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN. YES, SIR. IT'S, IT'S, AND IT'S, YEAH. THERE'S NO EXPANSION OF, OF THE BOUNDARY. NO, SIR. AND THEN UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, I THINK OVER YEARS, UH, WE'VE ALWAYS, UH, IDENTIFIED, UH, UNHOUSED HOMELESSNESS WITH JUST DOWNTOWN FOR THE MOST PART, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY WOULD COME AND CONGREGATE. I THINK I'VE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE NOW STARTED SEEING UNHOUSED FOLKS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. UM, AS YOU, YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT THESE LOW BARRIER SHELTERS, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO, UH, NOT CONCENTRATING THOSE LOW BARRIER SHELTERS. UM, THE HISTORICALLY, AND I'VE HEARD THIS FROM PREDECESSORS, GOING BACK TO JOHN CASTILLO, UH, YOU KNOW, CAROL ALVARADO, JAMES RODRIGUEZ, THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GOING TO THE EAST END. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE IDENTIFY THESE LOCATIONS, UM, STRATEGICALLY ACROSS THE CITY. MM-HMM . SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT, TO YOUR POINT, DISPLACING RIGHT. UH, THEM FROM WHERE THEY'RE AT OR WHAT THEY KNOW AS WELL. AND SO, UM, I JUST, I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, JUST THANK, THANK YOU BOTH. UH, THANK THE TEAMS, UH, THE, OF COURSE, UH, COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. UH, I'VE PARTICIPATED, PARTICIPATED IN THE PIT COUNT SEVERAL TIMES. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. UM, AND IT REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, [05:45:01] ONE OR TWO, UM, IMPORTANT. WHETHER IT'S A DOCUMENT, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A JOB, I JUST NEED TO, YOU KNOW, FIND SOMEWHERE TO STAY FOR A BIT AND THEN GET ON MY FEET. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. AND SO, UM, FOCUSING NOW ON THOSE HARDEST TO HOUSE IS, IT'S IMPORTANT. I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE WORK THAT, THAT HE'S BEEN DOING AS WELL. UM, AND JUST, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR EVERYONE. AND SO MM-HMM . UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. UM, AND HOWEVER I COULD BE OF HELP SERVICE, UH, AGAIN, DOWNTOWN EAST DOWNTOWN IS, IS IN DISTRICT I, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE WITH YOU ON THIS AS WELL. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS EXPANSION. UH, UH, I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT, MIKE. THE REASON IT'S NOT EXPANDED TO OTHER AREAS IS 'CAUSE THE LIMITATION OF BEDS. I HAVE HEARD FROM MIDTOWN BUSINESSES, UM, THAT ARE READING ABOUT IT AND ARE CONCERNED, WE'RE GONNA PUSH TO MIDTOWN. UM, SO, UH, DO YOU HAVE A KIND OF, I KNOW YOUR NEGOTIATIONS, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ARD FOR YOUR WORK ON FINDING BEDS, BUT, UM, SOME KIND OF TIMELINE ON WHEN PERHAPS THAT COULD, IF, IF THIS COUNCIL DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO GO TO MIDTOWN AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY COUNCIL AREA THAT'S NEAR DOWNTOWN. YOU'VE GOT EAST END HERE, YOU'VE GOT MIDTOWN, THERE'S, THERE'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM ON THE WEST END. SO YOU'RE JUST MIDTOWNS THE ONE THAT'S KIND OF LEFT OUT. TWO THINGS. ONE IS, WE WILL FEEL LIKE WE HAVE FAILED IF WE JUST MOVE PEOPLE AROUND. RIGHT? SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT. SECONDLY, UH, IF YOU LOOK TOWARD THE MAYOR, HIS EXPECTATIONS AS I HAVE IT DONE TOMORROW, UM, AND THAT, THAT'S EVERY WEEKEND, HE ASKED ME, IS IT DONE? DO WE HAVE THE EXTRA BEDS? SO WE'RE UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE. AND IN FACT, RIGHT AFTER THIS MEETING, WE'LL BEGIN HAVING A CONVERSATION TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE THAT FASTER. BUT I DO NOT HAVE A TIMELINE, BUT THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT VERY QUICKLY. AND, AND I KNOW WE PASSED RECENTLY SOMETHING WITH CAREER AND RESOURCE RECOVERY. UM, THEY'RE DEFINITELY PART OF THIS. I, I MEAN, GIVING, I MEAN, FOR SURE, FOR SURE. GIVING SOMEONE A BED IS, IS WHAT WE NEED IMMEDIATELY. BUT ALSO, UH, SOME KIND OF WORK SO THEY CAN HAVE SOME MONEY, AND THEY'RE GOOD AT THAT. SO I HOPE THEY'RE ALL PLUGGED INTO THIS PLAN. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THIS IDEA OF THESE ARE TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS. BECAUSE IF, IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO WORK, IF THEY'RE NOT DISABLED, IF THEY'RE NOT AGING, THEN THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO FIND JOBS AND WORK. AND THAT'S WHERE CAREER RECOVERY, SALVATION ARMY, A NUMBER OF AGENCIES ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND. OKAY. THAT'S THE REASON THIS WORKS SO WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE GONNA REALLY BE IMPRESSED WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PRESIDENTIAL BEDS. I MEAN, LIKE, WALK IN, I WISH I COULD SHARE, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING AND WE'RE GETTING THE SUPPORT OF THE FOUNDATIONS. AND JUST GET READY. . THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I KNOW WHEN WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IN THE PAST, AND ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO EXPANDING IT, UM, THERE WERE ALWAYS QUESTIONS REGARDING, UH, OUR FIRST AMENDMENT CHALLENGE. RIGHT? AND THAT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE COULD CURRENTLY GO FORWARD WITH IT IS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE NARROWLY TAILORED WITH THIS EXPANSION. UH, AND MAYBE THIS IS A, A QUESTION FOR THE CITY, CITY ATTORNEY, ARE WE FACING, OR ARE WE, UH, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD FOR SOME TYPE OF FIRST AMENDMENT CHALLENGE? AND WHY WAS THAT SUCH A ISSUE IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EXPANSION THAT WE'RE NOT, NOT DEALING WITH AT THE MOMENT? UH, TO ME THIS SEEMS TO BE A, A DIFFERENT ISSUE. THE, THE CASE THAT WAS DECIDED IN THE FIRST MONTH, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER CAME ON WAS A CENTRAL LIBRARY FEEDING, AND IT WAS THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE FEEDING THAT WAS AT ISSUE THERE. THE COURT ISSUED A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION. THE TRIAL IS SET FOR, UM, THIS FALL. BUT THERE, WHAT I THINK CONCERNED THE COURT IS WHY, UH, THE CITY TWO ADMINISTRATIONS AGO HAD NINE FEEDING LOCATIONS, AND THEN IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION CAME DOWN TO ONE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COURT FOCUSED ON, AND THAT'S WHY IT GRANTED TEMPORARY RELIEF. BUT, UH, THIS IS, I THINK, LESS, UH, A LEGAL OBSTACLE AND MORE AN OPERATIONAL ISSUES AS YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE TWO GENTLEMEN AT THE, AT THE PODIUM. OKAY. AND, UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN HAD SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A PRACTICAL SENSE, IF AN INDIVIDUAL AFTER 11:00 PM DOESN'T WANT TO GET UP AND MOVE, I THINK THE, THE ONLY TWO OPTIONS WOULD BE, OKAY, WE'LL HAVE THE DISCRETION JUST TO LET 'EM GO. ANOTHER WOULD BE TO WRITE THEM A CITATION FOR UP TO $500, OR IN THE MOST [05:50:01] EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE, A POSSIBLE ARREST. RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO, UM, WITHOUT THIS ORDINANCE CURRENTLY, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROTOCOL? WELL, I MEAN, IT'S THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WITHOUT THE CHANGE, WITHOUT THE CHANGE AS, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, AT 11 O'CLOCK, THEY CAN LAY DOWN, DROP THEIR STUFF, GO TO SLEEP, NOTHING WE CAN DO. SO THAT'S, THAT IS WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW, WHICH HAS BEEN, BEEN THE LAW, THIS MUNICIPAL LAW HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SOME TIME. I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS THOUGHT. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY HAVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKING YOU THESE QUESTIONS. UH, WAS THIS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, ONEROUS OR PRECEDENT? IT'S NOT. THE FOCUS REALLY, AGAIN, IS, AND WHY WE'RE MOVING SO STRATEGICALLY IS 'CAUSE WE DON'T, WHEN WE ARE, WHEN WE ARE SAYING, HEY, LOOK, UH, YOU NEED HELP, YOU KNOW, WE CAN OFFER YOUR HELP AND THOSE OTHER THINGS, UH, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THIS. WE WANT TO GO INTO EVERY SITUATION WITH THAT OFFER OF HELP. AND WHEN I DON'T HAVE A BED TO OFFER THEM NOW, IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE. SO WE ARE BEING VERY CAREFUL, UH, TO REALLY FOCUS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHEN WE HAVE A BED TO OFFER FOR THE AREAS THAT WE'RE WORK IN AND THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. SO I THINK THE CONCERN IS GOING TO BE, WELL, I MEAN, IF WE DON'T MAKE THIS CHANGE RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN LEGALLY DO IT. BUT IF WE MAKE THIS CHANGE, NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY, WELL, YOU STILL CAN'T DO THIS. AND SO THEN MAYBE THAT'S SAY, WELL, THEN I GUESS I WILL GO WITH YOU. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A BETTER PATH FOR THEM, A BETTER CHANCE, A CHANCE FOR THEM. SO IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, THEN WE ARE KIND OF GOING WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN ALWAYS BEEN DOING. AND WHILE SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE, NOT, NOT REALLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL CARTER, UM, AS WELL. SO, A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. UM, WHERE ARE WE WITH USING OUR, UM, OUR MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAMS WITH SITUATIONS WHERE THE HOMELESS HAVE SOME MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES? ARE WE, ARE WE UTILIZING, I THINK WE'VE GOT 12 TEAMS NOW. ARE WE UTILIZING THEM AT ALL? YES. SO, UH, YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS MM-HMM . THAT ARE GOING OUT? YES, SIR. SO, MCO NOT SIR, THERE'S OTT, THEY STILL HAVE PRESENCE AT OUR HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER AT OUR 9 1 1. AND, AND THEY STILL WILL DEPLOY TO THOSE SCENES THAT DON'T REQUIRE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. UH, THAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF, OF KIND OF A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IMMEDIATELY BE, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S HAPPENING. I WAS ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT REMAINS TO BE THE PROCESS. YOU HAVE MCO T YOU HAVE OUR CERT, OUR CRISIS, UH, TEAMS THAT HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONG PAIRED WITH THE CLINICIAN, AND THOSE TEAMS ARE OUT THERE. UH, YOU HAVE OUR HOT, ALL, ALL THOSE TEAMS ARE STILL DOING THE, THE GOOD WORK. UH, SO I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU TODAY. I COULD GET YOU THOSE NUMBERS PROBABLY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR ENGAGEMENT IS ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, AND CUMULATIVELY SPEAKING, IF THAT, IF THAT WILL HELP. SO MORE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION, I MEAN, WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU ALL ARE COMING TO A SITUATION TO WHERE MM-HMM . YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT'S HAVING A TRUE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND YOU KNOW, THE REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT MOVING, UM, IS BECAUSE OF THAT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO ENGAGE? AND I MEAN, I KNOW THAT AS, AS SOON AS WE KIND OF CREATED OUR OTT OR EXPAND THE OTT INSERT, UM, THE COUNTY DID AS WELL. SO THEY'VE GOT THEIR, UM MM-HMM . HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAMS. ARE WE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM? IS THERE ANY WAY, AND THIS IS KINDA A, AN ONGOING QUESTION, BUT COULD WE CONSIDER UTILIZING ALL OF THOSE TEAMS COLLECTIVELY WHEN IT'S A SITUATION TO WHERE WE HAVE SOMEONE HOMELESS THAT'S HAVING A CHALLENGE? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, TO EVERYONE'S POINT, WE DON'T WANT THEM ENDING UP IN JAIL. SURE. AND, AND WE CAN, AND, UM, THEY DO, THESE ARE TRAINED OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN, THEY'RE, WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON OUR INITIATIVE IS A LOT OF TIMES WHAT THEY'RE DOING EVERY DAY ANYWAY. UH, SO YEAH, WHEN THEY RUN INTO A SITUATION THAT MIGHT CALL FOR AN OCT TEAM, THEY CAN CALL FOR THAT. OKAY. THEY CAN DO THAT. NOW, I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS. UH, USUALLY THESE OFFICERS AND ARE, ARE, AND, AND DEPUTIES ARE WELL-TRAINED, AND THEY'RE JUST DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGE AS IT STANDS RIGHT THERE, HOW TO RESOLVE IT. MAYBE THEY NEED THAT OCT TEAM. MAYBE THEY NEED A CERT TEAM IF IT'S BECOMING A VOLATILE SITUATION, UH, A SUPERVISOR OR SOMEBODY ELSE, OR THEY'RE MANAGING IT RIGHT THERE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT TRAINING TO DO SO. OKAY. SO I, I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EVERYBODY'S ON BOARD AND EVERYBODY CAN BE CALLED ON TO HELP. SO IN THAT SENSE, IT'S COLLECTIVELY, EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOGETHER. AND I THINK WHAT I, I GUESS, I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS I KNOW THAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MORE OF A COLLABORATION WITH HEART OTT CERT, JUST TO ENSURE THAT, I MEAN, WE, WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY CAN IF THEY NEED TO, BUT, UM, I DO BELIEVE OFTENTIMES HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF SOMEONE THAT'S BIT MORE CERTIFIED HAS MORE EXPERIENCE MM-HMM . UM, IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION WOULD BE HELPFUL. SURE. UH, BUT WE COULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION LATER. BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE [05:55:01] WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING LEVELS THAT WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, DOING THAT, THAT COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY WOULD BE IMPORTANT. THE OTHER PIECE IS, UM, I HAVE VISITED SOME EVICTION COURTS. WHERE ARE WE WORKING WITH ANY OF THE, THE JUDGES, UM, WITH THEIR EVICTION COURTS? 'CAUSE OFTENTIMES THOSE FOLKS IN THE POEMS AS WELL, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING TO GIVE EDUCATION TO THE JUDGES OR THE COURTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE? UH, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH WITHIN THE SYSTEM, WITH THE, UH, THE BEACONS LEGAL TEAM AND OTHER LEGAL TEAMS WHO WORK WITH THAT. UH, I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS A MAJOR EFFORT ON, UM, WORKING ON EVICTIONS. IT IS, IT IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS. AND, AND, UH, AS YOU, AS YOU WORK THROUGH THIS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THAT IS CLEARLY ONE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON. OKAY. THAT'S WONDERFUL. AND THEN THE, THE, UM, I GUESS THE LAST PIECE IS, UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WE HAVE ENOUGH, UM, LOW BARRIER BEDS FOR THE EXPANSION THAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT. I FEEL VERY, THAT YES, THAT IS, THAT IS ACCURATE. OKAY. FOR THIS EXPANSION. OKAY. FOR THIS PARTICULAR EXPANSION. EXACTLY. AND, UM, AND THEN THE LAST PIECE IS OFTENTIMES WE MAY GIVE, UM, THESE, THESE FOLKS, WE MAY GIVE THEM INITIAL HEALTHCARE SUPPORT, RIGHT? SO MENTAL HEALTH OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, HAVE WE LOOKED AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT MORE LONG TERM? SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY HAS, UM, THE COUNTY HAS A GOLD CARD SYSTEM. YOU CAN'T GET A GOLD CARD. YOU CAN'T EVEN GET SSI IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS MOVING FORWARD. COULD WE FIGURE OUT A WAY AS THEY'RE IN THESE KIND OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SITUATIONS TO WHERE WE CAN GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL, MORE LONG-TERM HEALTHCARE OPTIONS, UM, BY HAVING SOME LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, PERMANENT ADDRESS. THAT'S CLEARLY WHAT THE SERVICE PROVIDERS DO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES. THAT IS NUMBER TWO. NUMBER ONE IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ADEQUATE FOOD. AND NUMBER TWO IS BEGINNING THIS PROCESS TOWARD WORK OR INCOME. AND THAT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THESE, ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE JUDGE WHEN WE LOOK AT MEASURABLE RESULTS ARE, ARE THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS MOVING FORWARD TOWARD INCOME, UH, INDEPENDENCE. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. AND I THINK THAT, AND THAT WOULD BE SSDI OR HEALTHCARE IS CORRECT. EXACTLY. BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL, THEY COULD PROBABLY ALL COULD QUALIFY, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS, THEN YOU CAN'T EVEN MAKE THE APPLICATION. UM, OKAY. I THINK THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONCE AGAIN, COUNCILOR DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, I RECALL EARLY ON, WE HAD SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME BEFORE COUNCIL WITH THIS ISSUE. UH, PARTICULARLY I REMEMBER DISTRICT D OUR RESIDENTS HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AND, UM, OF COURSE, MAYOR, I KNOW THAT THE OBJECTIVE IS, IS THAT WE PROVIDE BEDS AND FACILITIES FOR OTHER DISTRICTS, NOT JUST SEXUALLY DOWNTOWN. WE KNOW THE ISSUE AROUND DOWNTOWN, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO, IN MY MIND, MANY OF THE TOWN HALLS THAT WE DO, THERE ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, THE HOMELESS. NOW, THOSE OF US WHO DRIVE AROUND HOUSTON CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE MORE ENCOMPASSED WITH THIS ISSUE THAN OTHERS. YOU DON'T SEE IT AS MUCH IN THE GALLERIA AS YOU DO. YOU SEE IT IN SOUTHEAST OR NORTHEAST OR SOME OTHER PLACES. AND THAT IS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS, BECAUSE WE ARE GRATEFUL IN HOUSTON THAT WE HAVE A NATIONAL RECORD OF HAVING THE BEST RECORD IN THE NATION FOR DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS. AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. BUT CERTAINLY WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A BANDAID ON A SHOTGUN WOUND. AND, AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE, UM, ONE IS THAT TOMORROW, AS YOU KNOW, UM, LARRY, THAT WE'VE ASKED YOU TO COME BEFORE THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD. YES, SIR. THERE ARE A LOT OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WILLING TO SUPPLY THESE TYPE OF AREAS. WE HAVE TO TAP EVERY RESOURCE, UH, THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. AND THAT GROUP IS READY TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE LAID THAT OUT. SECONDLY, THE ISSUE AROUND, UM, FAITH-BASED, NOT ALL FAITH BASES HAVE FAITH STIPULATIONS. THE CASE MANAGER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING THOSE PERSONS NAVIGATING THE SIZE WHERE THEY, THEY FITS THEIR NEEDS AND SO FORTH. SO THAT, THAT, THAT RIGHT THERE IS NOT IN, IN A, IN ANY WAY, AN ISSUE. SECONDLY, THE THIRD THING IS, UH, ABOUT THE PLACES, UH, THE LOCATIONS, THE BEDS, AND THEN CERTAINLY DOLLARS. SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S STEPPED UP. AS YOU KNOW, I TALKED WITH YOU, LARRY, AND WILL, UH, MIKE, THAT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO [06:00:01] DO A FUNDRAISER, A DOLLAR ASK, IT'S EASY FOR US TO PUNCH AND ASK THIS AND THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO STEP UP. AND I THINK IT'S AN OVERALL EFFORT BY ALL OF US AROUND THE HORSESHOE THANKING YOU, MAYOR, FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE, BECAUSE THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. IT'S A BIG PROJECT. AND IF WE ALL WANT TO LIVE WITH THE, WITH THE REPUTATION OF SUPPORTING HOMELESSNESS, THEN I THINK ALL OF US HAVE TO STEP UP AND, AND, AND GO AFTER MONIES DOLLARS. UH, AND AS I SAID, ONE PHILANTHROPIST CONTACTED ME IN ORDER TO COME WITH THE MONEY, AND I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO IN. BUT WE ALL NEED TO PUT OUR EFFORTS UP FRONT TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE HOUSTON STATE THE BEST CITY, UH, IN AMERICA IN REGARD TO DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS. IT'S A, UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT IT IS A INDIVIDUAL ISSUE. WE TALKED ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE NEEDS, BUT IT IS A SYSTEMS ISSUE. AND THE DOLLARS THAT ARE SPENT BY WE, THE TAXPAYERS AND, AND, UH, AT HARRIS HEALTH, AND YOU AS A, AS A PATIENT AT THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER ON THESE INDIVIDUALS DO NOT HAVE TO BE SPENT YEAH. IF THEY WERE HOUSED. YEAH. UH, THAT, AND THAT GOES THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. SO YES, WE HAVE, WE THERE, THERE'S ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE TO THIS FOR EVERYONE AND THIS INDIVIDUAL ADVANTAGE. YEAH. WE, AND WE WERE AT, WHEN YOU WAS ON THE LAST PANEL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN, AND I WAS ATTENDING, I THINK IT WAS THE BAUMONT LUNCH MM-HMM . AND WHICH WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IN SITUATIONS. SO, UH, IT'S AN EFFORT FOR EVERYBODY. I, I, I THINK, I JUST DON'T WANT US TO LOOK LIKE WE PUNCHING, YOU KNOW, ISSUES AROUND CERTAIN THINGS. IT'S A COMPASSIONATE, BUT YET IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE A SOLUTION TO IT, RATHER THAN JUST TALKING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T EASY. THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER HERE. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER ALSO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. UM, MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE TIMELINE THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN ASKED, AND I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THE NEED FOR A TIMELINE, UM, FOR, FOR THIS TO COME TO THE REST OF THE CITY. WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK, UM, IN HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN DISTRICT A AND I KNOW CITYWIDE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE AS WELL. UM, SO WE EVEN HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS TO ONE OF OUR PARKS AND THE COMMENTS THAT WE WERE RECEIVED LEADING UP TO THE MEETING WHERE EMAILS, UM, SAYING, WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SPEND MONEY ON THIS WHEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, WE CAN'T EVEN USE THE PARK. SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE DO WANT TO SEE THIS CHANGE, YOU KNOW, COMING TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON ONE AREA UNTIL WE CAN EXPAND. UM, BUT AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THAT TIMELINE FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. GOT IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, CHIEF AND DIRECTOR FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, FOR ALL THE TIME YOU'VE PUT IN ON IT. UM, I KNOW, UH, I RECEIVED SOME, SOME, UM, UH, UM, NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE VIA EMAIL, AND WE DO HEAR FROM TIME TO TIME FROM FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. SO I WANT I WANTED TO ASK, UH, ABOUT A COUPLE OF TOPICS. ONE IS, I, I KNOW WHEN, WHEN WE, UM, ESTABLISH AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FOR FINDING PEOPLE AND POSSIBLY ARRESTING PEOPLE, WE ALWAYS THINK OF THE WORST CASE, VERY WORST CASE SCENARIO. UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, RAISED THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED? I'D LIKE TO KNOW, DOES, DOES THE, DOES HPD CURRENTLY HAVE A POLICY SETTING OUT THE PROCEDURES AN OFFICER WILL GO THROUGH WHEN HE ENCOUNTERS A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS IN THE TWO AREAS THAT WILL BE COVERED BY THIS ORDINANCE? YES, SIR. YES, SIR. AND, AND THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WORK ON THIS INITIATIVE DO TOO. OKAY. AND, AND SO CAN YOU BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THAT, THAT POLICY THAT HPD HAS? SO IT'S, SO THE, THE, RIGHT NOW, THE ADDITIONAL OFFER OF A SHELTER BED OR A, A BED, UM, HAS, HAS, IS WHAT OUR SQUADS HAVE BEEN DOING. AND PRIOR TO THAT, NOT HAVING THAT, THEY WERE PROBABLY JUST A, APPROACHING THEM AND OFFERING, ASKING IF THEY NEED ANY HELP, BUT THEN ADVISING THEM OF THE LAW. AND USUALLY IT COMES WITH A WARNING. FIRST YOU GIVE, TELL 'EM YOU CAN'T DO THIS, AND ALL SORTS WITH A WARNING AND OFFER, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN EVENTUALLY WHEN THEY JUST REFUSE, THEN YOU GO TO ENFORCEMENT, WHICH HISTORICALLY, IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN A CITATION, UM, UH, TO THEM. AND WE STILL CAN DO THAT. WE STILL HAVE ISSUED CITATIONS. WE STILL, LIKE I SAID, HAVE MADE ARREST. UM, BUT NOW THE ADDITIONAL OFFER, UH, WHEN WE'RE ENGAGING THAT, NOW I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR. THIS IS, WE'RE WORKING THESE AREAS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY GET CALLED TO SOMEBODY THAT IS POTENTIALLY HOMELESS AND, AND ENGAGED [06:05:01] IN ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR. AND THE OFFICER WILL ARRIVE AND, AND INVESTIGATE AND DO AN ACT ACCORDINGLY. AND IT'S USUALLY, IF IT'S JUST THAT THEY'RE TRESPASSING ON SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY, YOU'RE TRESPASSING ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. AND, AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION. THAT IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SPECIFICALLY THE ACT OF LYING DOWN OR SITTING DOWN OR LEAVING YOUR PROPERTY ON A SIDEWALK ON PUBLIC SIDEWALK, UH, DURING PROHIBITIVE HOURS. AND IN THAT REGARD, THE FIRST APPROACH IS OFFERS OF HELP. THE SECOND IS, OKAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT OUR HELP, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THIS. AND AS LONG AS THEY COMPLY, AND MOST OF THEM DO, WE'VE HAD OVER 1500 ENGAGEMENTS SINCE WE STARTED OUR INITIATIVE. OKAY. SO THEY'RE OPTIONS SHORT OF CITATION AND ARREST THAT THE OFFICERS DIRECTED BY POLICY TO GO THROUGH? YEAH. THE FIRST, THE FIRST THING IS ALWAYS A WARNING. IT'S NOT IMMEDIATE TO ENFORCEMENT. NOW, IF THEY'RE RETURNING TO THE SAME INDIVIDUAL OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THEY'VE HAD MANY WARNINGS. THEY MAY GET A CITATION OR IT MAY ESCALATE TO AN ARREST IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON. BUT IT, FOR THOSE FIRST ENCOUNTERS, AND PROBABLY THE SECOND, BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY A DIFFERENT OFFICER, IT STARTS WITH A WARNING, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. AND THEN IT MIGHT ESCALATE FROM THERE. ALRIGHT. AND SO, SO IF IT GETS TO THE POINT WHEN AN OFFICER DECIDES TO ISSUE A CITATION, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY NECESSARILY HAVE TO ARREST HIM? NO. IT MIGHT JUST ISSUE A CITATION. MOST OF THE TIME IT'S JUST A CITATION. SO A CITATION DIRECTS THEM TO SHOW UP IN MUNICIPAL COURT. RIGHT. IT WILL PROBABLY TURN INTO A WARRANT. YOU'RE RIGHT. UM, AND I ASSUME THAT AT, AT MUNICIPAL COURT, WE HAVE PROBABLY SOME DIVERSION PROGRAMS OR SOME, UH, UH, PROGRAMS DE UH, DESIGNED TO HELP, UH, OR HOMELESS IF THEY END UP WITH A CITATION. I DON'T KNOW, CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT OR NOT. WHAT DO THINK ON DIVER, WHY DO WE EVEN ISSUE SURE. THEY DO. THE, THE JUDGE AND THE CITY ATTORNEYS NEGOTIATE A DISMISSAL, A DIVERSION, AND A, AT THE WORST CASE, A PAYMENT PLAN. WE, WE DON'T, WE DON'T CHARGE PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE ZERO MONEY. NO, NO. I, I UNDERSTAND. BUT, BUT THE, THE, AND, AND I AGREE WITH THAT. THE, THE POINT I'M GETTING IS THAT, UH, EVEN IF YOU END UP WITH A CITATION, HAVE TO GO TO COURT, UH, WE MAY HAVE SPECIAL PROGRAMS MM-HMM . UH, DESIGNED TO HELP THE HOMELESS, UH, IF THEY END UP IN THAT SITUATION IS, DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? YES. UH, YOU CAN CLEARLY HAVE SPECIAL PROGRAMS. IN FACT, THE OBLIGATIONS OF MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTORS IS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE, NOT NECESSARILY TO PURSUE THE PROSECUTION WITH A CITATION. RIGHT. AND, AND IF THEY DON'T EXIST, THEN WE AS A COUNSEL MIGHT CREATE ONE, UH, TO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY TO HELP THE HOMELESS. BUT, BUT THE POINT IS, WE DON'T HAVE TO DEFENDER, WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND THEM TO COURT AND FINE 'EM $500. THAT THAT IS PROBABLY, UH, NOT GONNA HAPPEN. MAYBE NEVER HAPPEN. UH, I MEAN, WHO GETS THE MAXIMUM FINE IN MUNICIPAL COURT? NO ONE. YEAH. SO, UH, ANYWAY, UH, THAT, THAT'S THE POINT THAT, UM, HOPEFULLY SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE WILL BE CITED AND THEN GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE ARE, UH, RARE OR NON-EXISTENT. BUT LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A DIFFERENT SITUATION. AND, AND YOU, YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS, UH, CHIEF THAT, UM, SLEEPING OUT ON THE STREETS DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS, DOWNTOWN OR EAST SIDE, UM, LEAVES THE HOMELESS VULNERABLE. YES, SIR. UM, THEY COULD BE VICTIMS OF CRIME. THEY ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME. IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRIMES YOU'VE SEEN THE HOMELESS SLEEPING OUT ON THE STREETS FALL VICTIM TO? WE HAVE SEEN, UM, THINGS FROM, FROM MINOR ASSAULT, UH, AND THEFT ALL THE WAY TO ROBBERY, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MURDER. ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN ON OUR STREETS AND A LOT OF, AND THEY DO HAPPEN TO OUR HOMELESS. WOULD, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT, THAT HPD CANNOT PROTECT THOSE FOLKS WHO, WHO SLEEP OUT ON THE STREETS, WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO OR THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TO MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO? YES, SIR. IHPD AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT, BUT THE CITY IS SO VAST AND LIMITED RESOURCES, WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE. WE CAN'T COVER EVERYTHING. AND SO, YES, WHEN WE ALLOW THIS, WE'RE IN AN AREA THAT WE CAN'T SIMPLY COVER BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE. THAT PERSON IS VULNERABLE. AND, AND THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF THINGS. ALRIGHT. AND, AND IF IN INTERACTING WITH A PERSON WHO'S HOMELESS, AN OFFICER, UH, IF, IF IT GETS PHYSICAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S ALWAYS UP TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHETHER TO CHOOSE TO ACCEPT A CRIMINAL CHARGE OR NOT. YES, SIR. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. AND, AND IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, HAVE YOU FOUND THAT, UH, SOMETIMES THE DA, IF, IF THEY, IF THEY FEEL THAT AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, IS NOT SAYING OR HAS SOME SEVERE MENTAL MM-HMM . UH, HEALTH ISSUES, THEY, THEY WON'T ACCEPT A CHARGE. SO WHAT, YES, SIR. YOU'RE CORRECT. BUT I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THAT, THAT [06:10:01] I'VE, I'VE MET WITH, UH, ATTORNEY SEAN TIER, AND HE WAS FULLY ON BOARD WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING. HE ASSIGNED ONE OF HIS, HIS TOP, UH, UH, PERSONNEL, AND CHERYL CHAPPELLE, SHE'S ON THE TEAM. THE IDEA BEING IS THAT YES, SIR, IT MAY NOT BE, IT MAY RESULT ULTIMATELY IN A FINDING THAT THAT PERSON IS MENTALLY ILL. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER RESPONSE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. UH, AT THE OUTSET, THEY MAY TAKE THE CHARGE, AS YOU KNOW, UH, IN, IN BEING A LAWYER. SO THE IDEA IS THEY MIGHT TAKE THAT POSITION AT FIRST, UH, JUST SO THAT WE CAN HOLD THAT PERSON. AND NOW WE'RE WORKING ON THEIR SPECIFIC IN SITUATION. SO IT MAY START OUT AS A CRIMINAL CHARGE, A FELONY, AND IT MIGHT TURN INTO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THE GOAL WAS TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY THAT INDIVIDUAL AND ALSO BY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I MEAN, WE CANNOT HAVE OUR OFFICERS BEING HARMED OUT THERE ON OUR STREETS, UH, DOING, TRYING TO DO THE GOOD WORK. RIGHT. AND, AND THAT'S ASSUMING THEY TAKE A CHARGE. I MEAN, RECENTLY, I, I BECAME INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN, IN DISTRICT G, WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. YES, SIR. A RESIDENCE. UM, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY MADE THE DECISION, AND, AND NOT THE DAT NECESSARILY, BUT ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS MADE THE DECISION, UH, NOT TO TAKE A CHARGE BECAUSE THE PERSON WAS BELIEVED TO BE MENTALLY ILL. YES, SIR. SO THAT, THAT HAPPENS A LOT. AND THEN WE DIVERT THEM. YES, SIR. RIGHT. CAN I ADD, UH, ONE THING TO THIS, WHEN WE GET TO THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE SITUATION YOU MAY WANNA COMPARE THIS TO IS THE SUCCESS OF THE SOBERING CENTER. AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S ORDINANCES ABOUT PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, BUT WHAT'S HA HAPPENED IN REALITY SINCE WE'VE BUILT THE SOBERING CENTER, IS OFTEN A POLICEMAN WILL TAKE A, UH, INDIVIDUAL TO THE SOBERING CENTER AS OPPOSED TO THE JPC. THIS IS A SIMILAR SITUATION, AND REALLY IT GIVES YOU, WHEN SOMEONE GETS IN THE PATROL CAR AND YOU SAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU TO JPC, OR WE COULD TAKE YOU TO 61 60, UH, HARRIS CENTER, OR WE COULD TAKE YOU TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER OR HISTORY RECOVERY CENTER, THEN THEY START THINKING THAT'S MORE THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. AND I THINK, I THINK THIS IS A ANALOGOUS TO THE SUCCESS YOU'VE HAD, AGAIN, WHERE PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS WAS ONCE A, UH, UH, SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU WENT TO JAIL. NOW, FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE GO TO THE SOBERING CENTER. RIGHT. SO WE DO MAKE EFFORTS TO HELP. YES. AS OFTEN AS, YES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN FACT, MR. YOUNG WOULD TELL YOU, AND HE HAS TOLD ME AT THE HOUSTON HARRIS CENTER, MOST OF HIS CLIENTS ARE DIVERSION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT DO NOT TAKE 'EM TO THE, UH, JAIL. THEY GO, THEY GO TO THE HARRIS CENTER. I, I BROUGHT THERE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY RECEIVE HOLISTIC CARE AND BEGIN A PROCESS TOWARD, AND YOU, YOU NEVER GET TO WHAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A TICKET SITUATION. ANYWAY, PRO MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE, UM, PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF REVISIT, UM, HAVE WE DONE AN ESTIMATED COUNT ON THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE SPECIFIC AREA WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A POTENTIAL CIVILITY ORDINANCE? YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE, UM, SO A COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, UH, STARTED BY DOING AN ESTIMATED COUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON OUR STREETS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THAT NUMBER WAS AROUND 200. UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT PRECISE. AND, AND WE, WE HAVE SOMETIMES AN EBB AND A FLOW. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, TO NOTE THAT, UH, AND BECAUSE A LOT OF AREAS ARE EXCEED MORE HOMELESSNESS, THE FACT IS, IS HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE NATION IS UP ABOUT 18%, AT LEAST BY COUNT THROUGH THE END OF 2024. SO ACROSS THE NATION, WE'RE SEEING MORE. SO HOUSTON SAW MORE TOO. UH, BUT IN TERMS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON, THE NUMBERS, IT'S ONLY, UH, AN ESTIMATE, BUT PROBABLY AROUND 200 THAT ARE EVERY NIGHT SLEEPING ON OUR STREETS. AGAIN, THAT NUMBER WILL EBB AND FLOW TO SOME DEGREE. RIGHT. AND SO ARE WE USING THAT NUMBER IN COMPARISON? 'CAUSE I, I HEARD WHEN YOU SAID WE CAN ONLY MOVE AT THE SPEED OF OUR RESOURCES. YES, MA'AM. SO THOSE 200 ESTIMATED HOMELESS FOLKS THAT ARE SLEEPING ON OUR, OUR STREETS, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO HOUSE THEM, UH, OR PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THEM AT THIS TIME. YES. WE DO HOUSING, MEANING SHELTER BEDS, DIRECT HOUSING DIRECTLY TO, UM, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. UM, THOSE ENTITIES, YES, WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THAT GROUP. SO [06:15:01] IF WE WENT OUT TODAY AND SAID, AND ALL 200 OF THOSE FOLKS SAID, YES, I WANT TO ACCEPT THE RESOURCES, WE WOULD HAVE SOMEWHERE FOR THOSE FOLKS TO GO ALL 200. I CAN'T, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I WILL SAY AS WE MOVE FROM STREET TO STREET AND DISTRICT TO DISTRICT ANSWERS, YES. OKAY. IT, IT IS A, IT IS A COORDINATED EFFORT. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. RIGHT. THAT'S WHY WE STARTED ALLEN'S LANDING BY YOU, THE CHARTRES. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL GO, WHERE THE NEXT STREETS WILL BE. UH, I THINK THE BEACON WE'RE BACK AT THE BEACON AGAIN. YEAH. UH, SO, AND, AND DR. NIKOS IS CORRECT. WE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE EVEN BEING STRATEGIC WITHIN THE CIL, THE CENTRAL DOWNTOWN AND IDO, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON BASICALLY THE, THE MOST IMPACTED AREAS FIRST. AND AS WE HAVE WHAT WE THINK ARE ENOUGH BEDS AND RESOURCES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE GO IN AND DO THAT. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, AGAIN, UH, WE 102 ALREADY TAKING, YOU KNOW, HELPED. SO THERE'S THE NUMBER NOW OUT THERE MAY BE RIGHT AT 200. I DON'T KNOW. UH, SO, BUT, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE MOVING AS FAST AS WE CAN. AND IF, UH, YES, WE ARE, WE HAVE MONEY THROUGH HUD AND OTHER PLACES. SO WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER HOUSING. 'CAUSE A LOT OF 'EM WILL BE ABLE TO GO RIGHT INTO HOUSING. AND, AND, UH, AND DIRECTOR NICHOLS'S TEAM IS, IS WORKING ON THOSE IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR ENFORCEMENT AND OUR OPERATIONS ON THE GROUND. SO ULTIMATELY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET, TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEM. I WOULD, I COULD NOT TELL YOU THAT I HAVE 200 BEDS TODAY THAT I COULD PUT PEOPLE IN. I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT. OKAY. AND THEN MY OTHER CONCERN IS, I KNOW ALONG THE SIX 10 FREEWAY AT MAINE YES, MA'AM. KIRBY AND ALAMEDA, THERE'S A CHRONIC, UM, HOMELESS PROBLEM, UM, AND DRUG ADDICTION PROBLEM. YES, MA'AM. I MEAN, YOU CAN RIDE IN THE AREA AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SO MANY UNFORTUNATELY ARE, UM, ON SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANCE, UM, THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A, A CULTURE OF THAT IN THAT AREA. UM, I HOPE THAT WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING TO, UM, PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF RESOURCES. UM, SO WE CAN ALSO MOVE IN THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING, UM, CULTURE OF HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG ADDICTION, UM, WHERE PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATING TOGETHER. UM, BUT IT, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A HEALTH HAZARD. WHEN YOU RIDE DOWN THE STREET, YOU SEE PEOPLE USING THE BATHROOM YES, MA'AM. UM, ON THE STREET. UM, AND, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO JUST GO BEHIND THEM AND CLEAN THAT UP. THAT THAT IS A CONCENTRATED EFFORT. UM, THAT REQUIRES A, A MASSIVE, UM, CLEANUP SITUATION. YES. UM, BUT I, I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I, I, I HOPE THAT WE WILL ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE NEXT LOCATIONS, UM, TO, TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SLEEPING ON THOSE STREETS SPECIFICALLY. UM, AND, AND WANNA KNOW HOW WE WILL HANDLE THE FOLKS THAT ARE, UM, DEPENDENT ON SUBSTANCES. UH, I THINK YOU, YOU'VE, IT, IT'S BEEN CLEAR TO ME, AND I'M, AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT YOU WILL HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THE REST OF THE CITY. UM, IT MAY NOT BE AS FAST AS EVERYBODY WANTS, RIGHT. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT TIMELINE. WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE DOLLARS ARE COMING FORWARD AND WITH THE DOLLARS, THE SERVICES AND THE HOUSING. SO WE, WE THINK THAT I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN THIS PLAN. I'M, I WISH I WAS MORE CONFIDENT IN THE SPEED, UM, BUT I AM CONFIDENT IN THE PLAN THAT THIS WILL GET DONE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO JUST REITERATE, UM, THIS ORDINANCE IS A TOOL TO ALLOW THIS GROUP, HPD TO ADDRESS ENCAMPMENTS. IF THIS PASSES TODAY, IT'S NOT LIKE HPD IS GONNA STOP ON THE STREET OUT HERE AND SAY, HEY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOW IN VIOLATION. HERE'S A CITATION. AND THAT THIS IS THE TOOL TO DEAL WITH DECOMMISSIONING THESE ENCAMPMENTS PIECE BY PIECE BY PIECE ADDRESSING, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, THE SITUATION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEY'RE NOT TYPICALLY ISOLATED ON A STREET ALONE. THEY'RE IN AN ENCAMPMENT. AND SO IF YOU CAN PLACE THIS, THIS INDIVIDUAL PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THIS, THIS GROUP, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S SOBERING CENTER NAVIGATION, [06:20:01] OR THROUGH THAT SYSTEM, IT'S THE LONE RANGER THAT'S OUT THERE THAT WON'T, THAT WILL NOT ACCEPT HELP THAT THIS REALLY IS ADDRESSING. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. WE ARE DOWN TO, IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGING POPULATION. THE, THE, THE ONES THAT WERE JUST ECONOMICALLY IMPACTED. THOSE, THOSE THAT WON'T OFF THE STREETS. THOSE WERE, WE'RE GETTING THERE. BUT THESE ARE CHALLENGES. THE OTHER PIECE IS JUST AS AN FYI, THE BEACON PROVIDES MAILING ADDRESSES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS. SO AS FAR AS HEALTHCARE, THEY HAVE AN ADDRESS WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE THOSE BENEFITS. UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT ENCAMPMENTS, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW AROUND TOWN AND OUTLYING AREAS. IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE REALLY TAKING NOTICE OF THEM AS INDIVIDUALS. I MEAN, YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE. UM, THE, JUST, JUST NORTH OF THE BAYOU ON THAT COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL UNDER 59 HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST MM-HMM . YES. THREE, FOUR YEARS. IT'S SIGNIFICANT. AND I DOUBT ANYBODY, WELL, I RECEIVE A LOT OF EMAIL ON IT, BUT IT'S, IT'S AN ENORMOUS ENCAMPMENT. I WAS JUST THERE. YEAH. AND IT'S, IT'S A PROBLEM. IT'S, AND SO THERE ARE SO MANY AROUND TOWN, BUT THIS IS OUR STEP ONE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. YES, MA'AM. AND AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, PAULA COUNSELOR, WHEN WE'RE IN OUR GROUP MEETINGS AND OUR WORKING GROUPS, THIS IS JUST A PIECE OF THE PLAN. THE PLAN DOES PLAN MM-HMM . TO GET TO THE SIX 10 SITES, TWO 90 SOUTHWEST. I MEAN, IT'S A CITYWIDE ISSUE. AND, UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME. IT'S COMPLEX, BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT'S BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'M, I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE BEACON. I WANTED IT THE OUTSET TO THANK THE BEACON WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSU ONE OF THE ONLY FREE SAFE PLACES WHERE OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION CAN ACCESS SHOWERS IS WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. AND THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR SHOWERS. AND THE BEACON HAS ACTUALLY STEPPED UP, UH, TO PROVIDE SHOWERS AND COORDINATION, UH, CHIEF WITH YOU AND OTHERS. SO BIG THANK YOU TO THE BEACON FOR HELPING US ADDRESS A CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IN OUR FACILITY RIGHT NOW. UM, WHAT, THEY'LL ACTUALLY WASH YOUR CLOTHES. IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. YEAH. IT, IT'S VERY INCREDIBLE. UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VICTIMIZATION AND THE CRIME THAT'S EXPERIENCED, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY VICTIMIZED. AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. WHEN WE GO BACK TO THOSE, SOME OF THE MEN'S SHELTERS THAT ARE UNSAFE OR PEOPLE FEELING UNSAFE, THERE ARE ALSO CRIMES THAT OCCUR IN THOSE SHELTERS AS WELL. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND GOING TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, ENCAMPMENTS, WHICH AGAIN, HOUSTON ADDRESSES SO COMPASSIONATELY AND HOLISTICALLY, AND IF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ALLOW TOOLS TO TACKLE THE ENCAMPMENTS, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE LANGUAGE THAT DEFINES ENCAMPMENTS AND FOCUSES ON THAT. AS I READ THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND CITY LEGAL CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WOULD THIS NOT? AND IT DOES STILL ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT TO CALL AND MAKE A COMPLAINT WHETHER TO HPD OR THE CITY, WE GET LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME. WE REACH OUT TO HPD AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL PASSED OUT ON THE CORNER OF MM-HMM . UH, NAME YOUR STREETS. RIGHT. WHILE WE'RE SEEKING TO ADDRESS ENCAMPMENTS, THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE ALSO PERMITS ADDRESSING INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE A ONE-OFF, THAT MAY JUST BE ONE OFFICER RESPONDING TO THAT COMPLAINT. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND IF AN OFFICER IS RESPONDING, AGAIN, NOT WITH HOT TEAM OR WITH CERT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S JUST AN OFFICER, ARE THEY, UM, REQUIRED OR ARE THERE PROTOCOLS IF THEY GET A CALL ABOUT THAT INDIVIDUAL TO BRING, UH, A LICENSED CLINICIAN WITH THEM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? THEY MAY NOT. OKAY. SO, I MEAN, I JUST, SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CALL IS. IF THE CALL IS A PERSON WHO IS POTENTIALLY PASSED OUT AND HAVE SUFFERING FROM A MEDICAL CRISIS, THAT OFFICER MAY RESPOND AS WELL AS EM A MAY RESPOND. AND NOW WE'RE ABOUT HOW DO WE HELP THIS PERSON WHO MIGHT BE IN A MEDICAL CRISIS. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CALL IS. AND, AND LOOK, I'VE MADE THOSE CALLS. I'VE SEEN SOMEONE YES, MA'AM. STUMBLING ON SOMETHING OVER IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT AND LITERALLY FALL OVER, PASSED OUT HALF IN THE STREET, AND I'VE HAD TO MM-HMM . LITERALLY TURN MY CAR INTO TRAFFIC TO PREVENT OTHER PEOPLE FROM HITTING THAT PERSON WHILE WE WAITED FOR EMS AND LAW ENFOR PUBLIC SAFETY TO ARRIVE. BUT AGAIN, THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW A RESIDENT TO CALL AND MAKE A COMPLAINT AND SAY, WE HAVE AN UNHOUSED INDIVIDUAL ON THIS PUBLIC STREET. MM-HMM . UH, AND I, I, I WANNA [06:25:01] MAKE SURE, BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR OFFICES DO GET THOSE CALLS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPANDING THAT WHEN THEY'RE ISSUED THE CITATION. AND WE TALK ABOUT MUNICIPAL COURTS. IF, AND A LOT OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS DO NOT SHOW UP TO COURT, WHETHER THAT IS INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY, THEY DON'T KEEP THEIR RECORD. THEY, THEY HAVE NO WAY TO TRACK IT. A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN HAVE A CELL PHONE. CORRECT. IT'S VERY HARD TO OPERATE AND FUNCTION WITHOUT A CELL PHONE, AS WE HAVE SEEN, IF THEY DO NOT APPEAR IN COURT, IS A WARRANT ISSUED POTENTIALLY? IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY STANDARD, STANDARD PRACTICE IN, IN MUNICIPAL COURT IS IF YOU DON'T APPEAR, YOU GET A FAILURE TO APPEAR AND A WARRANT CAN BE ISSUED. AND, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE WARRANTS, A LOT OF 'EM HAVE BEEN ISSUED CITATIONS, AND THEY DIDN'T APPEAR, AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY. IT MAY SOUND ONEROUS, BUT AGAIN, IT MIGHT ALSO BE A WAY FOR AN OFFICER TO SAY, NO, YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME. AND, AND THEN OF COURSE, THEY'RE GONNA GET DIVERTED PROBABLY TO HRC OR TO THE HARRIS CENTER WHERE THERE IS ACTUAL HELP FOR THEM. SO IT MAY SOUND ONEROUS THAT THEY'RE GETTING TICKETS AND THEY'RE BEING PICKED UP ON UNPAID TICKETS. BUT IF THE ULTIMATE RESPONSE IS THAT WE GET 'EM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE ARE. I MEAN, AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE THERE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT IS TO SAY THAT WE, WE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING. AND THAT BEHAVIOR WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE LOSE THEM. WELL, I THINK THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE ARE DOING IN CAN BE, YES. MA'S NOT ABSOLUTELY. IT'S NOT A, NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT IT'S THE, WITH THOSE, I UNDERSTAND TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE SOMEONE, UM, TO THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER OR TO TO JAIL. THEY HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT THERE, THERE'S A TIME DRAIN EVEN WITH PROCESSING. RIGHT. THE, THE IDEA IS TO DIVERT. RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RECORDS AND CREATING THAT RECORD AND OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AND THOSE INCREASED INTERACTIONS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE IS THAT POTENTIAL. AND I HAVE FULL FAITH IN THE TWO OF YOU, AND I HAVE FULL FAITH IN THE INTENTION OF THIS COUNCIL, BUT WE'RE CREATING ORDINANCES THAT OUTLIVE US. MM-HMM . AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. LASTLY, UH, IF SOMEBODY DOES APPEAR IN COURT, IN MUNICIPAL COURT, THERE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, FOR EXAMPLE MM-HMM . UM, BUT THAT'S AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, RIGHT. OF THEY ARE PERMITTED TO, AN INDIVIDUAL IS PERMITTED TO SIT ON A CHAIR OR A BENCH LOCATED ON A SIDEWALK. SO THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE SITTING THERE AND CIRCUMVENT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE. AND MUNICIPAL COURTS ARE INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED A PUBLIC DEFENDER THAT WOULD BE AWARE OF THESE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES. THAT WOULD BE BACK TO THE LEGAL QUESTION. THE, THE ANSWER IS NO. THE ANSWER. SO, SO, BUT YOU, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE ARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL, THERE ARE ACTUALLY A LIST OF THINGS, UH, THAT ARE IN PLACE. OBVIOUSLY IF THEY'RE IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR IF THEY'RE SITTING ON THE BENCH OR OTHER THINGS, NON-AMBULATORY, THEY CAN'T WALK. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE, ARE, AND THE OFFICERS KNOW PRETTY MUCH UPFRONT THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ENGAGED IN, IN TRYING TO SAY, WELL, YOU CAN'T DO THIS OR CAN'T DO THAT. THEY KNOW ABOUT THOSE DEFENSES. AND, AND, AND AGAIN, THE WARNINGS ALWAYS START. SO I, I UNDERSTAND IN TERMS SOMEONE COURT AND A DEFENDANT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY REPRESENTING THEM RIGHT. DAILY THERE. IF THEY'RE IN COURT, USUALLY IT'S A, IT IS A DIVERSION RIGHT UP FRONT. COUNCILWOMAN, I'D LIKE TO, UH, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT, UH, ENCAMPMENTS VERSUS INDIVIDUALS. PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IS IN THE PAST YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE, WE'VE HAD A, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM TO, UH, DECOMMISSION ENCAMPMENTS. BUT WE'VE ALSO, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN PARKS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, TDO PROPERTY. WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM ON PUBLIC SIDEWALKS BECAUSE OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. 'CAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE DIFFERENT THAN A, UH, AN ENCAMPMENT UNDER A, IN A T OUT AREA IS SOMEBODY WHO'S OR GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SLEEPING ON OUR PUBLIC SIDEWALKS. AND THIS IS REALLY TO RESPOND TO THAT. RIGHT. AND, AND I DO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE SLEEPING ON OUR SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE IT IN DISTRICT C. JUST LIKE I RECOGNIZE WE'RE SEEING INCREASED UNHOUSED POPULATIONS AND ENCAMPMENTS IN DISTRICT C BECAUSE AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT, UH, TAKING US UP ON THESE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE OFFERING. THEY'RE GOING INTO OTHER AREAS WHERE IT'S STILL, UH, NOT BEING FOCUSED ON AS MUCH. HOWEVER, AGAIN, THERE'S THE INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. AND I, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. UM, AND I THINK WE WERE ALL PRESENTED WITH, UH, THIS MORNING, THE RED LINE, UM, LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS WELL. UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL ALSO BE SHARING THAT PUBLICLY, UH, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AS WELL. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU . [CONSENT AGENDA] [06:30:05] MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY? ITEM TWO HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEMS 4, 5, 9, 10, AND 11 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON ITEMS 3, 6, 7, AND EIGHT. CAST. TATE, MOVE A SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM 12 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE A SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 17 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. UM, ITEMS REMOVED FROM SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEMS. 13, 14, 20, 30, 31, 32, AND 33. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 13, 14, 20, 30, 31, 32, AND 33. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION CAST TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MAYOR PRO. MAYOR PRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DID WANT TO, UM, RECOGNIZE ON BEHALF OF, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, THE APPOINTMENT OF CONNIE L COCHRAN. IS CONNIE IN THE AUDIENCE? YES. HELLO, MS. COCHRAN, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, UM, IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT SHE DID, UM, WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UM, AND THAT THIS APPOINTMENT IS, UM, ONE THAT'S GOING TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ION AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU REPRESENTING AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU WILL DO ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP, AND THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. I, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE. AND I, I'D LIKE TO THANK OBVIOUSLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ FOR HER COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS, YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, THIS MOMENT REPRESENTS A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT. I TAKE RESPONSIB, I TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY, UH, SERIOUSLY AND STEP INTO THIS ROLE WITH A CLEAR SENSE OF PURPOSE. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK JERRY BROOKS, SAM D**E, VON TRAN, AND MANY OTHERS, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE CARRIED THIS WORK FORWARD OVER THE YEARS, YOUR EFFORTS HAVE HELPED BUILD THE FOUNDATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE. AS CHAIR, I WILL LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY, UH, INTEGRITY AND RESPECT FOR THE VOICES AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE ION COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT IS NOT JUST A DOCUMENT, BUT A VEHICLE FOR SUSTAINED IMPACT. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. I'M HONORED TO SERVE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT. I JOINED MY NAME WITH, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN REVEREND SHABAZZ IN HER ABSENCE, THE ION WAS A FIRECRACKER PROJECT AND AN ITEM WHEN WE VOTED ON IT. AND, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, BECAUSE IT MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR ECONOMY, THE PEOPLE, AND THEN WHAT THAT, UM, ECONOMIC ENGINE IS JUST IN ITSELF. SO YOUR LEADERSHIP IS VERY TIMELY. LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW Y'ALL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THAT AND COME BEFORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SHARE THOSE UPDATES. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR BOARD SERVING THE CITY IN THIS NEW CAPACITY. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, COUNCILMAN PLUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS, CONNIE. THIS IS REALLY, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM OF, OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THERE WERE SO MANY CONVERSATIONS WHEN IT CAME TO THE CBA AND, UM, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SEE THE BEST HAPPENING IN THAT COMMUNITY. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE LEADING THE CHARGE ON THAT. UM, IT'S A REALLY, THE REVITALIZATION THAT'S HAPPENED THERE IS PRETTY AMAZING, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS ARE ANSWERED. I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT INCREDIBLY WELL. SO CONGRATULATIONS, UM, AND WELCOME TO [06:35:01] THE GOOD WORK OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. GREAT. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS. UM, JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I HEARD RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT YOU, AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK YOU'RE GONNA DO IN THAT POSITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UM, RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH JERRY BROOKS AND SAM DK ABOUT THE, UH, COLLECTIVE BENEFITS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UH, AGREEMENT. AND, UH, JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY ENGAGED WITH, WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE ACTIVISTS THERE SO THAT, UM, EVERYBODY CAN FEEL THEY'RE A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND FEEL INFORMED. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU. COUNCIL DAVIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU WITH THE OTHER, OTHER COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THE POSITION AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, FOLLOWING AND LOOKING OVER YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. UH, WELCOME TO THE POSITION. I THINK IT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. STATE MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST SIX, TM, MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION CAST T TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION CAST TAX. TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE MOVE NEXT SECOND AFTER THE VOTE. MOTION'S BEEN MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANTED TO LIFT UP THIS ITEM, UH, FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK FOR THE GARDEN OAKS AND SHEPHERD PARK WEST. CIP. UM, CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN SUMMER OF 2021, AND IT WRAPPED UP, UH, LAST YEAR. UH, THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT DRAINAGE PROJECT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HOW FLOODING OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES. UH, AND WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH RESIDENTS ON THIS. RESIDENTS APPROACHED MY OFFICE TO FLAG ONE OF THE STREETS THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CIP, BUT THEIR HOMES WERE EXPERIENCING FLOODING. AND WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO EXPAND THE SCOPE AND INCORPORATE THAT ALONG WAKEFIELD AFTER HOMES EXPERIENCED FLOODING, UH, DURING TROPICAL STORM AMELDA. SO, AGAIN, HAPPY TO SEE, UH, THIS WRAPPING UP AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT, ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. COUNCILMAN JACKSON AFTER? YEAH, AFTER. THAT'S FINE. AFTER. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. THIS IS THE, UM, HOUSTON EMPOWERMENT CENTER. WE ADDING ADDITIONAL SITES. UM, THE FIRST SITE, UM, FOR DISTRICT B WAS THE ACRES HOME MULTI SERVICE CENTER. AND NOW WE ARE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL SITE TO THE CASHMERE GARDEN MULTI CENTER CENTER. AND THIS, UM, UM, THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER OFFER FINANCIAL COUNSELING, COUNSELING BANK, HELPING PEOPLE SET UP BANK ACCOUNTS, UM, PAY BILLS. EMPLOYMENT IS JUST A GREAT RESOURCE FOR, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND TRYING TO GET ON TRACK. SO, EXCITED ABOUT EXPANDING, UM, THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ALL IN FAVORS AFTER THOMAS. AFTER. OKAY. CALL IT FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILOR, CADEN, UH, I'LL DEFER TO, UH, OUR HOUSING CHAIR. FIRST. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I WANNA SAY MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THIS IS A FEDERAL, UM, ALLOCATION, THANKS TO THANKS TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING THIS. BUT THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF THE SCOPE. AND SO WE HAD, UM, A LIMITED NUMBER OF HCC CAMPUSES. WE'VE NOW EXPAND TO INCLUDE, UH, FELIX FROGGER CAMPUS, A LEAF BINETTE, BRAS, OAK, STAFFORD, CENTRAL CAMPUS, NORTHEAST AND NORTH FOREST AND NORTHLINE. AND I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS TO, UM, OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKFORCE READY AND IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND LOOKING FOR FORWARD TO, UM, HOW THEY'RE GONNA INFLUENCE NOT JUST OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ADULT EDUCATION. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. I TOO WANTED TO LIFT UP THIS ITEM. UM, THE EXPANSION OF, OF JOB TRAINING WITH HCC, UH, FOR SOLAR FOR ALL JOBS. SO IT'S THE EMPOWERING SOLAR JOBS PROGRAM. IT'S A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO OFFER AND CONTINUED OFFER TRAINING IN ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN AND SOLAR INSTALLATION PROGRAMS, UH, AMONG OTHER THINGS. BUT IT'S EXPANDING [06:40:01] TO A HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS OVER 10 CAMPUSES. SO AGAIN, IS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND THE ENERGY TRANSITION CAPITAL. WE'RE MAKING SURE THESE JOBS AND FOLKS ARE JOB READY HERE IN HOUSTON, AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM. AND APPRECIATE THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIP WITH HCC NICK. NEXT ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED ALL THOSE SNEEZE. UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS ITEM IS A ITEM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXDOT AND THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR SOME INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NORTH SIDE ALONG, UH, AIRLINE DRIVE AND, AND SOME OTHERS. AND THEY'LL BRING, UH, MUCH NEEDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS. UH, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT, I JUST NEEDED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME, MOTION PASSES. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME, MOTION PASSES. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME, MOTION PASSES. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM [MATTERS HELD] 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO FOR THE NEXT ITEM. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE BEFORE OR AFTER THE VOTE BEFORE HE HAS A TABLE AMENDMENT CHAIR RECOGNIZED. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. I'VE DISTRIBUTED AN AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC AND, UM, THIS, THIS IS, I THINK, A CHANGE THAT WILL HELP MAKE THIS A BETTER ITEM OVERALL. UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, OF GOOD DIALOGUE AROUND THIS CHANGE AND IF PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP TO AN EVENING PUBLIC SESSION. AND I DO THINK THAT ADDING A SUNSET PROVISION, UH, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK HAS TALKED ABOUT, UH, DOES GIVE US THE ABILITY TO HOLD AN EVENING PUBLIC SESSION FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, UH, DETERMINE IF IT IS WORKING, DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO MAKE ANY TWEAKS OR CHANGES, AND THEN ALLOWS US TO DO THAT BEFORE IT CONTINUES FORWARD BEYOND, UH, 2025. AND IT WILL COMMIT US TO AT LEAST SIX SESSIONS IF WE START IN JULY. UH, I KNOW ANOTHER AMENDMENT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED. UH, MY ISSUE WITH IT IS THAT IF WE ADOPT IT AND HOLD ONE MEETING AND THE PUBLIC, THE TURNOUT, IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE THINK IT SHOULD BE. UH, THERE'S NO COMMITMENT THAT WE HOLD ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE IT IS A, IT IS A, AN OPTION. UH, BUT THE AMENDMENT THAT I OFFER COMMITS US TO SIX THE REST OF THE YEAR. WE CAN MAKE A DECISION AFTER THAT FACT WITH A, A GOOD SAMPLE SIZE. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S OTHER TWEAKS AS WELL THAT WE, THAT WE ADD TO THIS. UM, MAYBE WE LIMIT PROCLAMATIONS. UH, MAYBE WE DO SOME OTHER THINGS FOR OUR EVENING MEETINGS ONLY. UH, BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, DO THIS IN A WAY THAT GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE, UH, IF THIS IS WORKING AFTER A FEW SESSIONS, NOT JUST, NOT JUST ONE. AND THEN, UH, NOT HOLDING ANOTHER ONE AFTER THAT. VERY GOOD. UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER AMENDMENT BY HUFFMAN, AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BENEFICIAL TO HEAR BOTH BEFORE WE VOTE ON, ON EITHER COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, TODAY I PASSED OUT AN AMENDMENT, UM, AND I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I APPRECIATE ALL THIS WORK ON THIS AND I THINK THAT TRYING IT OUT FOR SIX SESSIONS IS AN INCREDIBLE IDEA. ABSOLUTELY. AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR SETS THE, THE MEETINGS. AND SO BEING COMMITTED TO THESE SIX SESSIONS, I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY WHERE WE NEED TO GO. UM, HOWEVER, I STILL WANNA MOVE TO AMEND 47 BY MAKING THE CHANGE TO ALLOW THE LAST PUBLIC SESSION TO ALLOW THE LAST PUBLIC SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL EACH MONTH TO BE HELD, YOU KNOW, AT FIVE 30. SO THIS AMENDMENT PRESERVES CITY COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO HOLD EVENING MEETINGS [06:45:01] ON THE FINAL WEEK OF EACH MONTH WHILE ALLOWING FLEXIBILITY. SO ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THESE SUCCESSIONS, UM, WE COULD STILL COME BACK. SOMETIMES WE, WE MAY NEED, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL NIGHT MEETINGS. AND SO THIS JUST GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY. SO I, I REALLY DO LIKE THE IDEA OF TRYING OUT THE SIX FIRST THOUGH. NO, WE COULD, WE COULD PASS BOTH TO ALLOW IT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, I'LL HOLD UNTIL AFTER. UH, I'LL HOLD UNTIL DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN TOPIC. OKAY. COUNCILMAN AORN. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. SO ON THE, ON THE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE, THE, THIS WILL, WE WILL COMMIT TO SIX, WHICH I'M COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE. IT'S LIKE, LEARN A NEW CARD GAME. YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON UNTIL YOU START PLAYING. SO WE GOTTA DO THIS A FEW TIMES AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF A SHALL DO IT FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEN LOOKING AT IT, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, IS AFTER THE SIX MONTHS, DO IT AD HOC WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO, OR WHEN THE MAYOR DECIDES, OR HOW, HOW DOES THAT REALLY WORK? RIGHT? I MEAN, IT COULD BE JUST A MAY, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE IT, UM, JUST TO ALLOW THAT FLEXIBILITY. WELL, DOES IT COMPROMISE COUNCILMAN CASTILLO SAYING WE WILL BE DOING IT UNTIL DECEMBER? YES, THIS WAS SAID THAT ALLOWS, UM, US TO CONTINUE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SORRY, MIKE. THESE I DON'T, COUNCILMAN ALCORN MENTIONED COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN, YOUR INTENTION IS IT WOULD GO BEYOND THE SUNSET DATE OF COUNCIL. YOU CAN STILL DO IT. YES. THAT'S INTERESTING. RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT IN CONFLICT. NOT IN CONFLICT. ONE'S AT FIVE 30 AND ONE'S AT, BUT THIS, AND SO LET'S SAY WE COME BACK AFTER DECEMBER. THIS LANGUAGE, THIS LANGUAGE NOW ALLOWS US TO SAY, LET'S DO ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, OR NOW THAT WE'VE LEARNED WHATEVER FOR SIX MONTHS, WE CAN DO I UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHAT THAT LANGUAGE DOES. I THINK THAT'S GOOD. COUNCIL. IT'S NOT IN CONFLICT THOUGH. OKAY. LET'S BE RECOGNIZED. COUNCILOR FOR SECOND CHAIR DOESN'T ALLOW CHANGE IT TO WHERE IF WE HAD THE FIRST TWO AND IT WAS A COMPLETE BUST, THAT IT ALLOWS US NOT TO. SO I, WE IN SOMEWHAT, IT IS IN CONFLICT, BUT I ALSO THINK IT GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY. I'M TRYING TO GET THE SPONSORS IN LEGISLATIVE INTENT. WHAT, WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO AS COUNCILMAN FLICKER JUST SAID, IF THE FIRST TWO ARE NOT BENEFICIAL, WOULD YOU HAVE US THEY, YOUR LANGUAGE ALLOW US TO CHANGE AT THAT TIME? OR DOES IT KICK IN AFTER THE DECEMBER SUNSET DATE? I, MY INTENT WAS THAT IT WOULD KICK IN AFTER THE, THE SUNSET DATE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WAS SAFE. SO HAVE THE SIX SESSIONS, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. SO IT'S YOUR NOT TO IN INTERFERE WITH THE CASTILLO PLAN? NO. OF A SIX MONTH PILOT SUNSET. AND THEN YOU HAVE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD APPLY AFTER THAT? YES. OKAY. AND YOU NEED TO PUT THAT BEFORE US TODAY OR AT THAT TIME? I DON'T CARE. I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU. MAYOR , WHY DON'T WE WAIT AND SEE HOW THE SIX MONTHS PILOT GOES IN SUNSET AND THEN WE WOULD FOLLOW WITH YOUR, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST PERSON I RECOGNIZE. YES, MAYOR. SO I'LL WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY. LET'S HAVE A VOTE ON FLEXIBILITY. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO'S ON COUNCIL. WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON? WE'RE FIXING TO VOTE ON HIS AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT THAT IT'S SUNSETTED IN DECEMBER. IS THERE NO. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT OF A SUNSET DATE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED TO NAY AMENDED. THERE WILL BE A SUNSET DECEMBER 31ST. GOT IT. SO NOW WE'RE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. COUNCIL MEMBER KING POINT. ORDER. MR. MAYOR, EFFECTIVE WIN HERE. WHAT'S YOUR EFFECTIVE DATE? SEPTEMBER. ISN. IT THIS WOULD, THIS WOULD KICK IN FOR THIS MONTH. FOR THIS? ABSOLUTELY. NO, NO. WELL, I THOUGHT HE WAS, I THOUGHT IT WAS MOVE TO RECONSIDER. I'M OPEN TO IN AUGUST. WE GOTTA GET ORGANIZED. BROTHER. COUNCIL. NEXT TWO AND A, OH, WAIT [06:50:01] A MINUTE. I, I THOUGHT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS IT WAS SEPTEMBER, QUITE FRANKLY TO GIVE THE STAFF TIME TO, TO GET ORGANIZED. I THINK AUGUST GIVES, GIVES THE STAFF AND US A TIME TO ORGANIZE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC. WE'RE IN JULY. WELL, AUGUST IS, IS A GOOD, A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, GET US ORGANIZED, MAKE SURE OUR STAFF CAN WORK. THEIR SCHEDULES WORK. YOU WANT, YOU WANT IT TO BE EFFECTIVE IN AUGUST? YEP. SECOND YOUR MOTION. ALRIGHT MAID AND SECOND THAT WE AMEND IT. I HAVE PLANS. CAN YOU SAY AUGUST 1ST? SO WE HAVE A DATE SPECIFIC, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1ST. FIRST. ALRIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FOURTH WEEK THAT IT KICKS IN AUGUST 1ST, WHICH WOULD IMPLEMENT THE FOURTH WEEK. RIGHT? IT'S GONNA BE RIGHT BEFORE LABOR DAY, RIGHT? OKEY DOKEY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAMES. NO. SO COUNCILMAN POLLARD, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A ROLL CALL. GO AHEAD AND CALL MR. MR. SEC. MRS. ON THE AMENDMENT. ON THE AMENDMENT THAT IT'S EFFECTIVE. AUGUST ONE. OKAY. ON, ON AMENDMENT? NO. OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY. OKAY. SO JUST NEED A VOTE ON GO AHEAD. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO? YES. HOW MANY? YEP. 15 TO ONE SIR. THERE IN 15. AYE. ONE NAY. MOTION PASSES. AUGUST ONE. COUNCILOR CAYMAN, YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED? I, I IF, UH, THE AUTHOR OF THE ITEM WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE ME, I'M MORE THAN NO. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO PROCEED. MAYOR. I THINK HE'S DONE A FINE JOB. HOW ABOUT A ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN ITEM. WAIT, I'M IN QUEUE. YES. YOU WANNA SPEAK BEFORE WE VOTE? YES SIR. YES SIR. SO GO FOR IT. I, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR, UM, HIS LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THE CO-AUTHORS ON THIS ITEM. UH, I, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE PRESENTED WITH THIS, INCLUDING HOW LATE, UH, COUNCIL MAY BE GOING. AND THEN WE'RE HERE TO VOTE. UH, MOST OF US ARE HERE BY 8:00 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY. UM, THERE ARE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT IT DOES PRESENT. THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES RAISED ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, WHETHER THAT'S VIRTUAL, UM, VERSUS COMING IN PERSON. I DO WANT TO, WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARDS INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE PUBLIC AT COUNCIL. I DO WANNA POINT OUT COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES, WHAT HOUSTON ALREADY DOES BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES. WHILE WE MAY NOT THINK IT IS STILL AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY, WE HAVE FAR MORE ACCESSIBILITY THAN OTHER MAJOR CITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN NEW YORK, UH, THEY DO NOT OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE CITY COUNCIL. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AT COMMITTEE. UH, BUT THAT IS IT. UH, THEY DO PROVIDE DURING COMMITTEES FOR ZOOM TESTIMONY AS WELL AS WRITTEN TESTIMONY. UH, IN LA UH, THERE IS A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES FOR AGENDA ITEMS. ONE MINUTE FOR GENERAL CITY ITEMS IN CHICAGO COUNCIL CONVENES APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH. UH, THEY CAN PROVIDE REMOTE OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY, BUT PUBLIC COMMENT IS IN TOTAL LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES. THEN IN HARRIS COUNTY, UH, OUR GREAT PARTNERS AT HARRIS COUNTY, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT EACH SPEAKER HAS A MAXIMUM OF ONE MINUTE FOR REMARKS. UH, OF COURSE, AGENDA SPEAKERS ARE CONSIDERED FOR FIRST AS WE DO. SO, AGAIN, I COMMEND US AS A CITY FOR CONTINUING TO INCREASE ACCESS. UH, BUT AS WE SEE THE HOURS GO ON AND ON AND THERE ARE RULES, MAYOR IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES FOR GERMAN NESS SURE. TO CITY ISSUES. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON TIME THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE SOMEBODY FROM SUBMITTING TESTIMONY. I DO THINK WE NEED ONLINE ACCESS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT AS A CITY, UH, WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES. AND I JUST WANT THIS VOTE TO BE TAKEN IN THAT CONTEXT AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ACCESSIBILITY. . THANK YOU [06:55:01] COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR HIGHLIGHTING, UM, THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT THE PUBLIC HAS WITH, UM, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. NOT TO MENTION, UM, I KNOW SPECIFICALLY FOR MY DISTRICT, WE ARE IN THE DISTRICT MM-HMM . WITH THE CONSTITUENTS. UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS TRAFFIC. UM, AT FIVE 30. UM, FOR PEOPLE TO GET HERE FOR PUBLIC SESSION, UH, I DO ANTICIPATE THAT TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE A DETERRENT. AND I WILL CONTEND SPECIFICALLY AS THE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE, THAT CITIES ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE SMARTER, MORE EFFICIENT, UM, AND TO PROVIDE MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS. AND, UM, I THINK EQUITABLE ACCESS INCLUDES A MYRIAD OF MEDIUMS FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT. AND THAT MEANS VIRTUALLY CALLING IN ON THE PHONE, UM, WRITING LETTERS BEING, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE AT CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND BE IN THE COMMUNITY TO, IF WE WANNA TAKE GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE IN THOSE CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AT THOSE PIP MEETINGS. UM, I, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER. THEY KNOW, UH, (832) 393-3016 IS THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE DISTRICT K OFFICE. UM, THE EMAIL DISTRICT K@HOUSTONTX.GOV. UH, AND IF THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS, I THINK THAT WHATEVER TIME WE SCHEDULE THE COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT ATTEND. UM, HOWEVER, IF WE PROVIDE MORE MEDIUMS FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT, I THINK WE WILL INCREASE ENGAGEMENT EXPONENTIALLY. I WILL GO WITH THE WILL OF THE BODY, HOWEVER, NOTE ON TUESDAYS AT FIVE 30 OR SIX, I WON'T BE PRESENT. WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING UP THE OTHER CITIES. WE TOO DID SOME RESEARCH ON, ON THIS AND, AND SAW THAT WITH THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES. I WILL SAY IN TEXAS, FORT WORTH OFFERS A A ONCE A MONTH, UM, EVENING MEETING AT SIX. SAN ANTONIO OFFERS A HYBRID OPTION. UM, 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAYS. ARLINGTON HAS A EVENING MEETING WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AT SIX 30. SUGAR LAND MEETS IN THE EVENING AT FIVE 30. RIGHT. AND THEY'RE MEETING OF THEM. YEAH. SOME OF THEM ARE DIFFERENT PUBLIC SESSIONS. BUT THAT, THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND. I WILL SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE, WE SEE PEOPLE SIT OUT IN THE AUDIENCE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WAIT HOURS LIKE WE DID LAST NIGHT TILL SIX O'CLOCK TO HAVE A TINY ISSUE, UM, RELAYED TO US. AND I THINK IT, IT'S NOT JUST FOR OUR TIME, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COME, WE REALLY HAVE TO START ENFORCING THE TIME LIMITS. MAYOR, I MEAN, YOU HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS LETTING PEOPLE, UM, UM, FINISH THEIR STATEMENTS. SO HAVE YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, BUT I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE THOSE TIME LIMITS FOR A REASON. AND I FOR ONE, SUPPORT THIS WITH THE HOPES THAT WE WILL REALLY TRY TO RESPECT EVERYBODY. YOU DON'T WANT, IT'S HORRIBLE TO CUT SOMEBODY OFF, BUT IF YOU, IF THEY KNOW BEFORE THEY HAVE THREE MINUTES OR THEY HAVE TWO MINUTES OR THEY HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND IF YOU STATE CLEARLY AT A BEGINNING OF A OVER 150 MINUTE SESSION THAT YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S IT. A LOT OF CITIES, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN SAID, DON'T EVEN GET THE, THE BENEFIT OF, OF THAT MUCH TIME. SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S RESPECTFUL TO THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND SIT FOR HOURS ON END TO HEAR THEIR ONE TINY ISSUE AT THE END OF THE MEETING. UM, WE NEED TO START RESPECTING THE TIME LIMITS. CASTILLO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL ON CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER COMMENTS. VICE MAYOR PRO TEPEC FOR BOTH, UH, CO-SIGNING THIS PROP ITEM. YOU KNOW, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY FIND WAYS TO MAKE THIS BETTER, UH, TO ADD MORE ACCESSIBILITY. UH, WE USED TO HAVE MORE ACCESSIBILITY HERE WITH, WITH HYBRID MEETINGS. UM, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A PRECEDENT FOR DOING IT. LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES DO. TAKING IN FEEDBACK AND CONSIDERATION AFTER WE'VE DONE IT A FEW TIMES TO MAKE IT, UH, TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER, HOLDING PEOPLE TO THE TIME LIMITS. UH, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE DON'T TRY IT. AND SO THIS IS A WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. WHY DON'T WE TRY THIS? WHY DO WE HAVE IT AT THE SAME TIME EVERY TUESDAY AND SEE HOW IT GOES. IF IT DOESN'T WORK, IT SUNSETS VERY GOOD. AND, AND WE, AND WE MOVE ON. UM, [07:00:01] BUT I APPRECIATE YOU GOT THE VOTES, ALL THE DIALOGUE AND THE ENGAGEMENT. AND I, AND I HOPE, UH, COLLEAGUES, YOU'LL SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AGREE WITH, UH, EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAID IN REGARDS TO YESTERDAY'S MEETING. SO THE TIMING OF THIS VOTE IS INTERESTING COMING AFTER A FOUR HOUR PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, UH, WHICH IS UNUSUALLY LONG. UM, BUT WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THIS PASSES, HOPEFULLY IT PASSES. 'CAUSE I, I SUPPORT IT. UH, MAYOR, I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START OF THE MEETING, UH, FOR THIS EVENING MEETING. UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S SO INTERESTING? , IT, YOU DON'T MIND IT. IT, MOST, MOST OF WHAT WE DO WAS HEAR THE PRACTICE WHEN I GOT HERE. SO I JUST KIND OF FELL IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE PROCESSES. IF YOU WANT ME TO START REALLY SHOWING YOU HOW TO HAVE EFFICIENT MEETINGS IN PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE, UH, GOING BEYOND THE REQUIRED TIME. YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY AND THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING, I PERSONALLY HATE TO CUT 'EM OFF BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTE. IT'S SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS, NORMALLY ORGANIZED GROUPS THAT JUST WANT TO GO ON AND DOMINATE AND FILIBUSTER, YOU KNOW. BUT I DON'T THINK AS I SIT HERE, I'M GONNA BECOME SELECTIVELY ENFORCE IT. WE EITHER, AS A GROUP, AS ALCORN JUST SAID, A MINUTE MEANS A MINUTE. Y'ALL DON'T START ASKING TO EXTEND IT, YOU KNOW, FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. I THINK THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM. SO IF WE'LL ALL UNITED SAY THE TIME LIMITS MATTER WILL ALL ENFORCE 'EM. I I AGREE WITH THAT. MAYOR. UM, WITH REGARD TO THE PROCLAMATIONS, BRO. THE PROCLAMATIONS, YEAH. IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THAT, THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT DOESN'T REALLY START UNTIL 15 OR 20 MINUTES AFTER TO O'CLOCK. AND SO TELL ME SUGGESTION IS TO, TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS FOR OUR EVENING MEETINGS. WELL, WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER THE LIMIT PER, PER MEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER THAT YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT GROUPS YOU WANNA RECOGNIZE. UH, SOME HAVE NONE, SOME HAVE MANY. SO ANYWAY, I THINK WE NEED PROBABLY A WORKING GROUP TO, TO VISIT WITH PROTOCOLS AND GOVERNANCE TO MAKE THIS MORE EFFICIENT. SO DAVIS, LET'S, LET'S GET THROUGH TODAY AND WE'LL COME BACK AND VISIT THIS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCILLOR DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENT CONCERNING THIS. AND YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SAY EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THE LIMIT OF TIME THAT'S GIVEN. AND I THINK, UH, THE POINT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN MENTIONED IS CERTAINLY, UM, ONE TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GIVE PEOPLE MORE TIME. YOU KNOW, THEN I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY TIME. AND SO IT, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME IT'S JUST REALLY, UH, A MUTE SITUATION. IT'S BEEN GOING ON BEFORE. AND, UH, I I JUST WANT TO LIFT UP THE POINT THAT I, MAYOR PRO TEM HAS TALKED ABOUT, UH, AND SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT, THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN, WOULD GENERALLY STAY HERE THROUGHOUT THAT TIME. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'D BE GONE ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, THAT'S DURING THE DAY. NOW WE TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN ABOUT THE QUORUM OF MEMBERS YEAH. AT, AT AT NIGHT. AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING THAT IS, A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT HERE. JUST GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT. AND SO, UH, ALL OF A SUDDEN FOR THE SIX O'CLOCK, NO ONE BETTER WANTS TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY. THAT'S WHY I GO TO THEM, YOU KNOW, AND I WANNA LAY THAT OUT. DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT I DO. BUT THE FACT IS, IF IT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE'LL WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ELECTED TO DO. NOT TO ALWAYS EXPECT PEOPLE TO COME HERE. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD BEFORE I CLOSE IS THE FACT THAT I PRAY TO GOD THAT WE DON'T HAVE NO ISSUES LATE AT NIGHT WHEN PEOPLE GOING TO BE HERE AT 10 30, 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, THAT NO CRIME IS COMMITTED BY ANYBODY DOWN HERE COMING UP HERE. AND NOW WE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE GOING TO HAVE. SO WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO FACE. AND, AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE GIVE REAL GOOD CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS STAFF, BUT THAT NO ONE WOULD COME DOWN AND BE GOING TO PARKING, FINDING PARKING, UM, YOU KNOW, SENIORS COMING UP HERE AND OTHERS. UM, THAT, THAT YESTERDAY WAS A VERY LONG COUNCIL SESSION. AND IF WE DO THAT NOW, WE TALKING ABOUT LIMITING THE PROCLAMATIONS, ALL OF THESE GREAT IDEAS. BUT, UH, [07:05:01] NOT TO MINIMIZE ANY OF IT, BUT THE FACT IS THAT I ASKED ON THE OTHER DAY, WHAT IS THE DATA? WHERE'S THE, THE DATA THAT INDICATES THAT PEOPLE FROM 11 DISTRICTS WANT TO COME DOWN TO YOU AT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING. I UNDERSTAND. THERE'S NO DOUBT. UNDERSTAND DISTRICT OFFICES CAN BE VERY MEANINGFUL. SOME PRACTICE AND SOME NOT SO MUCH. BUT ANYWAY, COUNCILMAN CANON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE ON THE MAIN MOTION, 'CAUSE I DO WANNA KEEP THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL THE GREAT PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD. UM, I, I THINK THERE IS WILL OF THE BODY TO LIMIT, UH, OR PRECLUDE PROCLAMATIONS AND THE OTHER FORMALITIES THAT TAKE PLACE, UH, FOR THOSE EVENING SESSIONS. UM, AND I DUNNO IF THAT WOULD BE ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM OR IF WE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION. UNDERSTOOD. UM, ONE ISSUE THAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST RAISED, UM, IS THE MAKING SURE THAT, UH, AND I TRUST EVERYONE COMING DOWN HERE IS, IS SAFE. UH, THESE ARE RESIDENTS THAT WANNA ENGAGE AT THE ANNEX. I BELIEVE OUR SECURITY HOURS HAVE BEEN REDUCED. SO ON TUESDAYS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THOSE CONTRACTUAL HOURS BE EXTENDED FOR OUR, FOR SECURITY COVERAGE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS APPROPRIATE COVERAGE. THEN NO, WE'LL DO BETTER THAN THAT. WE'LL HAVE HPD IN LARGER NUMBERS. AGAIN, I, I DON'T, I'M NOT GOING TO, WHATEVER IS THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND SAFE WAY TO DO THIS, UH, WE WILL DO. BUT, UH, AND I, I TRUST MAYOR THAT YOU WILL DO THAT. BUT AGAIN, I WANNA THANK, UH, COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AS WE CONTINUE TO TWEAK, UH, AND, AND IMPROVE UPON THIS. AND I FULLY SUPPORT KEEPING THE TIME LIMIT, UH, AND RESPECTING THE TIME LIMIT THAT'S BEEN LAID OUT. VERY GOOD. LET'S VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL ROLL CALL. REVERSE ROLL CALL . ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. ITEM 47 AS AMENDED. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. YES. 15 EYES. ONE NOTE RIGHT NOW. PASTOR, I WOULD NOT HAVE MEETING WITH MY STAFF. S**T. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER. NO, POLLARD FOR HIS I 48 CHAIR. RECOGNIZED COUNCILMAN POLLARD. ALRIGHT, UH, THIS IS, UM, A PROP, A AMENDMENT, UM, BROUGHT FORTH BY MYSELF AND CO-SIGNED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ AND PLUMBER. UM, IT IS ADDRESSING A, A DRESS CODE FOR WHAT WE HAVE IN A CODE CONSTITUTED AS DANCE HALLS, BUT IT'S NIGHTCLUBS AND NIGHTTIME ESTABLISHMENTS THAT PERMIT DANCING FOR THE PUBLIC. UM, AN ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE EXPERIENCED IT. I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED IT. UH, WHEN THEY GO TO CERTAIN, UH, NIGHT ESTABLISHMENTS, THERE MAY BE, UH, A DOORMAN AND THAT PERSON IS PERMITTING PEOPLE TO COME IN BASED ON DRESS. OKAY? AND WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THIS ARBITRARILY SELECTING WHO GETS IN AND WHO DOES NOT. AND THEY WILL USE THE DRESS CODE AS A WAY TO JUSTIFY THAT. AND SO THEY MAY SAY NO SHORTS. SO THEY MAY SAY NO TENNIS SHOES. AND THEN WHEN YOU GET IN, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GET IN STILL, YOU'LL SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ON SHORTS OR HAVE ON TENNIS SHOES. AND SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT IS FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SO THIS AMENDMENT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND IN THE SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES OCCURRING RIGHT NOW AT DANCE HALLS. OKAY? AND THE AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE, THAT YOU SHOULD POST THAT DRESS CODE SOMEWHERE NEAR THE ENTRANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE SO THAT IT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY GET UP THERE TO KNOW WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE, UH, TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT. AND IT ALSO PROTECTS THE ESTABLISHMENT FROM [07:10:01] INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STILL TRYING TO COME IN WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A POSTED DRESS CODE THAT'S ALREADY SET IN PLACE. MANY ESTABLISHMENTS AROUND THE CITY, NIGHTCLUBS, RESTAURANTS, MALLS, EVEN OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS HAS A DRESS CODE. AND IT IS POSTED SOMEWHERE NEAR THE ENTRANCE WHEN YOU GO IN. AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FAIR FOR US TO CONSIDER, AND IT SHOULD BE FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE TO THEIR DISPOSAL. UM, PEOPLE ASK THE QUESTION ON, OKAY, HOW DO YOU ENFORCE, NO, I DON'T EXPECT HPD OR INSPECTORS TO GO AND BE CHECKING AT EVERY NIGHTCLUB FOR THIS. I SEE THIS COMING INTO PLACE WHEN A PERSON DOES FEEL AS IF THEY WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. UH, THEY HAVE A CIVIL REMEDY NOW IN PURSUIT OF LITIGATION. AND BOTH SIDES, A PLAINTIFF OR DEFENDANT WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS ON THEIR BEHALF TO EITHER SHOW THERE WAS A POST-IT DRESS CODE OR THERE WAS NOT. SO IF SOMEONE CLAIMS, HEY, I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, THEY DID NOT LET ME IN BECAUSE OF THEY SAID I I HAD ON SHORTS. WELL, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH BASED ON THIS ORDINANCE, DID THE, DID THE NIGHTCLUB HAVE IT POSTED OR NOT? AND WHAT WAS THE POSTING? OKAY? AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE, THE REMEDY COMES IN. UH, I PASSED OUT TO YOU ALL SOME QUICK EXAMPLES THAT I'VE COME UP WITH. 'CAUSE I, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS YESTERDAY. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MANY CALLS ON THIS, BUT I DID RECEIVE A CALL THIS MORNING AND I KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A DISCUSSION. SO I WANT TO QUICKLY PRINT OUT SOME THINGS THAT I FOUND. I REACHED OUT TO ONE, UH, RESTAURANT OWNER WHO HAS THE DRESS CODE POSTED IN AT, AT THE ENTRANCE OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT. I WENT ONLINE TO POST, TO PRINT OUT WHAT OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS, UH, HAS ON THE WEBSITE. I, I SPOKE TO A, UM, SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. THEY SAID THEY HAVE THE DRESS CODE POSTED OUT AT, UH, THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. THEY EVEN WENT ON FURTHER TO SAY IF THERE WAS A BICYCLE COP, THEY CAME, UH, TO OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS. THEY REQUIRE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T COME IN WITH THE SHORTS. THE, THE OFFICER WOULD NEED TO PUT ON SOME PANTS. UH, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THE, AT THE STATE CAPITOL, YOU CAN'T GET ON THE, THE, THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE FLOOR WITHOUT A SUIT JACKET. THERE. THERE ARE DRESS CODES ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. EVEN IF YOU GO INTO THE GALLERIA, WHICH I PRINTED OUT, THE GALLERIA HAS A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT IS POSTED AT THE ENTRANCE FOR PATRONS TO KNOW WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE OR NOT. AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, THIS IS PUT FORTH IN THE SPIRIT. I, LIKE I SAID, OF TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A ADDRESS CODE, THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU. OKAY? WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU WHAT THE DRESS CODE HAS TO BE. YOU CAN HAVE THE DRESS CODE, SAY YOU ONLY CAN WEAR YELLOW, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE, RIGHT? BUT IF YOU DO HAVE A DRESS CODE, IT NEEDS TO BE POSTED FOR FAIRNESS FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF IN THE ESTABLISHMENT TO BE ABLE TO SET THOSE GUIDELINES. AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S PROPOSED. BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY, CAN I, UH, ASK YOU HOW MANY LANGUAGES IT'S GONNA BE IN? IT'S GONNA BE IN ENGLISH, AND IF THE CLUB OWNER WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT IN MORE LANGUAGES? NO. WE'RE YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE DRESS CODE. HOW MANY LANGUAGES ARE YOU GONNA PUT IT IN, IN OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY? WELL, LIKE I'VE SAID, THE FIRST TIME IT WILL BE IN ENGLISH. AND IF, IF, IF THE CLUB OWNER WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT IN MORE LANGUAGES, THAT THAT WILL BE UP TO THEM. UM, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE DOESN'T LIKE MANY OF OUR REQUIRED POSTINGS, IT WILL BE IN ENGLISH. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WE WERE REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY TO BE IN 50 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. OKAY. I'M SURE THAT WE COULD MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WHO WOULD REQUEST THAT. BUT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE PUT FORWARD AS A CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THE STANDARD LANGUAGE THAT WE USE HERE IS ENGLISH COUNT. MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS ORDINANCE IS A BIT OF, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT OVERREACH ENACTING AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS IMPOSES A BURDEN ON A BUSINESS. AND TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ORDINANCES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS THAT CAN'T BE ENFORCED. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TODAY. AND SO THIS ADDS STRESS TO A LIST OF ORDINANCES THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE. UM, AND IT SHOULD BE, IF THE BUSINESS WANTS TO PUT OUT LIKE THE GALLERIA DOES, THEY WANNA PUT OUT A DRESS CODE, IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY POST. THIS IS NOT GONNA PREVENT BUSINESSES. ALSO, EVEN IF IT IS POSTED, SAY YOU GO IN AND SOMEBODY'S WEARING SHORTS AND IT SAYS NO SHORTS, [07:15:01] BUSINESSES CAN STILL LET IN WHOEVER THEY WANT. THEY'RE STILL GONNA HAVE DISCRETION TO LET PEOPLE IN THAT AREN'T FOLLOWING THE DRESS CODE. UM, AND SO I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS. COUNCIL CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. AS SOMEONE THAT FORMALLY REPRESENTED MIDTOWN, WE GOT COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME OF SELECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE, UH, DISCRETION BY SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT APPLYING THE RULES FAIRLY OR EQUALLY BASED ON HOW SOMEBODY LOOKED. UM, I DID THOUGH HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY LEGAL. UM, THIS IN NO WAY BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH PROP A, IT'S GONE THROUGH LEGAL REVIEW. THIS IN NO WAY VIOLATES ANY STATE OR FEDERAL PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, WHAT IS THE REDRESS FOR SOMEONE? SO LET'S SAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S POINT, UH, UH, NIGHTCLUB IS CONTINUING TO NOT, UH, TO DISCRIMINATE, LET'S JUST CALL IT WHAT IT IS TO DISCRIMINATE BASED ON CERTAIN PATRONS AND OTHERS. UM, WHAT IS THE REDRESS? SO THERE, THERE'LL BE A COUPLE WAYS THAT WE CAN, UM, ENFORCE THIS. ONE, IF A CONSTITUENT REACHES OUT TO US AND, UH, NOTIFIES US OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENED, WE CAN THEN LOOK UPON AND BASED ON THIS ORDINANCE AND, UH, BE ABLE TO FIND THEM, UM, AS A MISDEMEANOR CITATION. AND I THINK MANY OF OUR CODES, IF I'M NOT, UH, MISTAKEN, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, THAT ANY VIOLATION OF A CITY ORDINANCE IS A, UM, IS A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT. IT WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO BE ENFORCED IN THE, IN THE EVENT THAT A PERSON WANTS TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION. AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK IT BECOMES, UM, MUCH MORE, UM, MUCH MORE HEAVY AND PUNITIVE TO THAT ESTABLISHMENT, BUT IT ALSO WILL ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT TO HAVE A PROTECTION TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, NO, WE DO HAVE A POSTING HERE. THE INDIVIDUAL WAS TRYING TO, UH, GAIN ENTRY WHEN THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES OF THE, OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. AND THEY WOULD HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS AS WELL. BUT IT WOULD ALLOW, FOR EXAMPLE, AGAIN, IN A PRIVATE COURSE OF ACT CAUSE OF ACTION. PREVIOUSLY, SOMEBODY THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST HAS NO WAY TO, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THEY HAVE NO, THEY HAVE NO TANGIBLE EVIDENCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT CURRENTLY, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN REFLECTING CHAIR, THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION REACHED OUT TO ME YESTERDAY AND SAID, THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH THIS. UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY AREN'T IN THE BUSINESS OF A DANCE HALL, THEY'VE GOT A DANCE FLOOR, UH, THEY DON'T LIKE IT. AND TO COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN'S POINT, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OVERREACH. UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE PUBLIC IS JUST ACHING ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE. UH, I MEAN, THESE ARE PRIVATE BUSINESSES. THEY OWN THEIR PROPERTY. UH, MOST ALL OF THEM PRETTY MUCH HAVE A POLICY, RIGHT, TO REFUSE SERVICE. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE LAWS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM DISCRIMINATING BASED ON SPECIFIC CRITERIA. THOSE LAWS ALREADY EXIST. IF ANYBODY'S BEING DISCRIMINATED ON THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUE. SO WE ALREADY HAVE ISSUES ENFORCING OUR ORDINANCES AS IT IS FOR THE CLUBS. I MEAN, WE HAVE ALL THE TIME PEOPLE COME IN HERE TALK ABOUT VIOLATING THE NOISE ORDINANCE, UH, OCCUPANCY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALLOWED IN A PLACE. SO WE'RE GONNA ADD ANOTHER ORDINANCE. I MEAN, WHY DON'T WE ENFORCE THE ONES WE HAVE ALREADY? AND WHEN WE DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT ADDING SOMETHING ELSE TO IT. I MEAN, THIS, THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME AT ALL. COUNCILLOR MAYORS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET SAY I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT BEHIND, UH, THIS PROPOSAL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE SAID THAT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE BY ESTABLISHMENTS THAT PURPORT TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IS UNACCEPTABLE ANYWHERE, AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN HOUSTON. SO I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT. UM, THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION DID REACH OUT TO ME AS WELL, ALTHOUGH THE ORDINANCE, UM, BUT ON ITS FACE APPLIES TO DANCE HALLS. IF YOU READ THE DEFINITIONS. IT ALSO ENCOMPASSES NIGHTCLUBS AND WOULD ALSO ENCOMPAS, UH, UH, ENCOMPASSED A LOT OF OUR RESTAURANTS. AND SO THEY HAVE A CONCERN. UM, MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL IS THAT, UH, OUR ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WOULD I'M THINKING, BE, UH, CHARGED WITH ENFORCING THIS, UH, NEW ORDINANCE, UH, HAS NOT HAD THIS VERY LONG, THIS LANGUAGE. [07:20:01] AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GET INPUT FROM THEM AS WELL. AND TO SEE WHAT, IF ANY, AMENDMENTS THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, UH, AND A RA WOULD SUGGEST. SO, UM, UH, I'LL OFFER A FRIENDLY TAG TO GIVE US A WEEK TO LOOK INTO THESE ISSUES SO WE CAN HAVE A, A MORE FULL DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROCEDURAL ISSUES. I'LL JOIN THE TAG. WILL YOU LEAVE THE TAG OPEN FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? ABSOLUTELY, YES. OKAY. DAVIS IS NEXT. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COUNCILMAN POLL. I, I JUST WANT TO GET MORE CLARITY. I KNOW COUNCILMAN STATED HE GETS IT, BUT I, I DON'T, I I WOULD LIKE, IF YOU WOULD TO, TO REALLY KIND OF GO A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, FURTHER IN, IN REGARDS TO, AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THE, OF THIS IN REGARDS TO THE DRESS CODE. GIVE ME SURE. SO, UM, FOR A LONG TIME, ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE USED THE DRESS CODE AS A WAY TO, UM, EITHER DISCRIMINATE OR LIMIT WHO THEY ALLOW IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENT, RIGHT? OKAY. SO IT IS A PRESSING ISSUE, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OF THIS. AND IF YOU CAN LOOK AT MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, WHEN WE POSTED THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE SAID, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME OVER AND OVER, RIGHT? UM, AND SO I'VE LIVED THIS, ACTUALLY WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. THE CONTROLLER AND I, UH, WERE OUT IN AN ESTABLISHMENT. UM, THEY WERE GIVING HIM A HARD TIME, UH, TO GET IN, AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS BECAUSE HE HAD ON TENNIS SHOES, OKAY? UH, WE WERE ABLE TO FINALLY GET IN AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH. AND THEN WHEN WE, WE GOT IN, WE SAW THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN HERE WITH TENNIS SHOES ON, RIGHT? AND IT BROUGHT BOTH OF US TO SAY, WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS OVER AND OVER, WHETHER IT'S ON WASHINGTON OR MIDTOWN, UH, PLACES IN MY DISTRICT THAT USE THE DRESS CODE AS A WAY TO LIMIT WHO COMES IN. ALL RIGHT? AND IT IS NEVER STANDARD. IT'S ALWAYS ARBITRARY. AND AS WE WERE DISCUSSING IT, I MENTIONED THAT, WELL, I'M A LAWMAKER NOW, AND IF WE SEE THAT THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE GETTING DISCRIMINATED, WHY WOULD WE NOT TRY TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE WHILE WE'RE IN THESE SEATS THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM GOING THROUGH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES? OKAY. AND SO, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, YOU MAY NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE, BUT I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, JUST BECAUSE THERE MAY BE LIMITED RESOURCES TO ENFORCE SOMETHING, WHICH WE CAN SAY ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING, RIGHT? THE WAY THAT WE WERE TRYING TO REALLY PUSH FOR PROHIBITIVE YARD PARKING ENFORCEMENT YESTERDAY, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S LIMITED WAYS TO ENFORCE IT, IT STILL NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT IS NECESSARY TO, TO PROTECT THOSE FROM DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. AND THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S THE INTENT BEHIND THE AMENDMENT. OKAY? SO, AND I, AND I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT, I WASN'T THERE AT THE TIME THIS WAS DONE, BUT I, AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT THERE. I'M SURE THERE ARE PLACES THAT MAY USE THAT, THAT I OPPORTUNITY TO DISCRIMINATE WHO COMES IN. BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE, SHOULD BE TAKEN UP FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU UNDERSTAND? YEAH. AND I AGREE WITH YOU, YOU, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE ORDINANCE, WHEN YOU TAKE SOMETHING TO COURT, YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REAL TANGIBLE EVIDENCE TO PROVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WHEN YOU HAVE, WHEN YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THAT THERE IS A POSTAGE, AND THEN SOMEONE DOES PURSUE A LEGAL CLAIM, THE AGGRIEVED PARTY CAN SHOW THAT THERE EITHER WAS NOT A POSTING OR NOT. AND EVEN THE ESTABLISHMENT IS ABLE TO SHOW THAT THERE, THERE, THAT THERE IS A POSTING, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND LET ME JUST SAY, AND I'LL MOVE ON, LET OTHERS SPEAK. BUT I GUESS MY, MY THING IS I DON'T SUPPORT DISCRIMINATION AT ANY LEVEL, YOU KNOW, AND SOMETIMES WE CAN MAKE DECISION ABOUT THINGS THAT TAKES THE RIGHTS AWAY FROM SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY FEEL IS, RIGHT. YEAH. WELL, THE, THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER IS CLAIMING TO HAVE A DRESS CODE, RIGHT? WHICH IS THEIR PREROGATIVE. NO ISSUES WITH THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S, BUT IF, IF YOU, AS A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SAY THAT YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE, WELL, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT THE, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF WHAT IT IS? IF YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT HER NIECE CAME IN TOWN. SHE PICKED HER UP FROM THE AIRPORT. SHE WENT, I'M NOT GONNA NAME THE RESTAURANT. SHE WENT TO A RESTAURANT, UH, AND HER NIECE HAD ON YOGA PANTS. THE RESTAURANT SAID, CAN'T [07:25:01] ALLOW YOU TO HAVE YOGA PANTS ON IN THE DINING ROOM. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO TO THE BAR. AND THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHERE'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE HAVE A DRESS CODE. AND IT'S POSTED AT THE FRONT, AND THEY SAW IT, AND THEY MOVED TO THE BAR AREA. THIS IS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IF, IF YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE, UM, ESTABLISHMENT AND YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE, IT IS RESPONSIBLE TO THEN ALERT THE PUBLIC OF THAT DRESS CODE. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU DON'T WANT TO ALERT THE PUBLIC, THE QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY NOT? WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO PUT FORTH THE POLICY OF ENTRY NEAR THE ENTRANCE? THE ONLY REASON YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO DO SO IS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE SUCH WIDE LATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO ARBITRARILY DECIDE WHO COMES IN. BUT IF YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE OR A, A POLICY FOR ENTRANCE, OR YOU SHOULD WANT TO PUT THAT POLICY NEAR THE ENTRANCE SO PEOPLE CAN BE AWARE. IF NOT, IT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING. COUNCILOR PLUMMER, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR POLLER FOR DOING THIS. I WILL SAY THAT I'VE BEEN, I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENTER PLACES MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT MY SONS HAVE LITERALLY HOPPED. I MEAN, THEY, THEY'VE COME HOME EARLY, SOMETIMES SAID, MOM, I CAN'T, WE COULDN'T GET IN. AND THEY HAVE NO REASON WHY THEY CAN'T GET IN. WELL, YOU SEE THREE BLACK BOYS WALKING IN WITH FOUR OF THEIR FRIENDS, AND ALL OF THEM MAY BE DRESSED DIFFERENTLY, AND THERE'S NO IDENTIFICATION OF WHAT'S ON THAT DOOR. AND THEY JUST ARBITRARILY, THEY LITERALLY WILL GO AND PICK YOU. AND YOU, YOU, I MEAN, LITERALLY IN YOUR FACE, IT IS, IT IS BLATANT DISCRIMINATION. AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE HAVE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE HERE, UM, IT NEEDS TO BE DEFINED, AND IT NEEDS TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR ON WHAT IT IS. AND WE NEED TO ELIMINATE THE GRAY AREA. THESE ARE LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS EXPERIENCE, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN PLACE, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THEY DON'T SHARE IT. THEY SHARE IT AMONGST THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR PEER GROUPS, BUT THEY DON'T SHARE IT WITH LAWMAKERS BECAUSE IT'S NEVER EVEN AN IDEA OR CONCEPT OF THEIR MIND. THAT'S POSSIBLE. SO I'M OBVIOUSLY FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT'S GONNA PROTECT MY BOYS AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN AND, AND OTHER FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR CO-SIGNING. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, YES. TO COUNCILMAN POLLARD'S POINT, I HAVE BEEN DENIED ENTRY FOR IN MY LIFE. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE. I DON'T TYPICALLY GO TO A LOT OF PLACES WHERE IT'S AN ISSUE. UH, I'VE ALSO RUN PEOPLE OUTTA MY BUSINESS AND TOLD 'EM, DON'T EVER COME BACK. UM, AND TO COUNCILMAN PLUMMER'S POINT, IF THEY'RE BEING DISCRIMINATED BECAUSE THEY'RE THREE BLACK BOYS, THERE'S ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW, YOU CAN'T DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE. SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THIS GETS IT. AND THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE AWAY THE BUSINESS'S DISCRETION ON HOW THEY DO THEIR BUSINESS. I MEAN, I KNOW WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, YOU GO TO THE CLUBS AND THEY LET ALL THE WOMEN IN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE GUYS WERE THE ONES THAT MAYBE DIDN'T GET TO GO IN. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST HOW THEY RUN THEIR BUSINESS. AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT DISCRIMINATING ON RACE, I DON'T SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. AND IF THEY ARE, I HOPE THEY SUE. I HOPE THEY WIN. COUNCILOR CAMAN, THE POINT IS THAT ESTABLISHMENTS ARE DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF RACE. AND IN A CIVIL RIGHTS CASE, THE BURDEN IS SO HIGH IN TERMS OF PROSECUTION. UH, WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND WE KNOW WHAT DRESS CODE CAN BE CODE FOR. AND YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER. THERE ARE WOMEN THAT ARE SELECTED TO GO INTO NIGHTCLUBS BECAUSE OF HOW THEY LOOK OR DON'T LOOK. AND THAT IS WRONG TOO. BUT WE HAVE AN ISSUE BEFORE US WHERE WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND WE KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING ABLE TO CIRCUMVENT THAT. UH, SO I RESPECT THE TAG, AND I ABSOLUTELY WANNA HEAR FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, BUT TO, UH, NOT RECOGNIZE THE DISCRIMINATION THAT IS TAKING PLACE. UH, I, I THINK IS, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD FOR IT IS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THIS IS VERY REAL AND THIS IS HAPPENING. AND WHEN OUR COLLEAGUES SAY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM, THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR CHILDREN, UH, WE NEED TO LISTEN. UH, SO I HEAR YOU, AND Y'ALL HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT, THOUGH I DO WITH THE CAVEAT, WANT TO HEAR FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT UNINTENTIONALLY HARMING OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT USING THIS AS A DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE [07:30:01] THAT PRECLUDE, UM, ESTABLISHMENTS FROM DISCRIMINATING BASED ON RACE. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THE ESTABLISHMENT WILL USE SOMETHING ELSE. THEY WILL USE A DRESS CODE, OKAY? BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T DO IT FOR A RACE, BUT THEY CAN SELECT BASED ON DRESS CODE. AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT NOW SHEDS LIGHT ON WHAT THAT DRESS CODE IS, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, IT COULD BE A DRESS CODE FOR ME, BUT IT'S NOT ONE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN BASED ON I HAVE ON SHORTS, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WAS ABLE TO GET IN BASED ON, HE GOT IN, HE HAS ON SHORTS. NOW, THE ESTABLISHMENT WILL SAY, WELL, WE HAVE A DRESS CODE. I WILL, I MAY FEEL I'M FEEL I'M GETTING DISCRIMINATED UPON BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF MY RACE. WELL, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, NO, IT'S THE DRESS CODE. AND I'M LIKE, WELL, WHAT'S THE DRESS CODE? AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WAY IN WHICH, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THEY CAN SWITCH THE DRESS CODE PER PERSON. IT'S, IT'S NO SHORTS FOR ME. IT'S NO HATS FOR HIM. IT'S NO TENNIS SHOES FOR HER. AND SO THIS JUST ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE THAT IF YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE, WHICH IS FINE, YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT THE DRESS CODE IS, BECAUSE THAT IS ONLY FAIR. AND THAT IS WHAT IS TRANSPARENT COUNCILOR THOMAS. SURE. UM, I, LET ME JUST, UM, ADD THIS COMMENT. YOU KNOW, I CAME UP, UH, THROUGH A TIME IN THE LATE NINETIES, IN THE TWO THOUSANDS IN THE CLUBS WHERE YOU LITERALLY HAD TO WEAR BUSINESS CLOTHES TO GET INTO A CLUB. YOU LITERALLY, THEY WOULD DENY YOU IF YOU WERE NOT IN PROFESSIONAL WEAR TO GO TO A HAPPY HOUR. YOU LITERALLY HAD TO WEAR THE CLOTHES FROM WORK TO GO OUT. THIS IS, THIS IS NOT NEW. THIS IS LIVED EXPERIENCE. AND YOU'LL EVEN SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PEOPLE REMINISCING ABOUT HOW YOU HAD TO WEAR SUITS AND TIES TO GET IN. I MEAN, THIS IS A, A REAL THING. UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THERE'S NOTHING ON THE BOOK. SO WE HAVE NO PLACE TO, HOW DO YOU DOCUMENT IT? WE KNOW BECAUSE IT'S A SHARED EXPERIENCE. AND BUSINESS OWNERS KNOW, NO, YOU CAN'T DISCRIMINATE BY RACE, UH, ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE, ALL OF THESE THINGS. THAT'S EASY. IT'S, IT'S NOT JIM CROW, IT'S JAMES CROW, ESQUIRE. WE GOTTA FIGHT, RIGHT? . SO LIKE, WE KNOW THAT, AND THAT IS IT. SO WHEN YOU CAN SAY YOU CAN GET IN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN, THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. I I, I SUPPORT THE ITEM AND I WILL WHEN IT COMES BACK. UM, BECAUSE ALSO IT ALLOWS BUSINESS OWNERS TO SAY, THIS IS THE TYPE OF, UH, PATRON WE WANT. SIMILAR TO THE RESTAURANT, RIGHT? IF YOU CAN'T WEAR YOGA PANTS, UH, UM, UH, IN, IN A DINING ROOM, UH, THE FORMER MAYOR OF ATLANTA, KEISHA, UH, LANCE BOTTOMS ACTUALLY HAS DOCUMENTED THIS ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA THREE TIMES, HOW SHE'S GONE TO RESTAURANTS AS THE FORMER MAYOR, AND THEY SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T COME IN. 'CAUSE SHE HAD LIKE A JEAN JACKET ON, AND SOME LIKE CASUAL PANTS. A FORMER MAYOR, LIKE, THIS IS REAL. SO, UM, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST DEFAULT ON, UH, WHAT ONE GROUP SAYS. I THINK WE, WE CAN HEAR FOR THEM, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO COME. SO THEN WE CAN SHARE WHAT REAL EXPERIENCES ARE HAPPENING, UM, AT THESE, UM, UH, CLUBS, RESTAURANTS, SO THEY CAN, ONE, BE BETTER BUSINESSES AND HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SPENDING MONEY THERE AND DESIRE TO SPEND MONEY THERE. BUT THEN ALSO, I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE CITY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. LAST COMMENT. MAYOR, IF I MAY, I, I JUST, I, I, TRUST ME AT MY AGE FOR ROUND MS. HOE, I COULD TELL YOU SOME STORIES OF THIS IN REGARD TO DISCRIMINATION, BUT I DON'T, I I SEE THE INTENT COUNCIL, PAUL, I REALLY DO, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IN MY MINDSET TO CREATE ANOTHER PROCESS THAT COULD BE DISCRIMINATORY BY ASSUMING THAT SOMEONE IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THEM BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, OR RACE OR SOMETHING. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, IF THAT IDENTIF, IF THAT REALLY CLARIFIES THAT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT IS WHAT'S IN SOMETIME IN, MAYBE IN PEOPLE'S MIND OR WHATEVER. BUT I, I MEAN, MY, MY CONCERN IS, IS WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER, BECAUSE LET'S SAY IN THE CASE WHERE IT SAYS, WELL, YOU CAN'T COME IN WITH TENNIS SHOES, AND THEN SOMEONE WOULD SAY, WELL, IT'S REALLY NOT TENNIS SHOES. THIS IS ANOTHER FORM OF SHOE. IT LOOKED LIKE A TENNIS SHOE, BUT IT'S NOT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WASN'T THE CASE THERE, BUT I'M SAYING IT COULD CREATE MORE AND MORE AND MORE ISSUES AROUND IT, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND I THINK THAT PUTS A LOT OF WEIGHT ON PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY RESTAURANT PATRONS. YOU KNOW, PLUMBER, COUNCILMAN AND PLUMBER. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THIS, BUT Y'ALL, PEOPLE DO IT ALL THE TIME. WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION, YOU HAVE TO PUT A WRAP ON. YOU CAN'T WEAR YOUR SWIMSUIT INSIDE THE LOBBY OF A HOTEL. UM, IF YOU GO TO SOME RESTAURANTS, THERE'S A NO CELL PHONE POLICY, AND IT'S [07:35:01] LISTED ON THE MENU. PEOPLE DO IT ALL THE TIME. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A NO CELL PHONE POLICY. THERE'S ONE RESTAURANT UNTIL I WAS ON THE PHONE AND THEY SAID, MA'AM, YOU HAVE TO GET OFF YOUR PHONE. AND I'M LIKE, WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT? AND LIKE, IT'S ON THE MENU, LITERALLY IN SMALL PRINT. YOU CANNOT TALK ON YOUR PHONE AT THE BAR. IT MAKES A TON OF SENSE, BUT IT'S WRITTEN DOWN, IT'S VERY CLEAR. THIS REMOVES THE GRAY AREA AND MAKES IT AND DELINEATES IT. SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION. MY SON WENT TO A CLUB, HAD A HAD HAT ON, THEY SAID, NO HATS. HE TOOK THE HAT OFF AND THEY SAID, YOU STILL CAN'T COME IN. 'CAUSE YOUR HAT'S IN YOUR HAND. I MEAN, IT'S JUST, BUT AT LEAST THERE, BUT IT WASN'T WRITTEN ANYWHERE. AND THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE LITERALLY GOING INSIDE WITH HATS ON. SO MY POINT IS, IS THAT THIS JUST CLEARS THE LINES, SO THE GRAY AREA ISN'T THERE. AND, UM, AND I, I MEAN, WELCOME THE TAB. OBVIOUSLY I'M INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. AND, UM, THANK YOU. CAN, UH, MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MY QUESTION IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL OF A BUSINESS. IF YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE, YOU POST IT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DRESS CODE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO POST IT. CORRECT? AND WE'RE NOT EVEN RESTRICTING HOW YOU POST IT. IT JUST NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHERE NEAR THE ENTRANCE. IN THE PICTURE THAT I'VE, I'VE PUT OUT, THIS INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANT HAS A STAND THAT THEY CAN MOVE, THEY CAN BRING IT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. YOU CAN HAVE A, YOU CAN HAVE A POSTING THAT IS IN A FRAME. YOU CAN HAVE A POSTING THAT YOU JUST TACK UP BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, LIMITED HOURS. WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BRING RESTRICTIONS OR OVERBURDEN, UH, A BUSINESS OWNER. WE'RE NOT EVEN TELLING YOU WHAT THE DRESS CODE HAS TO BE. BUT WE ARE SAYING, IF YOU HAVE A POLICY FOR ENTRANCE, IT SHOULD BE POSTED NEAR THE ENTRANCE AT THE ENTRANCE. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. ITEM 40 EIGHT'S TAGGED. AND [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] NOW WE'LL MOVE TO POPOFF MAYOR PRO TEM. YOU SECOND. I GOTTA GO. OKAY. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK, I'LL PASS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I JUST, UH, FIRST WANT TO THANK, UH, BRENDA CAVANS, UH, THE PIO OFFICER FOR, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING HER INTERNS. UM, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTERNS, ALLISON, UM, SOLANO, WHO, WHO MORALES, WHO IS CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT U OF H, UM, WORKING ON A, A BACHELOR'S, UH, IN JOURNALISM. UH, ALSO ISAAC NATHAN, A 2025 GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS. HE'S EARNING, HE EARNED HIS BACHELOR'S IN COMMUNICATION WITH A MINOR IN ADVERTISING. JUST WANNA SAY, UH, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL ENJOYED YOUR TIME HERE. UH, THIS LAST FOUR HOURS OR SO, , UM, CONVERSATIONS ARE ALWAYS GREAT. UM, AND JUST KNOW THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S READY FOR Y'ALL WHENEVER Y'ALL ARE READY, READY TO, YOU KNOW, JUMP ON BOARD. UM, AND ALTHOUGH THE MAYOR LEFT, I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I BRING UP, UH, A SERIOUS CONVERSATION. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO DISCOVERY GREEN, OVER THE PAST, UH, MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF, WE'VE HAD NOT JUST, UM, UH, THE SCOOTERS THAT HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE IN DOWNTOWN, BUT MORE SO ATVS. UH, WE'VE HAD ATVS UP TO ABOUT 20 OR 30, UH, ALL AT ONCE IN THE EVENING. UM, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH, UH, CREATING, CREATING CHAOS AND HAVOC, UH, UH, AT DISCOVERY GREEN AND EVEN IN EAST DOWNTOWN. AND SO, UH, WANTED TO BRING THAT, THAT TO THE MAYOR'S ATTENTION. UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN COM COMMUNICATION WITH CHIEF DIAZ, UM, ALSO WITH THE FOLKS, UH, STAKEHOLDERS, UH, THE, THE HOTEL FOLKS, AND STAKE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN DOWNTOWN. I WANT TO, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR, UH, JOINING, UH, JOINING ME AT A MEETING, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME, UH, SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO START HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH SCOOTERS, UH, IN DOWNTOWN, UH, THAT CAN SPILL OVER TO ATVS THAT HAVE BEEN PRETTY RECKLESS, UH, IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM. UH, REALLY QUICKLY, WE HAVE SUMMER INTERNS IN OUR OFFICE, UH, THAT ARE ROTATE IN AND OUT. UH, BUT WE HAVE ONE THAT IS SHADOWING ME, UH, ON YESTERDAY AND TODAY I WANNA RECOGNIZE HER. MS. JACQUELINE WYNN, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND. UH, SHE IS AT, UH, A STUDENT AT U OF H, AND SHE IS, UM, LOOKING TO GET INTO LAW AND POLITICS, AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTO. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A LONGTIME COMMUNITY MEMBER IN OUR KINGWOOD, ANITA THOMAS FRAZIER, WHO PASSED AWAY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, HER SERVICES, UH, SATURDAY, AND SHE WAS 98, AND SHE WAS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, UH, REAL ESTATE, UM, AGENT. SHE OWNED A REMA, UH, THE ORIGINAL RE MAX IN KINGWOOD, AND SHE WAS JUST A POWERHOUSE OF, OF JOY AND HAPPINESS, AND SHE WAS DRIVING UP UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND JUST LIVED THE FULLEST LIFE. AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE HER A GOOD HOME GOING [07:40:01] ON SUN ON SATURDAY. BUT AT 98, WE SHOULD ALL ASPIRE TO BE OUR GOOD FRIEND, ANITA FRAZIER. GOD BLESS. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MADISON AND BRIANNA, THE TWO NEWEST DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERNS TO THE OFFICE. UH, THEY HAVE JOINED US AS OF THIS MONTH, AND THEY WILL BE INTERNING FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. UM, SO THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. THEY'VE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP AND A PARADE OVER THE PAST WEEKEND, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING THE FULL EXPERIENCE RIGHT AWAY. UH, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM. THEY'RE GONNA BE GREAT ADDITIONS TO THE DISTRICT H TEAM, AND, UH, WE'LL COME BY AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INTRODUCED TO, TO ALL THE OFFICES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM. I, I, FIRST OF ALL, LIKE TO, UH, THANK OEM FOR GREAT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BRIEFING. THEY PROVIDED, UH, TO ELECTED OFFICIALS ON JUNE 26TH. UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, SO I WANTED TO TAKE OUR OUT TODAY TO THANK THEM, THE TIME TO THANK THEM ALL FOR, FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR US, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON. THEY ALSO GAVE, UH, MY INTERNS A TOUR OF THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER, AND, AND I HEAR THEY ARE ROLLING OUT SOME INCREDIBLE UPDATES ON THE NEAR FUTURE, INCLUDING LIVE STREAMING CAPABILITIES. RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO USE AN APP TO LIVE STREAM TO NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER. UH, NEXT I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND A RA FOR ACCOMMODATING OUR OFFICE, UH, SETTING UP THE APPOINTMENTS FOR, UH, MY INTERNS. I THINK THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTING A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND TRY TO GET THEM AS MUCH LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY GOVERNMENT. I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR SUPPORTING THAT. AND, UH, ONE OTHER THING, I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO HIGHLIGHT MY UPCOMING TOWN HALL MEETING AT SUNNYSIDE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, JULY 21ST. UH, COUNCILMAN SHABAS, UM, AND SOUTH OTHERS EXCITED TO BE HOLDING THE EVENT, UH, THERE IN DISTRICT D. AND WE WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM FOR OUR SV PING AND CERTAINLY THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VITAL THAT WE TAKE A LOT OF THINGS TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHERE THE CONSTITUENTS ARE. UH, WE WON'T HIT EVERYBODY, BUT WE KNOW WE SHOULD GET THOSE WHO ARE MAINLY ABOUT, UH, CERTAIN ISSUES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GO TO THEM. UM, ALONG WITH HAVING USUAL RESOURCES TABLES FROM THE CITY OFFICES, WE WILL ALSO HAVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BECAUSE WE ARE IN THAT SEASON. AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON. THE PANELISTS WILL INCLUDE, UH, OUR CHIEF, UH, LARRY, SO WHITE, UH, CHIEF OF RESILIENT OFFICER ANGELA BLAIN, UH, FIRE CHIEF THOMAS. UM, TOM MUNOZ, OEM, FEMA, CENTER POINT RED CROSS, GULF COAST REGION, SEAN SCHULTZ, UH, DON DIRECTOR, HERB SIMS, AND SOLID WASTE, UH, INTERIM DIRECTOR, UH, MR. HANSON AT THIS EVENT. WE ALSO ARE GOING TO GIVE AWAY, UH, THOSE 18, UH, PURIFIERS FROM DAIKIN. AND I WANT TO THANK DAIKIN FOR THAT GENEROUS DONATION AS THEY DID FOR OTHERS, AND ALSO MY FRIEND NANCY SIMS FOR THAT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS, ENTERPRISE MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING FOR SPONSORING THIS EVENT FOR US. AS OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE AND AT LARGE DON'T GET CONSTITUENT DOLLARS, SO WE, WE GO OUT AND WE ADVOCATE TO OTHERS TO HELP US BRING THE MESSAGE AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY. AND LASTLY, ON A SAD NOTE TOO, ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE LIVES WE, UH, EXPERIENCED, UH, IN, UH, CURVILLE AND HUNT TEXAS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK HPD FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE TO THE LOSS OF TWO GENTLEMEN IN, UM, IN WILD HEATHER COMMUNITY, UM, THE, THE, UH, FLORES FAMILY AND THE, AND THE FUENTES FAMILY, F FUENTES FAMILY, AND THE LAWS OF THESE TWO GENTLEMEN WHO WERE JUST WALKING IN THE PARK. AND I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, TATUM FOR BEING ON TOP OF IT. I WAS WITH THEM LAST FRIDAY WITH CRIME STOPPERS, AS WELL AS ON THIS PAST MONDAY NIGHT, UH, BOTH TIMES TO PRAY WITH THAT COMMUNITY. BUT WE, THIS PERSON WAS APPREHENDED, UH, AND THANK GOD THEY WERE QUICKLY APPREHENDED WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND THE HELP OF [07:45:01] THE COMMUNITY. AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY I JUST PRAY FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND PRAY THAT, UH, WE WILL ALL STAY SAFE AND BE CAREFUL IN THE UPCOMING, UH, WEEKENDS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UH, THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY, JULY 12TH FROM 9:00 AM UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING DOWN IN, UH, CLEAR LAKE IN THE SOUTH, CLEAR LAKE TON AIRFIELD. AND, UH, ALSO YESTERDAY AFTER THE, UH, PUBLIC SESSION, I WENT TO THE CRIME STOPPERS EVENT, UH, FOR THE PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN. AND, UH, IT WAS TERRIBLY SAD, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD ALL TRY AND MAKE OCCASIONALLY. UH, EACH ONE OF THE PEOPLE THERE GOT TO TELL THEIR STORY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEIR LOVED ONE. UH, IT, YOU KNOW, I THINK CRIMES COMING DOWN IN THE CITY, THAT'S A GREAT THING, BUT THERE'S STILL WAY TOO MUCH, AND IT CERTAINLY BRINGS TO LIGHT JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT A STOP TO THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, SEVERAL DISTRICT I, UH, CONCERNS. I NEED TO RAISE ONE, AND I SAY THIS PUBLICLY, IF THE MEDIA WANTS TO MEET ME OUT THERE, HAPPY TO. UH, AT 8 49 WEST 26TH STREET, WE HAD BEEN WORKING A CASE FOR OVER A YEAR, UH, ABANDONED CONSTRUCTION SITE WHERE A PIT, UH, WAS DUG AND THEN LEFT, HAS BEEN SITTING WITH WATER, UH, FOR OVER A YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DON IN PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO JUNE, 2024. AND WE SEEM TO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON THE BOOKS, UH, REGARDING HITS WITH WATER SITTING IN THEM. SO DON HAS NOT HAD THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY. PUBLIC WORKS IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN. WE HAD EVEN TRIED TO MAKE PERSONAL CONTACT WITH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO TRY TO MITIGATE. NOW THAT WATER WITH THE ADDITIONAL RAINS THAT WE'VE HAD IS OVERFLOWING AND GOING, UH, HITTING PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS, UH, APPROACHING THEIR HOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SUFFICE IT TO SAY, UM, WE ARE CALLING OUT THE DEVELOPER AND THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT, UH, THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS, UH, BEFORE IT GETS EVEN WORSE. UH, IT IS NOT SAFE, AND IT IS CREATING A FLOOD RISK. THEN WE HAVE. UM, AND FOR CITY LEGAL, UH, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GRAPPLE WITH THE CONUNDRUM OF CITY ALLEYWAYS. THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE IN DISTRICT C, UH, BOTH IN THE HEIGHTS AND IN UNIVERSITY PLACE. AND THE CITY DOES NOT, AS A PRACTICE MAINTAIN ALLEYWAYS. HOWEVER, IN THE HEIGHTS, THERE'S THIS WHOLE LEGAL QUAGMIRE BECAUSE WHEN THE LAND WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY, THERE'S CERTAIN CONDITIONS ON IT, SO THE RESIDENTS CANNOT EVEN MAINTAIN IT. UH, AND THERE WAS A RECENT NEWS STORY, RIGHTFULLY SO, ABOUT THESE MAJOR PITS FILLED WITH WATER WHERE RESIDENTS CANNOT EVEN PRETTY MUCH DRIVE THROUGH AT THIS POINT TO ACCESS THEIR HOMES, UH, ON, IN ONE OF THESE ALLEYWAYS IN THE HEIGHTS. SO I'M, I'M RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING, UH, RESOLUTION, SOME TYPE OF MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THE CITY'S ADDRESSING ALLEYWAYS AND THE GUIDANCE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THEY GOT, WHEN WE ESCALATED THIS PREVIOUSLY, WE GOT CONFLICTING INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE DONE. AND, UH, IT, IT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. SO I, I RAISE THOSE ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS. I DO WANT TO, UH, ENSURE EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR AT LARGE MEMBERS ARE WELCOME. UH, THIS THURSDAY AT WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FROM FIVE 30 TO SEVEN 30 WILL BE OUR FINAL INPUT SESSION FOR THIS PHASE OF THE WEST GRAY MASTER PLANNING PROCESS. WE HAVE HELD SEVERAL INFORMATION AND PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS, UH, FOR INDIVIDUALS, UH, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AS TO WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT WEST GRAY, UH, WITH THIS RE-ENVISIONING AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE COMING. AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED, UM, FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT, UH, AS WELL AS JUST THE COMMUNITIES OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL, UH, ON THIS AGENDA. WE DID PASS, UM, ON THREE ITEMS RELATED TO DURHAM SHEPHERD, PHASE TWO THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. UH, THIS PHASE ONE IS NEARING COMPLETION. IT'S LOOKING TERRIFIC. PHASE TWO IS ABOUT TO BEGIN AND IS FUNDED BY OVER 60 MILLION IN FEDERAL DOLLARS, UH, AND A LOCAL MATCH BY OUR, UH, MEMORIAL HEIGHTS TOURS, WHICH IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. I WANNA SPOTLIGHT THAT. WE ALSO HAD SECURED FOR THIS YEARS AGO, A $40 MILLION GRANT THROUGH HGA, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE CITY, AND HAS BEEN REPLICATED SINCE AS A NEW TOOL FOR DRAWING DOWN DOLLARS. UH, SO AGAIN, CRITICAL WATER AND SEWER WORK, INCLUDING PERTAINING [07:50:01] TO THE CONSENT DECREE. UH, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT IT'S MOVING FORWARD AND APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK WITH THAT. UM, I CLOSE, UH, IN REMEMBRANCE AND HONOR OF EVERYONE THAT, UH, WE AND THE TEXAS COMMUNITY HAVE LOST IN THE HILL COUNTRY FLOODS, UH, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE LOST SOMEONE, BUT ARE FOREVER IMPACTED, ALL OF THE CHILDREN THAT SAW THINGS, THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGET ALL OF THE FAMILIES. UH, SO WE HOLD ALL OF THEM CLOSE. UH, AND I, I ASK THAT EVERYBODY BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER DURING THIS. UH, WE HAVE SEEN REMARKS MADE THAT ARE EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE AND INAPPROPRIATE, BUT THE LEVEL OF HATE, UM, AND FRUSTRATION, UH, AT A TIME WHEN THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON THESE FAMILIES AND NEEDS TO BE ON HEALING AND ON RECOVERY. SO WE HOLD THEM CLOSE AND IN OUR HEARTS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I TOO AM DEEPLY DISTURBED AND DISGUSTED BY THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS SERVING ON THE FOOD INSECURITY BOARD, AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE MAYOR AND HIS DECISION TO REMOVE HER FROM THAT ROLE. AND THIS SHOULD SERVE AS A CLEAR REMINDER THAT OUR BOARDS AND THOSE WHO SERVE ON THEM REPRESENT THE VALUES OF OUR CITY. ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO SPEW HATE AND TURN TRAGEDY INTO POLITICAL RHETORIC WHILE FAMILIES ARE MOURNING, HAS NO PLACE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LOST, LOVED ONES WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS. UM, TWO OF THE CAMP MYSTIC CAMPERS ARE HAVING SERVICES COMING UP. MOLLY DEWITT, HER FUNERAL WILL BE AT ST. JOHN ANI CATHOLIC CHURCH ON FRIDAY AT 2:30 PM AND MARGARET BELLOWS DAUGHTER, PATRICIA, DR. PATRICIA, AND WARREN BELLOWS, UH, WILL BE HAVING HER FUNERAL MONDAY AT 10 30 AT ST. VINCENT DEPAUL OFF OF HOLCOMBE. UM, WHEN DISASTER STRIKES HOUSTON, THE WHOLE STATE SHOWS UP. UM, THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO SHOW UP FOR THESE FAMILIES, WHETHER THEY'RE IN HOUSTON OR IN THE HILL COUNTRY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. UM, YOU, LIKE ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORIES, UM, FROM THE DEVASTATING FLOODS, UM, IN THE HILL COUNTRY, AND, UM, IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING, UM, THE AMOUNT OF LOSS THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED. UM, AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS CONNECTIONS. MY, MY SON GOES TO A HIGH SCHOOL, RECENT GRADUATE OF THAT HIGH SCHOOL IS MISSING. IT WAS A CAMP COUNSELOR AT CAMP MYSTIC, UM, A LAWYER I KNOW LOST HIS WIFE IN THE FLOODS. UM, AND, UH, THESE STORIES ARE JUST HEARTBREAKING. UH, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. UM, IT'S A REMINDER, I THINK, OF THE DANGERS WE FACE FROM, FROM OUR WEATHER, AND, UH, A REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT, UM, THOSE DANGERS AS WE START ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. SOME OF US, IF YOU'VE LIVED HERE VERY LONG, MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO, UH, BRUSH THOSE OFF AND, UH, NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. RECENTLY WE HEARD A PRESENTATION ON THE MOST RECENT KINDER SURVEY, WHICH SHOWED THAT A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS, UH, HAVE NOT BEEN MAKING THE EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS THAT THEY PROBABLY SHOULD BE. WE'RE BEHIND OTHERS IN THE NATION IN OUR STORM PREPAREDNESS. AND SO I JUST ENCOURAGE HOUSTONIANS NOT TO LET DOWN THEIR GUARD AND TO, UH, THINK ABOUT HOW BEST TO PREPARE FOR A SERIOUS HURRICANE THAT MIGHT COME OUR WAY. UM, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE MESSAGE I I WANT TO LEAVE. LET'S RESPECT THE DANGERS THAT COME, UH, FROM THE WEATHER THAT WE, THAT WE EXPERIENCE HERE IN HOUSTON, AND MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR, UH, ANY EMERGENCY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, I ALSO WANNA JOIN MY, UM, NAME WITH THE, UM, SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUES REGARDING THE FLOOD. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, AND I AM BLESSED THAT I DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT THOSE PARENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY IS GOING THROUGH. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT THE THIRD ANNUAL, UH, SWIM SAFETY EVENT IS HAPPENING ON SATURDAY, JULY 26TH. OUR, UH, FOUR YEAR OLDS TO EIGHT YEAR OLDS THAT LIST. WE HAVE A WAITING LIST, SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE THOSE IF, UH, IF YOU ARE TENANT UP, WE STILL HAVE SOME LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE. SO MEET US AT THE A LEAF AQUATICS CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT, OUTDOOR AFRO HOUSTON SWIM WAVES, AND COACH CPR. WE ARE EXCITED TO BRING THIS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, JUST WANNA ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT COMPU DOT WAS IN DISTRICT F TWO WEEKS AGO ON JUNE 28TH. [07:55:01] THEY DISTRIBUTED COMPUTERS TO 135 FAMILIES IN NEED. I WANNA APPRECIATE, UM, THE DISTRICT F TEAM FOR A RUNNING POINT ON THAT PROJECT. UM, AND THEN TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TEAM ON JULY 1ST, WE HAD A STAFF RETREAT WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT ALIGNMENT, UH, DEEPER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND HOW WE CAN BE BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE WEST SIDE. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WILL COME FROM OUR TIME, OUR REAL INTENTIONAL TIME TOGETHER. UM, I'M, I, I MENTIONED ALIGNMENT WITH THE DISTRICT F STAFF, BUT I WANNA TALK ABOUT MISALIGNMENT, UM, WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DISMANTLING OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION. UM, I WAS, UM, TAKEN BACK BY, UH, READING A POST, UM, OF, OF SHARING HOW THIS, UH, DIVISION WAS DISMANTLED AND THE HISTORY BEHIND IT. IT WAS INSTITUTED BY MAYOR LOUIS WELCH, UH, IN THE MIDST OF CIVIL RIGHTS UNREST IN THE CITY TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY TENSIONS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN, UH, A VERY IMPORTANT TIME. UH, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS, FROM THAT POINT, CENTERED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, AND HAVE BEEN SO INTENTIONAL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS SO THEY CAN REMOVE THE BARRIER AND THE FEAR AROUND LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM, IT'S MY FEAR, UH, THAT THE DISMANTLING OF THIS DIVISION RUINS THE, THE CREDIBILITY AND THE REPUTATION OUR DEPARTMENT HAS HAD, HAS HAD, NOT JUST AT A LOCAL LEVEL, BUT AT A NATIONAL LEVEL AROUND OUR COMMUNITY RELATIONS. AND I SPEAK DURING A TIME OF, OF BEING A JUNIOR COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE PEAK OF JOY FLOYD, WHAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO DO IN THIS CITY. NO OTHER CITY WAS ABLE TO MIRROR BECAUSE WE HAD OFFICERS WHO HAD DEEP RELATIONSHIPS, LEADERSHIP, POLICE CHIEFS THAT HAD DEEP RE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEADERS AND ADVOCATES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I FEAR THAT THAT MAY BE LOST, OR WE MAY DEGRADE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. AND ALTHOUGH OUR ADVOCATES MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN AGREEMENT WITH, UH, DECISIONS OR DIRECTIONS, THEY WERE AL, THEY ALWAYS KNEW THEY HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE. UM, AND SO FOR THAT, I, I, I AM CONCERNED AND I HOPE THAT, UH, WHATEVER THIS NEW METHOD IS, UH, THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE A PART OF THAT. UM, AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP THAT MATTERS MOST. UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT T.IS HOSTING A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING, UH, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 7TH, FROM FIVE TO SEVEN ON THE HIGHWAY 99 PART OF THE DISTRICT ON OUR FAR FAR WEST GRAND PARKWAY TO I 10 TO TWO 90. UM, THIS WILL INFORMATION WILL BE IN OUR NEWSLETTER. WE HAVE A SERIES OF THESE PROJECTS FROM T AND OTHER MUNICIPAL PARTNERS HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE A PART OF THAT, UH, CONVERSATION. I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT IN CHAMBERS, I HAVE TWO NEW STAFF PERSONS THAT HAVE JOINED THE DISTRICT F TEAM. SARAY ROBINSON, PLEASE STAND, GO AHEAD AND STAND FOR US. SORAY ROBINSON, UH, SHE'S OUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE. SHE'S HELPING EVERY, ALL THINGS CONSTITUENT SERVICES AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES LIKE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, ATTENDING CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, AND WORKING DIRECTLY WITH OUR RESIDENTS. SHE'S A PROUD PRODUCT OF SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, A GRADUATE OF TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY, AND SHE BRINGS A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF SERVING COMMUNITIES AND A STRONG COMMITMENT OF SERVICE. THANK YOU. UM, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE LISA ROSEBORO, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORS GO AHEAD AND STAND. UM, SHE IS HELPING ELEVATE DISTRICT F'S INITIATIVES, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE PRESS. AND SO I'M PROUD TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM. SHE'S A THREE TIME CANCER SURVIVOR, A VETERAN OF THE US MARINE CORPS, UH, A FORMER PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEF OF THE US MARINE CORPS AND A FORMER COLLEGIATE TRACK AND FIELD, ALL AMERICAN FROM PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY WITH OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN MEDIA AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. HAPPY TO HAVE THEM ON THE DREAM TEAM. AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE, THE BEST INTERNS THIS SIDE OF HOUSTON. UM, BEFORE I GO, LASTLY, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANNA BUMP UP TO RESIDENTS THAT ARE, UH, UH, WATCHING AND, AND ANYONE THAT MAY FIND THIS INFORMATION USEFUL. ON SATURDAY, JULY 12TH AT THE THIRD WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, FROM NINE 30 TO 1:00 PM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL HOST STEPPING INTO HOME OWNERSHIP. UH, THIS IS FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED FOR ANY OF THEIR ACTIVE PROGRAMS AND THEIR RESOURCES. SO COME OUT AND LEARN ABOUT, UM, ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS. WE RECENTLY RELEASED A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UP TO $120,000. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. UM, AND, AND SO I'LL REPEAT THAT INFORMATION. IT'S SATURDAY, JULY 12TH AT THE THIRD WARD, THIRD WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FROM NINE 30 TO 1:00 PM YOU CAN VISIT THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE FOR DETAILS, REGISTER, GET THERE, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, UH, MEET, UH, LEADERS THERE TO GET YOU ON THE A PATHWAY TO HOME OWNERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE DISTRICT, A TEAM. WE HAVE, UH, SOUTH POST OAK PANEL REPLACEMENT [08:00:01] COMING UP. RESIDENTS WILL BE VERY EXCITED. UM, ONCE THIS PROJECT IS DONE. UH, THERE, THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENT ALONG SOUTH POST OAK ROAD FROM TIDEWATER DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO ANDERSON ROAD. UM, WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE TO PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN THAT AREA AND ADHERE TO THE TRAFFIC CHANGES. UH, THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JANUARY OF 2026. AND THEN ON BEHALF OF, UH, CONSTABLE SMOKEY PHILLIPS, HE'S HOSTING A TOWN HALL MEETING ON MONDAY, JULY 14TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:30 PM AT THE CLARK MULTI SERVICE CENTER. AT 38 10 WEST FUKE WAY, RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THIS TOWN HALL. UH, IF YOU ARE TRAVELING TO HOBBY AIRPORT, YOU'D LOVE THIS UPDATE. UM, THE HOUSTON AIRPORT DIRECTOR, UM, JIM SNIA WANTS, UH, RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT THE SLEEK NEW CANOPY THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR IS GOING TO BE BUILT, PROVIDING THE, PROVIDING THE WEATHER PROTECTED WALKWAY FROM THE RED PARKING GARAGE TO THE TICKETING CURB AS PART OF THIS $470 MILLION WEST CONCOURSE EXPANSION. I HOPE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO IS WATCHING BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HIM. BUT CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN. AND JULY 8TH, UH, RUNNING NIGHTLY, UH, SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8:00 PM TO 4:00 AM SO THERE WILL BE ONE CURBSIDE LANE OPEN OVERNIGHT AND LANE CLOSURES LASTING THROUGH SEPTEMBER THE 30TH, 2025. SO EXPECT SOME INCREASED TRAFFIC DELAYS AT HOBBY IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO FLY OUT OF, OF, OF THAT AREA. MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE YOUR FLIGHTS ON TIME. IF YOU'RE NOT SIGNED UP FOR OUR DISTRICT A NEWSLETTER, YOU SHOULD BE, UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE STAND ADJOURN S**T. * 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.