[Quality of Life Committee]
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MY NAME IS JULIAN RAMIREZ.I'M CHAIR OF THIS QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AND I WELCOME YOU TO YOUR CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
IT IS 10:00 AM THURSDAY, JULY 24TH, AND I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE WHO IS HERE FOR THIS IMPORTANT MEETING WHERE WE WILL TAKE UP A NUMBER OF ITEMS. I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER IS HERE, BUT HAS STEPPED AWAY FOR A MOMENT, I BELIEVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRED FLICKINGER IS HERE.
ALSO, WE HAVE STAFF REPRESENTATIVES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO'S, OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD'S, OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK'S, OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER, OR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM'S OFFICE, AND A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS FROM MY OFFICE.
UM, WE HAVE A ROBUST CROWD THIS MORNING.
UM, IT WILL LIMIT A LITTLE BIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME EVERYBODY HAS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NORMALLY, IF WE HAD A FEW SPEAKERS, WE MIGHT DO THREE MINUTES.
UH, TODAY, WE'LL TRY TO LIMIT IT TO ABOUT, ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
THIS MEETING PROBABLY WILL RUN LONG, UH, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
UM, AND, AND I SAY THAT UNDERSTANDING, NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE HERE WHO'S INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE.
THIS, THIS MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST ON HTV AND WILL BE RECORDED SO THAT, UH, IT CAN BE WATCHED LATER FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T ABLE TO WATCH IT.
NOW, IN ADDITION, WE ARE IN HYBRID MODE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE ONLINE AS WELL.
IN FACT, WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE TUNING IN ONLINE.
ONE IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ABBY CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
CAYMANS IS ACTUALLY HERE, I'M SORRY.
UH, CAYMAN STAFF MEMBER IS HERE, OR WILL BE SEATED HERE AT THE, UH, AT THE, UH, TABLE VERY SOON.
SO, UM, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I DO WANT TO MAKE SOME OPENING REMARKS.
I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THE DISCUSSION ON MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
WE DO HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO HOUSING, WHICH WE WILL TAKE UP LATER IN THE MEETING.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE ON A HOUSING ITEM, I'M SORRY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE BEFORE, UH, WE GET TO THAT.
UM, WHAT BRINGS MOTORIZED SCOOTERS TO THIS COMMITTEE IS A PROPOSAL THAT ORIGINATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION VIA THE ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO PASS THROUGH ORDINANCE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 45 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE ADMINISTRATION, MARIA ERSAD OF A RA AND CAPTAIN MELISSA COUNTRYMAN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WILL PRESENT ON THE ISSUE OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS AS WELL AS A PROPOSED SOLUTION.
I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT AT THIS POINT, IT'S MERELY A PROPOSAL, ONE.
NONETHELESS, THAT IS A RESULT OF A LOT OF WORK AND THOUGHT IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY CHANGE IN SOME RESPECT BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THE FULL COUNCIL TAKES A VOTE.
IN FACT, IT ALREADY HAS CHANGED, AND SO I'M SURE IT WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.
THIS PRESENTATION THEN SERVES THE DUAL PURPOSE OF INFORMING THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE PROPOSED MEASURE TO ADDRESS IT, AND ALSO TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL TO OFFER FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSAL.
WHEN WE FINISH HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS MOTORIZED SCOOTER ISSUE, I WILL OFFER ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SHARE ANY THOUGHTS THEY HAVE OR ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ITEMS SINCE WE RARELY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, BECAUSE ALL OF OUR, THE SUCH DISCUSSIONS MUST TAKE PLACE IN A PUBLIC SETTING, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, PRESENCE OF STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ'S OFFICE AS WELL.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S CALL UP THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM ENTITLED SCOOTERS, MICRO MOBILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY, PRESENTED BY MARIA ISHA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF A RA AND CAPTAIN MELISSA COUNTRYMAN OF HPD.
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GOOD MORNING,WELL, HOW ABOUT IF I JUST STAND
GOOD MORNING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
UH, FEEL FREE TO START WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
IS THE PRESENTATION GOING TO COME UP ON THIS SCREEN? IT'S FINE.
WELL, UH, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR RAMIREZ AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SPENT TIME IN DOWNTOWN, UM, OR THE SURROUNDING AREAS IN THE EVENINGS OR ON A WEEKEND, YOU'RE GONNA BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
UH, WITH ME TODAY IS CAPTAIN MELISSA COUNTRYMAN FROM HPD.
I'M MARIA ESHA, REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING MICRO MOBILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY THIS MORNING.
SO, WE LAST DISCUSSED MICRO MOBILITY IN 2021, UM, AND HOW IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE TIME.
AS IS THE CASE, THE URBAN CORE WAS, YOU KNOW, A BUSTLING AREA.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY.
IT'S A GROWING AND THRIVING AREA.
WE'VE GOT THE PARKS LIKE DISCOVERY GREEN, BUFFALO BAYOU, AND MARKET SQUARE THAT ARE POPULAR DESTINATIONS FOR HOUSTONIANS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
THE POPULARITY OF THESE AREAS AND THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF FOOT TRAFFIC THAT YOU HAD LED TO A GROWTH IN, YOU KNOW, A PRIVATE BUSINESS OPERATING ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, WE SAW THESE UNREGULATED BUSINESSES THAT WERE TAKING UP SPACE ON SIDEWALKS, UM, ON STREETS AND POP-UP TENTS.
THEY WERE PUTTING OUT GENERATORS.
THEY HAD LARGE ELECTRICAL SIGNS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION FOR THEIR SCOOTER BUSINESSES.
UM, AS YOU COULD IMAGINE, IT WAS A CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENT, AND THEN WHEN YOU ADDED THE RIDERS TO IT, IT BECAME EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE CHAOTIC.
ESSENTIALLY, AT THE TIME, THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WAS BEING USED, SERVED FOR PRIVATE GAIN, UM, AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
IT HAD BECOME A PUBLIC NUISANCE, UM, IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS FROM BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS.
A RA BROUGHT FORWARD ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND ELIMINATE THE USE OF THE PUBLIC ASSET FOR PRIVATE GAIN.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ORDINANCES PROHIBITING THE RENTAL OF SERVICES OR GOODS FROM A VEHICLE PARKED IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
IT WAS PROHIBITED TO RENDER ANY PART OF THE SIDEWALK IMPASSABLE, AND THE A RA DIRECTOR WAS AUTHORIZED TO SEIZE SCOOTERS THAT WERE LEFT ON THE SIDEWALK OR IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
SO, FOR OUR NEXT SLIDE, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO CAPTAIN COUNTRY ME, SO SHE COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, TAKEN PLACE FROM 2021 TO 2024.
SO, HPD AND A RA COLLABORATED ON OT INITIATIVES BACK IN 2021, WHICH RESULTED IN TRESPASS WARNING CITATIONS.
AND, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU HOLD ON JUST A SECOND? YEAH.
AND IF YOU COULD, UH, GET AS CLOSE TO THAT MICROPHONE AS YOU CAN, THAT'D BE GREAT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
SO I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH WHAT WE DID BACK IN, UM, 2021 WHEN THE SCOOTER INITIATIVE WAS PRESENTED TO US.
WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH A RA, AND SO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT HAD NOTED AN UPTICK IN SCOOTERS OPERATING ON SIDEWALKS AND DISTURBING THE RIGHT OF WAY.
PEDESTRIANS, THE SCOOTER VENDORS WERE ALSO UTILIZING PUBLIC PARKING SPACES AND BLOCKING SIDEWALKS FOR PURPOSES OF RUNNING THE SCOOTERS, ESPECIALLY IN DISCOVERY GREEN AREA.
IN RESPONSE, CITY COUNCIL AMENDED SECTIONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND ADDED NEW SECTIONS, ARTICLE TWO OF CHAPTER 26, RELATING TO SCOOTER RENTALS AND THE OPERATION OF SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALKS.
SO WE DID A JOINT INITIATIVE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN DIVISION AND PARK HOUSTON.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR INITIATIVE AT THE TIME WAS TO EDUCATE THE RIDERS AND THE VENDORS ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF SCOOTERS, IDENTIFY POINTS OF CONTEXT FOR VENDORS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS, AND ALSO TO ISSUE CITATIONS TO VENDORS AND RIDER WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED AS BEING EDUCATED AND WARNED ABOUT RIDING ORDINANCES.
WE UTILIZED PARK HOUSTON TO IMPOUND PROPERTY WHEN IT WAS APPROPRIATE, BUT WE NEVER HAD THE INCIDENTS THAT NEVER, THEY NEVER AROSE TO THEM NEEDING TO DO SEIZURES DURING THIS TIMEFRAME.
AND WE WERE HOPING TO RESTORE RIGHT OF WAYS FOR PEDESTRIANS.
IN ADDITION, WE, UH, DISTRIBUTED EDUCATION PAMPHLETS TO THE PUBLIC AND VENDORS, AND ALSO DID A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO THAT WE DISTRIBUTED ON YOUTUBE.
AND SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE NUMBERS WERE RELATIVELY LOW BACK BETWEEN FROM 21 TO 24.
UM, AND THIS IS MOSTLY BECAUSE WE WERE IN EDUCATION PHASE.
THIS WAS A NEW, THIS WAS A NEW, UH, DEVICE THAT WAS BROUGHT ONLINE.
AND SO FROM THERE, WE WERE JUST HOPING TO EDUCATE
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THE PUBLIC AND GET BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND BUY-IN FROM THE PUBLIC.THANK YOU, CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? SO, OUR INTENT FOR THE 2021 AMENDMENTS WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT OF WAY REMAINS PUBLIC, AND THE PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER USERS OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, UM, CAN USE 'EM SAFELY.
WELL, HERE WE ARE NOW IN 2025, AND WHILE VENDORS HAVE GENERALLY STOPPED USURPING THE SIDEWALK FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES, OTHER CHALLENGES WITH SCOOTERS REMAIN, DRIVERS ARE STILL NOT USED TO THIS FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.
THERE ARE COMPLAINTS FROM PARKS, HOTELS, RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, PEDESTRIANS.
SAFETY FOR RIDERS ON THE STREET IS A BIG CONCERN.
UM, THESE SCOOTERS GO UP TO 25 MILES PER HOUR, AND THEY'RE SILENT.
SO FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING ON THE STREET ON THE SIDEWALK, A SCOOTER COMING UP BEHIND THEM, THIS COULD BE A VERY, UH, ACUTE DANGER BECAUSE IT'S SO SILENT, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING COMING.
UM, UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF SCOOTER RIDERS IS ALSO A BIG CONCERN.
WE HAVE NOT BESIDE SIDEWALK RIDING, THEY'RE NOT STOPPING AT LIGHTS.
THEY'RE IGNORING STOP SIGNS GOING THE WRONG WAY.
ON ONE WAY STREETS IN DOWNTOWN, THERE IS A LACK OF VISIBILITY.
UM, IT, THERE'S A ASPECT OF JOY RIDING WHERE IT'S, WE'RE IT THE, THERE'S NO CAUTION OR CARE FOR SOME OF OUR, OUR SCOOTER RIDERS.
SO THESE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO CHALLENGES IN THE ROADWAY AND TO RIDER AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN, DID YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? UH, YES, IF I MAY.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOTICED DURING NIGHTTIME HOURS IN DOWNTOWN THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN UPTICK IN JUVENILES USING THESE SCOOTERS.
UM, WE HAVE OBSERVED A NOTICEABLE INCREASE WITH JUVENILES OPERATING THE SCOOTERS DURING THE EVENING AND NIGHTTIME HOURS ACROSS DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, PRIMARILY THROUGHOUT DISCOVERY GREEN AREA.
UH, THIS TREND IS, UM, SEEMS TO BE MORE RECENT THAN, THAN THE OTHER YEARS.
SO WE'RE CURRENTLY EVALUATING THIS TREND BOTH THROUGH ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL LENSES.
UH, SO IN 2025, AGAIN, WE WERE COLLABORATING WITH HPD, UH, PARK HOUSTON, AND HPD, UM, TO RESPOND TO THESE, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE NOW EXPERIENCING.
UM, SO WE CONDUCTED INITIATIVE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES, PRIMARILY IN DOWNTOWN WHERE MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY IS TAKING PLACE.
AND THE INITIATIVE'S PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS.
UM, I WILL ASK CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN TO REVIEW OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS FOR THIS YEAR.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS CHART DETAILS THE RESULTS OF THE SCOOTER TASK FORCE THAT TOOK PLACE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH.
UM, THIS HAS RESULTED IN TRESPASS WARNINGS AND CITATIONS PRIMARILY TO SCOOTER COMPANIES FOR BEING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WHEN THEY'RE NOT AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE.
THIS TASK FORCE HAD MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING THE SURGE OF SCOOTER RELATED ISSUES IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, AND THE ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH RESULTED OVERALL IN OVER 330 RIDER WARNINGS AND 13 VENDOR CITATIONS.
WE DID SEIZE, AT THIS POINT, 129 SCOOTERS, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE ARRESTS AND VEHICLE TOWS, AND WE DID RECOVER SOME WEAPONS DURING THESE TARGETED DEPLOYMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE, THOUGH, THESE WEAPONS THAT WERE RECOVERED CAME FROM THE VENDORS THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING MOSTLY WITH MONEY, AND THEY FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED TO ARM THEMSELVES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT THEY WEREN'T LEGALLY ALLOWED TO CARRY.
THESE OUTCOMES REFLECT A STRATEGIC SHIFT FROM PASSIVE OBSERVATION TO ACTIVE ENFORCEMENT, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH TRAFFIC ZONES LIKE DISCOVERY GREEN.
THIS DATA ALSO REINFORCES THE NEED FOR CONTINUED VISIBILITY AND DETERRENCE AS RECKLESS RIDING SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTION AND NOISE COMPLAINTS REMAIN PERSISTENT CONCERNS.
THE TASK FORCE EFFORTS WERE JUST NOT ABOUT CITATIONS.
THEY WERE ABOUT RESTORING SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SPACES.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO BALANCING ENFORCEMENT WITH EDUCATION.
OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE HARM AND PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE RIDERSHIP, AND ENSURE THAT MICRO MOBILITY OPTIONS ENHANCE, NOT HINDER QUALITY OF LIFE IN HOUSTON.
OUR OFFICERS ARE PREPARED TO PULL THE ORDINANCE OR ANY FUTURE CHANGES WITH PROFESSIONALISM, CONSISTENCY, ENSURING THAT OUR EFFORTS ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S LONG-TERM VISION.
I'LL HAND IT BACK TO MR. SHAW.
SO, WE KIND OF PAINTED A PICTURE OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH SCOOTERS AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE AND WHAT WE'RE STILL HAVING CHALLENGES WITH.
SO WE ALSO WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON TRENDS AND DATA.
SCOOTERS ARE RELATIVELY NEW TECHNOLOGY.
UM, BACK IN 21, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE, BUT NOW WE'RE IN 25, SO WE WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND OTHER TEXAS CITIES AS WELL.
HERE'S A CHART THAT DEPICTS DATA OF SCOOTER INCIDENTS IN HOUSTON.
DURING THE PAST, UM, FOUR YEARS.
THE DATA IS LIMITED BECAUSE TDOT ONLY COLLECTS DATA WHEN A SCOOTER IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A VEHICLE OR SOME
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PROPERTY.IT DOES NOT COLLECT ANY ACCIDENT DATA FOR SCOOTERS THAT YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY FALL OR THEY GET INJURED SOME OTHER WAY.
UM, THEY ONLY STARTED COLLECTING THIS ACCIDENT DATA IN 2021, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DATA REFLECTS THREE FATALITIES.
WE HAD, UM, ONE IN 23 AND TWO IN 24.
WE KNOW OF ANOTHER FATALITY THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 24 COUNT, BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMEONE WHO FELL OFF THEIR SCOOTER AND, UM, SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AND, AND DIED.
SO SINCE 2021, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE NUMBER OF SCOOTER ACCIDENTS HAS INCREASED 600%.
UM, IN 2025 TO DATE, WE CHECKED THE NUMBERS AGAIN.
TO DATE, WE'VE HAD 10 ACCIDENTS THIS YEAR IN ONE FATALITY.
SO WE'RE ON TRACK TO BE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SAW IN 23 AND 24 FOR SCOOTER ACCIDENTS.
SO WE TOOK THIS TDO DATA AND WE BROKE IT UP BY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
UM, ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS HAVE, UM, AT LEAST ONE SCOOTER ACCIDENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DISTRICT B.
SO, HERE'S A MAP OF THAT DATA, AND IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK IN THE CENTER WHERE THE PINK CLUSTER IS, THAT IS A MAJORITY OF, OF WHERE THE SCOOTER ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING.
AND THIS IS DOWNTOWN AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS.
WE FOUND 53% OF THE ACCIDENTS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WERE HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
UM, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE MOST OF THESE SCOOTER VENDORS AND OPERATORS ARE RENTING THEIR, THEIR UNITS OUTSIDE IN DOWNTOWN AND IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
SO, WE ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER TEXAS CITIES.
WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT'S GOING ON IN OTHER TEXAS CITIES.
SO THIS IS TDOT DATA FOR SCOOTER ACCIDENTS.
AGAIN, I WANNA REMIND YOU, THIS IS ACCIDENTS THAT ARE, UM, IN THE TDOT DATABASE.
SO THAT MEANS A VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED OR THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE.
UM, AUSTIN HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PERMITTED UNITS OUT ON THE STREET.
NOW, ALL THREE CITIES HAVE A REGULATED FRAMEWORK WHERE THEY PERMIT UNITS, UM, TO BE DOCKLESS UNITS TO BE OUT ON THE STREET.
AUSTIN HAS 6,700 UNITS, AND THEY HAD 23 ACCIDENTS IN 24.
UM, DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO BOTH HAVE A MAX OF ABOUT 2000 UNITS.
UM, WE KNOW THAT DALLAS, ONE OF THE VENDORS FILED FOR BA BANKRUPTCY.
SO THE NUMBER IS EVEN LOWER THAN 1500 OUT THERE.
BUT THEY STILL HAD A, A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, 17 AND, UM, IN SAN ANTONIO AND SEVEN IN DALLAS.
SO WE BELIEVE THIS DATA SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT ALLOWING MORE SCOOTERS TO OPERATE IN MAJOR CITIES LEADS TO MORE ACCIDENTS.
WE WANNA MINIMIZE ACCIDENTS, WHICH MEANS MINIMIZING SCOOTER ACTIVITY.
SO HOUSTON, I GAVE YOU THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS THAT WE HAD THAT WE SEE SAW ON THE STREETS IN THE OTHER CITIES.
HOUSTON, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SCOOTERS ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS.
WE DON'T REGULATE THE SCOOTER VENDORS.
WE DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF, WE DON'T HAVE TRIP DATA.
WE DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF RIDES THAT ARE TAKEN.
WE DON'T GET ANY DATA FROM OUR VENDORS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
AUSTIN, DALLAS, AND SAN ANTONIO, LIKE I SAID, THEY HAVE PERMITTED REGULATIONS AND THEY REGULATE THE VENDORS THROUGH SPEED LIMITS.
THEY CAN ENFORCE SPEED LIMITS.
THEY HAVE GEOFENCING, THEY HAVE NO GO ZONES.
THEY HAVE RIDER SAFETY TRAINING.
THEY CAN KICK, UM, PROBLEMATIC RIDERS OFF PLATFORMS, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY REQUIRES IT.
UM, SO THOSE TOOLS ARE USED IN THOSE CITIES TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF SCOOTERS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
THEY ALSO CAN CONTROL THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
SO, WHEN SCOOTERS, UH, BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN 2018, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF RESEARCH OR INFORMATION, UH, FOR THESE SYSTEMS. BUT THE PAST FEW YEARS, LIKE I'VE MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW, UH, RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS AND, UH, CITY STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, PUBLISHED.
SO THE DATA PRESENTED HERE IS FROM A STUDY FROM THE, THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE IN 2022.
SO WHAT THE RESEARCHERS DID IS THEY PULLED 36 MILLION CLINICAL NOTES FROM CLINICS AND HOSPITALS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA.
AND AMONG ITS FINDINGS WAS THAT SCOOTERS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS FORM MODE OF TRAVEL.
THEY ESTIMATED 115 INJURIES PER MILLION TRIPS.
UH, IN THIS CHART, WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE OTHER MODES OF TRAVEL.
A MOTORCYCLE HAS A HUNDRED ESTIMATED AT 104 INJURIES PER MILLION TRIPS, AND THEN BICYCLES AND PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF DECREASES AS YOU GO DOWN.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE AUTHORS OF THE STUDY OBSERVED THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY UNDERESTIMATING THE, UH, NUMBER OF INJURIES, UH, PER MILLION TRIPS.
THEY BELIEVED THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD 36 MILLION CLINICAL NOTES, THAT THEY WERE STILL UNDERESTIMATING IT.
THEY ALSO NOTED THAT OF ALL THE CLINICAL NOTES, 30% OF FOLKS WHO WENT IN FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
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REQUIRED MORE THAN ONE VISIT.SO IT WASN'T GO IN AND GET PATCHED UP, THEY HAD TO COME BACK FOR IMAGING OR SEE A DOCTOR AGAIN OR GET STITCHES REMOVED, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
THERE'S ANOTHER STUDY, UM, THAT DETAILED, UH, A LARGE PROPORTION OF INJURIES ARE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES SO THAT IT'S SOMEONE FALLING OFF A SCOOTER.
36%, UH, WAS THE NUMBER IN THAT STUDY.
AND THAT WAS, UM, A TRB STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE.
SO WHAT THE STUDY, WHAT THE STUDY FOUND IS THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST FALLING OFF SCOOTERS, AND THEY ATTRIBUTED A LOT OF THOSE ACCIDENTS TO THE CONDITION OF THE ROADWAY.
YOU HAVE STORM WATER DRAINS, YOU HAVE POTHOLES, YOU HAVE, UM, MANHOLES, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, UH, THINGS IN THE ROADWAY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SCOOTERS JUST FALLING OVER.
AND THE SCOOTERS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FALLS AS OPPOSED TO A BICYCLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SMALLER ROUNDER TIRES.
NOW I KNOW VENDORS TODAY ARE BUILDING SCOOTERS WITH BIGGER TIRES TO TRY AND MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF FAULTS, BUT THIS IS WHAT WAS GOING ON, UH, IN 2022 WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY WERE STUDYING THIS.
UM, ANOTHER INTERESTING POINT THAT, UH, THESE STUDIES THAT THE, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY STUDY POINTED OUT WAS SCOOTERS LOOK LESS INTIMIDATING.
SO IF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE AND I SHOW UP TO A DOWNTOWN AND THERE'S A DOCKLESS BIKE THERE, OR A BIKE FOR RENT, I'M PROBABLY NOT GONNA TRY TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE A BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DOWNTOWN.
BUT IF I COME DOWNTOWN AND I SEE A SCOOTER AND I SEE PEOPLE ZIPPING AROUND AND THEY'RE STANDING ON IT, AND THEY'RE JUST KIND OF MOVING AROUND, WELL, I THINK I CAN DO THAT UNTIL I CAN'T.
SO THE SCOOTERS APPEAR LESS INTIMIDATING AND IT'S EASIER TO TRY IT.
SO THERE WAS ANOTHER STUDY THAT SAID MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BETWEEN THE FIRST AND FIFTH RIDE.
LIKE AFTER THAT YOU BECOME BETTER.
BUT A LOT OF ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 50% OF THE ACCIDENTS WERE HAPPENING BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE FIFTH RIDE THAT ANYONE WOULD TAKE ON A SCOOTER.
SO THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS WHY SCOOTERS CAN BE CHALLENGING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND WHY THEY CAN BE A RISK TO NOT ONLY RIDERS, BUT TO, UM, THE SURROUNDING, UH, PEOPLE USING THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, SO WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE? IN 2021, WE AMENDED ORDINANCES TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE SEEN SCOOTER ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED 600%.
THERE HAVE BEEN THREE, WELL, ACTUALLY FOUR FATALITIES IF YOU CONSIDER, UM, THE ONE THAT WAS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS YEAR.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW HEADLINES THAT WE COLLECTED FROM THE PAST FEW YEARS.
UH, THE LATEST ONE IS JUST A WEEK OLD, UM, WHEN A, A 70-YEAR-OLD RIDER WAS ON A SCOOTER, FAILED TO YIELD AND WAS HIT BY A CAR, UM, ON ENNI STREET.
WE ALL ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT WAYS OF MANAGING SCOOTERS.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE CITIES THAT ARE REGULATING AND PERMITTING.
BUT WE ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES LIKE TORONTO, CANADA.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, PARIS, FRANCE, MELBOURNE, AND MADRID.
THESE ARE ALL INTERNATIONAL CITIES.
THEY'RE KNOWN FOR LARGE SCALE EVENTS, AND THEY HAVE TURNED BACK AND ROLLED BACK ANY REGULATIONS THAT THEY HAD FOR SCOOTERS.
PARIS VOTED BY REFERENDUM TO ELIMINATE SCOOTERS.
UH, TORONTO, CANADA DETERMINED IN 2019 THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER GOING TO ALLOW SCOOTERS ON THEIR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
UH, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA RECENTLY BANNED SCOOTERS IN 24 AND MADRID, SPAIN HAS PUT A MORATORIUM ON ISSUING ANY MORE PERMITS, AND THEY ARE KIND OF ROLLING THINGS BACK OVER THERE.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT DO WE DO NOW? SO WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN CREATE A SCOOTER FREE, SCOOTER FREE ZONE, AND, UM, TRY TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IS SAFE AND SECURE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS. OR WE COULD CREATE A REGULATION TO, UH, CREATE A FRAMEWORK TO REGULATE THE SCOOTERS, OR WE CAN MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
I THINK BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT I PROVIDED WITH YOU, I THINK THAT MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL AGREE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
SO, WE WANTED TO COMPARE THE OPTIONS AND WE PUT, WE PICKED TWO CONCERNS.
THAT'S THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND RIDER SAFETY.
SO UNDER A BAN, WE ELIMINATE PUBLIC SAFETY RISK FOR PEDESTRIANS, BECAUSE SCOOTERS ARE NO LONGER SHARING THIS CROWDED PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WITH THEM.
THEY'RE NOT TAKING UP THAT SPACE.
WITH RIDER SAFETY, YOU'VE ELIMINATED THAT RISK BECAUSE IN THIS, IN THE SCOOTER, FREE ZONE RIDERS ARE NO LONGER WHERE WE HAD 53% OF THE ACCIDENTS.
YOU WON'T SEE ANY MORE ACCIDENTS HAPPENING
[00:25:02]
UNDER A PERMIT PROGRAM.YOU CAN MANAGE IT A LITTLE BETTER, BUT YOU'RE NOT ELIMINATING, YOU'RE SIMPLY REDUCING AND MITIGATING.
THERE WILL STILL, I I'LL REMIND YOU OF THE CHARTS THAT I SHOWED YOU FOR AUSTIN, FOR SAN ANTONIO, FOR DALLAS.
AND THEN THERE'S OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT COME ALONG WITH PERMITTING A PROGRAM, UM, THAT WE REALLY DON'T DEAL WITH RIGHT NOW, BUT CAN COME UP.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE STATUS QUO.
AGAIN, THIS IS DEPENDING ON THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROTECT PEDESTRIANS.
AND AGAIN, FOR RIDER SAFETY, THE CHALLENGES WITH ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCES WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE RISK THAT RIDERS OR PEDESTRIANS, UM, FACE.
SO THESE ARE THE THREE OPTIONS.
WE ALSO WANTED TO LOOK INTO, YOU KNOW, CAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON JUST BAN SCOOTERS? CAN WE HAVE A SCOOTER FREE ZONE? AND TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE AUTHORIZES CITIES TO, UM, BAN SCOOTERS FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY.
THIS IS WHERE HOUSTON FINDS ITSELF.
OUR RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL WILL BE WHEN THE ORDINANCE COMES FORWARD TO APPROVE OR AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 45.
THAT WOULD CREATE A SCOOTER FREE ZONE ENCOMPASSING THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, DISTRICT EAST DOWNTOWN, AND PORTIONS OF MIDTOWN IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A MAP OF THE SCOOTER FREE ZONE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE IT INCORPORATES MOST OF EAST DOWNTOWN PARTS OF MIDTOWN AND, UH, ALL OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
UH, THE AREA IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL ON THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 45.
THERE'S A DEFINITION FOR THE SCOOTER FREE ZONE THAT HAS ALL THE STREETS AND BOUNDARIES.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, CONCISE PRESENTATION.
UH, MARIA AND CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I DO WANT TO NOTE WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE JOINED US.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IS IN THE CHAMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER IS ONLINE.
WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS'S OFFICE THAT HAVE JOINED US.
SO LET ME ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE LAW OR CITY ORDINANCE WITH REGARD TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE LAW CURRENTLY SAYS, AND THIS IS SECTION 45 DASH 3 0 2, RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.
NO PERSON SHALL RIDE A BICYCLE OR MOTOR ASSISTED SCOOTER UPON A SIDEWALK WITHIN A BUSINESS DISTRICT.
SO CURRENTLY, NEITHER BICYCLES NOR MOTOR ASSISTED SCOOTERS ARE ALLOWED ON THE SIDEWALKS, AT LEAST IN, UH, DOWNTOWN.
IS THAT RIGHT? OR IT SAYS A BUSINESS DISTRICT.
YOU TAKE THAT AS AS MEANING DOWNTOWN.
UM, CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT, IF ANY ENFORCEMENT ISSUES ARISE ASSOCIATED WITH MOTORIZED SCOOTERS? YES, I CAN.
UM, CURRENTLY WHAT WE HAVE IS AT NIGHTTIME WE HAVE A LARGE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT COME INTO DOWNTOWN RIDING THE SCOOTERS.
AND SO WE'RE DOING, UM, WE FOCUS MORE OF A BALANCED APPROACH THAT CAN SUPPORT OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY COMPARED TO IT.
UM, IT DOES MAKE IT CHALLENGING AT TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE GROUP.
AND SOMETIMES, MOST OF THE TIMES THEY'RE GONNA BE ON, ON THE ROADWAYS LIKE THEY SHOULD BE WHEN THEY'RE IN LARGE GROUPS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S SPEEDING ON THE SIDEWALK THAT THAT'S NOT REGULATED, THOSE MOTOR SPEEDS OF A SCOOTER CAN GET UP TO ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
SO IT DOES MAKE IT CHALLENGING 'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL THE FACTORS THAT YOU HAVE WITH PEDESTRIANS IN, IN THE WAY.
AND, UM, THE LAST THING WE WANT IS ANYBODY TO GET HURT ON THAT'S RIDING THE SCOOTER OR ANY PEDESTRIANS.
THEREFORE, THERE WAS A SLIDE WHERE YOU LISTED, UM, RIDER WARNINGS THAT WERE ISSUED THIS YEAR.
SO IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, MORE THAN 330 WARNINGS WERE ISSUED TO RIDERS OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
HAS THAT, IN YOUR ESTIMATION, MADE ANY CHANGE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY? UH, NO, SIR.
AT THIS POINT, UM, SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING MORE OF AN EDUCATION FOCUS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH SCOOTERS BEING NEW, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE'RE DOING MORE TARGETED ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO THAT WOULD INCREASE WITH THE, WITH TIME AND ALSO WITH WHATEVER NEW REGULATIONS MAY COME FORWARD AND AMENDMENTS.
CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? YES.
[00:30:02]
YOU CAN'T HAVE SOMEONE STANDING ON EVERY SIDEWALK AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.THAT'S WHERE THE CHALLENGE IS.
SO HPD CAN COME AND ENFORCE, BUT THE MINUTE HPD LEAVES PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE BACK ON THE SIDEWALKS.
IT'S, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE IS UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE ALL THE TIME WATCHING THE SIDEWALKS, YOU, YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN THAT SAFETY.
UM, SO THE, THE CHANGES THAT WERE PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO ADDRESSED THE RENTAL OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY SIDEWALKS AND WHATNOT.
UM, SINCE THAT HAS OCCURRED, HAVE YOU ALL SEEN THAT, UH, SOME OF THE, AT LEAST SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE RENTING ON THE SIDEWALKS HAVE MOVED TO OTHER AREAS? WHERE, WHERE HAVE YOU ALL NOTICED THEY'VE MOVED? THEY GO TO PRIVATE PARKING LOTS.
SO THEY SET UP AGREEMENTS WITH THE, THE VENDORS WHO HAVE PRIVATE PARKING LOTS.
THEY PUT UP A POP-UP TENT, THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK.
UM, WE DID SEE SCOOTERS BECAUSE OF, THERE WAS ONE OPERATOR, UH, VERY CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK, AND THEY HAD SCOOTERS COMING OUT ONTO THE SIDEWALK.
SO WE WERE WORKING WITH HPD ONE WEEKEND AND TOOK THEM.
SO, UM, THEY'RE NO LONGER PUTTING THEIR TENTS ON THE SIDEWALK.
THEY'RE NOT CREATING THOSE ISSUES ON THE SIDEWALK, BUT THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO IT.
AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN, IN PRIVATE PARKING LOTS.
SOMETIMES THEY WILL BE IN A PUBLIC PARKING SPACE.
SO ASIDE FROM, HEY, YOU CAN'T RENT THESE MOTORIZED SCOOTERS IN A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER REGULATIONS THAT THE CITY IMPOSES ON MOTORIZED SCOOTER RENTAL COMPANIES? NO.
WE CAN SEE SCOOTERS THAT ARE LEFT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
NOW AS FAR AS THE APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED, WELL, YOU DON'T PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF MOTORIZED SCOOTER AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND SO, CURRENTLY THE WAY MOTORIZED SCOOTER IS DEFINED, AND WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION A FEW DAYS AGO, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE, UH, ELECTRIC BIKES.
IT DOES NOT APPLY TO ELECTRIC BIKES, NOR DOES IT APPLY TO THE MOTORIZED, UH, I'LL CALL 'EM WHEELCHAIRS THAT WE SEE FOLKS USING AS WELL.
WITH TWO WHEELS AND A, A, A BOARD.
SO IT COULD BE SEATED OR STANDARD OR STANDING.
SO THE PROPOSAL IS TO VAN AN, AT LEAST IN CERTAIN AREAS, MOTORIZED SCOOTERS, UH, ENTIRELY.
UM, WHAT ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO USE MOTORIZED SCOOTERS TO GET TO WORK? THE BAND WOULD COVER, WOULD PROHIBIT ANY SCOOTER IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, MIDTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN, REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP.
HAVE YOU MADE ANY EFFORT TO DETERMINE HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY RIDE MOTORIZED SCOOTERS TO WORK? IT'S, THAT'S CHALLENGING.
MOTORIZED SCOOTERS ARE NOT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS REGISTERED ANYWHERE.
SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PERSONAL SCOOTERS ARE OUT THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO.
I'M, WE WOULD BE OPEN TO LOOKING INTO THAT.
JUST FROM MY, FROM MY WINDOW THIS, THIS MORNING IN MY OFFICE, I SAW AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO IS RIDING A MOTORIZED SCOOTER TO WORK.
EARLIER THIS WEEK I WAS IN AN OFFICE BUILDING IN A GARAGE WHERE THERE WAS A BIKE RACK AND I SAW A MOTORIZED SCOOTER THERE IN, IN THE RACK.
HAVE YOU ALL CONSIDERED A RESTRICTION ON THE HOURS IN WHICH MOTORIZED SCOOTERS COULD BE, UM, BANNED FROM DOWNTOWN, FOR INSTANCE, TO ALLOW FOLKS WHO USE MOTORIZED SCOOTERS TO GET TO WORK ON THEM? SURE.
YOU KNOW, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UM, WHEN YOU OPEN THE MEETING, THIS IS, THIS IS THE TIME TO DISCUSS AND MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE THINK IS GONNA WORK FOR OUR CITY.
UM, AND WE ARE OPEN TO TAKING, YOU KNOW, DIRECTION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON HOW TO, HOW TO PROCEED ON THIS.
ALRIGHT, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE AND WE WILL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, AND THAT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE THAT WILL HAVE PROFOUND IMPACTS.
UM, I BELIEVE ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO I APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE AND I, THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THIS.
UM, I FIRST AND FOREMOST WANNA RECOGNIZE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ILLEGAL OPERATION OF SCOTERS DOWNTOWN.
UH, IN OUR FIRST TERM, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH DISCOVERY GREEN WHEN THEY WERE FLAILING ARMS SAYING, WE HAVE A HUGE ISSUE, NOT JUST A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE SIDEWALKS ARE CLOGGED.
UM, BUT I WANNA FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A CAR BLANCHE PROHIBITION.
AND TRY TO FIND THAT, THAT MIDDLE GROUND THAT ACCOMPLISHES
[00:35:01]
WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH FOR SAFETY, WHILE ALLOWING AFFORDABLE, UM, INACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION IN HIGHLY VISITED AND TOURISM AREAS.DO WE KNOW HOW MANY CYCLISTS ACCIDENTS THERE ARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT E SCOOTERS, BUT I WANNA, IN, IN THE CONTEXT OF EVERYTHING, HOW MANY CYCLISTS, DEATHS, AND ACCIDENTS ARE THERE? I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THAT NUMBER THIS MORNING AND I DON'T HAVE IT, BUT I CAN GET IT TO YOU.
AND, AND THE SAME WITH VEHICULAR DEATHS.
RIGHT? AND WE WANNA LIMIT, LOOK, LAST YEAR WAS THE MOST DEADLY YEAR ON RECORD ON OUR STREETS IN HOUSTON 300.
UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE COMPARATIVE NUMBERS.
AND I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY.
AND I DON'T WANNA GET INTO A BIKE LANE DEBATE, BUT FOLKS CAN'T BE ON THE SIDEWALKS.
AND WE'RE NOT PROVIDING SAFETY IN ANY SPACE.
WE'RE SAYING YOU JUST CAN'T OPERATE OR UTILIZE MM-HMM
UM, HAVE WE CONSIDERED, BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ILLEGAL VENDORS AND CONTRACTED AND REGULATED VENDORS.
HAVE WE CONSIDERED A CITY-BASED CONTRACT? FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITIES YOU CITED THAT WERE NOT IN THE UNITED STATES, MELBOURNE, TORONTO, I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE LIST ALL HAVE BIKE SHARE MM-HMM
AGREEMENTS THROUGH THE CITIES MM-HMM
SO IT'S NOT JUST A CARTE BLANCHE.
THERE ARE THOSE OTHER OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE GONE, THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH A CITY VETTING PROCESS.
HAVE WE LOOKED, HAVE WE LOOKED AT THAT? WE DID LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND WE LOOKED AT REGULATIONS.
UM, BUT THE GOAL WAS TO ELIMINATE, UM, RISK TO PEDESTRIANS AND RIDER SAFETY, WHICH IS THE BAN IS MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN THAT MANNER.
I, SO, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, SOME OF THE BIKE SHARES, AND I WILL, I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY, WHEN I TRAVEL TO A CITY AND I'M DOWNTOWN, I'M USING A BIKE SHARE, I'M USING A SCOOTER.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY TAKING AN UBER EVERYWHERE.
I DO UTILIZE UBER AND RIDE SHARE AND TAXIS, BUT I'M ALSO DOING THAT BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT WAY TO LOOK AT THE CITY AND TO GO TO NEARBY AREAS.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE IN OTHER CITIES WITH A A I'M NOT GONNA NAME OTHER PRIVATE COMPANIES BECAUSE MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN SEE FROM THE CITY AND RFP PROCESS OR PROCUREMENT WHERE WE CAN GET A CONTRACT, BUT THEY NOT ONLY PICK UP THE SCOOTERS WITHIN 24 HOURS AND RELOCATE THEM, THERE'S GEO-FENCING.
SO IF WE SAY WE DON'T WANT THEM ON DISCOVERY, GREENS, SIDEWALKS, WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE, IT LITERALLY DISABLES THOSE SCOOTERS WITH TECHNOLOGY.
SO THEY PHYSICALLY CANNOT GET THERE.
WHEN YOU ACTIVATE IT, I DON'T WANNA SEE ANY YOUNG CHILDREN OPERATING IT.
AND IT SCARES ME THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE HELMETS.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
BUT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THIS.
NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, DC CHICAGO, AUSTIN, DENVER, SEATTLE, ORLANDO, TAMPA, OAKLAND, BALTIMORE, NASHVILLE.
UM, I'M GOING DOWN THE, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST, RIGHT? THAT IS TAKING THAT APPROACH.
MY LAST QUESTION CHAIR, AND I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK IN QUEUE FOR TIME SAKE.
UM, WHEN A CITY DOES A CONTRACT AND, UH, HAS A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, DOES THAT BRING IN MONEY TO THE CITY AS WELL? THROUGH THOSE CONTRACTS? THEY DO.
SO IT IS A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CITY ITSELF.
TYPICALLY, THE DOCKLESS PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES GENERATE REVENUE, BUT THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT COST TO MANAGING THOSE CONTRACTS.
UM, JUST BASED ON THE MANAGING THE COMPLAINTS AND THE ISSUES THAT ARISE.
'CAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES YOU'RE DEALING WITH THEN.
BUT AGAIN, EVEN IF YOU SAID DOCKLESS VERSUS DOCKED MM-HMM
BUT EVEN IF WE HAD A DOCK PROGRAM WITH BIKES, LIKE WE DON'T EVEN OFFER THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK IN QUEUE, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND THAT MIDDLE GROUND WHERE WE CAN, IF WE'RE SAYING, HEY, DON'T DO THIS ACTIVITY.
HERE IS YOUR OPTION AND HERE'S THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS BUSINESS TO THRIVE AND NOT PENALIZE THOSE THAT ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES.
SO, UM, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME OF THE, UH, BRICK AND MORTAR, UH, VENDORS, MOTOR MOTORIZED SCOOTER VENDORS, UM, I HEAR THIS DISTINCTION THAT SOME TRY TO MAKE BETWEEN LEGAL AND ILLEGAL VENDORS.
SO THE FOLKS WHO SET UP OPERATIONS IN A PARKING LOT, NOT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT WHO ARE PAYING FOR THAT PARKING SPACE, ARE THOSE TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL? THEY'RE OPERATING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER THEM.
SO, SO THERE'S NO PERMITTING FOR A BUSINESS THE WAY THINGS EXIST NOW.
[00:40:01]
VENDORS IN THE PARKING LOTS ARE OPERATING, UH, NOT IN VIOLATION OF, OF ANY STATE LAW OR CITY ORDINANCE.UM, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND COVERED A LOT OF WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE B CYCLES ANYMORE, AND, AND THOSE WERE GREAT AND, YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT HOW PEOPLE GET AROUND.
BUT I TOTALLY GET WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN.
I MEAN, WE HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM THE PEOPLE AT ONE PARK PLACE.
WE HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM THE HOTEL PEOPLE, WE HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM HOUSTON.
WE, WE'VE HEARD ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND SEEN FOR OURSELVES.
UM, A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON, WHICH SOME IS SCOOTERS AND SOME ARE THOSE KIND OF A TV THREE WHEELER, FOUR WHEELER THINGS.
AND I, I KNOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY, BUT OFFICER, IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A, WHAT ARE THE RULES ABOUT AROUND THOSE VEHICLES? UM, YES MA'AM.
ATVS ARE NOT STREET LEGAL AT ALL ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO THOSE, I MEAN, YOU SEE 'EM EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER TOWN.
THE BIG, LIKE, I, THEY LOOK LIKE THREE WHEELERS, RIGHT? MM-HMM
BUT I GUESS THERE'S SO MANY OF 'EM.
YOU CAN'T, LIKE, YOU CAN'T, SLINGSHOTS ARE ILLEGAL, CATCH 'EM ALL.
BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS IN A BIG PACK.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE DOWNTOWN PROBLEM TOO.
THAT'S, I KNOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S, UH, THERE'S OTHER STRATEGIES THAT WE ARE, UM, REVIEWING RIGHT NOW THAT I CAN'T DISCLOSE AT THIS TIME.
SO, SO IT'S, THE ADMINISTRATION'S TAKE THAT AN AN OUTRIGHT BAN IN CERTAIN AREAS, UM, WITHOUT CONSIDERING, UM, A, A REGULATED FRAMEWORK AT THIS TIME.
WOULD THAT PRECLUDE A REGULAR RELATED FRAMEWORK TO COME LATER? I THINK, YOU KNOW, ORDINANCES ARE LIVING DOCUMENTS AND THEY CAN BE AMENDED AS THE ADMINISTRATION SEES FIT, SO, RIGHT.
BUT, BUT, BUT DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT THE BENEFITS OF AN OUT AN OUTRIGHT BAN VERSUS, I MEAN, YOU, YOU HAD THE CHART, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LIKE, OH, WE WERE KIND OF MITIGATING, BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY GET RID OF ALL THE, THE SAFETY ISSUES, BUT, BUT YOU'RE PUSHING FOR THE OUT AND RIGHT BAND INSTEAD OF THE REGULATED FRAMEWORK.
BECAUSE IT'LL GIVE A CLEAN START.
SO HPD WILL HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO JUST, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IF PEOPLE ARE RIDING SCOOTERS ON THE STREET, YOU CAN'T STOP THEM.
THERE'S, THERE'S NOT A VIOLATION THERE.
BUT IF THEY'RE GETTING UP ON SIDEWALKS, YOU COULD, YOU COULD JUST SAVE NO MORE SCOOTERS IN THIS AREA.
AND IF WE SEE SCOOTERS HERE, WE'RE PICKING THEM UP, WE'RE TAKING THEM AWAY, IT'S DONE.
IT'S NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A, A CHALLENGING ENFORCEMENT SITUATION.
SO IT GIVES THE CITY A CLEAN START.
WE GET OUR, OUR SIDEWALKS BACK AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF THE ADMINISTRATION DIRECTS, THEN WE GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SAY, OKAY, LET'S TRY AND FIGURE THIS OUT.
AND, AND NOTHING IN THIS WOULD PRECLUDE A, A COMPANY FROM COMING IN TO DO THE BIKE DEAL, TO DO JUST BIKES, TO DO BIKE, TO DO LIKE A DOCKLESS BIKE SITUATION, OR IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT BIKES.
SO WE COULD STILL HAVE A, A SO DOCKLESS COULD COME IN AND DO A DOCKLESS BIKE THING.
WELL, YOU CAN'T RENDER THE SIDEWALK IMPASSABLE THAT WAS PART OF THE 2021 AMENDMENTS WHERE THEY, YOU, THEY WOULD NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO LEAVE, UM, BIKES ON THE SIDEWALK.
JUST LIKE WE SAY, YOU CAN'T LEAVE SCOOTERS ON THE SIDEWALK.
SO BASICALLY YOU CAN'T HAVE A DOCKLESS BIKE THING DOWN.
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH CITY CHANNELS AND, AND OKAY.
I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, UM, GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WHO IS ONLINE.
KARA, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, THANK YOU MARIA, CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, AND I WISH I COULD BE THERE IN PERSON, UH, TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY CONSTITUENTS, AND YOU ALL SAW SOME OF THE SLIDES, UH, WHERE A LOT OF THE, UH, CHALLENGES HAVE REALLY BEEN KIND OF RISING TO THE TOP IN DISTRICT HIGH.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO KIND OF DIFFERENTIATE A LITTLE BIT FROM RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING MORE AND MORE IS, UH, JOY RIDE JOY RIDERS, NOT NECESSARILY FOLKS THAT ARE USING THEM FOR TRANSPORTATION LIMITATIONS, UH, THAT HAVE TRANSPORTATION LIMITATIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE CAUSING MORE OF THE, THE RECKLESSNESS, UM, ON A NIGHTLY BASIS.
AND I'VE, I'VE, I'VE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, SEEN IT MYSELF AND GOTTEN CALLS FROM THE HOTELS, UM, UH, HOUSTON FIRST, UH, THAT THERE ARE, UH, YOUNG KIDS, SPECIFICALLY 14, 15, 16 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE RIDING, AS YOU Y'ALL MENTIONED, OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET, UM, ON SIDEWALKS.
IT'S REALLY BECOME A, A SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEDESTRIANS.
UM, I I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN, UH, DO YOU, DO YOU THINK THAT HPD HAS THE CAPACITY FOR THE, TO ENFORCE THE BAN, UH, CONFISCATION OF, OF THESE, UH, SCOOTERS? AND IF SO, WHERE WOULD THEY BE STORED? OR WHAT, WHAT
[00:45:01]
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ENFORCE, UM, OKAY.UM, WE WILL WORK WITH A RA WHEN IT COMES TO SEIZING THE SCOOTERS, BUT IT WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE IT A LOT EASIER FOR US TO ENFORCE THE RULES.
AND, AND I GUESS THE OTHER THING TOO IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE OUR RESEARCH.
WE KNOW THAT, UH, THERE'S OPERATORS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, OPEN UP UNTIL 5:00 AM MM-HMM
UM, I, I REALLY WANNA PRESS INTO, UM, IN ATLANTA RIGHT NOW, UM, THEY PROHIBIT RENTALS BETWEEN 9:00 PM AND 4:00 AM.
UH, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN START LOOKING AT REGULATION.
UM, I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, SPECIFICALLY SCOOTERS.
BUT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS TO REALLY BRING UP, UH, RIGHTS TO THE KIND OF TOP OF THIS CONVERSATION, AND WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING IT NOW, BUT MOPEDS ATVS, UH, WE'VE HAD DISCOVERY GREEN ESSENTIALLY HAVE A 40 A TV TAKEOVER, UM, WHICH IS DANGEROUS.
AND WE'VE RECEIVED, UH, AGAIN, CALLS FROM DISCOVERY GREEN ABOUT IT BEING COVERING MORE DANGEROUS AND GUNFIRE EVEN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, TO THAT POINT WHERE THERE'S GUNFIRE OUT IN DOWNTOWN.
AND, AND SO, UM, WHEN WE, WE START LOOKING AT THE SOLUTION, UM, I'M JUST WANNA BE QUITE FRANK, I'D, I'D LIKE TO SEE REGULATION.
I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW WE COULD, UH, PROHIBIT, UH, YOUNG, YOUNG, YOUNG FOLKS FROM WRITING THEM.
SO IF THERE'S AN AGE REQUIREMENT, UH, A A HOUR OF OPERATIONS, THAT THAT COULD BE DONE.
EVEN, UH, REQUIRING SPEED GOVERNORS, UM, FOLKS NOT GOING OVER 10 15, BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE'S SOME OF THESE SCOOTERS THAT ARE, UH, AS Y'ALL MENTIONED, GOING TO 30, YOU KNOW, 25 30, AND THEN EVEN THE ATVS 35 MILES PER HOUR ON, ON SIDEWALK CITY STREETS.
AND SO, UM, FOR, FOR THIS, THIS DISCUSSION, UH, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT E SCOOTERS, UH, I DEFINITELY WANNA SEE HOW WE CAN PIVOT MORE INTO, UM, A REGULATION, UM, NOT NECESSARILY THE STATUS QUO, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT WORKING.
UM, AND JUST AS A A SIDE NOTE, UM, AS I REPRESENT MOST OF DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN, WHERE WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF, UH, THE BRICK AND MORTARS, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE ALSO IDENTIFY THOSE THAT ARE SUPPORTING, UH, EFFORTS TO REGULATE, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON, LIKE DISCOVERY GREEN HOUSTON FIRST, THE HOTELS DOWNTOWN PLUS, UM, AND, AND START LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN, WE CAN MITIGATE THIS, THIS CHALLENGE.
UH, SO I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION FINALLY COMING TO THE TABLE.
I DO WANNA ALSO, UH, HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, THERE'S
UM, AND, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT EVENTUALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
I SAW IN, UH, 2025 ON THE ONE WEEKEND WE GIVE OUT EIGHT CITATIONS TO THE ACTUAL WRITERS.
HAVE WE GIVEN OUT ANY MORE THAN THAT THIS YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AT THIS TIME, BUT I CAN GET BACK TO YOU WITH THAT.
UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT THERE WAS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE REGULATION AND PERMITTING.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT? UH, SURE.
WELL, UM, IF THEY'RE DOCKLESS, YOU'VE, DID PEOPLE JUST PARK THEM ON THE SIDEWALK AND, YOU KNOW, NOT ALL RIDERS ARE GONNA PARK THEM LIKE THE CITY WOULD WANT THEM TO BE PARKED.
OPERATORS HAVE TO MANAGE, UM, THAT CLUTTER THAT COULD HAPPEN ON THE SIDEWALK.
IT COULD BLOCK ACCESS TO A DA RAMPS.
UM, IT COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, BLOCK PEDESTRIANS FROM PASSING THROUGH SIDEWALKS.
UH, SCOOTERS CAN BE, YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES HAVE FOUND THEM IN BODIES OF WATER.
UM, SO IT, NOW YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP YOUR PUBLIC REALM LIKE NEAT AND TIDY.
UM, BUT YOU, YOU CAN DO LIKE SPEED LIMITS AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, BUT YOU, IT'S A TRADE OFF.
AND YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT BEING A, A REVENUE GENERATING, UH, THE PERMITTING HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH REVENUE ANY OF THESE OTHER CITIES GENERATE? UH, AUSTIN GENERATES ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, UM, FROM THEIR 6,000 UNITS OUT THERE.
SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF TRIPS AND WHAT THE CITY SETS UP.
AND, AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SCOOTERS AT ALL.
IS THE SPEED ABLE TO BE REGULATED ON 'EM AS WELL? I MEAN, NOT JUST THROUGH ORDINANCE, BUT ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY LIMITING HOW FAST THEY'RE ABLE TO GO.
SO I KNOW THE OPERATORS, THE DOCKLESS OPERATORS CAN IMPOSE, UM, SPEED LIMITS AND THEY CAN GEOFENCE, LIKE, PREVENT SCOOTERS FROM GOING INTO CERTAIN AREAS.
UH, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT TO ALL THEIR SCOOTERS.
UM, FOR THE, FOR THE VENDORS THAT WE HAVE HERE, I'M NOT QUITE CERTAIN WHAT THE ANSWER IS TO THAT.
BUT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE IT TO WHERE THE OPERATORS, OH, ALL THE CITIES IMPOSE THAT HAVE DOCKLESS PROGRAMS. OKAY.
I THINK THERE'S 150 OR SO CITIES AND, AND THEN IN AMERICA THAT HAVE DOCKLESS PROGRAMS AND THEY HAVE, UM, MOST OF THEM HAVE LIKE A 15, UH, MILE PER HOUR SPEED LIMIT.
[00:50:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER FLICKINGER, WE'LL GO TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK Y'ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, I AM ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, UH, THAT, THAT ARE SIGNED UP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, I CERTAINLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UH, ECHOED A LOT OF MY SENTIMENTS AS A, A FELLOW, UH, MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD.
WE SAT THROUGH A PRESENTATION WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND, YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE, I THINK THE BIG PICTURE OF THE LAWLESSNESS THAT'S HAPPENING DOWN AT DISCOVERY GREEN AND IN THAT AREA IS OF EXTREME CONCERN TO, AND SHOULD BE TO ANYONE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BRINGING IN, YOU KNOW, CONVENTIONS AND, AND OUT OF TOWNERS AND THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.
AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT THESE, JUST THE, THE ATVS, THE SCOOTERS, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S QUITE, QUITE FRIGHTENING FOR FOLKS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK CERTAINLY WHEN IT COMES TO REGULATIONS, AND WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE VENDORS WHO CAN GEOFENCE AND REGULATE THE SPEED, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE, UM, SOME OF OUR HPD UH, OFFICERS WOULD TELL YOU THAT, THAT SOME OF THESE SCOOTERS GO WELL OVER THE 20 OR 25 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMITS.
I TALKED TO AN OFFICER RECENTLY AND I SAID, DID HAVE YOU CLOCKED THAT? AND HE SAID, YEAH, HE SAID THAT, THAT THEY PASSED US, AND I WAS DOING 40.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF PIECES TO THIS PUZZLE, BUT I ALSO TOO THINK THAT THE DANGER THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, HAVING PERSONALLY KNOWN SOMEONE WHO LOST A CHILD, A, A TEENAGER WHO HAD A HEAD INJURY, UH, RIDING A SCOOTER WHO, WHO, YOU KNOW, DIED AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE THAN JUST PUBLIC SAFETY FROM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA MESS UP OUR PARKS AND THAT.
SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS FIGURED OUT, BUT REALLY ANXIOUS TO LISTEN TO, TO HEAR A LOT OF OUR, UH, PUBLIC AND, AND HEAR FROM THEM.
SO, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, NOW WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ'S OFFICE.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE, UH, REPORT.
MY, UH, QUESTION IS IN COUNCILOR, THE EVANS QUESTION IS IN REFERENCE TO ENFORCEMENT.
UH, THE QUESTION BEING WITH THIS LARGE AREA, WHAT KIND OF MAN, WHAT LEVEL OF MANPOWER WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THAT? AND WILL THAT ADDITIONAL MANPOWER DILUTE WHAT IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO OTHER HIGH NIGHTLIFE AREAS? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, SIR.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE, UM, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF APPROACHES THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW.
AND SO IT'S GONNA BE ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, CONTINGENT UPON WHATEVER THE FINAL DECISION IS ON THE SCOOTERS.
AND SO, BUT NONETHELESS, OUR GOAL IS TO BE, REMAIN, TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND EQUITABLE ENFORCEMENT, AND ALSO BE OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE AS WELL.
UM, AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONSIDERATIONS AS YOU APPROACH.
THIS MAY BE A PHASED ACQUISITION OF HOW YOU ATTENTION, UH, OR TASK FORCE IT, IF YOU WILL.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S GONNA BE CONTINGENT ON WHATEVER THE ULTIMATE DECISION IS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST COMING UP WITH BASICALLY BRAINSTORMING DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A, B, OR C, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NEXT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, SUPER QUICK SO WE CAN GET TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO DISTINGUISH WHEN I WAS REFERENCING, AND I APPRECIATE THE CHAIR'S COMMENT ABOUT LEGAL VERSUS ILLEGAL, RIGHT? AND RIGHT NOW, THERE, BECAUSE THERE OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, WE HAVE CERTAIN THINGS ARE, ARE PERMISSIBLE THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE PERMISSIBLE.
BUT IF WE HAD A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, SOME OF THAT BEHAVIOR, THE PARKING LOT STANDUPS WOULD BE RENDERED ILLEGAL.
IS THAT SO BASED ON HOW WE, IF WE SAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU CAN, YOU HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY TO OPERATE.
UH, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE THESE VENDORS ARE THE ONES THAT WENT THROUGH THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS OR HAVE WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT AND ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEN THE OTHERS BECOME IMPERMISSIBLE.
IF THEY'RE OPERATING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER THEM.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A DOCKLESS PROGRAM, THEN THEY'VE GOT DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMPETITION.
SO I I, YOU DON'T SEE THOSE IN OTHER CITIES WHERE THERE WAS A DOCKLESS PROGRAM.
YOU WILL SEE STOREFRONTS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE STORE, GETTING THE DEVICE, AND THEN BRINGING IT BACK.
THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, THE QR CODE AND WHATNOT FOR A SCOOTER ON THE STREET.
THOSE CAN COEXIST, BUT YOU DON'T SEE THE POPUPS AND THE PEOPLE OPERATING OUTTA TRUCKS.
AND IF WE KNEW THAT AVE, AND AGAIN, THIS CAN BE MORE OF AN OFFLINE CONVERSATION, BUT TO COUNT, NUMBER CARTER'S POINT, THE DANGERS OF SOME OF THESE SCOOTERS GOING FASTER MM-HMM
UH, THE, THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE BECAUSE OF SAFETY.
IF WE KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS OPERATING THAT AS A RENTAL FORM AND THOSE ARE ENDING UP ON THE STREET, DO WE HAVE ANY AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF THOSE TYPES OF STOREFRONTS? SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A VEHICLE THAT FITS THE DEFINITION OF A MOTOR
[00:55:01]
ASSISTED SCOOTER PER TRANSPORTATION CODE, WE COULD BAN SPECIFIC VEHICLES FROM THE, OKAY, SO THE, FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT WAY.SO AGAIN, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE COULD DO IN TERMS OF A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS THE VERY REAL CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE.
LASTLY, UM, I DO HAVE ONE CONCERN, UH, RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLE WORK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VOICE OF DISCOVERY GREEN HOUSTON.
FIRST, OUR HOTELS LIKE THE HUB, UH, FOR DOWNTOWN ECONOMY IN ACTION.
UM, I DO HAVE A CONCERN THAT IF WE JUST CATEGORICALLY BAN THESE POPUPS ARE GOING TO MOVE TO OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND PRIMARILY IN DISTRICT C, UM, I THINK WE WILL SEE THEM IN MONTROSE.
I THINK WE WILL SEE THEM, UM, IN SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR AREAS OF THE HEIGHTS.
I THINK WE WILL BE MOVING THE ISSUE RATHER THAN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AGAIN THROUGH A RESPONSIBLE, UH, REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AS WE LOOK AT THIS, WE CONSIDER, UH, THE PUSH OUT EFFECT BECAUSE THAT, THAT, AGAIN, COULD, IS A VERY REAL CONCERN FOR SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS OR STAFF.
UM, WE'LL LET YOU GUYS, UM, STAND DOWN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, I HOPE YOU FOLKS AND AND A RA WILL STICK AROUND AND LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION AS IT PERTAINS TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
'CAUSE I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THAT.
AND RATHER THAN MAKE YOU SIT THROUGH THE, THE PRESENTATION ON THE, UH, HOUSING ITEMS, UH, WE WILL, WE WILL GET TO PUBLIC PUBLIC COMMENT.
I, I DO WANNA SHARE, UM, A COMMENT I RECEIVED FROM AN OFFICER WITHIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WHOSE PERSPECTIVE I THINK NEEDS TO BE HEARD.
HE IS A 33 YEAR VETERAN WHOSE PRIMARY JOB WORKING DOWNTOWN IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY VIDEO CAMERAS.
AND, UM, HE SAYS AS FOLLOWS, MOST OF MY CAREER HAS BEEN SPENT WORKING AROUND THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, COUPLED WITH WORKING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY CAMERAS GIVES ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE SCOTER ISSUE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
EVER SINCE THE SCOTER BUSINESS HAS EVOLVED IN DOWNTOWN, PUBLIC SAFETY HAS DETERIORATED.
I LOOKED OVER THE, THE, UH, POWERPOINT THAT WE JUST SAW AND A NEW STORY.
THESE REPORTS ARE SUGARCOATED.
IT'S ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT THE INJURIES AND DEATHS RELATED TO THE UNSAFE USAGE OF E SCOOTERS HAVE NOT BEEN GREATER.
I'VE LOST COUNT ON HOW MANY TIMES I'VE NEARLY RAN OVER AN SCOTER RIDER OR NEAR MISSES BY AN SCOTER WHILE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK.
THE MOST COMMON UNSAFE VIOLATIONS I'VE WITNESSED HAVE BEEN RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK, ENDANGERING, PEDESTRIANS, RIDING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE-WAY STREET RUNNING RED LIGHTS, LANE SPLITTING, TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AS A PUBLIC SAFETY CAMERA OFFICER, I'VE WITNESSED E SCOOTER RIDERS LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH ONTO THE PAVEMENT.
CRASH INTO FIXED OBJECTS GET STRUCK BY MOTOR VEHICLES, AND ONE WHICH WAS RUN OVER AND KILLED.
ONE YOUNG LADY WAS RIDING A THREE WHEELER ECAR BY THE GRB.
THE CONVENTION CENTER CRASHED INTO A TREE CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.
SHE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE, A SECURITY GUARD AT GRB ONCE SHARED THAT BEFORE HE MOVED FROM MIAMI TO HOUSTON, MIAMI BANNED SCOTERS ALTOGETHER BECAUSE OF ALL THE INJURIES AND DEATHS RELATED TO IMPROPER USE.
THE SCOTER BUSINESSES AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRY TO TEACH THE PUBLIC ABOUT SAFETY AND SCOTER USAGE, BUT IT IS LARGELY IGNORED.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE LIST OF FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY AND WE'RE UP TO 39.
WE WILL, UH, TRY TO GET YOU TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 90 SECONDS, A MINUTE AND A HALF, AND SO WE CAN GET THROUGH EVERYONE.
SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST IS TODD HOLMAN.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU NEED TO TURN IT OFF.
UH, MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS TODD HOLMAN AND I SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR VENUES AND EVENTS WITH HOUSTON
[01:00:01]
FIRST CORPORATION.UH, HOUSTON FIRST SERVES AS THE DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION ON BEHALF OF THE REGION FOR SALES, MARKETING, AND TOURISM.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF MANAGING AND OPERATING OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND MANY ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE, UH, TO THE SCOOTER ORDINANCE AS IS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES AND INTERACTIONS RELATED TO SCOOTERS WITHIN THE CONVENTION CAMPUS DAILY AND LATE INTO THE EVENINGS.
ADULTS AND MINORS ALIKE ARE RIDING SCOOTERS AT EXCESSIVE SPEEDS, OFTEN FASTER THAN VEHICLES ON THE STREETS.
SCOOTERS ARE RIDDEN ON SIDEWALKS, PLAZAS, AND PARKS THE WRONG WAY ON AN ACTIVE AND OPEN STREET AND AGAINST VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND THROUGH LARGE DENSELY CROWDED AREAS AND EVENTS.
OUR EXPERIENCE EXTENDS BEYOND A SIMPLE NUISANCE OR INCONVENIENCE.
THERE'S NO REGARD TO RULES, REGULATIONS, AND OFTEN AN INTENT TO CREATE CHAOS AND CAUSE HARM ON THE ANITA PLAZA AND THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS WHERE WE HAVE CONVENTION GOERS, MAYBE A FAMILY IN TOWN FOR A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT OR A CHEER COMPETITION, VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, A COUPLE OUT FOR A DATE NIGHT.
RESIDENTS WALKING THEIR PETS ARE OUT FOR A CASUAL STROLL.
YES, ALL OF THIS HAPPENS OUT IN OUR CONVENTION CAMPUS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UH, AND YES, ALL HAVE TO DODGE SCOOTERS OR RISK BEING HIT OR SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE.
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF CONVENTION ATTENDEES ENJOYING DINNER AT ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS OR AT A NEARBY HOTEL.
UH, THE PERSON HAS BEEN HIT OR NEARLY HIT BY A SCOOTER AS THEY EXIT.
WE HAVE HAD TAKEOVERS WITHIN OUR PARKING GARAGES, RACING GOING UP AND DOWN THE RAMPS.
THESE WILL BE THE SAME GARAGES THAT WILL BE FULLED TOMORROW NIGHT WHEN TOYOTA CENTER HAS A CONCERT.
THE ASTROS HOST THE A'S AND WE WELCOME 15,000 PEOPLE TO HOUSTON FOR THE A A U JUNIOR OLYMPICS.
SCOOTERS ARE NOT USED AS TRANSPORTATION.
SCOOTER IS ACTIVELY DANGEROUS TO PEDESTRIANS AND NOT COMPLIMENTARY.
I WILL WRAP UP MY REMARKS VERY SOON.
UH, AT BEST, SCOOTERS ARE RECKLESS RECREATION, AND AT WORSE THEY ARE DEADLY.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS WITHIN OUR CONVENTION CAMPUS.
UH, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD SCOOTERS ARE NOT AN AMENITY REQUESTED BY OUR CUSTOMERS, BUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR ATTENDEES IS THE NUMBER ONE BI FACTOR WHEN CHOOSING A DESTINATION FOR THEIR CONVENTION, CONFERENCE OR MEETING.
NEXT UP, NEXT UP IS JUAN VALENTINE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
ON THIS BATTER, UH, I JUST WANT TO SHED SOME LIGHT.
AND, UH, SOME OF THE DATA PRESENTED TODAY, IT'S, IT'S MAINLY CONTRIBUTED BY ILLEGAL VENDORS.
THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, LEGAL VENDORS HERE THAT, UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT OUR STOREFRONT LOCATIONS.
WE TRY OUR BEST TO EDUCATE RIDERS BEFORE THEY, UH, LEAVE OUR STOREFRONT.
AND, UM, A LOT OF THE SCOOTERS THAT WE HAVE, THEY TOP OUT AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
SO, UH, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ANY SCOOTER GOING ABOVE THAT SPEED LIMIT, UH, IS, IS COMING FROM ILLEGAL VENDORS, MAYBE, THAT ARE RENTING OUT SCOOTERS THAT ARE NOT MEETING THAT REQUIREMENT.
SO I JUST, UH, REALLY WISH THAT EVERYBODY WOULD TRY TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH US AND TRY TO, UH, COME UP WITH A PLAN TO REGULATE ALL THIS INSTEAD OF JUST BANNING IT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO BUILDING THESE BUSINESSES, AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD, UH, THINGS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY.
SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AND A SOLUTION INSTEAD OF JUST A COMPLETE BAN.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE APPEARED BEFORE YOU ON THIS ISSUE.
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO BAN SCOOTERS FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
I HAVE LIVED IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I ACTUALLY CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S LIVED IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON LONGER.
I RESIDE IN THE CONVENTION DISTRICT, WHICH BRINGS VISITORS FROM HU FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO ATTEND CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE VISITORS SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO STAY AND PARTICIPATE IN CONVENTIONS, ATTEND CONCERTS AND SPORTING
[01:05:01]
EVENTS.PEOPLE BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO PLAY AT DISCOVERY GREEN.
ACCORDING TO CRIME GRADE, THE OVERALL CRIME GRADE FOR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON IS AN F DOWNTOWN.
HOUSTON'S OVERALL CRIME RATE IS 97.96 PER 1000 RESIDENTS, A ONE IN SIX CHANCE OF VICTIMIZATION.
ON A DAILY BASIS, WE DEAL WITH OBSCENELY LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, AND REPEATED REVVING FROM CARS, LOUD MUSIC IN VIOLATION OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE, SCOOTERS SPEEDING ON THE SIDEWALKS IN VIOLATION OF CITY LAW, GANG MEMBERS SHOOTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
AND RESPECTFULLY, UM, NO ONE'S DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW, AND 90 SECONDS JUST RESPECTFULLY ISN'T ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
AND I'M LIVING LIKE THIS EVERY DAY.
I BEG YOU, I BEG YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND THE PEOPLE, THE SCOOTER VENDORS HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOU TO ACT.
UM, EVERYONE, I, I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE PASSION THAT SURROUNDS THIS ISSUE, BUT WE DO HAVE DECOR RULES IN THE CHAMBER, AND I'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE NOT CLAP, UH, OR, UH, MAKE OTHER, UH, SOUNDS THAT MIGHT INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS.
DO YOU WANNA TURN THAT MIC ON? IS IT ON? WE GO, BECAUSE WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS MOSTLY BEN SAID, BUT JUST AS AN ASIDE COUNSEL MEMBER ALCORN, I HEARD YOU WERE TOLD THAT SLINGSHOTS AND ATVS ARE ALREADY ILLEGAL.
IF YOU THINK THEY'RE ILLEGAL, COME DOWNTOWN AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT, AND YOU'LL SEE HOW ILLEGAL THEY ARE.
THESE SCOOTER RENTAL BUSINESSES ARE NUISANCE BUSINESSES.
WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE FOOLING THE CITY AND THEY'RE ENDANGERING PEDESTRIANS.
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD THAT HPD WOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS.
LET'S TALK STATISTICS ARE NICE, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT REAL WORLD LIVING DOWNTOWN.
MANY OF US, AND I DON'T THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE LIVING DOWNTOWN, SITTING BEHIND ME, THOUGHT THAT HPD HAD ABANDONED DOWNTOWN.
I SEE THE STATISTICS ABOUT HOW MANY TICKETS AND, UH, SCOOTER RIDERS THEY HAVE TICKETED IN FIVE YEARS.
I HAVE NEVER REPEAT THE WORD, NEVER EVER SEEN ANY ACTION BETWEEN HPD AND A SCOOTER RIDER.
SO THAT'S WHY STATISTIC INTERESTS ME.
I HEAR STATISTICS THAT THERE ARE THREE COMPANIES RENTING SCOOTERS DOWNTOWN.
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RENTAL LOCATIONS.
THERE IS A RENTAL LOCATION IN THE 1200 BLOCK OF MAINE, THE 1100 BLOCK OF MAINE, THE 900 BLOCK OF MAINE AT FANIN AND CAPITAL, POLK AND CAROLINE.
THEN ILLEGAL POPUP LOCATIONS THAT APPEAR EVERY WEEKEND.
STILL, WE HAVE HEARD THAT ABOUT THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED.
NOW, I'M NOT BLAMING THEM, THEY'RE STRETCHED THIN ALL OVER, BUT LET'S NOT HAVE THE WOOL PULLED OVER YOUR EYES BY THESE SCOOTER RENTAL COMPANIES.
THEY'RE NO LONGER RENTING JUST SCOTERS.
THEY'RE RENTING BIG BOY THREE WHEEL TOYS.
THESE ARE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN YESTERDAY AT THREE 30 IN THE AFTERNOON ON THE SIDEWALK.
IS THAT A E SCOOTER? NO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'D KILL YOU IF IT HIT YOU.
THIS IS BIG THREE WHEEL SCOOTERS BEING RIDDEN ON THE SIDEWALK PAST RICE UNIVERSITY.
EVERYTHING I'M SAYING TODAY, I'VE PUT IN AN EMAIL TO THE MAYOR AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ ON JULY 1ST WITH OVER A DOZEN PHOTOS.
AND IF THEY WOULD SEND THOSE TO YOU, THAT'S THE REAL STORY.
POPUPS STILL EVERY WEEKEND YOU SEE CHILDREN 10 AND 12 RIDING THESE, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT.
MORE RESTRICTIONS IS NOT THE ANSWER.
[01:10:01]
FROM DOWNTOWN IS THE ANSWER BECAUSE HPD CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO ENFORCE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS.ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. VINEYARD.
ED PETIT, I'M HAPPY TO LEAVE THESE FOR YOU.
I THINK THE ONE THING I AGREE WITH EVERYONE WHO PROCEEDED WITH ME THAT 90 SECONDS IS NOT ENOUGH.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY AND THANKFUL FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S COMMENTS AND REMARKS.
SO I WOULD SAY WHATEVER I'VE LEFT UNSAID, I HOPE THAT YOU RELY HEAVILY ON HER KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS GOING FORWARD.
I'VE BEEN RIDING E SCOOTERS FOR NEARLY A DECADE.
I WAS AN EARLY ADOPTER AMONG THE FIRST TO USE SCOOTER SHARE IN CITIES LIKE AUSTIN, WASHINGTON, DC AND NEW ORLEANS.
UH, HERE IN HOUSTON, I'VE RENTED SCOOTERS FOR VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP GET, HELP THEM NAVIGATE DOWNTOWN WITHOUT NEEDING TO RENT A CAR.
AND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, I'VE RELIED ON MY OWN PRIVATELY OWNED SCOOTER AS MY DAILY TRANSPORTATION, UH, NOT HAVING TO TAKE MY WRANGLER AROUND FOR EVERY LITTLE TRIP.
THAT'S THREE VERY DIFFERENT USE CASES.
SCOOTER SHARE, RENTAL AND PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
AND THE PRESENTATION WE SAW EARLIER DID NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THEM.
YES, THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH LATE NIGHT RECKLESS JOY RIDERS.
I SEE THEM UPFRONT AND PERSONAL.
THEY GET IN MY WAY WHEN I'M RIDING MY SCOOTER TO GO TO EVENTS DOWNTOWN.
UM, BUT INSTEAD OF A BLANKET PUNISHMENT, THE CITY SHOULD BE PARTNERING WITH A PROVEN RESPONSIBLE VENDOR.
UH, NO ONE WANTED TO MENTION ONE EARLIER, LIME IS ONE.
THEY CAN DO GEOFENCING, SPEED CAPS, SIDEWALK DETECTION, CURFEWS.
AFTER A CERTAIN HOUR, THE SCOOTERS DON'T WORK AT ALL.
IF YOU GET ONTO THE ATLANTA BELT LINE, IT SLOWS DOWN TO PEDESTRIAN SPEED.
ALL OF THIS IS DONE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.
AS FOR BANS, THE BAN IN TORONTO IS NOT WORKING.
AFTER MONTHS OF SKYHIGH GAS PRICES, E SCOOTERS CRUISE TO POPULARITY IN TORONTO.
AND AS WE'VE SEEN, IF WE'RE NOT ENFORCING THESE BIG BOY TRIKES AND THESE OTHER THINGS WHIPPING AROUND, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ENFORCE A BAN.
WE NEED THOUGHTFUL REGULATION.
DOMINIC GARCIA, LUCY MONTEZ, DON HOOPER.
MY NAME IS LUCY ORTIZ ES I AM THE OWNER OF SWER SCOOTER RENTALS.
I'M ALSO THE FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE, SO I DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS CHAMBER AND HOW THEY IMPACT REAL LIVES ACROSS OUR CITY.
THE PROBLEM IS IN SCOOTERS, THE PROBLEM IS UNREGULATED ILLEGAL VENDORS WHO ARE BYPASSING THE CITY'S OWN RULES.
SWERVE SCOOTER RENTALS FOLLOWS EVERY ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2021.
MEANWHILE, ILLEGAL VENDORS ARE PARKED NEAR DISCOVERY GREEN, RENTING TO ANYONE WITH CLASH CASH, INCLUDING MINORS.
THESE OPERATIONS DON'T EDUCATE RIDERS OR FOLLOW ANY SAFETY PROTOCOL.
AND WHILE LEGAL BUSINESSES ARE BEING THREATENED WITH BANS, THESE VENDORS CONTINUE UNCHECKED.
FOR A CITY OF OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT A CRISIS.
WE DON'T SHUT DOWN CAR DEALERSHIPS, OVER CAR ACCIDENTS.
WE FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS AND OTHER CITIES.
AS YOU MENTIONED, AUSTIN, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE SCOOTER RENTAL BUSINESSES WORK ALONGSIDE PEDESTRIANS AND CARS.
IF THEY CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T HOUSTON THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, DO THE SAME? INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS, TARGET ILLEGAL OPERATORS AND CONSIDER PRACTICAL COM PROMISES THAT IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOR EXAMPLE, LI LIMITING OPERATING HOURS FROM 7:00 PM TO 2:00 AM ESTABLISHING A SCOOTER SPEED LIMIT TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS, EXPANDING ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS LIKE DISCOVERY GREEN, AND CREATING A PERMITTING SYSTEM WITH REGULAR SAFETY COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND REQUIRING A BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION FOR ALL SCOOTER RENTAL BUSINESSES.
LET'S NOT THROW OUT AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF A FEW BAD ACTORS.
LET'S MIC SMARTER POLICY AND NOT SCAR THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.
I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT PEOPLE SHOOTING PEOPLE ON SCOOTERS.
[01:15:01]
MY RESIDENT, MY NEIGHBOR BELOW ME WAS SHOT IN THE STOMACH BY A KID, 15 YEARS OLD OPERATING A SCOOTER.YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE GUY THAT LEASED IT TO HIM.
EVERYTHING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON'S UNDER CAMERA.
YOU SHOOT SOMEBODY ON A SCOOTER, IT'S ON CAMERA.
WHEN YOU RUN AWAY FROM SHOOTING SOMEBODY, THEY RUN BACK TO THE BUSINESS WHERE THEY GOT IT FROM.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY TIME THAT'S HAPPENED.
WE HAD A KID SHOOT SOMEBODY BECAUSE HE WAS FRUSTRATED IN A LINE HE WAS WAITING FOR TO RUN A SCOOTER ALSO FROM THE SAME GUY YOU JUST HEARD FROM.
15-YEAR-OLD KIDS RUNNING AROUND DOWNTOWN HOUSTON ON SCOOTERS SHOOTING PEOPLE.
I'VE LIVED DOWNTOWN FOR 20 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF HEAVILY ARMED PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, AS YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO ARE HEAVILY ARMED, AND YOU PULL OUT A WEAPON AROUND ONE OF THESE PEOPLE, YOU ARE GONNA GET SHOT VERY QUICKLY.
AND WE NEED TO INSURE ALL THESE PEOPLE.
YOU SHOOT, YOU LEASE A SCOOTER TO A 15-YEAR-OLD THAT SHOOTS ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS WAS A A A, A HIGH EXECUTIVE WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN HOUSTON.
ALL OF HIS TAX DOLLARS ARE GONE.
HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 19 DAYS AND HAD 11 SURGERIES.
THESE PEOPLE THAT JUST TESTIFIED OUGHT TO BE PAYING HIS MEDICAL BILL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAYING THOSE COSTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INJURED THAT GET INJURED, WE'RE PAYING THOSE MEDICAL COSTS.
$10 MILLION BOND, $10,000 PERMIT FEE.
I'D LIVE ABOVE DISCOVERY GREEN.
THESE SCOOTERS TEAR IT UP ALL NIGHT LONG, DRIVING ACROSS THE LAWN, BAN 'EM.
EMILIO MONTEZ, FOLLOWED BY NEL DELI.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I REPRESENT MY FAMILY BUSINESS, SW SCOOTER RENTALS LOCALLY OPERATED IN THE HEART OF HOUSTON.
I'M HERE TODAY, NOT JUST AS A BUSINESS OWNER, BUT AS A TAX PAYING VOTING RESIDENT WHO EMPLOYS OTHER HOUSTONIANS, MANY OF WHOM RELY ON THIS BUSINESS AS THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME.
THIS ISN'T A HOBBY, THIS IS OUR LIVELIHOOD.
A PROPOSED SCOOTER BAN WOULD DEVASTATE OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFUL TO THE CITY.
SERVING BUSINESSES LIKE OUR OWN AREN'T THE PROBLEM.
WE INVEST IN SAFETY, WE KEEP THINGS CLEAN.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE DRIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, OUR SCOOTERS, POWER FOOT TRAFFIC TO LOCAL EVENTS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, AND TOUR SPOTS, ESPECIALLY IN DOWNTOWN.
WE HELP KEEP HOUSTON VIBRANT, MOBILE AND ATTRACTIVE TO BOTH LOCALS AND VISITORS.
THAT ENERGY FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ALSO PAY TAXES, EMPLOY STAFF AND VOTE.
WE'RE NOT DENYING THAT THE IN INDUSTRY NEEDS REGULATION.
WE AGREE THAT ILLEGAL UNLICENSED OPERATORS ARE AN ISSUE, BUT BANNING SCOOTERS ENTIRELY, O ONLY PUNISHES THE LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES TRYING TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
WE, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO WORK WITH US, NOT AGAINST US.
LET'S CREATE A STRONGER, SMARTER REGULATIONS TOGETHER THAT WE DOUBT BAD ACTORS, ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ALLOW OUR BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY WE LOVE.
LET'S KEEP HOUSTON MOVING, NOT SHUTTING DOWN OPPORTUNITY.
ASHDALE DELI, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE LOT.
I THINK I'M GOING TO STAND, UM, TODAY, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THE PROPOSED, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE.
SIR, IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN, IT'D BE, YEAH, AND SPEAKING OF THE MIC, THAT'S GREAT.
I JUST WANNA SAY ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH A SCOOTER FREE ZONE.
IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF WHEN YOU TURN AROUND, WHEN YOU TURN AROUND FOR THE MICROPHONE.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE, WHICH SHOULD ESTABLISH A SCOOTER FREE ZONE.
[01:20:01]
IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS.IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BUSINESS COMMUNITY UN UNCERTAINLY.
IT DOES NOT EVEN ADDRESS ANY PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
UM, I THINK THIS PROPOSED BAN IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHO THINK THAT THEY DESERVE THE SIDEWALKS, MAYBE TO JUST WALK A DOG OR WITHOUT ANY IMPEDIMENT.
UM, THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE TODAY IS WHOLLY INACCURATE.
AND I THINK WE RESPECT THIS COUNCIL ENOUGH TO PRESENT ACCURATE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN SUCH A DECISION IS GONNA BE MADE, MADE TO AFFECT, UH, SO MANY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN HOUSTON.
UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THE INFORMATION, 53%, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT ACCIDENTS IN DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, THE INFORMATION IS INACCURATE.
YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALS OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, 15 OVER 39, THAT'S 38% IS NOT 53%.
I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE, I I, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT HOUSTON IS A LEADER.
AND IN ORDER TO, RATHER THAN BANNING SCOOTERS, WE COULD FIND, WE COULD FIND A SOLUTION.
MY COMPANY HAS GEOFENCING TECHNOLOGY AND AS ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS RIGHTLY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE COULD IMPLEMENT THAT.
OKAY? AND, AND YOU, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE SEE, RIGHT? WE SEE IN CERTAIN CITIES THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE EMBRACING SCHOOLS, INTEGRATING IT, HELPING CITIES REDUCE COST.
OKAY? HOW, WHY CAN'T HOUSTON BE A LEADER? THIS IS WHAT WE SEE DOWNTOWN KIDS ENJOYING A GOOD TIME, NOT RIGHT.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY, DRUG ABUSE, HAVING A GOOD TIME RATHER THAN ENGAGING IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.
OKAY? AND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE ARE THE LITTLE KIDS.
YOU KNOW, WE GONNA DEPRIVE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE PRESENCE, WRITE THE SCHOOLERS SCHOOL AND HAVE FUN.
I THINK WE COULD FIND A BETTER DECISION RATHER THAN BUYING SCHOOLERS BECAUSE SCOOTERS HAVE SUCH A MULTIPLI EFFECT OF, THANK YOU, MR. DELISE.
WE'LL CALL NEXT CATHERINE LOT TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN CANTRELL.
AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO HEAR IN HERE.
SO I'D ASK YOU NOT TO APPLAUD AND MAINTAIN DECORUM.
CATHERINE LOT TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN KENTRELL.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE, UM, UP FOR DISCUSSION.
I AM THE PRESIDENT AND PARK DIRECTOR OF DISCOVERY GREEN.
UH, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AND LOVE OF DISCOVERY GREEN.
I'M GONNA SPEAK AS QUICKLY AS I CAN SO THAT WE GET THROUGH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.
DISCOVERY GREEN, OBVIOUSLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN, UH, FOR MANY YEARS, BROUGHT SAFETY TO THAT PART OF DOWNTOWN, AND, UH, WENT FOR 17 YEARS WITHOUT ANY SORT OF GUN VIOLENCE.
AND AS OF SIX WEEKS AGO, WE ARE NOW UP TO SIX INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
AND WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THIS BROKEN WINDOW EFFECT IN WHICH LAWLESSNESS HAS BEEN ABLE TO OCCUR FOR YEARS NOW.
WE HAVE TRIED ALL OF THE SIGNAGE, ALL OF THE BLINKING LIGHT TRAFFIC SIGNS.
WE HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON SAFETY, ON OFFICERS ON SEAL TIME, SEAL TEAM, RATHER THROUGH DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, PLUS ALL OF OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AT HOUSTON.
FIRST, UM, EVERYONE WHO HAS STOOD BESIDE US AS THEY'VE WATCHED THE PARK DETERIORATE INTO A PLACE OF VIOLENCE.
AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, WE DO NOT HAVE A SCOOTER ISSUE.
AND THAT SCOOTER CULTURE HAS REALIZED THAT THERE IS LAWLESSNESS ALLOWED.
THESE KIDS, THESE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THESE SCOOTERS, THEY COME IN AND THEY VIOLATE NOT ONLY OUR PROPERTY AND OUR BUILDINGS, BUT OUR PEOPLE.
THEY TARGET THE ELDERLY, THEY TARGET THE PETS, THEY TARGET THE CHILDREN, ANYONE THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN SCARE, AND THEY FILM IT ON THEIR PHONES.
I REALLY WANT TO INVITE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.
PLEASE COME TO DISCOVERY GREEN.
PLEASE COME TO THE, UH, EVENT THAT HOUSTON FIRST HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO UNDERWRITE AND SEE THIS FIRSTHAND.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A NUANCED APPROACH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CATHERINE.
LET ME ASK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, THERE WAS REFERENCE MADE TO, OR I SAW IT SOMEWHERE, PROPERTY DAMAGE AT DISCOVERY GREEN.
UM, EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND NIGHT, STARTING ON THURSDAY EVENINGS, AND I HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF PHOTOS.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF PHOTOS OF ALL OF OUR GROUNDS BEING VIOLATED.
DEEP, HUGE GROOVES IN OUR LAWNS.
AND JUST FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT NUMBER SO THAT YOU HAVE THEM, IT COSTS US $150,000
[01:25:01]
OF DONOR MONEY.WE ARE NOT A CITY PARK, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN FACT A NONPROFIT, $150,000 OF DONOR MONEY THAT HAS TO GO TO RE SIDE JUST THE JONES LAWN EACH AND EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS.
AND RIGHT NOW, OUR LAWNS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD.
AND AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE THE FRONT LAWN OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER.
WE BRING IN MAJOR MONIES FROM BOOKING THESE HUGE EVENTS WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPRESENT HOUSTON IN A HEALTHY, HEALTHY, HEALTHY, HAPPY WAY.
TELL US ABOUT THE, UH, SECURITY COSTS MM-HMM
AND WHAT THE EFFORTS YOU'VE MADE AT SECURITY.
SO WE HAVE OUR, UH, SEAL TEAM THAT WE PARTNER WITH THROUGH DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
PLUS THEY ARE ON OUR PROPERTY 24 7.
WE ALSO HAVE OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS.
UM, CAPTAIN COUNTRYMEN ENCOURAGED US TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS OFF DUTY DURING THE WEEKENDS.
WE HAVE CALCULATED PROJECTIONS THAT WILL EQUAL AT LEAST TWO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER BUDGET IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ANNUALLY.
UM, IT IS A MASSIVE IMPACT, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, RIGHT NOW I COULD HIRE 50 OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS TO BE WITH US 24 7.
AND WHEN THESE GUYS COME IN THE DROVES AND AT THE SPEED THAT THEY'RE DRIVING IN, WE MIGHT AS WELL BE LETTING MONEY ON FIRE.
UM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THEM WHERE THEY'RE GOING SO FAST.
WE DO KNOW THAT A POLICE PRESENCE HAS HELPED MITIGATE THE SITUATION, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE IT COMPLETELY YET.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ESTIMATE ABOUT NUMBERS WHEN YOU SAY THEY COME IN, IN DROVES? UH, OH.
I MEAN, I, AGAIN, I, I REALLY ENCOURAGE A FIRSTHAND WITNESS ACCOUNT, BUT YOU CAN SEE A HUNDRED OF THEM ON OUR LAWN ALONE DURING THE WEEKENDS.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE IN THE MORNING.
OUR PARK CLOSES AT 11:00 PM THERE SIGNS CLEARLY POSTED ALL OVER THE PARK.
CAPTAIN COUNTRYMAN ALSO ENCOURAGED US TO PRODUCE MORE SIGNS, MORE EYE LEVEL SIGNS, BIGGER FONT.
WE STILL HAVE THE 1:00 AM FOLKS OCCURRING, THE 3:00 AM FOLKS OCCURRING, UM, UNWANTED VISITORS ON MASS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMANS IN THE CUBE.
I, CATHERINE, I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO THANK HOUSTON FIRST.
UM, AND I'M NOT COMMENTING WITH EVERY RESIDENT, BUT I WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ALSO COME DOWN, BECAUSE AGAIN, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR FAR TOO LONG.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING THE SOLUTIONS TODAY.
AND DISCOVERY GREEN IS THIS EPICENTER, RIGHT? Y'ALL HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY THIS FOR SO LONG MM-HMM
UM, AND SO, AND I THINK HOW YOU FRAMED THIS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT GOES SO FAR BEYOND WHAT WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THE, CAN YOU TALK FOR A BIT? ONE QUESTION I HAD, AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF TIME, WE'LL TALK OFFLINE MORE, BUT I'M VERY, VERY AWARE OF WHAT DISCOVERY GREEN AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH, AND IT'S NOT OKAY.
THE, HAVE YOU ALL EXPERIENCED IN ADDITION TO THE SCOOTERS, THE THREE WHEELERS AND THE OTHER TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLES? AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL? BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP NOW SEVERAL TIMES OF JUST HOW BAD THE ISSUE IS, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE SCOOTERS.
UM, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A SEVERE ESCALATION, AGAIN, OF LAWLESSNESS, UM, TO THE POINT OF, OF GUN VIOLENCE, RIGHT? AND IN BETWEEN SCOOTERS AND THE GUN VIOLENCE, OF COURSE, ARE THE ATVS AND THE THREE WHEELERS AND THE E-BIKES, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE SCOOTER CULTURES, THERE SEEMS TO BE A, AN ONLINE COMMUNITY THAT THEN PASSES AROUND WORD AND MESSAGING, ET CETERA, AS TO, UM, WHO TO TARGET, WHEN TO TARGET, ET CETERA.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE ARE EXTENDED BRAGGING RIGHTS ASSOCIATED.
UM, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE CULTURE OF ATVS COME TOGETHER IN THAT ORGANIZED FASHION.
UM, BUT WE, I JUST WANNA SAY THIS.
WE HAVE SEEN A 10-YEAR-OLD AND A 14-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED ON SCOOTERS ROBBING PEOPLE AT GUNPOINT IN THE HOUSTON FIRST PARKING GARAGE, A 10-YEAR-OLD AND A 14-YEAR-OLD ON SCOOTERS ROBBING PEOPLE AT GUNPOINT IN OUR PARKING GARAGE.
KEVIN CANTRELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY SERGE RA MASTRO, KEVIN CANTRELL.
UM, I'M HERE JUST TO, TO SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR
[01:30:01]
JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY IS LOOKED AFTER PROTECTED, KEPT SAFE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PUBLIC SERVICES, ALL THE THINGS, RIGHT? TOUGH JOB.AND YOU GOT, YOU GOTTA MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND CLEARLY Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO SEEK INFORMATION TODAY TO TRY TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION.
SO I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, BUT LET'S NOT MAKE IT DIFFICULT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TAKING PEOPLE THAT COMMUTE IN THE DAYTIME THAT OWN THEIR SCOOTERS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE NO LONGER, THEIR BRAIN IS FORMED.
THEY'RE NO LONGER THRILL SEEKERS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY RISK AVERSE, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, OR TRYING TO GET TO A STORE OR WHATEVER.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE THRILL SEEKERS.
THESE YOUNG KIDS WHOSE DOPAMINE AT THAT AGE IS OFF THE CHART AND YOU'RE GIVING 'EM THESE SCOOTERS, AND NOW THESE BIG BOYS AND THESE THREE, WELL, THREE WHEELERS, AND YOU PUT ALL KIND OF NEON LIGHTS ON 'EM AND FLASHING THEM AND GIVING 'EM SPEED, AND YOU GIVE 'EM DROVES AND THEY GOT THIS WHOLE PACK, YOU KNOW, PEER PRESSURE SORT OF PACK MENTALITY OUT THERE, JUST GOING CRAZY.
WHY WOULD WE ALLOW THAT AS A CITY? WHY WOULD WE, I MEAN, WE, WE NEED THAT GONE.
IF, IF WE ELIMINATE THAT, WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SCOOTERS.
IT'S THIS MEN, IT'S THIS, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IT'S CAUSING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND, AND THE SCOOTERS ARE THE MEANS FOR THAT.
WE, IF, IF WE GAVE THEM DRUGS AND THEY WENT OUT THERE AND GOT CRAZY, WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT.
WHY? IF WE GAVE 'EM GUNS AND THEY WENT OUT THERE AND GOT CRAZY, WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT.
WHY WOULD WE GIVE THEM SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE ALL PACKING TOGETHER, FLYING AROUND WITH NO REGARD FOR THEMSELF OR THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, OR, OR THE CARS.
YOU KNOW, I, THE, THE, THE MAN THAT WAS SHOT WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
I, I, BY THE WAY, I LIVE IN ONE PARK PLACE, SO DISCOVERY GREEN IS MY FRONT DOOR AS WELL.
HE WAS SHOT FOR SAYING, YOU CAN'T BE ON THE SIDEWALK.
HE AND I WENT AND SAW HIM IN THE HOSPITAL, AND HE TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, I WAS ON THE SIDEWALK NOT LONG AFTER THAT, KNOWING I SHOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING, BUT HERE THEY COME.
AND I SAY, HEY, HEY, SLOW DOWN.
Y'ALL CAN'T BE ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND WHEN I SAID THAT SCOOTERS CAME FROM EVERYWHERE AND, AND AROUND SURROUNDED ME, LIKE, HOW DARE YOU TELL US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO? THIS IS OUR CITY.
WE RENTED THIS THING, YOU GET OUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET OUTTA THE WAY.
I FELT TERRORIZED, RIGHT? I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T GO OUTSIDE ANYMORE.
I DON'T TAKE MY GRANDKIDS TO DISCOVER GREEN PARK ANYMORE AT NIGHTTIME.
WHEREAS I USED TO WHEN THEY USED TO LOVE TO COME AND GO OUT AT NIGHTTIME, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY OUT THERE.
BUT I CAN'T TAKE 'EM OUT THERE.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA BULLET RANDOMLY HITTING MY, MY GRANDKIDS OR, OR, OR SCOOTER RUNNING, RUNNING US OVER.
SO THE DECISION SHOULD BE EASY.
THESE THINGS NEVER BELONG HERE.
THEY'VE CREATED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND IT'S TIME TO FIX IT.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S, IT'S TIME TO FIX.
SERGE RA MASTRO, CLAUDE JOHN MAGE TO BE FOLLOWED BY TELE MANOS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CLAUDIA ACH.
UH, I OWN A SMALL SCOOTER COMPANY FROM WHICH I FEED MY FAMILY.
UM, I WANNA SAY THAT, UH, ALL ISSUES BROUGHT TODAY HERE ARE FIXABLE THROUGH REGULATION.
UM, WE CAN, UH, LOAD THE SPEED LIMIT, UH, FOR THE SCOOTERS.
ACTUALLY, ALL REGULAR SCOOTERS DOESN'T GO OVER 18, BUT WE CAN MAKE IT LOWER IF, IF IT'S NECESSARY.
UH, USING HELMETS FOR THE RIDERS, UM, EDUCATING PROGRAMS FOR, FOR, FOR THE RIDERS.
AND, UH, OF COURSE, HIGHER TICKETS FOR THE, UH, VIOLATIONS.
UM, UH, I SAW THAT THE MAIN CONCERN WAS UNAUTHORIZED, UH, UM, VENDORS USING PUBLIC SPACES TO, TO RUN THE BUSINESS.
I THINK THAT CITY OF HOUSTON AND, UH, HPD HAS THE FULL AUTHORITY AND CAPACITY TO STOP THEM.
THERE ARE JUST FEW OF THEM, BUT WE CANNOT SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE, UH, UH, UM, BUSINESS JUST BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, UH, IRRESPONSIBLE, UH, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE, UM, THE PROPOSAL IS TO, TO BAN SCOOTERS FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
BASICALLY, WE'RE TRANSFERRING THE PROBLEM FROM DOWNTOWN TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.
UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THIS PRESENTATION, I DIDN'T HEAR ANY, UH, UH, POSITIVE EFFECTS OF SCOOTERS.
UH, THERE ARE, UH, UM, FIRST OF ALL, WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT, UH, SCOOTERS BRING REVENUE, NOT NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR THE STORE OWNERS, FOR THE PARKING SPOT OWNERS, UH, UH, FOR, UH, UH, STORAGE FOR MA MANY, UH, MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
UM, IT IS A GREAT WAY, UH, UH, TO EXPLORE THE CITY.
UH, MANY PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT CITIES AND DIFFERENT STATES
[01:35:01]
TO, TO, TO ENJOY, UH, THIS EXPERIENCE.AND, UM, UM, I, UH, IN MY OPINION, PLEASE, UH, CONSIDER REGULATING, UH, THE SCHOOL BUSINESS AND NO BENEFIT.
TELLY MANOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CRAIG HOWARD.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL WHO'S BEEN WORKING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AT VARIOUS ENERGY COMPANIES OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS AND I USE AN E SCOOTER TO COMMUTE TO WORK EVERY MORNING.
UH, WELL, WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING REALLY HARD.
THAT IS, UM, I'M SPEAKING BECAUSE I THINK AN ALL OUT BAN WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THOSE OF US WHO COMMUTE INTO DOWNTOWN.
FROM THE HEIGHTS FROM SECOND AND FOURTH WARDS, FROM RICE MILITARY, WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE SET OF BICYCLE PATHS IN THE GREENWAY, SUCH AS THE HEIGHTS BIKE TRAIL, THE BAGBY BIKE TRAIL, WHITE OAK BIKE TRAIL.
AND THEY ALL CONNECT THE WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DOWNTOWN.
MOST BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN OFFER BIKE STORAGE OR BIKE RACKS OR SOME SORT OF BIKE ROOM.
AND AT EVERY COMPANY I'VE WORKED AT, I'VE ALWAYS USED THEM.
WHEN I TOOK SUMMER INTERNS FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND RICE, ALL MY INTERNS USED ELECTRIC ASSISTED DEVICES TO COMMUTE FROM THE CAMPUS TO DOWNTOWN TO TAKE THOSE INTERNSHIPS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I SEE THEM EVERY DAY, EVERY EVENING, AS WELL AS IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE, DROVES OF YOUNG KIDS, ADOLESCENTS, DUIS, RECKLESS DRIVING.
BUT PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THERE IS A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY THAT RELIES ON ELECTRIC ASSISTED DEVICES TO GET TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY.
I'D REALLY PREFER NOT TO HAVE TO BE A SINGLE PASSENGER COMMUTING VEHICLE AND CAUSE MORE CONGESTIONS ON THE ROAD.
I LOVE OUR GREENWAYS, I USE OUR GREENWAYS.
SO PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE EXIST.
MAYOR WHITMEYER MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF SCOOTER RIDERS ARE OUT OF TOWNERS AND JOY RIDERS.
I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE THAT STATEMENT.
I THINK THE MAJORITY OF PROBLEM CAUSERS ARE THE JOY RIDERS, BUT NOT THE MAJORITY OF SCOOTER USERS.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER THE COMMUTERS IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.
THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD TOM SESSA TO BE FOLLOWED BY EMMANUEL NUNEZ.
I'M SORRY, I GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF.
CRAIG HOWARD TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOM S AUGUSTA.
CAN YOU HEAR? THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME.
I'M HERE WEARING TWO HATS TODAY.
ONE IS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER AT THE BALLROOM AT BAYOU PLACE, AND SECOND AS THE, UM, REPRESENTING THE GREATER HOUSTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AS THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN.
SO THE BALLROOM, OF COURSE, AT BAYOU PLACE, THE OLD ALBERT THOMAS CONVENTION CENTER, WE'VE POSTED FOR YEARS SIGNS OF NO SCOOTERS.
IT WAS, UH, NO SKATEBOARDS FIRST AND NOW SCOOTERS.
WE NIGHTLY HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE, UM, THEY ARE COMING THROUGH WHILE VALET IS TRYING TO LOAD UP CARS.
THEY'RE GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION WHEN YOU ASK THEM TO LEAVE.
AND WE HAVE A POLICE OFFICER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS, BUT HE'S ONLY ONE.
IT'S JUST VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
ON FRIDAY NIGHT, I WAS AT AN EVENT AT SOCHI RESTAURANT AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUEE, CAME OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
MY CAR WAS AT THE HILTON AMERICA'S PARKING GARAGE ALL DAY.
'CAUSE I WAS THERE FOR A SEMINAR.
AND I WILL BE HONEST, I'VE NEVER WALKED THROUGH DISCOVERY GREEN IN THE EVENING AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT.
AND THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SAY, WALK YOUR WHEELS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT SIGN BEFORE.
AND JUST WITHIN SECONDS AFTER THAT, A SCOOTER HIT A 4-YEAR-OLD.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS REPORTED, I DON'T KNOW THE CONDITION OF THE 4-YEAR-OLD, BUT IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE.
NOW, FROM SOMEBODY WHO LEAVES THE BALLROOM BETWEEN 11 AND 4:00 AM ON MOST NIGHTS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL SCOOTER PEOPLE COMING UP SMITH STREET THE WRONG DIRECTION AND HEADING OVER ON CAPITOL TO GET ON 45, COMING DOWN THE WRONG DIRECTION OF THE FREEWAY.
SO I, I'M A BELIEVER THAT ENTREPRENEURS NEED TO EXIST, AND I THINK WE COULD FIND A WAY TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY, BUT IT'S GOTTA COME FROM THE, UH, LEGAL BRICK AND MORTAR COMPANIES THAT WANT TO HELP REGULATE THINGS.
JUST TO HELP US ALL OUT HERE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, REALLY QUICKLY, UM, YOU ALSO SAID YOU'RE WEARING TWO HATS.
SO ONE IS THE BALLROOM, THE OTHER IS THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF RESTAURATEURS IN THE AREA REGARDING THIS ISSUE? ABSOLUTELY.
AND THE FELLOW RESTAURATEURS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON THAT COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, I'VE SPOKEN WITH THEM, BUT LET'S TAKE SOCHI FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THEIR GUESTS CAN'T GET IN OR OUT ON
[01:40:01]
THAT CORNER, CERTAINLY THEY CAN GET IN IF THEY'RE COMING FROM INSIDE AS A GUEST AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS.BUT WHEN YOU WALK OUT THOSE DOORS AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK RIGHT AND LEFT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING TO LOOK RIGHT AND LEFT WHEN YOU GET TO A STREET, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
AND SHE'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM DISCOVERY GREEN ON THE CORNER.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WHO SAY THAT NONE OF THESE RIDERS HAVE STOPPED INTO THEIR RESTAURANTS TO HAVE A MEAL.
I WON'T, UM, DEBATE THE MAN THAT WAS JUST UP HERE SAYING THAT THERE IS BUSINESS.
I'M SURE A CONVENIENCE STORE GETS SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND BUY A BEVERAGE OF SOME KIND.
BUT THE, THE IMPACT TO THE RESTAURANTS IN THE HOTELS, I MEAN, THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN I GOT TO THE HILTON AMERICAS TO GO INTO THE FRONT DOOR, I LOOKED RIGHT.
SO I WASN'T WALKING IN FRONT OF A CAR, PULLING INTO VALET PARKING.
INSTEAD IT WAS SEVEN SCOOTERS.
AND LITERALLY YOU'RE DODGING THEM AND THEY DON'T CARE.
UM, BUT IT IS AFFECTING THE RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
IT'S AFFECTING MY BUSINESS AT THE BALLROOM BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TALKING NEGATIVELY ABOUT OUR BUSINESSES, WHICH MEANS OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO COME IF THEY CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN.
AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, UM, I KNOW THERE'S SOME REPRESENTATION AS WELL AS YOUR LEADERSHIP FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, BUT WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF RESIDENTS TALK ABOUT THE CRIME FACTOR, THE, THE SAFETY FACTOR FOR BUSINESSES.
SO IF, AGAIN, IF Y'ALL WANNA RESPOND LATER ON ABOUT, UM, JUST ANY ANECDOTAL, UM, CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO SAFETY ISSUES AROUND THE RESTAURANTS, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, BAYOU PLACE ALL THE WAY TO DISCOVERY GREEN.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK IN 2026 WHEN WE OPENED THAT NEW MAIN STREET PROMENADE, THAT 11 BLOCK STRETCH, WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ANOTHER THOROUGHFARE AND JUST, I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING THIS, GETTING THIS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE I, THAT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, TOURISM AND PROMOTE BUSINESS WITHIN THE CITY.
BUT I JUST HAVE THIS VISION OF 11 BLOCKS OF A FREE FOR ALL WITH SCOOTERS AND SUCH.
SO, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW PEDESTRIAN STREET? YEAH.
SO I WAS IN LOUISVILLE LAST WEEK AND THEY HAVE FOURTH STREET LIVE, AND IT IS SEVEN BLOCKS AND THE PILLARS ARE UP.
SO A CAR CAN'T RUN IN AND RUN OVER PEOPLE, BUT, UM, SECURITY OR POLICE OFFICERS AT EACH END, WERE LITERALLY STOPPING PEOPLE THAT THEY HAD TO LEAVE IT OUTSIDE OF THE ZONE, NOT EVEN COULD WALK IT THROUGH.
YOU WANNA WALK THROUGH, GO ON ANOTHER STREET AND COME AROUND.
AND IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING VERY, VERY WELL.
WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AND THEY PUT THAT IN PLACE WHEN THEY BUILT THIS PEDESTRIAN ZONE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME EXTRA EFFORT.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, UM, A DIRECTOR, MIKE NICHOLS OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT HAS INDICATED A PREFERENCE TO, TO, UH, PASS HIS ITEMS FROM THIS AGENDA.
SO IF ANY OF YOU HERE ARE HERE HOPING TO HEAR THAT PRESENTATION OR TO OFFER COMMENT ON THE HOUSING ITEMS, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THAT AFTER ALL AT THIS MEETING.
SO JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW SO THAT YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO LEAVE IF YOU WANNA DO THAT.
SO NO HOUSING ITEMS FOR TODAY.
UM, YOU ARE TOM S AUGUSTA? YES.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, COMMITTEE REGARDING SCOOTERS IN DOWNTOWN.
AND YES, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE SUPPORT THE CHANGES OF THE ORDINANCE.
I MOVED HERE 10 YEARS AGO AND ONE THING I LEARNED ABOUT HOUSTON VERY QUICKLY FROM THE OTHER EIGHT CITIES THAT I LIVED IN WAS HOUSTON WAS DIFFERENT.
AND HOUSTON'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
THE PEOPLE HELP EACH OTHER'S BUSINESSES AND THE PEOPLE SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE ABOUT OUR CITY.
AND IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE EIGHT CITIES I'VE BEEN TO.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THE SCOOTERS ARE OPERATING, IT'S NOT HELPING ANYBODY.
THEY ARE NOT THE HOUSTON CULTURE.
I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE IDEAS ON SOME RECENT OCCURRENCES THAT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF OUR HOTEL.
A GUEST RUNNING, WALKING BACK FROM AN ASTROS GAME, DODGE SCOOTERS ALL THE WAY BACK AND SAID, I'M NOT COMING BACK.
A SCOOTER WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AND HIT ONE OF OUR CARS OF OUR GUEST AND DAMAGED THE CAR.
AND THE SCOOTER WAS ON THE SIDEWALK WHEN A VALET PARKER WAS TRYING TO ENTER INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND HIT THE SCOOTER.
12 SCOOTERS SHOWING UP IN OUR DRIVEWAY, BLOCKING OUR GUEST.
LAST THURSDAY AT 11:15 PM AN EMPLOYEE WITNESSED FOUR PEOPLE ON SCOOTERS JUMP OFF AND
[01:45:01]
GET INTO A FIST FIGHT RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR HOTEL.AN EMPLOYEE STEPPED IN TO STOP THE FIGHT.
THAT EMPLOYEE WAS ME IN FRONT OF ALL OUR GUESTS.
WE HAD TO PUT OUR GUESTS BACK INTO OUR HOTEL FOR THEIR SAFETY.
I CAN SHOW YOU HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS FROM OUR GUEST ON THE ISSUE OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
AND WE HAVE THE WORLD COMING TO OUR CITY IN ABOUT LESS THAN A YEAR.
HOW WILL WE COMPETE AGAINST THE OTHER CITIES IN AMERICA? THERE'S 7,100 NEW APARTMENT UNITS DOWNTOWN HOUSTON SINCE 2020.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO GO HOME FRIDAY AFTER A BUSY WEEKDAY AND ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION, WILL YOU GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING? OUR RESIDENTS KNOW RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP TONIGHT, TOMORROW NIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
SATURDAY NIGHT, ONE RESIDENT TOLD ME HE'S MOVING BECAUSE HE CAN'T GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
WE HAD A GUEST IN OUR HOTEL THAT WAS GONNA STAY HERE FOR SEVEN WEEKS, SEVEN WEEKS.
HE CALLED ME MONDAY MORNING, SAID, I'M LEAVING.
AND THE SCOOTERS EVERYWHERE LEFT THE HOTEL.
IF YOU WANNA DRIVE REV REVENUE FOR THE CITY, I CAN PROVIDE A LOT MORE REVENUE BY OCCUPYING MORE GUESTROOMS AND HAVING MORE PEOPLE COME INTO OUR OUTLETS.
WE PUT SLEEP MACHINES IN THE GUEST ROOM.
WE SPENT THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR SLEEP ENHANCEMENT MACHINES TO, UH, HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE NOISE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE AIR PLUGS NOW WE HAVE TO HIRE A HPD OFFSITE OFFICERS, YOU HEARD BEFORE, IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE SURE OUR PLACE IS SAFE, CAN YOU IMAGINE GOING TO A CITY AND YOU TRAVEL WHEN YOU TRAVEL, GO TO A CITY AND SEE IF THEY HAVE A POLICE OFFICER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL.
DOES THAT GIVE YOU A SENSE OF SAFETY? IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE ACTION.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS.
WE'RE TOLD TO CALL HPD EVERY NIGHT, WHICH WE DO THREE OR FOUR TIMES A NIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET NOTICE THAT WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A, A POP-UP TENT BEHIND THE HOTEL THAT PLAYS LOUD MUSIC AT THREE IN THE MORNING.
OUR GUESTS CAN'T SLEEP AND MANY GUESTS WILL NOT BE BACK.
SO ASK YOURSELF, WHEN YOU TRAVEL, DO YOU GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP? THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.
WE'VE LOST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, AND YOU HAVE LOST THOSE TAX DOLLARS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PAY THOSE TAX DOLLARS.
SO YES, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM AND WE'VE ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.
AND WE NEED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ORDINANCE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM QUICKLY SO WE DON'T SCARE PEOPLE AWAY FROM OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
EMMANUEL NUNEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUSTIN SPEEDMAN.
EMMANUEL NUNEZ, AUSTIN SPADE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SIDNEY EDELMAN.
UH, SEEING MANY OF YOU AGAIN, MY NAME'S AUSTIN SPEEDMAN.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS FOR BIRD.
IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE AN SCOTER COMPANY THAT DOES NOT OPERATE IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERMITTED LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR US TO DO SO.
AND WE ONLY OPERATE IN CITIES THAT HAVE SUCH PROGRAMS LIKE DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, EVERY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HOUSTON DOES.
YOU DON'T HAVE LEVERS OF CONTROL BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN UNREGULATED PROGRAM, AND THEREFORE REGULATION IS THE ANSWER TO A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS BROUGHT UP, UH, BY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC, ET CETERA.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF I COULD BE TACTICAL, IT SOUNDED LIKE, UH, THROUGH YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE A RA, THE THE BEST NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE A REGULATED PROGRAM.
I, I DO NOT DENY WHAT THE A RA SAID AND WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE SAID, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN HOUSTON THAT'S UNIQUE TO HOUSTON, YOU NEED TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
SO I SUGGEST SIMPLY DIRECTING THE A RAA TO ADD TO THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT OPENS THE GATE TO A POTENTIAL REGULATED PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE THE SAME ORDINANCE LANGUAGE EXCEPT BY PERMITTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, SO THE A RA CAN TAKE BACK THE WORK THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM, THE HOMEWORK THAT YOU'VE DIRECTED THEM TO PROVIDE, WHICH IS WHAT COULD A REGULATED PROGRAM LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD THOSE ORDINANCES STATE? WHAT WOULD BE OUR HOUSTON SPECIFIC REGULATIONS? HOW DO WE TAKE THE WORK OFF OF HPD AND PUT IT ON MAYBE PARK HOUSTON TO FIND, UH, YOU KNOW, RIDERS BREAKING THE RULES.
[01:50:01]
OF TAKEAWAYS HERE.YOU COULD STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS STEP, BUT JUST LEAVE THE DOOR A CRACK OPEN TO REGULATION IN THE FUTURE, IN THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.
LET ME ASK YOU, IN THOSE CITIES WHERE YOU OPERATE IS, DO YOU HAVE COMPETITION? UH, WE, WE HAVE REGULATED COMPETITION.
SO AS AN EXAMPLE, IN DALLAS, UM, THERE ARE THREE PROVIDERS ALLOWED BIRD SPIN AND LYME.
UM, IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ILLICIT COMPETITOR, WHICH ACTUALLY DOES HAPPEN IN DALLAS, WE, UH, ARE SO FAST TO SHUT IT DOWN THROUGH A CEASE AND DESIST BECAUSE WE PAY THE CITY FOR THE RIGHT TO OPERATE.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING.
AND TO HAVE AN ILLICIT PROVIDER POP UP THAT HASN'T MET THE REGULATIONS OF THE CITY, THAT HASN'T APPLIED FOR THE PERMIT, PROVEN THAT THEIR TECHNOLOGY CAN MEET THE STRICT REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY, UH, DALLAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WE WILL SHUT THAT DOWN WITHIN A, WITHIN A FEW DAYS NORMALLY.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, YOU KNOW, CLYDE WARREN PARK RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF DALLAS DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE VERY REAL PROBLEMS BY THE WAY THAT DISCOVERY GREEN HAS HAD.
I HAVE BEEN THERE LATE AT NIGHT AND SEEN THE PROBLEMS MYSELF.
IT IT IS A BIT OF A NIGHTMARE.
SO I'M, I'M NOT DENYING THAT THOSE PROBLEMS, UH, EXIST, BUT DALLAS THROUGH A REGULATED PROGRAM HAS SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN RID OF MAJOR ISSUES IN CLYDE WARREN PARK.
I THINK WE COULD DO THE SAME THING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
SO DALLAS, YOU MENTIONED THERE'S BIRD, YOUR COMPANY LIME AND SPIN.
ARE THOSE ALL NATIONAL COMPANIES WITH LOCATIONS IN VARIOUS CITIES? THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE KEY REQUIREMENTS OF RECEIVING A PERMIT.
YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE AT SCALE IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS AMERICA.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, GATING CRITERIA TO EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO, TO APPLY TO OPERATE.
SO DALLAS DOESN'T ALLOW LOCAL PRIVATE COMPANIES TO ENTER THAT SPACE? THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
UM, DALLAS ACTUALLY HAD A MAJOR ISSUE WITH SCOTERS THEMSELVES WAY BACK WHEN THERE WAS 30,000 SCOOTERS IN DALLAS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A FEW THOUSAND, YOU KNOW, AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S INCIDENTS, IMAGINE 30,000.
SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY COMPLETELY WENT BACK.
THEY REINVENTED HOW THEY WERE GONNA APPROACH THINGS WITH EXTREMELY STRICT REGULATIONS.
AND AS MARIO POINTED OUT, IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE THOUSAND DEVICES.
HAPPY TO REPORT THAT DALLAS IS ACTUALLY GROWING THEIR SHARED MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN RID OF IS THE, THE RIFF RAF THAT WAS OUTLINED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE HAVING PEOPLE COMMUTING TO THE OFFICE EVERY DAY USING OUR SERVICE.
IN FACT, 85% OF OUR RIDERS IN DALLAS ARE LOCAL TO DALLAS.
THIS IS NOT FOR TOURISTS, IT'S FOR, FOR LOCALS.
UM, THAT'S WHERE WE MAKE OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
SO, UH, THROUGH A REGULATED PROGRAM, THEY'VE, THEY'VE SEEN A HUGE CHANGE.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD PROBLEMS LIKE HOUSTON, THEY FIXED IT MM-HMM
AND THEY FIXED IT BY LETTING NATIONAL COMPANIES, UH, DO THE BUSINESS AND THEN KICKING THE LOCAL COMPANIES OUT OF THE BUSINESS.
UH, IF I, IF I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, NOT SO MUCH THAT A LOCAL COMPANY WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME TO APPLY, THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO PROVE OUT THAT THEIR TECHNOLOGY MET A STRICT SET OF CRITERIA SET FORTH BY DDOT.
UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THAT PER SE, IT'S MORE THAT THEY HAVE LEVERS OF CONTROL.
SO, AS AN EXAMPLE, IF A USER, YOU KNOW, DOES SOMETHING WRONG, WE CAN BE FINED BY THE CITY FOR THAT BEHAVIOR.
SO THE, THE CITY ACTUALLY HAS TOOLS IN THE TOOLKIT TO BOTH, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, BUT ALSO TRACK WHO DID IT BECAUSE WE CAN TRACK OUR RIDERSHIP AND PASS ON ANY FINE, UH, GIVEN TO US BY THE CITY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S IN THE QUEUE THAT, THAT NAILED IT.
'CAUSE SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE DANGEROUS ACTIVITY.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT A SCOOTER NECESSARILY THAT'S A PROBLEM.
IT'S THE FOLKS THAT ARE UTILIZING THESE AND ABUSING THIS.
UM, YOU SAID YOU'RE ABLE TO BE FINED BY THE CITY, UM, IF A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OCCURS.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE, UH, YOU ACTUALLY MENTIONED TECHNOLOGY LIKE ID VERIFICATION, WE KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS.
SO IF THERE WAS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT REQUIRED, UH, AN OFFICIAL POLICE CASE AS AN EXAMPLE, WE CAN LITERALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE POLICE TO PROVIDE THEM THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO ALSO PROSECUTE THAT, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EXISTS IN, UH, HOUSTON TODAY.
AND DO Y'ALL, IF THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT ABUSES IT, FOR EXAMPLE, LEAVES IT IN A PLACE THAT IS NOT SPO THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE IT YEAH.
DOES NOT, UH, EITHER USE THE SCOOTER THE WAY IT'S MEANT TO BE USED OR PARTICIPATES IN HARMFUL OR ILLEGAL OR UNSAFE ACTIVITY, WHETHER THAT'S OPERATING IT OR CAUSING SIGNIFICANT SERIOUS EITHER BODILY HARM OR DAMAGING BUSINESSES, DAMAGING PROPERTY.
CAN YOU, UH, IN EFFECT BAN THOSE INDIVIDUALS? DO YOU TRACK THAT AND HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT? YEAH, SO IT, IT, IT'S NOT JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THAT INDIVIDUAL.
YOU MENTIONED THE OTHER REALLY PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT LEVER, WHICH IS THE ABILITY TO BAN THEM PERMANENTLY FROM THE SERVICE.
WE ACTUALLY KNOW THROUGH HOW THEY'RE USING OUR SERVICE, THEIR DEVICE LEVEL INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THEIR EMAIL.
SO WE CAN DO IT WHERE THEY CAN NEVER MAKE AN ACCOUNT WITH US AGAIN.
AND THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, WHICH YOU KNOW, HAS, UH, A LOT OF DENSITY,
[01:55:01]
UH, A LOT OF, UH, ISSUES OF PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE RULES.WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF THAT BAN SIDE.
AND WHAT YOU SEE IS, OF COURSE, WITH ALL THINGS, IT'S 1% OF IDIOTS THAT RUIN IT FOR ALL THE REST OF US, RIGHT? AND I, I DON'T DENY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT USE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT THROUGH A SHARED PROGRAM, YOU CAN EXIT THOSE PEOPLE FROM OUR SERVICE.
AND BY DOING THAT, YOU CREATE THAT BEHAVIORAL COHESION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE USING IT TO GO TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE A REAL FAN OF E SCOOTERS IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.
WE BRING IN AN AVERAGE OF $300 IN ECONOMIC LIFT TO RESTAURANTS PER USER PER YEAR.
UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE USE THESE NOT TO GO TO WALMART, THEY USE IT TO SHOP LOCAL AND EAT LOCAL.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE IS A PATH FORWARD WITH A REALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IN HOUSTON, BUT IT HAS TO BE REGULATED TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
SIDNEY EDELMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD PAULSON.
RICHARD PAULSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANET LYON.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, MY NAME IS RICHARD PAULSON.
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT CLOSE TO DISCOVERY GREEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW THE PROLIFERATION OF THESE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS OF VARIOUS SIZES HAS AFFECTED MY QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
MY WIFE AND I USED TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THE PARK TO A VARIETY OF LOCAL RESTAURANTS, PUBS, CAFES MOST DAYS OR NIGHTS, AND ENJOY THE DOWNTOWN CITY EXPERIENCE VERY MUCH LIKE ANY OTHER WORLD CLASS CITY.
WITH THAT ARRAY OF, UH, CASINO AND ENTERTAINMENT, THAT PART OF OUR LIFE IS NOW VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
I'VE BEEN KNOCKED TO THE GROUND ON TWO OCCASIONS, FORCED OFF THE SIDEWALK AND ONTO THE STREET TO AVOID BEING HIT BY AN ONCOMING ELECTRIC VEHICLE.
AND SOME OF THESE MACHINES ARE BIG, THEY'RE LIKE 200 POUNDS PLUS.
UM, I HAVE HAD CANS AND CONTAINERS THROWN AT ME BY SCOOTER RIDERS FOR SIMPLY TELLING THEM THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
UM, OUR DOWNTOWN PARK, DISCOVERY GREEN IS NO LONGER A SAFE SPACE WHERE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN CAN WALK THE PERIMETER SIDEWALK OR FOR THAT MATTER, TO, TO PLAY BALL GAMES ON THE GRASS FOR RISK OF BEING RUN DOWN BY MULTIPLE SCOOTERS TEARING UP THE LAWN.
I'VE NOT EVEN MENTIONED THE NOISY HOT RODS THAT ARE NOW UBIQUITOUS IN THE DOWNTOWN REGION.
THE HIGH VOLUME NOISE THEY CREATE MAKES, UH, DUKE DUKES OF HAZARDS DODGE CHARGER SOUND LIKE A TESLA.
UM, THIS DAILY NIGHT STREAM OF NOISE POLLUTION HAS DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND IN TURN AFFECTED MY MENTAL HEALTH TOO.
I'VE HEARD FROM MANY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAVE TOLD ME OF THREATS OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE DIRECTED AT THEM BY THESE SCOOTER GANGS.
AND I'M SURE THE STAFF OF OUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOMS CAN TESTIFY TO THE INJURIES CAUSED BY THESE MACHINES.
I IMPLORE THIS CITY COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING AS MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE AND BANNED THESE VEHICLES.
JANET LYON TO BE FOLLOWED BY WENDY MASON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND ALLOWING US TO BE HEARD.
MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS ISSUE AND, UM, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DODGING SCOOTERS.
AND NOT ONLY SCOOTERS, BUT THREE WHEEL VEHICLES, TWO, TWO WHEEL VEHICLES AND FOUR WHEEL VEHICLES COMING IN AND OUT OF MY BUILDING.
AND WHEN I WAS WALKING MY DOG, MY DOG WAS TARGETED IN THE PAST AND WE WERE ONCE PINNED AGAINST THE WALL BY A THREE WHEELER WITH A WOMAN DRIVING WITH A CHILD BENEATH BETWEEN HER LEGS ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A HELMET.
IT USED TO JUST HAPPEN ON THE WEEKENDS, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS ANYTIME DURING THE WEEK.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANY WAY OF REGULATING THIS, OR I DON'T THINK THE POLICE CAN HAVE THE STAFF TO, UM, MANAGE IT.
AND I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST YOU COULD DO IS MANAGE IT.
I DON'T SEE ANY SOLUTION OTHER THAN BANNING IT.
UM, I DO HAVE ONE RESIDENT THAT I, ONE PERSON I KNOW THAT USES A SCOOTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, FOR WORK IS, UH, SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN MY BUILDING.
SO I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CARVE OUT TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THE WHOLE THING JUST NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN.
THANK YOU WENDY MASON, TO BE FOLLOWED BY KIRSTEN BERGER.
[02:00:10]
YOU GONNA TURN THAT ON, PLEASE? THERE YOU GO.I'M A PROUD 50 PLUS YEAR HOUSTONIAN AND MOST RECENTLY A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE INCREASE OF SCOOTERS HAS OVERRUN THE DISCOVERY AREA WHERE I LIVE.
WHEN LEAVING MY HOME, I MUST EXIT OUT OF OUR PARKING GARAGE AND CROSS THE CITY SIDEWALK TO ACCESS LAMAR STREET.
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH, MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A SCOOTER DRIVER RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK, GOING IN HIS OWN WORDS TO THE POLICE, PROBABLY ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR.
HE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE FOR HIS SERIOUS INJURIES AND I AM NOW OUT $2,700 REPAIRS.
TO THE SIDE OF MY CAR WHERE I WAS STRUCK.
I'D LIKE TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, THERE IS A BIKE PATH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAMAR STREET.
THERE'S A VERY LARGE SIGN IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING AND ON THE SIDEWALK THAT SAYS CLEARLY NO SCOOTERS PER CITY ORDINANCE.
HE FLEW RIGHT BACK BY THAT BEFORE SLAMMING INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR.
I HOPE THAT A SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE, IT IS A PROBLEM.
UM, BUT I STRESS A SOLUTION MUST BE FOUND.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS HIT COMING OUT OF MY HOME.
IF ANYBODY ELSE WAS HIT COMING OUT OF THEIR HOME BY A SCOOTER, YOU'D BE VERY UPSET ABOUT IT TOO, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEARLY $3,000.
KIRSTEN BERGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGINE ROSALES.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, I FIRST SHARED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE JOY RIDING SCOOTERS, AND THERE'S A BIG DISTINCTION, I THINK, UM, I'M VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN MADE THIS MORNING.
I THINK OUR CONCERN IS THESE GANGS, THESE SCOOTER GANGS, NOT THE MICROSCOPIC PERCENT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WANT A SCOOTER FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK.
THAT IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ISSUE.
BUT I STARTED SHARING MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH CITY COUNCIL AND MY MAYOR THROUGH A SERIES OF EMAILS BEGINNING LAST FALL, AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED.
EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, SCOOTERS, ATVS AND HOT ROD GANGS FLOOD THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS OF DOWNTOWN WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN PARK, WHICH FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS IS MY FRONT YARD.
I'VE SEEN SCOOTERS HIT PEDESTRIANS, CARS HIT SCOOTERS, AND PEOPLE INJURED BADLY ENOUGH TO BE TAKEN AWAY IN AN AMBULANCE.
I TOO HAVE BEEN RUN OFF THE SIDEWALK BY A SCOOTER.
WHAT USED TO BE PEACEFUL, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS HAS BECOME TENSE, HOSTILE, AND DANGEROUS.
MY HUSBAND AND I AND OUR FAMILY WILL NOT WALK OUTSIDE ONCE THE SUN GOES DOWN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A VERY BEAUTIFUL AREA AND DON'T FEEL SAFE IN OUR FRONT YARD, WHICH IS DISCOVERY GREEN PARK.
IT'S, IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS ISSUE HAS SPIRALED FAR BEYOND WHAT ANYONE WOULD CONSIDER ACCEPTABLE.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO URGE ALL OF YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PASS THE ORDINANCE TO BAN MOTORIZED SCOOTERS ON ALL CITY STREETS AND SIDEWALKS IN HOUSTON.
NOT JUST LIMIT THEM, BAN THEM, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO BAN THE VENDORS TOO.
THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM BEGAN AND THAT'S WHERE IT WILL END.
ABAN IS NECESSARY TO RESTORE SAFETY AND LIVABILITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT'S TIME FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO, UM, BRING BACK OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESTORE WHAT WE LOVE.
AND THAT'S OUR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
STEPHANIE HAYES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELI DAVIS.
I REPRESENT THE HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION OF GREATER HOUSTON.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME TALK TODAY REGARDING THE SCOOTERS.
HOTELIERS HAVE BEEN CONTENDING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE SUPPORT THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TODAY.
WHILE THE EXISTING ORDINANCE PROHIBITS THE RIDERS FROM BEING ON THE SIDEWALKS, THAT IS COMPLETELY AND ROUTINELY IGNORED DURING CHECK-IN CHECKOUT, AS WELL AS PARKING IS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR GUESTS AS THEY'RE HAVING TO DODGE THESE SCOOTERS WHILE WE'RE UNLOADING LUGGAGE AND HAVING OUR VALETS PARK.
THOSE CARS SCOOTERS ARE WEAVING IN AND OUT.
THEY'RE MAKING, UM, COMPLETE ISSUES WITH GUEST SAFETY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR OWN SAFETY.
THEY SEEM TO LOVE TO PLAY GAMES, GAMES THAT HAVE REALLY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THEM PLAYING CHICKEN.
WITH OLDER FOLKS, WITH YOUNGER FOLKS, PEOPLE WE'VE SEEN IN OUR HOTELS ARE BEING INJURED.
THE ONE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO HEAR FROM OUR HOTELIERS IS THAT GUESTS ARE TELLING THEM THAT THEY'RE FEELING UNSAFE IN BEING IN DOWNTOWN AND THEY HAVE
[02:05:01]
NO DESIRE TO RETURN.AND THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE JUST LOCATED OVER AT DISCOVERY GREEN HILTON, AMERICA'S MAR MARQUEE.
THIS EXTENDS ALL THE WAY OVER HERE TOWARDS CITY HALL, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT ON THE SIDEWALKS, WE'RE SEEING THEM ENCOUNTERING THE TRAFFIC, CREATING PARTICULAR NUISANCES.
UM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY BECOME VERY AGGRESSIVE.
WHENEVER OUR HOTEL SECURITIES ASK THEM TO GET OFF THEIR LOTS OR TO GET OFF OUR SIDEWALKS, THEY THREATEN AND BECOME AGGRESSIVE.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO HIRE EXTRA HPD OFFICERS.
WE ALREADY, MOST OF OUR FACILITIES DOWNTOWN ARE ALREADY HAVING TO HIRE SECURITY.
SO AS BUSINESSES AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN DOWNTOWN AND MAKING WORLD CLASS FACILITIES, WE HOPE YOU WILL KEEP THIS IN MIND AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROHIBITION.
THANK YOU ELI DAVIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW FEA.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS ELI DAVIS AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LYME, THE WORLD'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF SHARED ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
I'M A SENIOR MEMBER OF OUR OPERATIONS BASED OUT OF AUSTIN.
OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER, UH, UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT I'M PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING LYME NONETHELESS.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
WE DO UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE LED US HERE, ESPECIALLY THE ISSUES CREATED BY THE CURRENT REREGULATION OF SCOOTER ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
WE AGREE WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY ISN'T WORKING AND THE URGENCY TO ACT IS JUSTIFIED.
THAT SAID, WE BELIEVE THESE CHANGES LARGELY STEM FROM THE ABSENCE OF A FORMAL MICRO MOBILITY, UH, PROGRAM.
ONE THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO PARTNER WITH QUALIFIED LICENSED OPERATOR OPERATORS WHO HAVE THE TOOLS AND ACCOUNTABILITY NECESSARY TO MANAGE VEHICLES SAFELY IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
LY OPERATES IN OVER 200 CITIES TODAY, AND EACH ONE WE COLLABORATE WITH CITY PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT CLEAR ENFORCEABLE RULES WHERE RIDERS CAN GO, HOW FAST THEY CAN TRAVEL, AND MANDATORY SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED CITIES LIKE NEW YORK ADDRESS RISING SAFETY CONCERNS FROM UNREGULATED ELECTRIC VEHICLES WHILE STILL EXPANDING ACCESS TO SAFE LICENSE MICRO MOBILITY OPTIONS.
AS YOU EVALUATE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS FOR A FUTURE PATH FORWARD, ONE WHERE SMALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAN, CAN BE REINTRODUCED INTO THE IMPACTED AREA UNDER A LICENSED CITY PERMITTED PROGRAM.
THIS WOULD ADDRESS IMMEDIATE CONCERNS WHILE PRESERVING FLEXIBILITY FOR HOUSTON TO IMPLEMENT A STRUCTURED SOLUTION SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY OPERATING IN AUSTIN, DALLAS, AND SAN ANTONIO.
AT LYME, WE PROUD OURSELVES ON BEING RELIABLE PARTNERS TO THESE CITIES AND EVERY MARKET.
WE ENGAGE WITH CITY LEADERS, DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CO-DESIGN PROGRAMS THAT PRIORITIZE SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER PAUSING FINAL ACTION FOR A FEW WEEKS TO ALLOW US TO WORK WITH THE CITY ITSELF AND CITY STAFF ON UPDATED LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE THAT PRIORITIZES SAFETY WHILE LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR FUTURE, UH, CHANGES THAT INCLUDES A WELL-MANAGED CITY APPROVED MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME FEDERATION.
MATTHEW FESA TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL RE GO AHEAD.
I'M A PROFESSOR AT SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HERE DOWNTOWN.
UH, WE'RE A DOWNTOWN LAW SCHOOL.
WE SERVE A FULL-TIME AND A PART-TIME POPULATION.
WE HAVE CLASSES THAT GO TILL LATE AT NIGHT.
AND, UM, SO I HAVE, UH, TWO QUICK COMMENTS.
ONE IS A TEACHER AND ONE IS A SCHOLAR OF LAND USE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW.
THE, AS A TEACHER, MY STUDENTS ARE INCREASINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE LEAVING THE BUILDING AFTER DARK DOWNTOWN, UH, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE VERY THOROUGHLY MENTIONED AND TALKED ABOUT.
UH, IT'S JUST THERE'S A SENSE OF DISORDER AND THAT, UM, AND THE WOMAN FROM DISCOVERY GREEN WHO SPOKE, WHO CALLED IT LAWLESSNESS, I WOULD SAY IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.
IT'S A GROWING SENSE OF DISORDER THAT WASN'T IN DOWNTOWN 10 YEARS AGO.
UH, WHICH LEADS TO MY SECOND POINT.
AS A SCHOLAR WHO STUDIES THIS STUFF IN OTHER CITIES, DISORDER HAPPENS SLOWLY AND THEN ALL AT ONCE, AND WE'RE IN THE SLOW PHASE NOW, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO GET TO ALL AT ONCE.
I WATCHED A DECLINE IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
I SAW IT COME BACK AND NOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT'S DECLINING AGAIN.
[02:10:01]
20 YEARS AGO, HOUSTON WAS ON THE RISE.MY STUDENTS WANTED TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
THEY'RE THE KIND OF POPULATION THAT WE WANT TO WORK DOWNTOWN TO BE LAWYERS, TO BE CITIZENS, ARTS AND CULTURE DIVERSITY.
UM, AND THAT I THINK IS THREATENED BY A GROWING SENSE OF DISORDER.
MAY I CONCLUDE REAL QUICK? THANK YOU.
UM, SO MY COMMENT ON THE LAW IS, UH, THE, THE MAKING A SCOOTER FREE DOWNTOWN ZONE MIGHT BE A BANDAID ON THE WOUND, BUT I THINK THE GREATER THREAT TO US IS A GROWING SENSE OF DISORDER.
STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO MOVE DOWNTOWN 10 YEARS AGO CAN'T WAIT TO MOVE OUT.
DANIEL TEBAR, ALEX SPIKE SPIKES PHILIP BARNEY TO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ARNOLD SNEAD.
DID I BUTCHER YOUR LAST NAME THERE? UH, YEAH, THEY GOT IT WRONG.
SO I'VE LIVED IN ONE PARK PLACE RIGHT THERE AT DISCOVERY GREEN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
I WALK EXTENSIVELY EVERY DAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN.
UM, IN THE DAYTIME, I GO TO DAILY MASS AT THE CO CATHEDRAL.
I WALK TO ALL THE ASTROS GAMES.
I'M A SEASON TICKET HOLDER, SO I GET A VIEW OF THE BUSINESS CROWD.
I GET A VIEW OF THE NIGHTTIME CROWD, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE TO REINFORCE WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT THE NIGHTTIME CROWD.
IT IS MAYHEM, IT'S A MENACE, IT'S A SCOURGE, AND WE HAVE TO STOP IT.
THIS IS ABSURD WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, UH, THE DISCUSSION OF REGULATION IS ONLY INTERESTING IF PEOPLE ARE GONNA ENFORCE IT, WHICH WE'RE NOT.
WE DON'T ENFORCE WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE AS RULES.
SO LET'S NOT FOOL OURSELVES TO THINK WE CAN REGULATE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.
AND I GUESS I WOULD, I WOULD FINALIZE BY JUST SAYING WE DO NOT NEED THIS CRIMINAL ELEMENT IN OUR CITY.
AND I SAY CRIMINAL INTENT INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING, JUST LIKE YOU SEE ON THE NEWS OF THE POPUP GANGS AT PARTIES, ET CETERA, THAT THAT IS NOT THE KIND OF THING WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN A PARKING LOT OR IN AN AREA LIKE DISCOVERY GREEN THAT ARE UP TO NO GOOD.
I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST THERE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.
I IMPLORE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY BAN THESE THINGS.
AND FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE IN THE DAYTIME HARDLY ANYONE'S ON THE STREET WITH A BICYCLE OR A SCOOTER.
ARNOLD SNEAD TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT GROBE.
UH, I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED BAN ON ELECTRIC SCOOTERS DOWNTOWN.
THE CITY HAS DONE A TERRIBLE JOB OF ENFORCING THE EXISTING LAW, AND INSTEAD OF PURSUING SMART REGULATION, IT'S PROPOSING TURNING RESPONSIBLE HOUSTONIANS INTO CRIMINALS.
THIS IS A TOOL USED BY MYSELF AND OTHER WORKING PROFESSIONALS TO GET AROUND IN THIS AREA.
IT'S ADOPTION THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO RESPONSIBLE USERS.
UNREGISTERED DIRT BIKES AND ATVS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM.
SO DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BAN ALL MOTORCYCLES? THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE UNFAIR AND GOOD LUCK WITH ENFORCEMENT.
I SHOULD HAVE FREQUENT FLYER MILES AS A 9 1 1 CALLER DUE TO GUNFIRE WHERE I LIVE, ESPECIALLY AROUND PARKS.
RECENTLY, I CALLED ABOUT SOMEONE SHOOTING THROUGH THEIR CAR'S MOONROOF AT BUFFALO BAYOU PARK.
IT'S A BROAD QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.
IT SHOULDN'T MEAN TURNING PEOPLE LIKE ME INTO CRIMINALS FOR USING A SCOOTER FOR TRANSPORTATION.
I UNDERSTAND CONCERNS ABOUT NUISANCES BEHAVIOR, BUT A BLANKET BAN IS NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH.
WE SHOULD TARGET THE PROBLEMS, NOT ELIMINATE A VALUABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTION.
A BAN IS AN OVERLY BROAD APPROACH THAT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT MOBILITY AND AN AREA STARVING FOR MORE OPTIONS.
LET'S IMPLEMENT SMART REGULATIONS AND TARGETED ENFORCEMENT INSTEAD.
[02:15:01]
FOLLOWED BY JAKE CROPPER.UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF EAST DOWNTOWN.
I'VE LIVED IN EAST DOWNTOWN FOR 12 YEARS BEFORE THE SCOOTERS.
I'LL BE THERE AFTER THE SCOOTERS, WHATEVER HAPPENS.
I WORK BOTH IN DOWNTOWN AND IN MIDTOWN.
I REGULARLY WALK, BIKE, DRIVE THROUGH MIDTOWN, THROUGH DOWNTOWN, THROUGH EAST DOWNTOWN.
AND I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE HERE TO SAY IT.
I DON'T RIDE A SCOOTER, BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE 'EM.
I LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE ME.
THE YOUNG KIDS RIDING THE SCOOTERS THROUGH DOWNTOWN, ENJOYING THE MOST FUN PARTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, OF THE CITY.
UH, IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE RICH WHITE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AT ONE PARK PLACE.
I THINK OUR YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN KIDS, THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY DOWNTOWN.
I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE RIDE PAST MY HOUSE ON THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, ON THEIR WAY TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND ON THE WAY BACK HOME IN THE EVENING.
IT IS A LEGITIMATE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THAT POLICEMAN SAYS.
IT'S A USEFUL, LEGITIMATE, SUSTAINABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION FOR HOUSTONIANS.
UM, WHAT I LOVE MOST IS EACH SPRING AND FALL, MY ORGANIZATION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THIRD WARD HOST INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS FROM ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THESE ARE THE, THE BRIGHTEST PEOPLE FROM THESE COUNTRIES THAT ARE COMING TO HOUSTON.
AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW A SCOOTER ALLOWS THEM TO FUNCTION AND THRIVE IN THE CITY IN A WAY THAT A CAR, A BIKE, PUBLIC TRANSIT CANNOT.
IF WE TAKE THAT AWAY, WE'RE TAKING AWAY PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
WE'RE TAKING AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND THIS SPACE.
THE GOD-GIVEN RIDE AS HOUSTONIANS, DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE AND BAN THE SCOOTERS.
JUST BECAUSE THE STATE LAW ALLOWS YOU TO DO IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT CAN STILL BE A MISTAKE JUST BECAUSE THE LAW SAYS YOU CAN DO IT.
DON'T SIGN OFF ON THIS REACTIONARY, PUNITIVE MEASURE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT JUST BECAUSE A RA OR SOMEONE ELSE IS ACTUALLY ON TO DO IT, PLEASE DO NOT DO IT.
HOUSTON IS A BIG ENOUGH CITY FOR ALL OF US.
I'D ASK THAT Y'ALL FIND WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO USE REGULATION IN A WISE WAY THAT TARGETS THE PROBLEM PRECISELY AND DOESN'T CATCH A LOT OF INNOCENT, PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE IN AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
JAKE COOPER TO BE FOLLOWED BY ABRAHAM LEVITZ.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I AGREE THAT THE SAFETY OF BOTH THE RIDER AND THE PEDESTRIANS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON IS AT RISK AND ACTION MUST BE TAKEN, BUT THAT ACTION CAN LOOK IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
I REPRESENT A SMALL MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP AND RETAIL STORE IN THE HEIGHTS THAT FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABLE PERSONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION.
SINCE 2017, BEFORE THE COVID SCOOTER CRAZE SWEPT THE NATION, A MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS USE THEIR PERSONALLY OWNED DEVICES.
WHETHER IT'S A SCOOTER BIKE, ONE WHEEL, OR OTHER PERSONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE TO COMMUTE AS A LEGITIMATE MEAN, MANY OF WHICH COMMUTE TO WORK INTO THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH PROPER REGULATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROGRESSIVELY SUPPORT THIS NEW ECONOMICAL AND GREEN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE CITY AND DECREASE ROAD RAGE, BUT WILL ALSO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY.
EXAMPLES OF SUCH, SUCH REGULATION MAY BE AGE LIMITS, HELMET REQUIREMENTS, SPEED LIMITS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TICKLING, SORRY, TICKETING AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
CLASS TWO E-BIKES, FOR INSTANCE, ARE LIMITED 20 MILES AN HOUR AND MAYBE RIDDEN IN BIKE LANES AND THE RIGHT MOST PART OF THE RIGHT LANE ON A, ON A ROAD OF 35 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS.
NO SIDEWALKS, E SCOOTERS AND OTHER PVS OR PERSONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLES SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT.
JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USING A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION RECKLESSLY DOES NOT MEAN AN OUTRIGHT BAN IS THE SOLUTION.
MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN CARS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD SHUT DOWN I 10, EVEN THOUGH SOME MAY ARGUE IT'S ALREADY A PARKING LOT, NOR SHOULD WE BAN CARS JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STREET RACING.
I URGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DEVELOP THOUGHTFUL LEGISLATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A DIVERSE VARIETY OF LEGITIMATE AND EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS IN MIND.
THANK YOU ABRAHAM LEVITZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN BENOIT.
MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MORNING, AFTERNOON, NOW.
UM, I REPRESENT EIDE SCOOTER RENTALS AND ALSO THE OTHER COLLECTIVE OF THE LARGER SCOOTER RENTAL COMPANIES INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, WE PRESENTED, UH, AND PREPARED THIS BINDER FOR YOU TODAY.
UM, WE GOT NOTICE OF THIS MEETING ON TUESDAY, AND WE, UH, PUT OUR BEST EFFORT TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE INITIAL, UH, POINTS OF CONTENTION IN THE MICRO MOBILITY PRESENTATION.
YOU'LL FIND THAT IN THESE 30 PAGES, WE'VE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THAT, UH, PRESENTATION, UH, WITH FACTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY CITING TEXT, DESKTOP DATA.
[02:20:01]
TO DO, BECAUSE I AM REPRESENTING A LARGE GROUP BEHIND ME, UH, IN OUR BEST EFFORTS TO KIND OF BRING CONTEXT TO THIS, I WANNA START BY SAYING WE ARE, WE'RE ALL ESTONIANS HERE.UH, ON TOP OF THAT, AS A FATHER OF NOW TWO KIDS UNDER THREE, SAFETY FOR ME IS PARAMOUNT.
UH, SAFETY IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF MIND WHEN WE RUN OUR BUSINESS.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IS THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT THIS PRESENTATION REPRESENTS, AND IT'S ALSO THE TOP PRIORITY FOR US AT ALL TIMES.
UM, I WANT YOU TO THINK OF ONE STATISTIC, IF YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING FROM TODAY, AND THAT'S 0.009%.
AND I'M GONNA GET INTO WHAT THAT DATA MEANS JUST HERE IN A SECOND.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY HAS CONCERNS, WE DO TOO.
AND I THINK THAT OUR GOAL BEHIND THIS ENTIRE INITIATIVE AND OUR MEETING TODAY IS TO SET A LEVEL OF ADVOCACY AND FOR US TO OFFER WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS INDUSTRY REPRESENTS AND TO ADDRESS OBVIOUSLY ALL THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.
UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC, UH, MICRO MOBILITY DOCUMENT THAT WAS PREPARED, AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN OUR BINDER IS THAT THE ACTUAL DATA AND THE FACTUAL DATA TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.
UM, THE FIRST OFF, IT BRINGS UP THE ISSUES OF THE DIFFERENT SCOOTERS THAT WERE CITED BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT THINGS BETWEEN, UH, CITATIONS OR, UH, UH, OPERATE, UH, LEGAL SEIZURES, ALL THOSE THINGS.
WHEN WE AUDITED THE PEOPLE WHO OPERATE LEGAL BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES, THE BUSINESS OWNERS BEHIND ME, NONE OF US, UH, HAD THESE ISSUES.
OKAY? I JUST WANNA MAKE VERY CLEAR, AND IT WILL SHOW THAT IN OUR REPORT, UM, THERE'S BEEN A FEAR ABOUT RIDE OR RECKLESSNESS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS, FEWER IN JUST ONE OF 10,000 ELECTRIC SCOOTER RIDING TRIPS, THAT'S JUST 0.009% ACTUALLY TURNED INTO A REPORTED ACCIDENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY LOW STATISTICAL NUMBER, 0.009 WHEN THEY SURVEYED THE TOP CITIES IN HU IN TEXAS ALONE BETWEEN AUSTIN, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, AND HOUSTON.
THE AGGREGATE IS ACTUALLY A 0.003% OF PROBABILITY THAT AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR ON A SCOOTER.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT FACTS, AND THESE ARE NOT OUR OPINIONS.
YOU'LL FIND ALL THE SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION INSIDE OUR REPORT.
NOW, HOUSTON IS GROWING AND IT'S GOING THROUGH A TRANSFORMATIVE ERA, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANNA COME DOWNTOWN AND ENJOY ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING.
AND OTHER CITIES, 300 OF THEM AND PLUS HAVE ALL JUMPED ON THE MICRO MOBILITY SUPPORT BANDWAGON.
WE REFERENCED THOSE CITIES IN OUR REPORT.
WE EVEN HAVE CITED QUOTES FROM DIFFERENT MAYORS AND COUNCILMEN OF HOW MUCH MICRO MOBILITY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR CITY AND THE POSITIVE THOUGHTS THAT THEY HAVE AROUND THAT SUBJECT.
UM, FOR US, SCOOTING SCOOTER RIDING HAS REALLY BECOME PART OF HOUSTON CULTURE.
UM, AND WE, WE, WE, WE DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE AND AT DIFFERENT ECONOMIES AND ECONOMIC LEVELS, AND WE FOUND A MIDDLE GROUND.
AND FOR THEM, THIS IS THEIR WAY OF EXPERIENCING DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
IT IS LITERALLY THE MOST AFFORDABLE ENTERTAINMENT THAT YOU CAN OFFER ANYBODY INSIDE HOUSTON.
AND AT THAT, OKAY, MR. BENOIT, THANK YOU.
I, I, FOR ANY QUESTION, DO WE HAVE, WE DO HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION, SO WE'LL, WE'LL HOLD ONTO THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON.
JOHN BENOIT, I BELIEVE MR. BENOIT IS NEXT.
STEVEN GARNER OR GARNER PRIZE.
I GOT ONE OF 'EM, RIGHT? UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEASURED APPROACH IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS CHALLENGING ISSUE.
I'M A 16 YEAR RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN.
UH, I OVERLOOK DISCOVERY GREEN, SO I HAVE HAD A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
I'M JUST HERE TO BASICALLY ATTEST TO ALL THE, THE PARADE OF HORRIBLES THAT HAS BEEN TROTTED OUT TO TO, TO THIS IS SEEMED, UH, A SEEMED ESTEEMED ASSEMBLY.
I WANTED TO, UM, UM, UH, POINT OUT.
I I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.
I SPENT, UM, UH, UH, UH, I SPENT, WELL, I SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS AS A CONSULTANT ATTORNEY, AND AN ACCOUNTANT.
I ALSO DID ABOUT 30 YEARS IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
UM, MAYBE THE UNIVERSE, UM, UM, PUT ME IN THIS PLACE FOR AT THIS TIME.
BUT I, I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW ON WITH THE, UH, WITH THE, THE LOBBYIST FOR THE SPEAKER ASSOCIATION.
UM, I HEARD THE NUMBERS AND IT REMINDED ME OF THE FAMOUS QUOTE ABOUT, FROM MARK TWAIN ABOUT THERE'S LIES, DAMNED LIES, AND THEN THERE'S STATISTICS.
SO I WOULDN'T BE, I WOULDN'T BE TOO IMPRESSED BY THOSE STATISTICS.
UM, OTHER THINGS, JUST KIND OF IN TERMS OF FILL IN, UM, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WERE QUITE AS, UM, UH, ACCURATE AS REPORTING.
I'VE SEEN CHILDREN THAT LOOK TO BE KINDERGARTEN AGE ON SCOOTERS.
I HAVE SEEN LITTLE TODDLERS STRAP ON THE DECK WITH A SCOOTER WITH AN ADULT OR A TEENAGER BEHIND THEM.
THESE ARE FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCES IN DOWNTOWN.
UH, THE SWARMS ARE QUITE NUMEROUS, UH, OVERLOOKED.
AND I CAN SEE THE, THE, THROUGHOUT THE EVENING WHEN I LOOK OUT, THERE ARE SCOOTERS TEARING UP THE BEAUTIFUL GREAT LAWN.
AND AS CATHERINE LOTTE TESTED TO, IT'S, IT'S JUST A, IT'S TERRIBLE.
UM, DISCOVERY GREEN IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
AND FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND FOR, UM,
[02:25:01]
FOR CONVENTION, YOU KNOW, ALL THE CONVENTIONS THAT COME IN, YOU KNOW, TO THESE PEOPLE TO BE THREATENED.UM, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO NOTE IS I, I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
UH, THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THIS SMALL, THESE SMALL BUSINESSES DID NOT EXIST FIVE YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY ENTREPRENEURIAL.
THEY CAN ROTATE INTO SOME OTHER ENDEAVORS IF THERE IS A, UM, UH, IF, IF THERE IS A BAN OR WEATHER THE STORM.
UH, THE ONE OTHER THING, JUST FOR MY CONSULTING WORK, WHEN I WOULD GO INTO A CLIENT THAT HAD A SEVERE PROBLEM, UM, WE DIDN'T START WORRYING ABOUT PERIPHERAL THIRD AND FOURTH ORDER EFFECTS.
MY FAMOUS, UH, QUOTE EVERY BO BODY WAS, LET'S STOP THE BLEEDING NOW, AND WE'LL WORRY ABOUT FIXING IT LATER.
I THINK IT, YOU'VE HAD TESTIMONY THAT THERE'S, YOU ARE NOT A STOPPED FROM LATER ON GOING TO A RE A REG A, A WELL THOUGHT OUT, ROBUST REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.
BUT I BELIEVE IN TERMS OF A QUALITY OF LIFE, THE, THE, THE BOLD MOVE AND THE RIGHT MOVE WOULD BE FOR, FOR COUNCIL TO GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD AND HAVE A TOTAL BAN AT THIS POINT.
UM, IT HAS JUST BECOME, YOU KNOW, AS, AS CATHERINE LOTT MENTIONED, AND ALSO AS THE ESTEEMED PROFESSOR FROM SOUTH TEXAS MENTIONED, IT IS A SLIDE INTO LAWLESSNESS.
THERE'S A FEELING DOWNTOWN WHEN YOU WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN AT NIGHT.
NOW IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD ANYMORE.
SO, UM, THAT'S, UM, THANK YOU.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
TIM ROWAN, JUAN CALLED IT ON TO BE FOLLOWED BY ABBI.
BTI, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND NICE, UH, WAY OF PRONOUNCING MY NAME.
I'M THE HOTEL MANAGER OF THE MARION MARQUES.
EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT OUR HOTEL.
A MOMENT AGO, I MOVED FROM, UH, FROM DALLAS.
I WAS A GENERAL MANAGER IN, UH, DALLAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND MOVED TO THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
UH, OUR PARTICULAR HOTEL SERVES ABOUT 500,000 PEOPLE A YEAR.
IT'S 500 DIFFERENT EYES THAT COMES TO OUR CITY FROM DIFFERENT CITIES THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH THE, UH, UNITED STATES OR, UH, TEXAS.
242,000 ROOMS SOLD LAST YEAR ALONE.
66% OF OUR GUESTS ARE GROUP GUESTS, MEANING THERE ARE COMING TO CITE A HOTEL, TO CITE A CITY FROM DIFFERENT CITIES.
UH, WE SPEND ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN MARKETING JUST TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE CITY, JUST TO PUT OUR NAME OUT THERE, BUT NOT JUST OUR NAME, BUT ALSO OUR CITY.
UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD THE NRA IN OUR HOTEL DOING A SITE VISIT, THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
THE CHOICES ARE EITHER IN ANY OTHER CITY THAT WAS MENTIONED HERE, UM, AUSTIN, DALLAS, AND I, AS I SAID, I WORKED IN DALLAS BEFORE AND THEY HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THESE SCOOTERS OVER THERE AND DOING A BETTER JOB WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
UM, I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSTON FIRST, WITH THE CITY.
I ACTUALLY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THEM INTERNATIONALLY TO PROMOTE THE CITY.
AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSE TOGETHER TO BRING CITY-WIDES TO, TO OUR CITY.
UH, YOU CAN, UH, SEE THE IMPACT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WHAT WE BRING TO THE CITY IS HUGE.
IF YOU JUST GO INTO ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OR YELP OR TRAVELOCITY OR ANY OF THESE THINGS, LOOK AT ANY OF THE HOTELS AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE GUESTS ARE SAYING WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCOOTERS AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE IMPACTING.
AS A CITY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR REPUTATION IS CLEAN.
YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO, UM, SAN FRANCISCO NOT TOO LONG AGO AND HOW MUCH IMPACT THAT CITY HAD.
WE SAW THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CITY BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION.
WE DON'T WANT THAT REPUTATION FOR OUR CITY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WANNA COME HERE, PLAY HERE, AND SPEND MONEY WITH US.
DOUG RADO, ROSALES TO BE FOLLOWED BY JARED.
MY NAME IS RADO, UM, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF, UH, H SOUND SCOOTERS.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT PRIORITY, UH, SORRY.
[02:30:01]
CUSTOMER EDUCATION.UH, WE ENSURE THAT, UH, OUR RIDERS ARE EDUCATED ON HOW TO OPERATE AND PROPERLY, UH, PROPERLY AND UNDERSTAND LOCAL ORDERS AND STRAIN, INCLUDING STAYING SIDEWALKS, AVOIDING DISCOVERY GREEN AND PARKING GARAGES, AND OBEYING NO TRAFFIC LAWS.
UH, RIDERS MUST BE 18 PLUS OR ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT, AND WE REQUIRE IDS TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY TO ALL OF OUR RIDERS.
UH, WHILE WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERYONE'S SECTIONS, WE GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO STOP, UH, UNSAFE RIDERS AND I PERSONALLY HAVE STOPPED, UH, SCOOTER RIDERS AND, UH, THREE WHEELERS, UM, AND SHOWN THEM HOW TO PROPERLY USE THE MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
UH, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, UNREGULATED RENTAL COMPANIES THAT ARE ALLOWED UNDERAGE DRIVERS REQUIRE NO, ID AND IGNORE CITY RULES.
THESE VENDORS OP OFTEN OPERATE ILLEGALLY, INCLUDING WITHIN RESTRICTED AREAS LIKE DISCOVERY GREEN, WITH LITTLE TO NO ENFORCEMENT FROM AUTHORITIES.
THIS UNDERMINES RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES LIKE OURS.
THIS ISSUE THREATENS OUR LIVELIHOOD AND OUR BUSINESS IS A SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME, UH, THAT DRAWS, UH, A LOT OF AUTO TIMERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AS WELL.
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM LIES AND THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ILLEGAL AND UNEDUCATED VENDORS, WHICH NEG NEGATIVELY IMPACTS, UH, COMPLIANT OPERATORS.
BY ELIMINATING, ELIMINATING SCOOTERS FROM DOWNTOWN AREA, YOU'RE PUSHING RIDERS INTO MORE HAZARDOUS SPACES, SUCH AS BUSY STREETS WITHOUT DEDICATED LANES.
WE BELIEVE THEN RATHER, WE BELIEVE THAT RATHER THAN A FULL BAND, THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS CAN PROMOTE GREATER RESPONSIBILITY AMONG, UH, RIDERS AND VENDORS.
FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, A COLLABORATOR, A COLLABORATE APPROACH WOULD YIELD BETTER OUTCOMES FOR EVERYONE.
YOU'RE POINTING OUT A REAL CONTRADICTION AND A VALID CONCERN WHEN A CITY AGENCY LIKE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THE LACK OF MANPOWER REGULATE ILLEGAL TO REGULATE ILLEGAL VENDORS OR RIDER DUE TO SHARE NUMBERS FROM THEM, BUT THEN PROPOSE AN ENFORCEMENT TO COMPLETELY BAN IT, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A SHORTCUT.
FRANK, SEBASTIAN, I'M SORRY, J TO BE FOLLOWED BY SEBASTIAN FREYER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JARED FRANK, AND I'M JUST HERE AS A USER OF SCOOTERS KNEE BIKES.
IN MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, I COMMUTE TO WORK AS WELL AS RUN ALL MY DAIRY DAILY ERRANDS WITH THEM.
UM, BEING ONE CONNECTED TO THE SURROUNDINGS IS A MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE WAY TO GET AROUND THE CITY.
UM, SOCIETY AS A WHOLE IS, IS ADDITIONALLY MOVING TOWARDS THESE TYPES OF PERSONAL VEHICLES.
AND WE ALL KNOW HOUSTON NEEDS LESS TRAFFIC.
UM, THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY BEING BROUGHT UP TODAY BY BANNING SCOOTERS AND DOWNTOWN CRIME IS NOT GONNA BE SOLVED BY BANNING THIS DEVICE.
THE EARLIER COMMENTS ECHOED DISCUSSIONS OF GUNS, GUNS KILL THOUSANDS EACH YEAR.
THOSE NEED THEIR OWN DISCUSSION.
UM, OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CONCERNS ARE EASY TO ADDRESS.
WE NEED TO ENSURE SCOOTERS ARE SPEED LIMITED WITHIN LEGAL LIMITS.
WE HAVE THOSE ALREADY IF NECESSARY.
THEY CAN LOWER THAT FOR RENTALS.
I KNOW IN CHICAGO, I THINK THEY'RE LIKE 10, 12 MILES AN HOUR.
IT'S A RATHER SAFE SPEED FOR SOMEONE THAT'S NEWER TO THE DEVICE.
SPEEDING VEHICLES CAUSE DEATHS LIKE CARS CAUSE DEATHS EVERY DAY.
A PERSON SPEEDING ON DOWN A SIDEWALK ON A SCOOTER ISN'T A REASON TO BAN THE SCOOTER.
AS SHOWN IN THE PRESENTATION, HPD HAS SET THE PRECEDENT THAT BREAKING THE RULES COMES WITH NO CONSEQUENCES, AND THAT FURTHER FUELS THE LAWLESSNESS DOWNTOWN.
THIS APPLIES ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL METHODS OF TRANSPORTS BECAUSE EVERY DAY I NEARLY ENCOUNTER CARS TURNING RIGHT ON RED WHEN THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO AND NEARLY HITTING ME ON MY BICYCLE.
I IN FACT, AVOID THE ONE WAY STREETS THAT HAVE BIKE LANES GOING BOTH DIRECTIONS WHEN I'M GOING AGAINST TR THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC.
BECAUSE VEHICLES AREN'T TUNED TO LOOKING BOTH WAYS AND THEY'LL JUST START GOING.
SO, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN THE MATTER AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE A LEADER IN TRANSPORTATION INSTEAD OF LIVING IN THE PAST.
AND IT TRULY IMPACTS QUALITY OF LIFE BY ALLOWING THESE DEVICES.
THANK YOU SEBASTIAN FRAYER TO BE FOLLOWED BY MYAM PERVEZ.
HOW YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS? GO AHEAD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT TO DEFEND CHAOS, BUT TO ADVOCATE FOR COMMON SENSE REFORM, REFORMING THE TARGETS, THE REAL PROBLEM ILLEGAL SCOOTER VENDORS, NOT THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES WHO ARE DOING IT RIGHT.
UM, SINCE 2021, WE'VE SEEN A TWO THOU, A 205% SEARCH IN SCOOTER RIDERSHIP.
AND YET WITH OVER 542,000 RIDES, THE ACCIDENT RATE REMAINS JUST AT 0.009%.
THAT'S ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU TODAY.
UM, THAT'S LESS THAN ONE IN 10,000, JUST TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT.
[02:35:01]
HERE'S THE KEY POINT.WE HAVE, UH, BRICK AND MORTAR VENDORS.
UM, I CAN NAME A FEW THAT I'VE WORKED WITH TO GET THAT PRESENTATION OVER TO YOU GUYS LIKE EIDE GLIDERS ON BOLT, UM, WHICH I'M THE OWNER OF.
UM, WE HAVE ZERO CITATIONS, ZERO ARRESTS, AND ZERO ON OUR PART.
UM, EVERY SAFETY CONCERN, EVERY CLUTTER COM COMPLAINT, THEY ALL TRACE BACK TO THIS ILLEGAL UNREGULATED VENDORS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GET.
UM, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BANNED WITH ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2021.
THERE IS STILL ILLEGAL VENDORS ALL OVER THE DISCOVERY GREEN AREA.
THAT'S, UM, THAT, THAT'S THE MAIN PROBLEM.
UM, MEANWHILE, WE HAVE LEGAL VENDORS LIKE OURSELVES, UH, WHICH HAVE BRICK AND MORTAR STOREFRONTS WITH LEASES, INSURANCE LICENSES, UM, MAINTENANCE LOGS, ALL THAT, ALL THAT STUFF.
UM, WHICH ARE CONTRIBUTING TO HOUSTON'S ECONOMY GENERATING OVER 28 MILLION IN LOCAL SPENDING AND OVER $1 MILLION IN SALES TAX.
WE OFFER RIDER EDUCATION WHERE YOU CAN COME, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME BY TO OUR LOCATIONS.
UM, WE OFFER PROPER MAINTENANCE AND WE CREATE LOCAL JOBS.
UM, ONE LAST THING BEFORE I I LET GO.
UM, WE NEED TO DO COMMON SENSE REFORM.
WE NEED TO REGULATE SMARTLY ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AND SUPPORT THE VENDORS WHO ARE INVESTED IN HOUSTON, NOT NATIONAL COMPANIES WHOSE REPRESENTATIVES ARE IN SAN FRANCISCO, NOT HOUSTON.
MY SON PERVEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN OGGI.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M ALSO THE OWNER OF BULL SCOOTERS.
UH, I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU A SLIGHT INSIGHT OF HOW THE BUSINESS REALLY RUN AND WHAT IS BIRD AND LIME, THE BIG COMPANIES COMING HERE TO OFFER YOU GUYS, UH, TO BASICALLY TAKE OVER WHAT THE INDUSTRY THAT THE LOCAL BUSINESS HAVE BUILT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN HOUSTON, BRINGING UP TO $28 MILLION IN REVENUE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH $1.1 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE THAT WE DON'T, UH, GIVE IT TO STATE CITY.
YOU CAN AUDIT US, YOU CAN CHECK US.
UH, WE ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO OPEN OUR DOORS TO COMING TO OUR STORE LOCATION.
THESE ARE REALLY PRETTY LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS IN HOUSTON, ONE ON MAIN STREET AND THE OTHER ON CAPITAL IN SAN JOSE INDUSTRY.
YOU CAN COME IN, WE HAVE GOT PERMITS FROM THE CITY TO OPEN THE STORES.
WE WENT TO THE PERMIT, UH, GOT INFORMATION, CAN WE OPEN A SCOOTER RENTAL BUSINESS AND, AND, AND GET A OCCUPANCY PERMIT.
SO WE HAVE ALL THE LEGAL PERMITS TO RUN THE RUN.
OUR BUSINESS, OUR BUSINESS, WHEN CUSTOMER COMES IN, THEY RENT THE SCOOTERS AND THEY BRING IT BACK TO US.
SO IF YOU'RE WALKING OUTSIDE THE CITY RIGHT NOW, YOU WILL NOT SEE A SINGLE SCOOTER.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING, IT STAYS IN A PRIVATE, UH, UH, RENTAL SHOP.
SO THAT MAKES IT CLEAN FOR THE CITY ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
YES, THERE'S A CHAOS ON ON THE WEEKEND.
PART PART OF IT, WHICH WE CAN REGULATE WITH THE ILLEGAL VENDORS WHO DOES NOT, UH, CONTROL, UH, WHO GETS A SCOOTER.
THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY GIVE IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT UN WHO WAS UNSAFE FOR THE CITY TO RENT THE SCOOTERS.
UM, WE IN A STORE, WE HAVE AVERS TO GET DONE.
WE HAVE IDS THAT WE TAKE FROM A CUSTOMER.
WE MAKE SURE THEY'RE 18 AND ABOVE.
AND OUR SCOOTER DOES NOT GO MORE THAN 18 MILES PER HOUR.
YOU CAN COME AND CHECK AND AUDIT OUR STORES.
WE ARE WELCOMING THE CITY TO COME AND CHECK.
SO WE CAN WORK ON THIS WITH A PERMIT BASED SYSTEM AND ELIMINATE THE ILLEGAL VENDORS TO, TO, SO WE ALL CAN COMPLY WITH THE CITY, UM, AS A, AS A WHOLE AND NOT GO AGAINST A SMALL BUSINESS THAT CREATED SO MUCH, UH, REVENUE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING AND HEARING ALL OF THIS.
UM, I AM NEW TO HOUSTON THREE YEARS.
I CAME FROM COLORADO AND I'VE LIVED DOWNTOWN FOR JUST OVER FOUR MONTHS.
MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK FROM HOME.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS WHERE WE LIVE DAY AND NIGHT.
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN, WHAT'S BEEN ECHOED BY MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN IS IT'S DANGEROUS.
WE ARE THREATENED, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THEIR SCOOTERS, ON THE SIDEWALKS EVERY DAY, PREDOMINANTLY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS ARE RENTING FROM THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB AT REGULATING WHO THEY RENT TO WHAT AGES AND THE SAFETY TO SAYING THAT THEY DO THE TRAINING AND ALL OF THAT.
THERE ARE TOO MANY SCOOTERS ON THE SIDEWALK AT ALL TIMES.
AND I THINK THE BEST THING IS AN IMMEDIATE BAN OF RECREATIONAL SCOOTERS, AT LEAST DURING CERTAIN TIMES, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO COMMUTE AND ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES.
IF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN FROM THE HEIGHTS DOWNTOWN TO WORK, OBTAIN THE RIGHT PERMIT, THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.
SO BANNING RECREATIONAL UNTIL ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO REGULATE.
'CAUSE IF THE REGULATION PROCESS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE INVOLVED OR TAKES A LONG TIME,
[02:40:01]
I THINK BANNING IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE BECAUSE THERE'S A PREDOMINANCE.OF COURSE, THE BUSINESSES THAT RENT THE SCOOTERS WILL BE HAVING A HARDSHIP IF THEY LOSE THAT BUSINESS.
THE HOTELS, THE RESTAURANTS, WHY I MOVE DOWNTOWN? THERE ARE SO MANY VENUES, RESTAURANTS, PLACES THAT I WANNA GO TO AND I WALK AND I MOVE DOWNTOWN FOR MY HEALTH, BUT I NOW DON'T FEEL HEALTHY BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DANGEROUS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SAFETY FIRST AND THEN BANNED THE RECREATIONAL USE.
AND WHAT IS WE ALL, WE CAN SEE IT, WHOEVER, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND TO UNDERSTAND HOW GRAVE IT IS, UM, AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS AND THREATENING IT IS.
'CAUSE I DO WALK MY NEIGHBOR'S DOGS AND THEN WHEN I TAKE THEM DOWN, I GET THREATENED BY THIS SORT OF MOB MENTALITY.
I DON'T THINK ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL MIGHT SAY SOMETHING TO ME OR DO SOMETHING, BUT I THINK AS A GROUP THEY'RE COMING IN AND DOING A LITTLE MORE DAMAGE.
SO WE NEED TO GET RID OF THAT ELEMENT RIGHT AWAY AND THEN SEE HOW WE CAN REGULATE IT AND BRING IT BACK ONCE IT'S UNDER CONTROL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE LIST OF FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IF YOU ARE HERE AND YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP BUT YOU WANT WANT TO OFFER, COMMENT, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU STILL WANNA OFFER COMMENT.
UM, MA'AM, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD AND TELL US YOUR NAME? I DON'T THINK I NEED A MICROPHONE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST INVITE ANY OF Y'ALL OR ALL OF Y'ALL TO MY APARTMENT ON ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK.
I'M ON THE 14TH FLOOR AND I THINK YOU CAN SIT ON MY BALCONY AND SEE ALL YOU NEED TO SEE AND YOU'LL HAVE YOUR DECISION IN 15 MINUTES.
TELL US YOUR FULL NAME PLEASE.
TELL US YOUR FULL NAME PLEASE.
MY NAME IS ADI BDI AND I'M THE OWNER OF EIDE SCOOTER RENTAL, LOCALLY OWNED IN HERE.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN A OPPOSITION TO PROPOSE BAN TO THREE SCOOTER ZONES.
EIDE HAS NEVER RECEIVED A CITATION FROM THE CITY BECAUSE WE TAKE SAFETY SERIOUSLY.
WE VERIFY EVERY EVERY RIDER'S ID ENFORCE AGE RESTRICTIONS AND REFUSE SERVICES TO, UH, TO UNSAFE, UH, CUSTOMERS.
BUT WE ARE MORE THAN JUST THE RENTAL SERVICE.
WE ARE PART OF THE CITY ECONOMY AND CULTURE.
WE OFFER ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE WAYS TO HOUSTONIANS AND TOURISTS TO EXPLORE THE CITY.
WE CREATE JOBS, PAY COMMERCIAL LEASE, AND CONTRIBUTE LOCAL TAXES THAT SUPPORT CITY SERVICES.
THE ISSUE ISN'T SCOOTERS, ITS POOR BIKE LANE.
INFRASTRUCTURES TO RIDER TANK, TURN TO SIDEWALKS WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THE ROADS.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENTS, WE'RE ASKING FOR SMART SOLUTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, INVEST IN A SAFER BIKE LANES, IMPROVE POLICY, UH, POLICIES TO ISSUE CITATIONS TO RECKLESS RIDERS AND WORK WITH RESPONSIBLE OPERATORS LIKE EIDE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY ADD THAT WE HAVE A ABILITY TO PUT A GEOFENCING AND UH, IMPLEMENT THE GEOFENCING SYSTEM IN, UH, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WE DO HAVE, UH, UH, SO THE WAY UH, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, DESIGNED IS, UH, EVERY SCOOTER RIDERS HAVE TO SCAN THEIR SCOOTERS, HAVE TO SCAN THEIR FACE FACES AND ALL OF THEM WILL BE, UH, VERIFIED BY THE DATABASES OUT THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? COME FORWARD SIR, TELL US YOUR FULL NAME PLEASE.
UH, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SPEAK ON SOME THINGS.
UH, I DON'T THINK GUN VIOLENCE, GANG VIOLENCE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE IS WHAT SCOOTERS BRING.
I THINK IT'S A CHARACTER IN THEMSELVES OR THE OPERATOR.
UM, IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING A CAR ACTUALLY ON THE WAY OVER HERE.
MY WIFE AND I HAD A PROBLEM TRYING TO TAKE MCKINNEY 'CAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHEN YOU TRY TO GO STRAIGHT, EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO INTO THE NEXT LANE TO GET AHEAD.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT IF I HAD AN ARGUMENT OR A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT THAT NOW WE GOT A BAN DRIVING JUST LIKE ANOTHER GENTLEMAN SAID, 'CAUSE ROAD RAGE IS AN ISSUE.
IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA AFFECT DRIVING AS FAR AS TRYING TO BAN THAT, I THINK WITH THESE ILLEGAL VENDORS.
AND I DO ENCOURAGE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL DO NEED TO COME OUT TO
[02:45:01]
DISCOVERY GREEN AND I'LL EVEN DRIVE YOU AROUND AND SHOW YOU HOW MANY ILLEGAL OR UNAUTHORIZED VENDORS ARE THERE AND HOW MUCH SCOOTERS THEY BRING.MYSELF AND MY WIFE STOOD ON THE CORNER OF LAMAR AND LA BRANCH THAT IS THE, THE HOT AREA.
WE, WE OWN OUR OWN BUSINESS AS WELL AS FAR AS ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.
EVERYTHING THE PAPERWORK WIRES IS IS THERE FOR YOUR VIEWING.
WE SAW POLICEMEN JUST WALKING BY THEM AND JUST CONTINUE ON.
OUR OURSELF HAS ASKED POLICEMEN WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY I I DON'T THINK THIS IS LEGAL.
AND THEY ASKED US IF WE HAVE A PERMIT, WE CAN WORK THERE, WE CAN SELL OFF THE THE SIDEWALK.
WE EVEN WENT DOWN TO THE PERMITTING OFFICE HERE IN DOWNTOWN AND THEY ACTUALLY TOLD US TO GO TO ANOTHER FACILITY THAT ACTUALLY SENT US BACK TO THE PERMITTING OFFICE.
'CAUSE WE WERE LIKE, SHOOT, IF I COULD SELL SCOOTERS OFF A SIDEWALK JUST LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN, WHY AM I NOT HERE? YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
BUT I DO ENCOURAGE YOU COME TO DISCOVERY GREEN, YOU'RE GONNA SEE FOR YOURSELF THAT THESE UNAUTHORIZED VENDORS ARE MASSIVE AND THEY DO SELL WAY MORE THAN WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE AND A ON A, ON A, ON A LOT WHAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO BE ON.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I GOTTA SAY.
I DUNNO WHY MY NAME WASN'T CALLED DOWN.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME MA'AM? GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS, WHAT'S YOUR NAME MA'AM? MY NAME IS ASHLEY.
I'M TRYING TO PUSH THE SEAT UP FORWARD.
ASHLEY, MY NAME IS ASHLEY ASHLEY.
I AM PART OWNER OF I RIDE HT A SCOOTERS.
WHAT'S YOUR, I'M SORRY, WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME MA'AM? ASHLEY RUBIO.
YES, I AM PART OWNER OF I RIDE HT SCOOTERS.
THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.
I WILL SAY THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF BUSINESS I DID SEE, UM, A LOT OF GOOD PERFORMANCE WITH OTHER SCOOTER COMPANIES SUCH AS EIDE GLIDERS.
I SPOKE WITH THEM PERSONALLY TO KIND OF GET AN INSIGHT OF HOW TO PROPERLY OPERATE MY BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
AND THEY DID GIVE ME GOOD, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK ON HOW TO PROPERLY RUN MY BUSINESS.
AS I LEARNED AS WELL AS TIME WENT BY, I MET A COUPLE OF HPDS.
THEY GAVE OUT FLYERS WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS.
SO WE DO CARRY THOSE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE HPD AND WE USE THOSE RULES TO GIVE TO OUR CUSTOMERS TO REASSURE THEM THAT HEY, THERE IS NO WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE THAT IS A $200 CITATION.
UM, THERE IS A RULE AS FAR AS RIDING ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON RATHER THAN ON THE SIDEWALKS GOING THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE TRAFFIC AND STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AT JUST AS YOU WOULD IN A VEHICLE CONTINUE IF THE LIGHT IS GREEN.
UM, I DO HAVE A LITTLE WRITEUP AND I DO WANNA GO AHEAD AND READ IT.
I FEEL A LITTLE JITTERY 'CAUSE I'M A LITTLE UPSET WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AGAIN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN MAKING COMPLAINTS TO HPD ABOUT A LOT OF THE NEW ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON.
YOU GOT 15, 16 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE SELLING, I'M SORRY, RUNNING OUT SCOOTERS IN THE FRONT OF DISCOVERY GREEN.
AND I'VE BEEN SEEING THIS GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND THAT IS ACTUALLY RUINING THE REPUTATION OF US BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ACTUALLY DO PAY TAXES AND PAY FOR LOCATIONS FOR OUR STORAGE SCOOTERS AND WHEREVER WE HAVE OUR, OUR BUSINESS LOCATED.
SO I AM A LITTLE JITTERY AND UPSET ABOUT THIS AND I'M FINALLY EXCITED THAT YOU ALL GIVE US A VOICE TO SPEAK.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL REMARKS, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO EMAIL THEM TO US AND WE'LL MAKE THEM PART OF THE WHAT GETS CONSIDERED THAT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE IN THE BACK? IN THE BACK? GOOD AFTERNOON.
WOULD YOU TELL US YOUR NAME, SIR? YES.
SHARI IS MY FIRST NAME AND HOEK IS MY LAST NAME.
YEAH, SO THERE'S UH, THERE WAS JUST ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION.
UH, WE ALL THE SCHOOL RENTALS, I'M UH, ONE OF THE SCHOOL RENTAL OWNER.
IT'S CALLED STAR RIDE SCHOOL RENTALS.
UH, THERE WAS ONE THING THAT, UH, NOBODY MENTIONED.
IT WAS A PETITION THAT WE, UH, SET UP FOR THE PEOPLE TO SIGN.
UH, IT WAS, UH, IN JUST 48 HOURS.
WE HAD 48 PEOPLE AGAINST THIS BAN.
SO, UH, WE WON THAT DIMENSION.
SO I DUNNO IF WE CAN, UH, PROVIDE THE PROOF.
WE CAN PROVIDE A PROOF THAT, UH, THE CITY HAD A SURVEY,
[02:50:02]
THEY DID A SURVEY.WE, UM, MADE PEOPLE SIGN THOSE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE AGAINST THIS BAN.
AND THEN, UH, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO PROOF, WE HAVE, UH, ABOVE 1400 PEOPLE SIGN THE, UH, UH, PETITION THAT ARE AGAINST THE BAN, UH, IN JUST 48 HOURS.
SO THAT WAS ONE THING I WANNA MENTION.
ALRIGHT, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE FOLKS WHO WANTED TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE.
THANK YOU AS WELL TO A RA AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR Y'ALL'S INPUT.
WHERE WE GO FROM HERE IS, I THINK OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, UH, THERE'LL BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, UM, WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE ISSUE OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
AND, UH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT AND KEEP ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON, PLEASE FREE.
FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AT AT LARGE ONE, THAT'S THE NUMBER1@HOUSTONTX.GOV AT LARGE, THE NUMBER1@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
WE'RE AT 12:52 PM THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.