* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:08] MAYOR PROTI TATUM TO, UH, PRESIDE PLEASE, WHILE WE DO OUR PROCLAMATIONS. MORNING TO HARD WORK IN AMERICA. ALRIGHT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF AUGUST AS CIVIC HEALTH MONTH. HOW ARE YOU? SO CUTE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. TODAY I'M EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE AUGUST AS CIVIC HEALTH MONTH AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE THAT WILL, UH, BE PRESENT WHILE THE PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTED. AND, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT KNOWING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR CIVIC GOVERNMENTS AND OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. SO WITH THAT, WHEREAS AUGUST IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS CIVIC HEALTH MONTH, A TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THE VITAL CONNECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION, CIVIC PARTICIPATION, AND THE WELLBEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, WELLBEING AND LEARNING ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED. HEALTHY STUDENTS ACHIEVE GREATER ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND INFORMED CIVICALLY, ENGAGED COMMUNITIES LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR BETTER FUTURES FOR ALL. WHEN STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE INFORMED, ENGAGED, AND EMPOWERED TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC LIFE, THEY STRENGTHEN THE NATION'S DEMOCRACY BY HELPING TO SHAPE POLICIES THAT AFFECT SCHOOLS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS. WHEREAS THIS AUGUST, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TOGETHER WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, JOINS HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORKS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CELEBRATING THE POWER OF CIVIC PARTICIPATION TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THE CITY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZE THAT EMPOWERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME INFORMED ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, IS ESSENTIAL. HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ITS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM PARTNER WITH VARIOUS CITY OF HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION, SHARE VOTER READINESS MATERIALS, AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, THIS PARTNERSHIP PAR PARENTS AND FAMILIES WITH LOCAL RESOURCES SUCH AS HEALTH SCREENINGS, LIBRARY SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING RESOURCE FAIRS, NATURALIZATION WORKSHOPS, AND CANDIDATE FORUMS. WHEREAS AS WE CELEBRATE CIVIC HEALTH MONTH THIS AUGUST, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CALLS ON EVERYONE TO COMMIT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HELP BUILD A HEALTHIER, MORE INFORMED, MORE CIVICALLY ENGAGED HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND, UM, YOU GIVE US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE CIVIC HEALTH MONTH IN, UH, IT'S A NATIONAL, UH, MISSION AND WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND YOU'RE MAKING US SLOW DOWN AND RECOGNIZE IT. BUT WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE, UH, THE STAFF THAT'S JOINED US. YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T HAVE CIVIC HEALTH MONTH, WE COULDN'T HAVE OUR DAILY, UH, OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOU TELLING ME ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND THERE'S PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING HERE. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS. IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE, DIVERSE GROUP OF, UH, STAFF FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OVER AT A FRIENDS AT THE COUNTY AND CERTAINLY HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO JUST A LOT OF, WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE TODAY AND ABLE TO GATHER AND RECOGNIZE THE CIVIC HEALTH MONTH. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST, 2025 IS CIVIC HEALTH MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK Y'ALL. YEAH, THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL. UM, I'M DANIELLE BARTZ, CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT JAMES COLBERT. AND WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING CIVIC HEALTH MONTH AT THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. WE AIM TO CLOSE THE GAPS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND WE DO THAT THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD HEAD START. UH, WE DO THAT THROUGH AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, WITH CASE FOR KIDS. WE DO THAT THROUGH ADULT EDUCATION, UM, E-S-L-G-E-D, WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION, AND WE DO THAT THROUGH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ALTERNATIVE CAMPUSES. AND WE'RE THRILLED THAT FOR THE LAST YEAR [00:05:01] AND A HALF, WE HAVE HAD DEDICATED MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM TO INCORPORATING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION INTO ALL OF THOSE SERVICE AREAS THAT WE DO ALL THE TIME. AND SO WE KNOW THAT CIVIC HEALTH IS MORE THAN JUST VOTING. IT IS, UM, UH, HCDE KNOWS, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE IDEA THAT CIVIC EDUCATION CAN BEGIN AT ANY AGE. SO FOR US, CIVIC EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE HEADSTART PARENTS SITTING ON OUR POLICY COUNCIL AND ADVOCATING FOR THEIR LITTLEST LEARNERS. IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE LITTLE BABY LEARNERS VOTING ON WHAT SNACK THEY GET IN CLASS. IT LOOKS LIKE OUR AFTER SCHOOL KIDS GOING ON FIELD TRIPS TO THE ART MURALS AROUND THE CITY AND DISCUSSING THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS THAT THE ARTIST IS EXPRESSING. UM, IT LOOKS LIKE MOCK ELECTIONS AND IT LOOKS LIKE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HERE WITH US TODAY, WHERE WE ARE MAKING SURE OUR ADULT STUDENTS KNOW WHAT ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP AND WHAT COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH OFFICES LIKE YOURS. SO THIS PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING AUGUST AS CIVIC HEALTH MONTH JUST REMINDS US THAT HOUSTON FINDS VALUE IN WELL-INFORMED CIVICALLY ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND SO WE'RE PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT NETWORK OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE PROUD TO CARRY THE MESSAGE OF CIVIC HEALTH MONTH THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICES IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE'RE PROUD TO CONTINUE THE WORK ALONGSIDE YOU ALL AT THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US. THANK YOU. TAKE A PHOTO. OH, YEAH. WHO WANTS TO HOLD THIS FOR THE PHOTO YOU GUYS? NEXT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE US COAST GUARD TO CELEBRATE THEIR 235TH BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. IT IS INDEED AN HONOR. AND BEFORE I START, LET ME, LET ME ASK THAT, UH, COMMANDER KELLY BROWN RIGHT HERE. VERY GOOD. AND DR. LASANDRA JONES. SHE, SHE, THERE WE GO. COME ON UP. DR. JONES, WHO, OUR DIRECTOR OF MILITARY, UH, VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTTA MAYOR'S OFFICE, WE ARE ALWAYS INDEED HONORED AND CERTAINLY FOR ME AS A VETERAN AND ALWAYS TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES AND PROTECT ALL OF US NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, UH, AND THE COST OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND, UH, BUT THAT THEY WORK FOR LITTLE OR NOTHING, BECAUSE I KNOW I LIVED IT. BUT I ALWAYS INDEED HONORED TO RECOGNIZE OUR ARMED FORCES. AND TODAY, MAYOR, UH, AND COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN HONOR, CERTAINLY TO THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR SHORES AND CERTAINLY THE BOUNDARIES AROUND, UH, OUR SHORES IN THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. UH, THIS IS TO THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE FOURTH, BUT WE KNOW THE DAY IS NOT THE FOURTH. BUT WHEREAS ON AUGUST 4TH, 1790, THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT UNITED STATES ESTABLISHED A FLEET OF CUTTERS TO PREVENT SMUGGLING, COLLECT REVENUE ON GOODS ENTERING THE COUNTRY. THESE CUTTERS MARKED THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, THE NATION'S OLDEST CONTINUOUS, UH, SEAGOING SERVICE, AND WHEREAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE. THIS SMALL BUT VITAL ORGANIZATION MERGED WITH THE LIFESAVING SERVICE IN 1915 AND OFFICIALLY BECAME THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD. IN 1967, [00:10:01] IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND IN 2003, IT BECAME PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. TODAY, THE COAST GUARD PROUDLY SERVES AS BOTH THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND A BRANCH OF THE US MILITARY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO BECOME HOME TO THE US COAST GUARD SECTOR, HOUSTON, GALVESTON, AND COAST GUARD AIR STATION HOUSTON, WHICH WORKED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE NATION'S LARGEST PORT COMPLEX REMAINS SAVED, SECURE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND BY PERFORMING THE COAST GUARD'S 11 STATUTORY MISSIONS. AND WHEREAS IN THE AVERAGE YEAR, OUR LOCAL COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO APPROXIMATELY 400 SEARCH AND RESCUE CASES, SAVING OR ASSISTING MORE THAN 800 LIVES, PROTECTING OVER $30 MILLION IN PROPERTY, AND ALSO CONDUCTS MORE THAN 760 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSES. PERFORMS OVER 7,100 REGULATORY INSPECTIONS CARRIERS OUR VESSEL BOARDINGS TO SAFEGUARD PORT AND COASTAL SECURITY MANAGERS TRAFFIC FOR NEARLY 289,000 MARITIME TRANSIT AND MAINTAIN AIDS TO NAVIGATION ACROSS THE NATION'S BUSIEST WATERWAYS. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR, THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD CELEBRATES 235 YEARS OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY AS THE NATION'S PREMIER MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN SAVING LIVES, PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT, DEFENDING THE HOMELAND, THEIR MOTTO, SIMPLE PORTRAITS, ALWAYS READY, THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY COMMENDS THE UNITED STATES GHOST GUARD ON THIS MISS, UH, MOMENTOUS MILESTONE AND INVITES ALL HOUSTONIANS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATION OF ALL COAST GUARD PERSON THERE. MAYOR. WOW. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. AND THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS THAT ARE PRESENT WITH US TODAY. UH, WE QUITE OFTEN RECOGNIZE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY. YOU ARE BEING RECOGNIZED AS FIRST RESPONDERS. I KNOW FOR A FACT THE COAST GUARD WAS SO ACTIVE IN THE KERRVILLE TRAGEDY WITH YOUR HELICOPTERS, YOUR RESCUE, AND, UH, I COULD GO ON AND ON IF TIME ALLOWED, THE HOUSTON PORT WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS SUCCESSFUL OR SAFE WITHOUT THE US COAST GUARD. OUR FLEET WEEK THIS FALL WOULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT WITHOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION. SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT RECOGNIZING OUR FRIENDS IN THE COAST GUARD. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 4TH, 2025 IS UNITED STATES COAST GUARD DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL HERE FOR WELCOMING US ON OUR, UH, 235TH BIRTHDAY. UM, WE TRULY LOVE WORKING AND BEING A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. UM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, UH, FLEET WEEK AND ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. YEAH. [00:15:49] NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPROACH HIM AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, ONCE AN URBAN LEAGUER. ALWAYS, ALWAYS AN URBAN LEAGUER. ALL RIGHT, LET'S TURN THIS ENERGY UP IN THE CHAMBERS. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO SOME AND REINTRODUCE TO OTHERS OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN AUXILIARY OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE. IN 1999, THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE HOSTED ITS CONVENTION IN THIS CITY. AND AT AT THAT CONVENTION, THEY AUTHORIZED A YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AUXILIARY, WHICH THEY REALIZED THAT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WERE THE FUTURE OF NOT JUST THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITIES. HOUSTON WAS ONE OF THOSE FIRST, UH, CHAPTERS AND I'M A PROUD PASS PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. SO I'M EXCITED, UM, TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. AND BEFORE I, I READ THAT I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE CEO OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, JUDSON ROBINSON II, NO STRANGER TO THIS HORSESHOE. HIS FATHER WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNCIL MEMBER, ELECTED CITYWIDE. UM, AND THEN, UH, FOLLOWED BY HIS, UH, WIFE AFTER HIS DEATH. AND THEN HIS SON, JUDSON ROBINSON III ASSUMED HIS SEAT AND SERVED THIS CITY, UH, FOR SIX YEARS, UM, AND IS NOW THE CEO OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, AND HE'S UNABLE TO JOIN US TODAY. UM, AS A NOTE, UH, THE HOUSTON YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CHAPTER IS NOT JUST ANY CHAPTER, IT'S AN AWARD-WINNING CHAPTER. UH, THE FIRST NATIONAL AWARD WAS UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, I'LL JUST SAY THAT, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO LEAD. AND MOST RECENTLY IN CLEVELAND, IN CLEVELAND, JESSICA KIMBALL WAS ANNOUNCED MEMBER OF THE YEAR, AND OUR PRESIDENT, MS. SPIRIT DUPREE, WAS ANNOUNCED PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR, UM, THROUGHOUT ALL THE CHAPTERS. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. SO MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, UM, SHARING THIS, UH, MOMENT WITH ME. WHEREAS FOUNDED IN 1999, THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HALL YP SERVES AS A DYNAMIC AUXILIARY OF THE HOUSTON AREA. URBAN LEAGUE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG LEADERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21 AND 40, AS WELL AS EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WHEREAS HALL YP HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA FOR TWO DECADES, CHAMPIONING THE CAUSES OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS HALL YP MEMBERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS TO VITAL LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING VOTER EDUCATION, REGISTRATION DRIVES, FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS CAMPAIGNS, AND PROFESSIONAL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND MANY MENTORSHIP EFFORTS THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. AND WHEREAS HALL Y P'S COMMITMENT TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS EVIDENCED BY ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC LEADERS, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, TO PROMOTE EQUITY, ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS AROUND PRESSING ISSUES, AFFECTING HOUSTON'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH HALL, YP CONTINUES TO BUILD A PIPELINE OF SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN SHAPING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EMPOWERED FUTURE FOR ALL. HOUSTONIANS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FOR THEIR CONTINUED EX EXCELLENCE AND IMPACTFUL SERVICE AND PASSIONATE DEDICATION TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY AND IN THE YEARS TO COME. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE HOUSTON WOULD NOT BE THE GREAT CITY THAT IT IS WITHOUT THE URBAN LEAGUE AND CERTAINLY THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE URBAN LEAGUE. FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS GROWN UP HERE AND BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, I'VE WATCHED THE EVOLUTION OF THE URBAN LEAGUE. JUDGE ROBINSON SENIOR WAS THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR OF COLOR ON CITY COUNCIL WHEN HE SERVED. AND THEN THROUGH REDISTRICTING AND THE URBAN LEAGUE INITIATIVES, NOW WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE PANEL HERE AT CITY COUNCIL. SO OUR SOCIETY IS BETTER BECAUSE [00:20:01] OF THE URBAN LEAGUE AND ITS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, BUT SO IS OUR NATION. I ENJOY WATCHING YOUR PRESIDENT ON TALK SHOWS REPRESENTING ALL OF US ON SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOWS. SO ANYWAY, YOU, YOU CERTAINLY MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED AUGUST 12TH, 2025. IT'S HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. WOOHOO. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE. MY NAME IS SPEAR AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE. YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHERE WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND CHANGING LIVES. DO KNOW THAT THE WORK IS NOT STOPPING HERE. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 26 YEARS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK, CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THE NEXT LEADERSHIP GENERATION AND JUST CONTINUING TO LOVE ON THIS CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE LORRAINE WINSLOW WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE AFFILIATE AS WELL. UM, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL, SO EVERYONE CAN JOIN US. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. I, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE THAT, UH, THEY WON AWARDS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. OH, WELL, I MEAN, VERY EXCITED TO, TO HEAR THAT AND DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK MEMBER OF THE YEAR, PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR DESERVES AN EXTRA SHOUT OUT. SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. WAS I, WAS THAT CLOSE? I HAD ONE, I HAD A THROW DOWN PRAYER. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR THE INVOCATION, BUT, BUT BEFORE YOU WOULD, I'D LIKE TO CALL US TO ORDER COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND WELCOME BACK COLLEAGUES. IT SEEMS LIKE I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU ALL IN A LONG TIME. HOPEFULLY YOU HAD A RESTFUL WEEK. I DID MY BEST. BUT AT ANY RATE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PASTOR BENNETT HAYES, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE PASTOR AND PASTOR OF GLORY LAND MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOUSTON, TO COME FORWARD, I ALWAYS HAVE TO SAY HOW I KNOW PASTOR HAYES. PASTOR HAYES ACTUALLY OFFICIATED A FUNERAL OF A FAMILY MEMBER. AND I TELL YOU, HE HAD RAISED ME THE WHOLE TIME YOU WOULD'VE THOUGHT I WAS THE DECEASED, BUT, BUT THANK GOD I WASN'T. BUT WE HAVE FORGED A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. HE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON. HE JUST CELEBRATED 38 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE AND SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD. THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 13 CHURCH FLOCKS HAVE BEEN BIRTHED FROM GLORY LAND. UNDER PASTOR HAYES LEADERSHIP, DR. HAYES SERVES ON THE [00:25:01] NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN CLERGY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH IS HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON, DC. WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION, HE HAS TRAVELED INTERNATIONALLY PROCLAIMING THE WORD OF GOD, RIGHTLY DIVIDED AS AN ANSWER TO THE CRIES OF URBAN YOUTH UNJUSTLY ENTANGLED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DR. HAYES FOUNDED THE PEOPLE'S DEFENSE FUND OF HOUSTON TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIRNESS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO A STRONG LEGAL DEFENSE. PASTOR HAYES HAS BEEN MARRIED 55 YEARS TO MINISTER ETHEL M HAYES, BLESS HER HEART, WHO SERVES AS AN ASSOCIATE MINISTER AT GLORY LAND. THEY HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN, 12 GRANDCHILDREN, AND THREE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. PASTOR HAYES ALSO FOUNDED THE MW RYDER LIGHT GRAND LODGE AF AND AM, AS WELL AS THE AMAN ZA INDEPENDENT SUPREME COUNSEL AND SERVES AS MOST HUSAN SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER. THANK YOU PASTOR HAYES. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE FOR YOU TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PRAY. GO RIGHT AHEAD. LET US PRAY. BIG GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HOW THANKFUL WE ARE TODAY TO BE IN THIS PLACE. AT THIS TIME, WE ACTUALLY BLESSING UPON THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, OUR, OUR MAYOR, UPON EACH MEMBER THEIR HOMES. OH GOD, WE ASK THAT TO GIVE THEM PRUDENCE, GIVE THEM UNDERSTANDING, AND GIVE THEM WISDOM. WE ASK YOU, BLESSED UPON OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY, WE GIVE YOU GLORY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL, APPRECIATE JUSTICE FOR ALL. MR. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. DID YOU SKIP ME? NO, I SEE YOU RIGHT NOW. OH, OKAY. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JULY 29TH AND 30TH. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MEMBERS AND GUESTS, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN A HUNDRED TOTAL MINUTES OF SCHEDULED TESTIMONY. THE RULES REQUIRE US TO GIVE EACH OF YOU ONLY ONE MINUTE, EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR MORE. AND I'LL DO MY VERY BEST TO HAVE, UH, FOLLOW THE RULES. UH, ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS BY MEMBERS CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JOSEPH ANTE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST AND ALSO TO MOVE DEIDRE RASHID TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD MID MILDRED WHITFIELD TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION? IF NOT, BEFORE WE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, I MIGHT TAKE THE LIBERTY OF SAYING, UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP DEALING WITH THE RECOVERY FUNDING. UH, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE THAT WE HAVE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GIVEN TO HOUSTON FOR THE RECOVERY OF DERECHO AND BERYL. $314 MILLION TOTAL WERE ISSUED BY HUD AND FEMA TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE COUNTY GOT 60 MILLION. SO THROUGH WEEKS OF TESTIMONY, PREVIOUS TESTIMONY, I AM, UH, GIVING YOU A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT IN THE MORNING. TODAY IS YOUR DAY. BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE TO [00:30:01] RECOGNIZE THE PROCESS OF LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC, LISTENING TO COUNCIL THAT, UH, AS WE SAID TWO WEEKS AGO BEFORE WE TOOK THE SCHOOL BREAK, THAT UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS HAS AN AMENDMENT THAT'S GONNA TAKE $50 MILLION FROM THE GENERATOR PROPOSAL AND PUT IT ON HOME REPAIRS THAT WILL BE FROM ZERO. WHEN WE STARTED WORKING WITH HUD IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT DID NOT WANT TO GO TO HOME REPAIRS, HAD THE SECRETARY OF HUD PRESENT WITH US IN OUR CITY THROUGH PERSUASION AND DEMONSTRATION OF HOW SERIOUS WE WERE ABOUT USING THE MONEY APPROPRIATELY. WE CAME DOWN TO A FORMULA, INCLUDING 50 MILLION FOR HOME REPAIR. THROUGH TESTIMONY AND LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S BEEN DECIDED THAT WE WOULD ADOPT COUNCIL MEMBERS THOMAS AMENDMENT TOMORROW TO TAKE 50 MILLION FROM THE GENERATOR FUND AND PUT IT ADDITIONALLY INTO HOME REPAIRS. ALL OF US ARE COMMITTED TO HOME REPAIRS. I CAN REMEMBER BEING IN, UH, NORTHEAST HOUSTON DAYS AFTER DERECHO AND, UH, TRE THE TRUTH WAS THERE, HELPING WITH HOME REPAIRS, FOUNDATIONS, LABOR, FRED WOODS. I COULD GO THROUGH A LIST OF PEOPLE WE'RE ALL COMMITTED, BUT DURING THE STORM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM DAMAGED HOMES HAVE TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO GO TO. THAT'S WHERE THE GENERATOR EMPHASIS CAME FROM. WE HAVE TO HAVE GENERATORS IN COOLING CENTERS, FIRE AND POLICE, MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. SO IT'S NOT AT THE NEGLECT OF ANY OTHER GOOD CAUSE IT WAS TRYING TO BALANCE THIS $314 MILLION FOR THE GREATEST GOOD. AND I THINK I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PROCESS THAT WE, UH, ARE DISCUSSING TODAY. AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TESTIFY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO TELL US HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU FOR THE ORGANIZERS. BUT THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HAD ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS, BUT WE'VE ALL BUILT A CONSENSUS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL SERVE MOST HOUSTONIANS, INCLUDING NOW A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN THE HOME REPAIRS. WE HAVE A NEW ACTING DIRECTOR OF RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY. BRIAN MASON MEETING WITH MY OFFICE SAID THE 150 FOR GENERATORS. LET'S GO WITH A HUNDRED MILLION. IT'S HARD TO SPEND THAT APPROPRIATELY IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE NEED MORE GENERATORS ACROSS THE CITY FOR CHILLING, WARMING CENTERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR HUB AND CASHMERE. CAN YOU IMAGINE? WE WENT INTO THE STORMS LAST SUMMER WITH NO GENERATORS. I LEARNED IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM. FIRE STATIONS WERE NOT OPERATING BECAUSE OF LACK OF POWER. AND IF YOU TALK TO HOUSTONIANS, WHAT WAS THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN COMING OUTTA THE STORM? GO IN A WEEK, SOMETIME TWO WEEKS WITHOUT POWER. THEY NEEDED TO BE FINDING SHELTER IN HOUSTON, SPONSORED OPERATIONS, FIRE, POLICE, LIBRARIES, MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. SO I'M PROUD, LIKE I SAID, TOMORROW WE'RE GONNA THOROUGHLY DISCUSS THIS. COUNCILMAN THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE'VE LISTENED AND UH, IT'S A DARN GOOD DAY TO PRESENT THIS AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM HOUSTONIANS. WITH THAT SAID, UH, I'LL, YOU'D BE GLAD TO YIELD TO ANYONE, IF NOT YIELD TO THE PUBLIC WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER, DEIDRE RASHID, TO BE FOLLOWED BY YOU. DIVINE BARNES. SO HONORED AND STUFF. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? AM I ON? OKAY. I SAID IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, GOOD TO BE HERE. I THINK THAT I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT, UM, THE ISSUE THAT I WAS ORIGINALLY COMING BEFORE YOU ON, WHICH WAS ARLO LIQUORS, WHICH IS LOCATED MAYOR ON ORUM, UM, OFF OF CITY SQUARE LANE. AND HE HAS THESE FLUORESCENT PINK AND GREEN LETTERS. AND WHEN HE SAID HE GOT A PERMIT, HE CAME BACK AFTER WE DID THE PERMIT COMPLAINT AND HE MADE THE BIGGER PINK AND GREEN LETTERS THAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE 2 88 FREEWAY. SO WE ARE CONCERNED 'CAUSE THAT IS IN VIOLATION OF HIS COMMERCIAL DEED RESTRICTIONS. HOWEVER, HE'S OVER THE COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION, SO NO ENFORCEMENT HAS HAPPENED THERE. UM, HOWEVER, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO COME TO THE CITY AND GET A PERMIT IN SPITE OF THERE BEING EXISTING REGULATIONS THERE IN THAT REGARDING THE SIGNAGE, THE MARKETING, AND WHAT IS PERMISSIVE IN THAT AREA. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN TRYING TO FIND A RESOLUTION FOR THIS. WE ARE TRYING [00:35:01] TO BUILD A QUALITY COMMUNITY IN THAT AREA. UM, AND, AND WE JUST SIMPLY NEED THE HELP OF COMMERCIAL PARTNERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACTIONS ON OTHER COMMERCIAL ENTITIES IN THE AREA. SHABA COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU DEIDRE. NOW FIRST MY ISSUE IS THAT IT'S PINK AND GREEN. I GOT A, I GOT A ISSUE WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, A BIG, A BIG LIQUOR STORE SIGN, RIGHT? MM-HMM . AT ANY RATE, YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH, UH, LEGAL. I HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND CERTAINLY, UH, WE WILL TRY TO GUIDE YOU AND HOPEFULLY THIS CAN COME TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION. YES. YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE THAT WHEN BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING IN A COMMUNITY, THEY WOULD COOPERATE BECAUSE YOUR BUSINESS WILL ONLY THRIVE IF YOU CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. ABSOLUTELY. AND SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST OPERATING, UH, BUT THEY ARE SITTING IN A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY, UH, WHO WOULD PATRONIZE, I'M SURE. YEAH. IF THEY COULD GET THE COOPERATION OF THE BUSINESS OWNER. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD AND FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO SAY? NO, I JUST, I SIMPLY WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST BEING UNDERSTANDING AND TRYING TO HELP US. YOU KNOW, WE ARE SMALL WHEN IT COMES TO RESIDENTS, BUT WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE BIGGER. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALWAYS A PLEASURE. NEXT INE BARNES TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACQUELINE HALEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS INE SAMPSON BARNES AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT TMO ON JUNE 17TH, 2025. I STOOD BEFORE OUR MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOUSTON ON BEHALF OF TMO AND OUR MOTHER OF MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH. AT THAT TIME, I RESPECTFULLY ASKED OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE AT LEAST $100 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS OF $314.6 MILLION TO HELP FAMILIES WHO ARE STILL IN NEED OF HOME REPAIRS DUE TO DISASTERS CAUSED BY HURRICANE BOROUGH. IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND HUMILITY THAT WE GIVE THANKS TO OUR MAYOR OF HOUSTON AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CHANGING THEIR PERSPECTIVE BY INCREASING SEARCH FUNDS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES FROM $50 MILLION TO $100 MILLION, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENT. THANK YOU. I THINK THANK YOU ALL FOR THE DECISION YOU HAVE MADE FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOUSTON AREA. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER THE ALLOTTED $100 MILLION TO BE ALLOCATED AND DISTRIBUTED BY EARLY NEXT YEAR, 2026, SO THAT WE ARE THEN HELPING FAMILIES, HOMEOWNERS, THAT ARE STILL IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR TO THEIR HOMES. AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR WIMAR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AND FAMILY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANKS AGAIN. NEXT, JACQUELINE AND HALEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY PAMELA DUCK. GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M MINISTER JACQUELINE HALEY FROM NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH AND TMO. WE, AT TMO ARE GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOCATING FUNDING TO REPAIR HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE BERYL AND THE STORM DERACHO. THAT IS THE $100 MILLION HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAM THAT YOU WILL BE VOTING ON TODAY. AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR PUSHING AHEAD. NEXT PAMELA DUCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE VALDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITE AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS PAMELA DUCK. I AM A TMO LEADER AND ADMINISTER AT FIRST METROPOLITAN CHURCH. I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AGENDA 69 DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS. TMO, INCLUDING MYSELF PREVIOUSLY TESTIFIED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON NEEDED TO CHANGE COURSE AND PLACE AT LEAST A HUNDRED MILLION INTO HOME REPAIRS. WE ARE ELATED AND GRATEFUL THAT MAYOR WHITE AND CM, TIM, TIM, TIFFANY THOMAS, CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE AGREED TO TMOS POSITION ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL. [00:40:02] IN CLOSING, I LIKE THREE REQUESTS. ONE WITH TMO REQUEST THAT FUNDS BE DISTRIBUTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT DELAY. EARLY NEXT YEAR IN 2026, TARGET THE VULNERABLE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY OR HOME REPAIRS, AND FOCUS ON HOME REPAIRS INSTEAD OF HOME REPLACEMENTS DUE TO THE LIMITED FUNDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, STEPHANIE VALDEZ. GEORGE MORALES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANGEL DAVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF MY MOTHER, UH, PATRICIA MORALES, MY GRANDMOTHER, UH, SALAMANCA, AND MY AUNT, UH, CASSANDRA MALARDI. I'M ALSO A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZATION PROJECT. LIKE SO MANY HOUSTONIANS, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR HARMFUL EFFECTS OF STORMS. AFTER STORMS, WE WERE FLOODED AND DISPLACED BY HURRICANES HARVEY FEMA, SUPPORTING MY GRANDMOTHER RE RELOCATION TO A, TO A HOUSE. A POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF A DISASTER RECOVERY FUND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY MOTHER LOST EVERYTHING IN BARREL, BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS IN A TRAILER ON ANOTHER PERSON'S LAND AND HAD A LIMITED ABILITY TO RECOUP LOSSES A YEAR LATER, SHE'S LIVING WITH FAMILY AS SHE CAN. OUR EXPERIENCE ON UNDER SOURCES UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS IN HOUSTON. AND WHILE I KNOW THESE PARTICULAR FUNDS ARE FORCED ON DAMAGE FROM LAST SUMMER, WE STILL SUPPORT USING THESE RESOURCES AND MAXIMIZING $100 MILLION FOR HOUSING THAT MORE FAMILIES LIKE MINE CAN RECOVER AFTER BARREL. AND, UH, TRO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT ANGEL, ANGEL DAVIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY KIM SOKI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ANGEL DAVIS. I LIVED IN, I LIVE IN FIFTH WARD, IN THE FIFTH DIS IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZATION PROGRAM TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WITH THE, WITH THE HOUSING OF THE CITY. ACTION PLAN. I HAVE LUPUS, OTHER DISEASE THAT'S WEAK BECAUSE MY IMMUNE SYSTEM LIVING IN CURRENT HOUSING, THAT'S NOT STANDABLE FOR ME. OKAY. COLLAPSED. CEILING DEBRIS, MOLD, NO PLACE TO GO. I HAD NO HELP FROM FEMA AND NO ONE ELSE. OKAY? AS GOD KNOWS, WE LIVE BETTER THAN THAT. I WANTED TO READ WHAT'S ON THIS PAPER, BUT I CAN'T, I WANNA SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I'M A VICTIM. I JUST MADE 65 AND I'VE BEEN LIVING LIKE THIS FOR, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I WORK AND I CAN'T GET ANYTHING. I LIVE AND I CAN'T GET ANYTHING. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS. GOD DIDN'T MAKE US LIKE THIS. PEOPLE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO I WANT Y'ALL TO HELP US. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS FUNDING. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ME BEING HERE. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, KIM SALKI. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KIM SOUK AND I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE $314 MILLION IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE BARREL. THE CURRENT PLAN DEDICATES MORE THAN HALF OF THE FUNDS TO PROVIDING EMERGENCY POWER GENERATION AT FIRE STATIONS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND HOSPITALS, AND ALL OUR CRITICAL PLACES DURING DISASTERS. SOME, UH, EVIDENTLY, UM, IN MY UNDERSTANDING WANT TO AMEND THIS AND THE 50 TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AWAY FROM THE ESSENTIAL PROJECTS AND DIRECT IT TOWARDS A LIMITED NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED AND NEED REPAIR. ANY DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS, I BELIEVE SHOULD BE FUNNELED TO HELP THE LARGEST NUMBER OF HOUSTONIANS. THERE SHOULD BE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO HELP. AND WE NEED STRONG AND EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY POWER AT [00:45:01] THE FIRE STATIONS, HOSPITALS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR WHEN THE NEXT HAS FOR STRIKES. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT SANDRA EDWARDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOM SLOCUM. OKAY. I AM LIKE HER. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. UM, FIRST OF ALL, THAT BELL GONNA GO OFF AND I'M JUST GONNA SAY THAT ONE MINUTE AIN'T GONNA BE ENOUGH TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE ARE BEING VIOLATED BECAUSE I'M WITH HER, UM, PROPHET OVER PEOPLE. WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR THE RESIDENTS. I'M A STORM. I'VE BEEN A VICTIM FROM HARVEY ALL THE WAY, AND MY HOUSE IS FALLING APART, BUT WE CANNOT GET HELP. DR. PLUM. I WANNA THANK WAS SHE, UM, CAN'T SEE ANYWAY, DR. PLUM, I WANNA GIVE HER THANKS 'CAUSE SHE'S THE ONLY ONE REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR FIFTH WARD AND COME AND TALK TO THE RESIDENTS. WE ALL WANNA PUT THE MONEY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THAT. THAT'S ALL FINDING. AND DANNY. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE? THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING SINCE HARVEY. WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN NO HELP. WHEN DO WE COME FIRST? WHEN DID IT COME OUR TIME? WHEN DID IS WHEN DO WE GET OUR HOUSES REPAIRED? 'CAUSE WE KEEP MOVING AROUND TRYING TO MOVE THIS AROUND AND THAT AROUND TO SURVIVE AND IT'S NOT WORKING. WHEN DO WE GET THE FUNDS TO COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE IN OUR HOUSES WHEN, BECAUSE I, WE HEAR ALL THIS MONEY BEING RAISED AND GOING HERE, THERE LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT NONE OF IT IS COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT'S SUFFERING THE MOST. WHEN IS IT OUR TIME? WHEN DO WE GET I WANNA HEAR THAT BELL. WHEN DO WE GET OUR TIME? TIME HAS EXPIRED. I I, I KNOW THAT. BUT WHEN WE GET A ANSWER, WHEN DO WE GET OUR TIME? WHEN DO WE GET OUR HOUSES REPAIRED? WHEN ARE THEY GONNA COME TO US? TOMORROW AT 9:00 AM TOMORROW AT 9:00 AM TOMORROW AT NINE. THANK YOU. THAT'S A ANSWER. COUNCIL MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE UP. LILIANA RAMBO. BEHIND MILDRED WHITFIELD. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MAYOR PROTE CASTEX STADIUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD DANIEL RAMSEY, UH, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE, UH, AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. YES, SIR. UH, YO HOUSTON, WHAT'S POPPING? MR. MAYOR WHITMER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TAXPAYERS GETTING ROBBED, BLIND, AND ALL Y'ALL REAL H TOWN HUSTLERS OUT THERE. I'M HERE REPRESENTING 7 7 0 1 8. LISTEN UP. I BELIEVE WE GOTTA SLAM EVERY LAST CENT OF THIS MONEY INTO OUR CITY'S GUTS WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FEMA AND THE HUD MONEY FOR ROADS THAT DON'T SWALLOW OUR CARS AND TRUCKS. BRIDGES THAT DON'T CRUMBLE LIKE YOUR EXES PROMISES. DRAINAGE. DRAINAGE THAT ACTUALLY DRAIN POWER GRIDS TO GHOSTS IN A STORM. AND FAT STACKS OF BACKUP GENERATORS. I WANT TO SEE LOTS OF GENERATORS OVER 200 MILLION WORTH OF EMERGENCY POWER TO KEEP THE FIRE STATIONS LIT. WE REMEMBER WHAT JUST HAPPENED IN KERRVILLE, TEXAS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED. OVER 137 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN KERRVILLE. THIS ISN'T A CHIP IN GIGANTIC GAINES REALITY SHOW FOR HOME REMODELS. THIS ISN'T AN EPISODE OF FIX OR UPPER, I SAY ZERO. ZILCH. NADA. OKAY, WE NEED REAL POLICY. WE NEED POLICY. THAT'S HOUSTON STRONG, NOT HOUSTON, WRONG. WAKE UP. WE NEED TO DELIVER REAL RESULTS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOT DRAFTING A PLAN FOR AN EXTRA A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR HANDOUTS AND POLITICAL FAVORS ACROSS THE CITY. NEXT. THANK YOU. NEXT. DANIEL RUMSEY. I'M SO SORRY. WHAT WAS IT CALLED? DANIEL RAMSEY. YEAH, . GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. MAYOR AND STAFF. MY NAME IS DANIEL RUMSEY. I AM THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR FCC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, THE, UH, CITY'S RECYCLING PARTNER. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, FCC IS PART OF A GLOBAL COMPANY WITH OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WASTE AND RECYCLING WITH CUSTOMERS. UH, TODAY, FCC GLOBAL SERVICES, OVER 66 MILLION PEOPLE IN 55 COUNTRIES HERE IN THE US. FCC PROVIDES SOLID WASTE RECYCLING TO 14 MILLION AMERICANS ACROSS SEVEN STATES. WITH HUS HOUSTON BEING PROUDLY THE LOCATION FOR OUR NATIONAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. UM, IN HOUSTON, [00:50:01] WE HAVE BEEN PROUDLY MANAGING THE CITY'S RE RECYCLING SINCE 2019 THROUGH OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY, WHICH WE CALL A MUR RF, WHICH IS LOCATED IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. DISTRICT B, THIS FACILITY IS NOT ONLY THE LARGEST AND MOST ADVANCED IN THE REGION. IN 2021, IT WAS NAMED THE NUMBER ONE RECYCLING FACILITY IN THE NATION FOR ITS INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY. HOW DID YOU EVER THINK YOU COULD SERVICE HOUSTON WITH ONE DROP OFF? UM, WELL, UM, I I THINK A LOT OF CITIES DO THAT. NO. AND LET ME ANSWER YOU, BUT NOT OTHER CITIES. MOST OF US ARE REAL UPSET. I'M PARTICULARLY UPSET. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH PERSONNEL, HOW MANY TRUCKS. WE'RE GETTING 30 NEW TRUCKS THIS WEEK, WE'RE HIRING FOLKS, BUT THEN THEY GO WAIT AT YOUR LOCATION HOUR OR MORE TO DROP OFF. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES ANYONE THINK ONE DROP OFF SERVES 600 SQUARE MILES AND 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE? IN FACT, IF I COULD GET OUTTA THE CONTRACT AND WE'RE REVIEWING IT, I'D DO IT TODAY. WELL, RESPECTFULLY, SIR, I I THINK THAT, UM, IF THE LOGISTICS ARE PLANNED CORRECTLY AND THE TRUCKS ARE NOT ALL BEING, UM, SENT TO THE FACILITY ALL AT ONE TIME, 30 TO 40 TO 50 TRUCKS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ANY COMPANY. IF YOU, I FIRST DISAGREE, IF YOU STACK THESE START TIMES FROM 8:00 AM NEED MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, AND YOUR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED, THE LEADERSHIP, SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED. YOU CANNOT HAVE PEOPLE GOING FROM SOUTHWEST HOUSTON TO NORTHEAST TO MAKE A DROP AND THEN RETURNING BACK TO THEIR ROUTE. IMPOSSIBLE. AND WE'RE WORKING THE BEST WE CAN TO DEAL WITH IT. ADDITIONAL TRUCKS AND PEOPLE, A NEW MODEL OF OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT. BUT IT'S NEVER GONNA BE WHAT IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF THIS DARN CONTRACT HAVING ONE DROP OFF. YOU KNOW, IT AND ANY REASONABLE COMMON SENSE PERSON WOULD KNOW IT. WELL, I, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE, WE ABSOLUTELY, UM, MET WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR AND WE ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT THAT CITY COULD USE TRANSFER STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY. WE WELCOME THAT. UM, WE RECEIVED THE RFP AND RECOMMENDED AWARD FOR THE GASPER TRANSFER STATION AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. THAT HONESTLY HAS NOT MOVED IN ANY DIRECTION AT ALL. SO, UM, I AGREE WITH MR. HASSAN'S APPROACH OF ADDITIONAL TRANSFER STATIONS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE CITY. UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT PIECE. WELL, YOU NEED TO PARTNER WITH HIM TO FIND ADDITIONAL DROP OFF OR ALLOW THE CONTRACT TO BE AMENDED THAT WE CAN CONTRACT WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO GET ADDITIONAL DROP OFF FOR RECYCLING. ONE IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, YOU NEED ADDITIONAL DROP OFFS. YOU CANNOT CROSS 600 MILES FOR A DROP OFF AND THEN RETURN TO YOUR ROUTE. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT. THE CITY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT, AND WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIX IT. AGAIN, I, I WELCOME THE PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH MR. DIRECTOR ON, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PLAN WITH THE TRANSFER STATIONS. AND AGAIN, WE'RE FULLY SUPPORTIVE. WE'VE OFFERED ADDITIONAL TRUCKS AND DRIVERS. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY IN ALL SUPPORT FOR WELL, I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BUT WE'RE ALL FRUSTRATED REPRESENTING CITIZENS AND IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. COUNCIL MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SECRET THAT RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON ARE TALKING ABOUT RECYCLING AND HOW WE CAN MAKE RECYCLING BETTER. UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT RECYCLING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I KNEW WE HAD DONE SOMETHING WITH THE GSMA STATION A WHILE BACK. UM, AND I ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH GSM? AND I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER IT BECAUSE IT'S A, A LOCATION IN DISTRICT A AND WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW TO, UM, GET THE TRUCKS TO GO TO THAT LOCATION SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER LOCATION, AND THEN THEY CAN GET BACK ON THE ROUTE. I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS IN THE MIDST OF TRANSITION. UM, SOME THINGS HAVE, HAVE STALLED. UM, MAYOR, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET TOGETHER. I KNOW DIRECTOR HASSAN IS, IS ANXIOUS TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND HOUSTONIANS. UM, MR. RAMSEY IS HERE SAYING THEY WANT TO HELP. UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A, A, A BENEFIT TO HOUSTONIANS FOR US TO FIGURE OUT, UM, THE BEST WAY TO GET THAT RECYCLING PICKED UP AS, AS FAST AS WE CAN AND TO GET THE GSMA STATION UP AND RUNNING. UM, DO WE KNOW, HAVE, HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE GSMA STATION ALREADY OR HAVE YOU MET WITH THE DIRECTOR ABOUT THE GSMA STATION? BECAUSE I THINK THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT AS A COUNCIL, UM, WE HAD A LOGISTICAL PLAN, [00:55:02] UM, SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE THE PICKUP OF RECYCLING WITH THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, FACILITY ONLINE. YES. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE, UM, AGAIN, THIS WAS THE FIRST CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THE DIRECTOR IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE GAS TRANSFER STATION? UM, AGAIN, HE, HE DID MENTION THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATIONS IN THE WORKS. AGAIN, ALL BENEFICIAL TO THE COLLECTION OF THE RECYCLING. SO, UM, AGAIN, NEXT STEPS IS, I'M WAITING TO HEAR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS WITH LEGAL, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING MOVE FORWARD SINCE THEN. UM, WE WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO MAKE ANYTHING POSSIBLE. SO EVEN IF IT'S A, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A, A QUICK TRANSITION UNTIL THE FULL STATION IS OPERATIONAL, MORE THAN WILLING. ABSOLUTELY. CAN YOU, NOW I'VE READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT THE WAIT TIMES, UM, AND WE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR ABOUT THE WAIT TIMES AND THEN YOUR DATA SHOWS A DIFFERENT, UM, AMOUNT OF WAIT TIMES. CAN YOU JUST KIND OF GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE WE ARE, WE'RE GETTING ALL THIS INFORMATION FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES. UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE THOSE WAIT TIMES AND WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE DO TO DELIVER RECYCLING FOR HOUSTONIANS? YEAH, GOOD QUESTION. I, YEAH, I THINK THAT THE CHANGE IN WHERE THE RECENT PROBLEMS HAVE, HAVE STARTED IS THE COLLECTION OF RECYCLING ON ONE DAY A WEEK. SO AS, UH, DIRECTOR ASSAN STATED THERE, IT'S THE MAKEUP DAY. SO THEY COLLECT EVERYTHING ON WEDNESDAYS, RIGHT? AND IF 40 OR 50 TRUCKS ARRIVE AT A RECYCLING CENTER, NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE AT IN, IN HOUSTON, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DELAYS. SO AGAIN, THE SUGGESTION AND THE COMMITMENT THE, THE DIRECTOR GAVE TO ME IS THAT RECYCLING WILL BE COLLECTED, UM, MULTIPLE DAYS A WEEK. NOW THE SCHEDULES WILL CHANGE, WHICH OF COURSE WILL HELP WITH THOSE WAIT TIMES. BUT AGAIN, THE AVERAGE WAIT TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ARE NOTHING CLOSE TO THAT. AGAIN, 19 MINUTES MAX. SOME TRUCKS ARE IN AND OUT IN 10 TO 15 MINUTES. SO IT'S, IT'S WHEN YOU DON'T PROPERLY ROUTE YOUR TRUCKS TO ARRIVE AT A CERTAIN TIME, YOU'RE GONNA EXPECT DELAYS AT ANY FACILITY. RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING IF YOU STAGGER THE START TIME, GROUP A STARTS AT 6:00 AM GROUP B STARTS AT 7:00 AM GROUP C STARTS AT 8:00 AM AND, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THAT IS HOW YOU, YOU MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF FACILITY LIKE THIS. AND THEN WE, WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS ABOUT, UM, THEIR RECYCLING AND THEN WE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR AND FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT RECYCLING ARENA THAT THE RECYCLING THAT WE ARE PICKING UP, UM, THE LOAD TALK TO US ABOUT THOSE LOADS AND THE EDUCATION THAT WE NEED AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT RECYCLING CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE. YEAH, I MEAN, I, I THINK THE BIGGEST AND MOST CRITICAL PIECE TO, TO A SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING PROGRAM IS TIMELY PICKUP. UM, AGAIN, IF THE RECYCLING IS NOT PICKED UP ON SCHEDULE OR NOT REGULAR SCHEDULED DAY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE LIDS STAY OPEN, IT RAINS AND ALL OF THE PAPER AND, AND YOU KNOW, CARDBOARD, THOSE THINGS START TO DISPOSE. SO IT'S JUST NOT GOOD. SO TIMELY COLLECTIONS, ABSOLUTELY FIRST PRIORITY. SECONDLY, AGAIN, UM, IF THAT CONTAINER SITS AT THE STREET FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS OR LONGER, NATURALLY PEDESTRIANS AND CARDS WILL DRIVE BY AND, AND THROW TRASH INTO 'EM. SO THAT'S A BIG PIECE TO IT. SO TIMELY COLLECTION IS NUMBER ONE, EDUCATION IS A HUGE PIECE TO IT. I THINK FOREMOST OF ANY RECYCLING PROGRAM IS THE EDUCATION. SO WHATEVER WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE CITY, UM, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE DIRECTOR ABOUT THIS, WHATEVER WE, UM, AS THE EXPERTS CAN HELP PROVIDE THAT EDUCATION AND BUILD THAT OUT FOR THE CITY, WE'RE ALWAYS WELCOME AND OPEN TO DO IT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UH, THIS HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC, UM, AROUND THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICTS, UH, RECENTLY. UH, HOW LONG HAS YOUR COMPANY HAD THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON? SINCE 2019 WHEN WE STARTED OPERATING. OKAY. YES, SIR. AND FROM 2019 TO PRESENT, DOES IT SEEM AS IF THERE ARE MORE ISSUES WITH RECYCLING CURRENTLY OR HAS THIS BEEN SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE 2019? SO WHEN WE STARTED THE CONTRACT, UM, THE FORECASTED CONTAMINATION RATE IS 25%. WHEN WE SIGN THE CONTRACT TODAY, IT'S ANYWHERE BETWEEN 46 AND 48%. AND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? UM, AGAIN, THE COMBINATION OF EDUCATION, UM, TIMELY PICKUPS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU GET PAID, YOUR COMPANY GETS PAID BASED ON TONNAGE OF RECYCLABLE MATERIAL, CORRECT? CORRECT. [01:00:01] CORRECT. SO WHEN, SO YOU WANT AS MUCH TONNAGE AND YOU WANT IT TO ACTUALLY BE REAL RECYCLABLE, MATERIAL RECOVERABLE. YES. CORRECT. SO RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BASED ON LOGISTIC, LOGISTIC FAILURES OR ISSUES WITH, WITH TRUCKS PERSONNEL OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, YOU'RE GETTING LESS TONNAGE THAN YOU ANTICIPATED OR LESS TONNAGE THAN YOU'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY. IT'S TRENDING DOWN YEAR BY YEAR. YES. THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND FCC IN ORDER TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THAT THE EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU ALL ORIGINALLY CONTRACTED FOR THAT WE'RE MEETING AS A CITY. CORRECT. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT MEETING THOSE. THAT'S CORRECT. AND, UM, AND AGAIN, JUST FOR A LITTLE CLARITY, WE'VE, OVER THE, OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, UM, WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, UM, WORKING THROUGH AMENDMENTS, UM, WORKING THROUGH THINGS TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND, UM, AND AGAIN, NOW IT'S KIND OF STARTING BACK OVER WITH A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, BUT, UM, THE CITY HAS BEEN WELL AWARE, UH, THEY HAVE CONSULTANTS, UM, WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL TO HELP TRY AND IMPROVE AS WELL. SO THERE'S A LOT TO IT. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AS WELL. IT, IT TAKES A LOT TO COME, UH, SPEAK TO US UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU KNOW, AS A BUSINESSMAN, I KNOW ALL YOU ALL WANT TO DO IS, UM, COLLECT THE RECYCLING, GET THE TONNAGE SO THAT YOU CAN MAXIMIZE YOUR PROFITS, AND THEN WE CAN KEEP THE CITY AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE THINGS THAT GO ON HERE AT THE CITY THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING THOSE EXPECTATIONS. WE TRY TO PUT ALL OF THE BLAME ON FCC, LIKE YOU ALL ARE THE END ALL BE ALL WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT OURSELVES MANY TIMES AND THE LEADERSHIP HERE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. AND, AND AGAIN, I DO WANNA STATE THAT FCC IS MORE THAN WILLING TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL. IT'S THE MUTUAL SUCCESS OF THESE, THIS PROGRAM, UM, AGAIN, IS IS ON BOTH OF OUR PARTS. SO, UM, AND LASTLY, UH, AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT WITH FCC, I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS WILL BE THE CITY'S FACILITY. MM-HMM . SO FOR FUTURE PLANNING AND REFERENCE, UM, IT'S GONNA BE TURNED OVER TO THE CITY AT THE END. HOW LONG WAS THE CONTRACT? 30 YEARS. HOW LONG? 15. 15. 15. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHEN, WHEN THE CONTRACT STARTED IN 2019, ABOUT HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS WERE, WERE ON THE, OH, I MEAN, HAS IT GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY? YES. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD GROWS EVERY YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE CONTAMINATION RATE BEING MUCH ABOVE 25%, THERE'S ALSO THE NUMBER OF HOMES, CORRECT. ALSO OUR RESOURCE PROBLEMS WITH, WITH TRUCKS, ET CETERA. CORRECT? CORRECT. UM, WHEN, WHEN THIS WAS NEGOTIATED INITIALLY, UM, I WAS A STAFFER HERE, AND REMEMBER THE BIG KEY WAS TO KEEP THE COST BELOW WHAT THE LANDFILL COST WAS. OUR LANDFILL COST NOW IS ABOUT 33 BUCKS A A TON. RIGHT? YOU'RE AT $20 A TON. CORRECT. IS WHAT WE'RE PAYING. SO THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR AND, AND QUITE LOWER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. ABSOLUTELY. WHAT ANYBODY ELSE WAS OFFERING. I IS, UH, WHAT WERE, WHEN, WHEN THIS WAS NEGOTIATED, WAS THE GASPER AND OTHER TRANSFER STATIONS PART OF THE SCENARIO? I MEAN, WAS THAT EXPECTED TO BE ONLINE AS A TRANSFER STATION? SO, SO INITIALLY WHEN WE, WHEN WE BUILT THE FACILITY, UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A MASSIVE INVESTMENT. IT'S $25 MILLION. UM, THAT'S JUST A START. AND THEN FROM THERE, CONVERSATION STARTED SHORTLY AFTER A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH WITH, YEAH. LIKE YOU, YOU SAID YOU ANSWERED AN RFP TO OPERATE THE GAS. CORRECT. AND YOU WERE, YOU WERE AWARDED, OR YOU INTEND TO AWARD? WE WERE RECOMMENDED TO AWARD YEAR RECOMMENDED TO AWARD THE GASPER STATION AT THE CORRECT. AND THAT'S TO WHAT, UM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM WAS TALKING ABOUT? YEAH. AND, AND I JUST WANNA SAY YOU MENTIONED THE TRANSFER STATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS OPTION WITH THE CITY FOR PROBABLY MORE THAN THREE YEARS. OKAY. AND, AND, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CONTRACTED SEPARATELY WITH A COMPANY CALLED ITR, ANOTHER MURF TO HANDLE THE WEDNESDAYS AND THE SATURDAYS AND THE TIMES WHEN THE, THE TRUCK, WHEN IT WAS TOO LONG OF LINES OR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WAS YOUR, WHAT WAS YOUR AFFILIATION WITH ITR? YEAH, SO, SO EVERY MURPH REALLY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF, IT'S JUST A CONTINGENCY. SO THE TIME THAT WE SENT MATERIAL TO ITR, THAT'S NO LONGER A BUSINESS, IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD A MAJOR BREAKDOWN AT OUR FACILITY. OH, IT WASN'T HAVING TO DO WITH OVERFLOW. YEAH. SO THAT WAS WHAT I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD. YEAH. OKAY. AND, AND YOU COULD CONTRACT YOURSELVES WITH AN ADDITIONAL MUR R TO, TO HELP WITH IT? OR WOULD THAT BE A, A HELP OR, OR, OR IS MORE OF THE ANSWER THE TRANSFER STATION? I, I THINK ABSOLUTELY THE TRANSFER STATION [01:05:01] IS GONNA BE THE, THE MOST VIABLE OPTION. UM, AND TALK, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE CONTAMINATED, UH, LOADS. OKAY. ONCE YOU, YOU GET IT, YOU SORT OUT WHAT CAN BE SAVED AND WHAT'S CONTAMINATED. CORRECT. YOU THEN FCC HAS TO TAKE THE CONTAMINATED LOADS TO THE LANDFILL. I, I'VE HEARD CONFLICTING THING ABOUT THINGS ABOUT WHAT, AT WHAT COST DO WE, DO WE CHARGE, DO WE PAY, DO WE CHARGE YOU FOR THAT? HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, SO THERE'S, THERE'S TWO WAYS. SO IF IT'S THE, THE CONTAMINATION OR WHAT'S LEFT OVER THAT WE CALL IT THE RESIDUE, UH, WE TRANSPORT THAT TO THE LANDFILL AND WE ARE CHARGED AND IT'S BASICALLY A REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CITY BASED ON THAT CHARGE. OKAY. SO, BUT IN ESSENCE, YES. THE CITY'S PAYING FOR THE, THE CITY'S PAYING THE $33. CORRECT. WE'RE PAYING, WE'RE PAYING THE $20 AND THEN WE'RE PAYING THE $33 CORRECT. ON HALF OF RECYCLING AND GAS. YEAH. AND AGAIN, YOU MENTIONED THE HALF THE RECYCLING. THAT'S, THAT'S THE KEY HERE. RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, WHAT SORTING MECHANISM DO YOU USE? SO WE, OUR, OUR MURPH AND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT'S STATE OF ART. IT'S, I MEAN, IT COLLECTS, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH CONVEYORS. IT, IT SORTS THROUGH AIR MAGNETS, UH, PULLEYS THERE, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT. UM, I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A TOUR, KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, BUT IT'S ALL STATE OF THE ART. UM, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME FOR MY THROAT IS NOT GOOD. UM, BUT, UM, YEAH. SO IT'S, IT IS ALL STATE OF THE ART, BUT THAT'S HOW IT'S, OKAY. AND THEN, UM, ARE YOU ALL DOING A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL AND A CHEMICAL RECYCLING? AND IF SO, IS THERE A PERCENTAGE CHEMICAL, CHEMICAL OR MECHANICAL RECYCLING? WHAT TYPE OF RECYCLING ARE Y'ALL DOING? ARE Y'ALL JUST NO, NO CHEMICAL. OKAY. NO, NO. SO IT, IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, THE TRADITIONAL RECYCLING PAPER, PLASTIC, ALUMINUM, TIN, CARDBOARD, UM, ALL THE MAJOR RECYCLING MATERIALS. OKAY. AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF MACHINERY AND PEOPLE SORTING AT THAT SITE AT ALL TIME. SO IT'S JUST SORTING AT THE SITE? YES. AUTOMATED AND MANUAL SORTING. OKAY. YES. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I GOT A QUESTION ABOUT, UH, EDUCATION. WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES TO EDUCATE UNDER THE CONTRACT? UM, CURRENTLY WE, WE PROVIDE A, UM, EDUCATION FUND TO THE CITY. UM, IN 2000, THIR 24, EXCUSE ME, IT WAS 113,000. UH, THIS YEAR JUAN PAYS IT. THANK YOU. UM, THIS YEAR, IT, IT'S, WE'RE AT 65,000 THROUGH, UM, SO FAR THROUGH 25. SO YOU SAY YOU PAY INTO AN EDUCATION FUND. DO YOU ACTUALLY TRY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO RECYCLE? WE DO. WE DO. WE, WE HOST, UH, 14 THIS, THIS PAST QUARTER YEAR, UH, I'M SORRY, THIS FISCAL YEAR WE'VE DONE 14 PUBLIC, UM, TOURS AND ALSO SCHOOL, UH, TOURS THROUGH THE FACILITY. SO, AND WE WORK WITH STAFF ON SCHEDULING THOSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. YEAH. BUT THEN THE CITY HAS TO PAY YOU FOR YOU HAVING TO TRUCK CONTAMINATED LOADS TO THE, TO THE DUMP FOR THE PORTIONS OF IT. YES. YEAH. WELL THAT SOUNDS BACKWARD TO ME BECAUSE THE INCENTIVE SHOULD BE, THE MORE EFFECTIVE YOUR, UH, EDUCATION PROGRAM IS, UH, THE LESS MONEY THE CITY HAS TO, TO, OR, OR THE MORE MONEY THAT, THAT YOUR COMPANY MAKES. BUT IT'S, IT'S BACKWARD. 'CAUSE WE PAY YOU TO EDUCATE AND THEN WE PAY YOU WHEN THE EDUCATION ISN'T SUCCESSFUL. SORRY. SO THE EDUCATION WE PAY TO THE CITY AND IT'S UP TO THE CITY TO PARTNER WITH US ON WHATEVER WAY THEY WOULD LIKE US TO ROLL OUT THAT, THAT EDUCATION. WE'RE A PARTNER. UM, MOST CITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN EDUCATION OF THEIR, UM, YOU KNOW, IS, IS FCC, UH, A NATIONAL COMPANY? YOU'RE NOT YES, SIR. LOCATED JUST HERE IN HOUSTON. SO, SO YOU SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION IS YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I EFFECTIVE, RIGHT? YEAH. I MEAN, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, I USED TO MANAGE THE, THE COMPANY THAT COLLECTS FOR THE WOODLANDS, CONROE, WILLIS, UM, IN THE WOODLANDS, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY TIGHT PROGRAM, RIGHT. IT'S A HEAVY EDUCATION TAGGING OF THE CONTAINERS, UM, JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, MAILERS TO THE, TO THE RESIDENTS. AND EVEN AT TIMES, REMOVAL OF THE PEN, RIGHT. IF IT'S CONTINUALLY CONTAMINATED, IT GETS REMOVED. YEAH. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, IT'S, WE'LL, WE'LL BE GLAD TO PARTNER, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE PROCESS THE MATERIAL. SO AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, BUT IF THIS GETS RENEGOTIATED, I, I HOPE THIS EDUCATION PIECE MAKES, MAKES MORE SENSE. 'CAUSE IT'S, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE PAYING, UH, DOUBLE, IF YOU WILL, UH, FOR EDUCATION THAT, THAT DOESN'T WORK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR FLICKINGER. [01:10:01] THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT HERE. UM, IN A PREVIOUS LIFE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME MANAGING, UH, HUBS THAT DID A LOT OF RECYCLING, SO I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTAMINATION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YEP. UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OPEN CONTAINERS THAT WE PUT AT THE PARKING RIDE IN KINGWOOD AND DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE EVERY WEEKEND. AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, UH, THE MATERIAL BEING PUT INTO THOSE CONTAINERS, I REALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS A MATTER OF NOT BEING PICKED UP OR THE, THE CAN BEING OPEN AND GETTING WET, THE STUFF THAT GOES IN THERE JUST AMAZES ME. AND KIND OF TO DOVETAIL ON COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ'S COMMENTS ABOUT EDUCATION, UH, I THINK WE'VE INVITED YOU TO OUR NEXT TOWN HALL UP IN KINGWOOD TO COME OUT AND TRY AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. UM, I KNOW MYSELF AND MY STAFF HAVE GOT A TOUR SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY. PERFECT. AT YOUR FACILITY. ABSOLUTELY. UH, TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON THE CONTAMINATION. IS THAT WHAT IS LEFT OVER AFTER YOU SORT THAT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH? OR IS THAT AN ENTIRE LOAD THAT IS DEEMED CONTAMINATED AND YOU JUST PUSH THE WHOLE LOAD OFF TO THE SIDE? SO ONCE WE DO A FULL AUDIT AND WE DO 'EM QUARTERLY, BUT, BUT CORRECT, THE CONTAMINATION LEVEL IS AFTER WE'VE SORTED ALL THE MATERIAL, WHAT'S LEFT OVER THE RESIDUE SLASH TRASH IS COMING IN AT THAT 46% O OKAY. SO YOU ACTUALLY PROCESS EVERY LOAD AND AFTER THE PROCESSING WHAT IS NOT RECYCLABLE, THAT IS WHAT IS LEFT AS A CONTAMINATION, AND THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO IN TURN SEND TO THE, THE LANDFILL. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, I HOPE YOU'LL WORK CLOSELY WITH DIRECTOR HASSON. ABSOLUTELY. HE, UH, HAS BEEN VERY REFRESHING. HE'S DISCOVERED SOME BAD PRACTICES, SOME CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. I HOPE YOU ALLOW HIM TO SEEK OUT ADDITIONAL DROP SITES. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS. BUT, UH, WAS THERE NOT DISCUSSION IN 2019 AT THE TIME THE CITY ENTERED A CONTRACT THAT THE CITY WOULD ACTUALLY PROFIT, UH, FROM THE RECYCLING BUSINESS? AND IF THAT WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW MUCH HAS THE CITY MADE FROM IT? YOU KNOW, I, I, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK. I, AND AGAIN, I WASN'T PART OF THE ORGANIZATION IN 2019 WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS DRAFTED, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GET ANSWERS FOR YOU ON THAT. YEAH, NO, WE, WE'LL ALL GET TOGETHER AND LOOK AT IT AND, AND, AND TO, TO THAT POINT, UM, I THINK EVERYBODY'S AWARE THAT THE RECYCLING COMMODITY MARKET IS JUST NOT GOOD RIGHT NOW. SO IT JUST, IT, IT EBBS AND FLOWS. RIGHT. AND SO BASED ON THE CONTRACT, THE CITY WOULD BENEFIT MORE. WE WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THAT CONTRACT AND SEE IF IT COULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE WITH ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSFER STATIONS, PERHAPS EVEN CONTRACT WITH OTHER COMPANIES TO ASSIST US, BECAUSE I'M OF THE STRONG OPINION, AS I STATED EARLIER, IT'S A BAD MODEL TO HAVE ONE DROP OFF FOR THE ENTIRE CITY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MR. RAMSEY, I, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AS WELL. UM, ONE QUESTION. WHY ARE YOU HERE NOW? WHAT, WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE, TO COUNCIL TODAY? UH, WELL, UH, HONESTLY, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I RESPONDED TO A LETTER TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER, SO EVERYBODY GOT THAT. UH, THERE'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF, UM, I WOULD CONSIDER MISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REASONS AND CAUSES FOR COLLECTIONS. YOU, YOU SPOKE TO SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, WERE, THERE ARE SOME CONTAMINATED, AND I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND AS WELL, WHERE YOU AS A CITY, WE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH TRUCKS, AND SO SURE. THERE, THERE'S SOME OF THE REASON WHY IT'S BEING CONTAMINATED AS WELL. YEP. UM, BUT, BUT IN THAT, IN THAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION, NEW COUNCIL, UM, I WAS A STAFFER, SO I'M AWARE OF THE CONTRACT. YEP. BUT IT, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND SPEAK TO US AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR THREE YEARS. UH, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? AND NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO HAVE REAL TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH CONSTITUENTS WHEN RECYCLE IS THREE WEEKS LATE, TWO WEEKS LATE, AND I GET IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME MISINFORMATION, BUT I THINK JUST AS NO INFORMATION IS NOT GOOD AT ALL. UM, SO MY HOPE IS THAT AS YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR, AND OF COURSE THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE REST OF THIS HORSESHOE, UM, YOU'RE JUST AS INVOLVED IN YOUR HANDS ARE JUST AS DIRTY RIGHT. TO GET THINGS RIGHT THAT NEED TO BE DONE. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, SIR. HELLO, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND FOR CLARIFICATION, WHEN WERE YOU ALL AWARDED THAT CONTRACT FOR THAT GMER, UH, LOCATION? WE WERE RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD IN DECEMBER OF 2024. SO DECEMBER OF 24. AND TO DATE THAT, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS YOUR, YOUR INTERPRETATION OF WHERE YOU ARE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION [01:15:01] OF AWARD? AFTER MEETING WITH, UH, DIRECTOR ASSAN A FEW WEEKS AGO, UM, THEY, THEY GAVE US A PAIR OF KEYS TO AT LEAST GO VISIT THE SITE. AND SINCE THEN, THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN, IT'S WITH LEGAL'S HANDS AND WE WILL KNOW MORE VERY SHORTLY. AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT, AARON ABRO TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUCINDA DAVIS. HI, UH, MY NAME IS AARON ABRO. SORRY. MY NAME IS AARON ABRO. I'M THE, THE CO-FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON CLIMATE JUSTICE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER. WE DO PROJECTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. UH, I'VE, I WAS ALSO OUT IN THE NORTHEAST AFTER THE DIRE SHOW, HELPING HAND OUT BATTERIES, UH, SEEING PEOPLE'S HOMES WHO HAD BEEN DEVASTATED BY, BY TREES, UH, UH, THE ISSUES THAT WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF, OF A HOUSING CRISIS. WE HAVE SOARING HOME COSTS AND, AND STAGNATING WAGES. UM, AND SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT THESE FUNDS GO TOWARDS THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, UH, THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO, UM, UH, UH, NEED TO REBUILD THEIR HOMES, NOT TOWARDS POLICE OR, OR, OR FIRE INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, THE PEOPLE I SAW WEREN'T TRYING TO GO TO THE POLICE STATION OR THE FIRE STATION. UM, YEAH, I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND TAKING THE CLIMATE CRISIS SERIOUSLY. UM, WHICH IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, UM, THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP HERE IS DOING, UM, METHANE, UH, GAS GENERATORS EMIT THE VERY THINGS THAT MAKE OUR DISASTERS WORSE. HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? UH, WE SHOULD BE, UH, CONSIDERING, UM, SOLAR MICROGRIDS AND, AND OTHER FORMS OF, OF CLEAN ENERGY THAT, THAT ARE NOT GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TYPES OF DISASTERS THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OFTEN, UH, IN CENTRAL TEXAS ON OUR TVS, UH, IN OUR BACKYARDS. UM, WE LIVE IN A, A GROWING WORLD OF, OF REFUGEES AND A SHRINKING WORLD OF, UH, OF SAFE PLACES. SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT THESE FUNDS, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED GOING GO TO GO TO HOUSING. THANK YOU. NEXT LUCINDA DAVIS RAIN EMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH ANTE. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM, I'M COMING ON BEHALF OF THE ACRES HOMES COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 58, WHERE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS, UH, LOOKING TO APPLY FOR A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, UM, UH, GRANT, UH, TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO CREATE SAFER ROUTES TO COMMUNITIES LIKE ACRES HOMES. UM, WHAT I'M PASSING OUT TO YOU ALL IS ACTUALLY A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN THAT WAS ACTUALLY, UH, DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, BE WELL COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BE WELL ACRES HOMES, AND WITH, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. AND IN THAT IT ACTUALLY COVERS A PORTION OF THE AREA THAT THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL APPLICATION WOULD ACTUALLY COVER, UH, CARVER ROAD, UM, FROM WEST LITTLE NEW YORK ALL THE WAY TO, UH, VICTORY ROAD IN BETWEEN DREW ACADEMY AND CARVER HIGH SCHOOL. UM, I'VE ALSO TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF INCLUDING SOME LANGUAGE FROM, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 58 AND SAYING HOW IT WOULD GREATLY, UH, UH, AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY. AND THEN LASTLY, I INCLUDED A PAGE THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDES OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IDENTIFIED, SO THAT WAY IT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD ON THIS INITIATIVE. THIS CONVERSATION WAS ACTUALLY HELD WITHIN THE LAST, UH, FOUR YEARS, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BE WELL, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ONE MORE MON ONE MORE MOMENT. UH, WITH BE WELL COMPLETE, UH, BE WELL ACRES HOMES, UH, STEERING COMMITTEE, MD ANDERSON, UT TEXAS. UM, AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WITH THREE SEPARATE STUDIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY IN ACRES HOMES. AND SO, SINCE THERE'S ALREADY PRECEDENT FOR THIS CONVERSATION, I'M REALLY EAGER TO HEAR IF THERE'S ANY APPETITE OR DESIRE TO DO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S FUNDING MOVING FORWARD FOR THIS, SO THAT WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE THE BALL FORWARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? MM-HMM . THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU RAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY. YES, MA'AM. UM, YOU A TRUE LEADER, UM, IN THE ACRES HOMES AND DISTRICT B, UM, COMMUNITIES. AND SO JUST WANTED TO, UM, I WANT TO GIVE HER MORE TIME TO, TO DISCUSS YES. AND JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO, UM, TO SUPPORT YOU. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR LIFTING IT UP. YES, MA'AM. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR [01:20:01] US TO GET SIDEWALKS AND JUST REALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAFE, THAT AROUND THE SCHOOL SO THAT THE KIDS CAN GET TO SCHOOL. SCHOOL. YES, MA'AM. UM, SAFELY. SO, UM, GO AHEAD. YOU CAN HAVE SOME MORE OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. ON, UH, THE BACK OF THE PAGE, THERE'S ACTUALLY A DIAGRAM, UM, THAT WAS DONE AS A STUDY THAT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE VIRTUALLY NO SIDEWALK ROCKS AROUND HOUSTON ACADEMY, WHICH IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM CARVER HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT ACTUALLY EXTENDS TO THE SOUTHERNMOST PART OF CARVER ROAD ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, UH, VICTORY, WHERE THERE'S ALSO NO SIDEWALKS. AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A PARK IN THAT COMMUNITY, UH, WINDSOR SLASH CARVER PARK THAT ACTUALLY HAS NO SIDEWALKS AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH IT RECEIVED A OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF RENOVATIONS. SO IT'S ALWAYS BEING UTILIZED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO SIDEWALKS OR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT SPACE. AND TO THAT POINT, THE FUNDING LIST IS LISTING THINGS FROM THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THERE'S BIKE TEXAS, BIKE HOUSTON, UM, I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'S EVEN CONVERSATIONS TO LOOK INTO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LISC OR UNITED WAY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL FUNDING. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M REALLY EAGER TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY TYPE APPETITE TO START TALKING ABOUT AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALREADY TAKEN UP THE TIME TO DO A STUDY ON THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, RAIN. YOU'RE SO AMAZING IN ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. JUST A QUICK QUESTION. YES, MA'AM. IS, UM, THIS IS PRECINCT ONE. YES. ANY COLLABORATIONS WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS? SO, FOR THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE, MAJORITY OF THE, UH, COLLABORATION WAS JUST DEMONSTRATION. UM, IF YOU LOOK UP THIS ENTIRE, UH, UH, REPORT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A STUDY DONE, UH, THROUGH ALL THREE OF THE SCHOOLS. AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET MORE CONSENSUS FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S BIKE, ONE PROGRAM ACTUALLY DID A BIKE RODEO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER ACRES HOMES CHAMPION ALONZO MIMS AND HIS KING'S BIKEWAY GROUP TO SHOW THE, UM, EFFICACY AND THE DESIRABILITY OF ACTUALLY CREATING BIKE LANES IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT IN TERMS OF FUNDING, IN TERMS OF FUNDING, NOTHING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. I DID TRY TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE AND SEE IF ANY MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED ON THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT I'M ASSUMING, UH, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE, UM, WAYS THEY CHOSE TO, UM, IDENTIFY A PATH FORWARD WAS MENTIONING SOME TYPE OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOW WHAT, WHETHER THAT MEANS THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR IT, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE. OKAY. I THINK, 'CAUSE I THINK THIS STILL FALLS INTO SIDEWALKS. YES, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY. AT THE END OF DAY, IT'S STILL, I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S SURROUNDED BY SCHOOLS, BUT IT STILL FALLS INTO SIDEWALK MM-HMM . SO I THINK DEFINITELY, I MEAN, I WOULD, THAT, THAT'S, I MEAN, A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONS ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE. MM-HMM . SO I WOULD CIRCLE BACK ON THAT. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND CERTAINLY BRING THIS TO ATTENTION. I THINK MY QUESTION WAS, WAS GOING TO BE THE SAME, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROCESS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. AND MY QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU PRESENTED THAT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT? DID YOU, YOU KNOW, AT ANY TIME A PROPOSAL, DID YOU PRESENT ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF THAT? WELL, TO BE TRANSPARENT, A LOT OF MY FOCUS, UH, ON THE COUNTY LEVEL HAS BEEN AROUND THEIR RECENT BUDGET HEARINGS AND CONVERSATIONS. SO I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO PRESENT THAT. AND I ALSO WANT TO, UH, HE, HE LEFT, BUT, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, TEAM MEMBERS FROM, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S OFFICE, MS. LEAH WOLF HALL ACTUALLY GAVE US THIS INFORMATION A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. SO AS, AS QUICKLY AS I CAN WORK, UNFORTUNATELY I COULDN'T GET TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN ENOUGH TIME TO TALK IT OVER BEFORE I CAME HERE. YEAH. IT WAS JUST, I, I THINK I GOT THIS INFORMATION LAST FRIDAY. UM, AND THEN I TRIED MY BEST TO KIND OF CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THE, UH, REPORTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE IN PURSUIT OF SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, TO, UH, PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCOURSE OF HOW WE CAN BRING THIS TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THIS MORE VIABLE MOVING FORWARD. YEAH. OKAY. WELL, I'M SURE THAT'D BE A GOOD PLAN GOING FORWARD, BUT I JUST WAS CURIOUS TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE DONE THAT. OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO, THIS IS BETWEEN FRIDAY AND TUESDAY, , YOU CAN'T REALLY DO MUCH. COUNT YOUR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, RAIN, MY OFFICE WILL BE HAPPY TO FACILITATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS 'CAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND SO JUST, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT. YES, MA'AM. AND WE'LL HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. NICK JOSEPH BRIMONT TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALLANAN AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS JOSEPH BRIMONT, CEO OF TRI ARC. UH, WE ARE HOUSTON BASED APARTMENT OWNER OPERATOR HERE IN TOWN, ABOUT 1500 UNITS LOCALLY. I'M HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ALLOCATING THE [01:25:01] A HUNDRED MILLION IN DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS, NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUAL HOMES, BUT ALSO FOR APARTMENT COMMUNITIES AS WELL. ANYONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH INSURANCE COMPANY KNOWS THEY ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF PAYING OUT MONEY. WHEN TWO MAJOR STORMS HIT JUST 30 DAYS APART, IT CREATED THE PERFECT STORM FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES TO MUDDY THE WATERS, ARGUE OVER WHICH STORM CAUSED WHICH DAMAGE, USING THAT CONFUSION AS A REASON NOT TO PAY THAT LEFT. MANY OF US STUCK, ESPECIALLY, UH, THE SMALLER OPERATORS WHO DON'T HAVE THE POCKETS OR LEGAL TEAMS TO FIGHT IT. THE PROPERTY IS MOST AFFECTED WHERE THE OLDER, MORE AFFORDABLE APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, OFTEN OWNED BY EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO'VE PULLED THEIR MONEY TOGETHER TO, TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTIES. IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, WE TOOK A DIRECT HIT AND LOST 60 UNITS ON OUR 19 70TH ENTITY PROPERTY. AFTER THE STORM, OUR INVESTORS CONTRIBUTED MILLION MILLIONS FROM THEIR OWN POCKET TO CLEAN IT UP, REPAIR THE ROOFS, AND BRING 20 UNITS BACK ONLINE. WHILE OUR INSURANCE DENIED BOTH OF OUR CLAIMS. I URGE YOU, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSAL, NOT JUST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS, BUT ALSO FOR THE AFFORDABLE APARTMENT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WE SERVE AND THE AFFORDABILITY WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, RANDALL CALLANAN, MILDRED WHITFIELD TO BE FOLLOWED BY LILIANA RAMBO. GOOD AFTERNOON, IT'S HONOR TO MEET YOU, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE ON THE, THE, IN THEIR SEATS TODAY. I, UH, HAD A CONCERN ABOUT SPEED LIMIT SIGNS, SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ON 60,000 BLOCK OF BELL GUARD. UH, MY WONDERFUL COUNCIL, UH, LADY HAS, UH, APPROVED THAT AND I WANT TO THANK HER. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE NOW, UH, TO GET 'EM PUT OUT. UH, AND ALSO THE JUNK YARD THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED IN OUR COMMUNITY ON BELFORT. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF MY COMMUNITY PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT. AND WHILE I WAS HERE TO THANK SHABAZZ, BECAUSE I, I REALLY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT OF THAT, THE TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING DOWN, UH, BELL GUARD, I MEAN, DALTON, UH, A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR OF SPEED. AND SO I JUST WANTED A COUPLE OF SIGNS PUT THERE TO AT LEAST GET THEIR ATTENTION. I DON'T, IT MAY NOT STOP 'EM FROM SPEEDING, BUT IT CAN GET THEIR ATTENTION. AND SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT ALL I HAVE TODAY, AND I COULD GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT JUNKYARD THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED ON BELFORT 60 53 BELFORT. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. HAVE COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MILDRED. YEAH. JY FOR LIFE. UM, CERTAINLY. I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE. UH, WE WILL LOOK INTO THOSE SPEED CUSHIONS. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SPEED CUSHIONS OR SIGNS? SPEED LIMIT SIGNS 30, I THINK IS THE MILE PER HOUR THAT'S THERE, BUT IT'S NO SIGNS DOWN DALTON BETWEEN, UH, MLK AND MACKAY. OKAY. UM, INGRAM IS IN HERE. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK WITH HER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE LOCATION. OKAY. UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE ALREADY DONE A TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL PUT THEM THERE AND WHERE THEY WILL OR WHERE THEY WILL PUT THEM. BUT WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE PEOPLE COMING DOWN BECAUSE YOU ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WE THANK YOU. AND WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS ABOUT THE, UH, SALVAGE YARD, SO WE WILL ADDRESS THAT. OKAY. S WHEN THEY COME AS WELL. I SEE A JUNKYARD. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT LILIANA RAMBO TO BE FOLLOWED BY ABRAHAM LEVITZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. MAYOR EM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HELENA RAMBO, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING HERE TODAY AS, UH, SERVING AS THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR SIR JOBS. AND I'M JOINED TODAY BY MEMBERS OF OUR SENIOR TEAM, MS. ALMAS PER SILVA, AS WELL AS MS. NIKIA ROBINSON, BUT ALSO BY OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD. I HAVE MR. BRIAN NEELY, MR. DANIEL SCIENCE, AND MARK MCCULLOCH. FOR SIX DECADES, SIR JOBS HAS BEEN A TRUSTED PARTNER IN HOUSTON'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY EFFORTS. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1965, AND SIR WAS BORN FROM A VISION TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, GAIN MICRO SKILLS, AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. TODAY WE SERVE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS HOUSTON THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINED PLACE AND SUPPORT MODEL. AND THIS INCLUDES CAREER TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR OUTCOMES. IN 2024, OVER 51 HOUSTONIANS ENGAGED WITH THIRD JOBS, OVER 600 OF THEM SECURE JOBS. [01:30:01] AND BEFORE ENGAGING WITH THIRD JOBS, THE AVERAGE WAGE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND USE MY TIME. THANK YOU. UM, THE AVERAGE WAGE WAS 9 53 PER HOUR. AFTER THEY GOT THE TRAINING, THEIR AVERAGE WAGE INCREASED TO 1669. WEIGHT BE ABOVE THE MINIMUM WAGE. 55% OF OUR GRADUATES FROM OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS FOUND EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 90 DAYS, OVER 21 MILLION IN WAGES WERE GENERATED BY PROGRAM GRADUATES IN 2024. THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT WE DO AS OUR JOBS. OUR WORK IS ABOUT MORE THAN JOBS. IT'S ABOUT TRANSFORMATION. WE HAVE HELPED YOUNG ADULTS LAUNCH THEIR FIRST CAREERS, SECOND CHANCE MEMBERS REINTEGRATE SUCCESSFULLY, AND PARENTS THRIVE. INSTEAD OF SURVIVING ON OCTOBER 4TH, WE WILL HOST OUR 60TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GALA, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'LL BE HONORED TO HAVE YOU JOIN US. THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING TODAY AND FOR THE CONTINUED LEADERSHIP. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, LILIANA, I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, STEERING, STEERING THIS ORGANIZATION, UH, IN, IN THE CONTINUOUS, UH, POSITIVE PROJECTILE. RIGHT. UM, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR JOBS. IT'S IN THE EAST END, BUT IT ACTUALLY SERVICES ENTIRE CITY IN QUITE FRANKLY, PARTS OF THE COUNTY AS WELL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OCTOBER 4TH, UH, EVENT. AND I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT AS YOU EXTENDED THAT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT OTHER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT JOHN BAN, ROBERT CAMPBELL, DEMETRIA LEWIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY LATOYA SHAW. GREETINGS TO ALL. MY NAME IS DEMETRIA LEWIS. I RESIDE AT 61 0 2 RIDGEWAY HOUSTON, TEXAS. CURRENTLY, THERE'S A JUNKYARD THAT IS BEING BUILT DIRECTLY BEHIND MY HOME AT 60 53 BELFORT. THIS JUNKYARD HAS CAUSED AN INFESTATION OF RODENTS. THE DIGGING OF THE FENCE TO DEVELOP THE JUNKYARD HAS DISTURBED THEIR AREA. THIS IS AN EYESORE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR COMMUNITY. PER THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AUDIENCE, JUNKYARD AUDIENCE REQUIRES THAT THE LOCATION OF AUTO WRECKING, SALVAGE YARDS AND LOTS USED FOR OPEN STORAGE BY JUNK DEALERS, SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS AND SECONDHAND DEALERS ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN 300 FEET OF A SCHOOL, CHURCH, OR RESIDENCE. THIS REFERENCE IS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, 2025, AND THIS JUNKYARD IS DIRECTLY IN MY BACKYARD. I CAN JUST TAKE MY HAND AND TOUCH THE FENCE. COUNCIL. THANK YOU COUNCILOR EVAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. DID STEVEN VISIT YOUR HOME THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE HE DID GO OUT? YES. BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER NEIGHBOR WHO, UH, SAID THAT THEY LIVED DIRECTLY BEHIND IT. WAS IT YOUR HOME? YES, IT'S MY HOME. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. I MEAN, AND I HAVE TO HONESTLY SAY I WOULDN'T WANT THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. ABSOLUTELY. SO I DON'T EXPECT ANYBODY ELSE TO JUST TOLERATE SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT DONE APPROPRIATELY. YES. AND I'M TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT, AT THIS POINT, I THINK HAVE THE PERMIT FOR THE FENCE. THEY'VE BEEN RED TAGGED, THEY'VE MOVED IT, ALL OF THAT. YES. THEY'RE BEING TAGGED AND IT'S BEING REMOVED EVERY TIME THEY'RE TAGGED, IT'S REMOVED. BUT, YOU KNOW, I I I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, EVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE BUILDING, THEY GET RED TAGGED AND THEY CONTINUE TO BILL. I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I REALLY DO. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ASK THEM TO PAY CITATIONS OR WHATEVER. THAT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN VIOLATION AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE IN VIOLATION, THEN THEY MUST REMOVE THOSE STRUCTURES. AND SO I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ORDINANCE ABOUT HOW CLOSE YES, IT IS. EXTREMELY CLOSE IT. UH, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT I, I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY NEED TO HAVE THINGS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT REFLECT THEIR OWN CHARACTER AND THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I DON'T SEE THAT THAT WOULD BE DOING THAT. AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH YOU, WE ARE WORKING WITH PERMITTING, UM, ON, ON THAT ISSUE AS WELL AS THESE HOUSES THAT ARE BEING BUILT. SO, AM I ABLE TO, THAT ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE? JUST ADD ON TWO OTHER ISSUES. IT IS. OF, OF CONCERN, OF SAFETY. AT THIS POINT. YOU'RE HAVING TO PULL ALL THE WAY OUT ON THE STREET TO [01:35:01] BE ABLE TO SEE INCOMING CARS. SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A EXTREMELY BAD ACCIDENT THERE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIVES ON BELFORT AS WELL AS, UH, WAYSIDE TOO. THE SAFETY OF THE SAFETY IS OF MAJOR CONCERN. YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING NOW. UM, I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE TOO. I KNOW ABOUT THE GRASS. THAT'S, THE GRASS IS PROBABLY ABOUT TO MY WAIST. AND SO THERE WILL BE ANOTHER INSPECTION ABOUT, UH, BY DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE 15TH. SO WE ARE STAYING ON TOP OF IT AS BEST WE CAN, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER STRUCTURE IS THERE IS WITHIN THE, THE GUIDELINES OF PERMITTING AND CERTAINLY THE GUIDELINES OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO MEMBER DAVIS. MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MS. LEWIS, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. WE WERE OUT THERE AT YOUR FACILITY, AT YOUR RESIDENCE ON LAST WEEK. THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH. THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN AS FAR AS IT HAS BEEN. THAT FACILITY THAT LAND TO ALL OF IT, THAT TRASH. IT WAS, IT WAS A HORRIBLE SITUATION. WHAT WE DID, THE OFFICE WAS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE SPOKE WITH THE PERSON WHO'S LEASING THE PROPERTY. THEY'RE NOT EVEN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN THE OWNERS. THEY'RE LEASING IT. THAT COMPANY LEASING IT FROM ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO PURCHASED IT FROM THE MIDTOWN METRO GROUP. OKAY. SO IT'S A CHAIN. THE ACTION, WHAT'S GOING ON, THE, THE RODENTS AND THINGS THAT'S COMING FROM OUT OF THAT FACILITY. MAYOR COUNCIL IS JUST HORRIBLE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE. THE FENCING THAT THEY PUT UP THERE IS LIKE A NINE FOOT METAL FENCE ALL AROUND THAT PROPERTY. THE PERSONS ARE GOING TO, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVENTUALLY, THE INTENT WAS TO MAKE IT LIKE A SCRAP JUNKYARD. OKAY. SO, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE, WE CONTACTED ALL OF THEM. THE PERSONS LEASING IT. HE WASN'T AWARE OF A CIVIC ASSOCIATION. HE WASN'T AWARE OF THE DEED RESTRICTION. SO THE PROBLEM SHOULD NEVER GOT THERE. HE WAS RED TAGGED AND THEY MOVED THE TAG OFF. THEY LITERALLY TOOK THE TAG OFF. I SPOKE TO THE INSPECTOR, AND THE INSPECTOR LET ME KNOW THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PLAN TO DO ANOTHER, UH, PERMIT IN ORDER TO GET THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. THE PLAN OF IT IS, IS TO BRING IN CONTAINERS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT TALKED WITH THE COMMUNITY AT ALL. NOW, AFTER COMING OUT TO THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION ON LAST WEEK, HEARING ALL OF THE CONSTITUENTS, WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED, HE'S AGREED WITH ME TO DO, IS TO TALK, HAVE A MEETING WITH ALL OF YOU. MM-HMM . TO INCLUDE HIMSELF. BECAUSE I SAID TO HIM, OFTENTIMES THOSE PEOPLE COME IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY NEVER TOUCH WITH THE RESIDENTS. THEY DON'T KNOW, UH, WHO THEY ARE. SO I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WILL, UH, FOLLOW UP AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE'VE TAKEN INITIATIVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY AN EYESORE AND IT SHOULD NOT COME. YES. YES, IT IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THAT. ABSOLUTELY. UH, CERTAINLY IT, IT IS GONNA TAKE THAT. AGAIN, I DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO WANNA LIVE AROUND ANYTHING I WOULDN'T WANNA LIVE AROUND. SO THANK YOU. AND TO ALL OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, LATOYA SHAW. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. I'M HERE TODAY AS WELL TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNPERMITTED CONSTRUCTION AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING ANY COMMERCIAL PLANS. SITE PLANS FOR THIS 6 0 5 3 BELFORT STREET IN, UH, ZIP CODE 7 7 0 3 3. AS COUNCILMAN DAVIS HIGHLIGHTED, MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WAS AT THE CENTER OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE, UM, BY MEANS OF ROUND, UH, ROUND TRIP TRANSACTIONS WHERE WE WOULD HEAP THE LAND WAS PURCHASED AND THEN SOLD TO, TO COMPANIES THAT ARE CONNECTED THROUGH COMMON FAMILY OWNERSHIP. THAT'S THE FIRST ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THAT LAND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, DEVELOPED FOR, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. RECENTLY, MANY RESIDENTS HAVE CONTACTED 3 1 1 TO EXPRESS OUR OPPOSITION TO THE, TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A JUNKYARD OR CONTAINER STORAGE AT THIS SITE, THE FENCING AROUND THE PROPERTY IS UNSIGHTLY IN, IN POOR CONDITION AND ENCROACHES ON SIDEWALKS WHERE TWO METRO BUS STOPS ARE LOCATED. IT ALSO EXCEEDS THE EIGHT FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT, WHICH REQUIRES A PERMIT. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE PERMITS AT THE SITE, OR PUBLIC NOTICES OR VARIANCE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. THERE IS NO CLEAR PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITE'S FINAL PLANS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND SUCH USES WOULD DRASTICALLY DIFFER FROM THE PROMISED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, TRAVIS MCGEE. MCGEE. TRAVIS MCGEE. [01:40:03] GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH PARK SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM THE PRESIDENT, AND I BELIEVE ANYTHING STARTS OFF WRONG. ENDS UP WRONG. THEY SHOULD NEVER STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT THE PERMIT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE SAME DAY THAT THEY RECEIVED THE FIRST CITATION. IT'S THE SAME DAY THAT THEY WENT DOWN THERE AND, AND, UH, GOT THE PERMITS. THE PERMITS ON THE 17TH. THEY DIDN'T GET THE PERMITS UNTIL THE 22ND. THAT'S WHEN THEY STARTED THAT. SO, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYTHING THEY, THE LOOPHOLE IS THE CONTAINER STORAGE YARD. UH, THE STATE, THE CITY AS WELL AS THE COUNTY ALSO ALL HAVE THINGS RELATED TO JUNK YARDS. BUT THERE'S ZERO IN THERE ABOUT THE STORAGE, UH, YARDS. THE EASY FIX FOR THIS IS TO MEAN WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE AND ADD THE CONTAINER, UH, STORAGE YARDS TO THAT. THEY COULD BUILD THEM UP AS HIGH AS THE HOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS AREA IS ALSO IN THE FLOOD PLAIN. APRIL THE 21ST OF THIS YEAR, FROM RE ROAD TO SIX 10 FROM JAILING TO MACALL ROAD WAS UNDERWATER. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN THE, THIS STRUCTURE, UH, RESTRICTS THE WATER FROM GETTING TO THE DRAINAGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT? UH, IT IS CLOSE TO MACALL ROAD. IT HAS TWO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. IT'S A TRAFFIC ISSUE ALSO. UH, THE EXHAUST FROM THE TRUCKS THAT ARE GONNA BE WAITING FOR THESE THINGS ARE GONNA BE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENTS BEHIND THE BUILDINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S AN EASY FIX. AND THE CITY EASEMENT ALSO SITS ON THEIR PROPERTY. SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO USE MNY DOMAIN TO STOP THIS, Y'ALL CAN DO THAT. IF Y'ALL WANTED TO STOP IT. MAYOR . MAYOR PROAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTION IS TO CITY LEGAL. IF WE HAVE ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS ABOUT JUNKYARDS, IF, UH, PROPERTY OWNER USES A CONTAINER TO CONTAIN THE JUNK, THAT STILL CONSTITUTES A JUNKYARD. I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DEFINITION, UH, OF JUNKYARD AND GET BACK TO YOU. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL DEFINITION, BUT, SO I, I, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT, GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE IF, IF HAVE ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS THAT ALREADY COVERS THIS, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, THE PERMITTING ISSUE. IF WE NEED TO CHANGE IT TO INCLUDE A CONTAINER, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ASAP SO WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT. UNDERSTOOD. WE'LL LOOK AND GET TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, TRAVIS. UM, I'M IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WE CERTAINLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND IF WE NEED TO DO AN AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING, UM, TO COVER THAT, THEN THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USING LOOPHOLES, AS HE SAID, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, TO DO STRUCTURES THAT ARE CERTAINLY NOT IN LINE WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. AND SO, THANK YOU FOR COMING. DID YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENT? I CAN GIVE YOU SOME TIME. NO, I, I CAN USE SOME, SOME TIME. GO RIGHT HERE. UH, THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PERSON HAS PLENTY OF MONEY. SO WHATEVER HE, LIKE, IF IT'S A EIGHT FOOT FENCE, HE'S GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND PAY THAT MONEY TO GET THE, UH, THE, UH, NINE FOOT FENCE. SO HE'S CIRCUMVENTING WITH HIS MONEY AS WELL AS THE PERMITTING PROCESS. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN THE RESIDENTS TRY TO REP REPAIR THEIR HOUSE, EVEN AFTER THE STORM, THEY GOTTA GO THROUGH HELL WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT THEY CAN COME IN AND PUT THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT OR NEED IN OUR AREA WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE AT ALL. SO IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAT THAT CAN BE DONE IF WE, IF WE GET IT DONE. HAVE, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY? HAS, HAS, HAS THE COMMUNITY MET WITH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY? NO. NO, WE HAVEN'T. WHAT I, WHAT I'VE FOUND OUT THUS FAR, HE HAS LIKE 17 PROPERTIES AND 16 OF THEM IS IN THE THIRD WARD AREA. AND MULTIPLE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN SOLD TO THE MIDTOWN TOURISTS. NOW, EACH TIME I'VE CAME TO COUNCIL, PEOPLE TELL US THAT THE TOURIST DOLLARS HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THE DOLLARS CAN LEAD THOSE BOUNDARIES IS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO IT'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT ALSO, BECAUSE THEY SAID ON THIS, WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE TUR WAS ACTUALLY SET UP. BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YEAH. I THINK THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION IN DISTRICT A WHEN SOMEBODY BROUGHT IN SOME WAREHOUSES AND IT WAS RIGHT ON THE BACK OF PEOPLE'S HOMES MM-HMM . UM, AND IT WAS A DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE, UH, PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS RIGHT. IN THE CITY. THAT'S WHY I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE. RIGHT. UM, BECAUSE TEXAS IS SUCH A STRONG PROPERTY RIGHTS STATE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ORDINANCES ARE BEING ENFORCED. RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO PUT, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND SHABAZZ WILL, WILL WORK ON THAT. BUT THE, THE BIG THING IS WE GOTTA DETERMINE WHAT THE JUNKYARD, UM, RIGHT DEFINITION RIGHT, ACTUALLY IS. SO WE CAN ENFORCE IT. AND I WOULD, UM, ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS, DON'T GIVE UP ON THIS. DON'T, DON'T [01:45:01] STOP FIGHTING, UM, THIS, AND TO TRY TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THE OWNER. BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE WAREHOUSES RIGHT BEHIND, UH, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE SET UP A MEETING WITH THE OWNER AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THE OWNER COULD HEAR FIRSTHAND FROM THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS. AND WE DID GET SOME COOPERATION, RIGHT. BECAUSE THE, THE, THE PROBLEM IS TEXAS IS SUCH A STRONG PROPERTY RIGHTS STATE, AND IF THEY OWN THE PROPERTY, IF THEY'RE NOT VIOLATING DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND YOU GOTTA MAKE SURE ALSO THAT, UM, THIS RAW LAND IS PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY'S DEED RESTRICTIONS. 'CAUSE WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY WAS NOT, UM, DEVELOPED IN THE OUTLINE OF THE COMMUNITY MM-HMM . THOSE D RESTRICTIONS DIDN'T, UM, APPLY TO THAT PROPERTY. RIGHT. SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR ORDINANCE IN PLACE WITH THE JUNKYARD DEFINITION AND TRY TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THE OWNER AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOMEBODY THERE TO KIND OF DEVELOP SOME COOPERATION. SO IF YOU HAVE TO DWELL TOGETHER, YOU CAN DWELL TOGETHER. BUT MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO SURELY, UM, GET THE ORDINANCE IN IN PLACE. RIGHT. SO WE CAN HAVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS. RIGHT. WELL, THAT, THAT IS MOST DEFINITELY THE LOOPHOLE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS I SAID, HIS WAY AROUND, UH, PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WAS NOT GETTING THE PERMIT. THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE THE, THE VARIOUS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE REGISTERED TO GET ANY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT TO COME IN OUR AREA. RIGHT. SO HE'S DOING IT THEN WHEN IT, FROM LESS THAN 24 HOURS, IT WENT FROM SAVAGE YARD TO JUNKYARD TO AUTO STORAGE. YEAH. SO WHEN THE PEOPLE STARTED COMPLAINING, HE JUST STARTED USING THOSE LOOPHOLES. RIGHT. AND WE JUST, WE REALLY, SINCE HOUSTON DON'T NEED NO ZONING, WE REALLY NEED ENFORCEMENT. RIGHT. ORDINANCES THAT REALLY PROTECT US. RIGHT. NOT THE DEVELOPERS, NOT THE BUSINESSES, BUT THAT PROTECT US. IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT WE DEALING WITH CHAPTER 42, THAT'S PRICE AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEN WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE. RIGHT. BUT NO, I I, I HEAR YOU. AND I THINK THAT, UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WILL WORK WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE'VE GOTTA GET OUR ORDINANCE CORRECT. SO WE CAN HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. UM, AND PUT PRESSURE ON, ON THAT OWNER TO MEET WITH YOU. SO, I MEAN, IF THEY, IF THEY WANT TO, IF THEY CAN PUT UP A BETTER FENCE. 'CAUSE I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY TOLD US ABOUT THE FENCE WAS THE CITY DOES NOT REGULATE UGLY. AND WE HATED THAT. THOSE FENCES THAT THOSE BUSINESSES ARE PUTTING UP, THEY'RE HORRIBLE. THE, THESE ARE FENCES THAT DON'T LOOK GOOD AROUND PEOPLE'S HOMES. RIGHT. UM, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD, WELL, THE CITY DOESN'T REGULATE UGLY. RIGHT. AND SO WE'VE GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB OF CATCHING THIS ON THE FRONT END AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE MECHANISMS TO ENFORCE THIS. RIGHT. AND THAT RESIDENTS CAN, UM, HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE BUSINESS OWNERS TO TRY TO COME TO SOME BETTER RESOLUTION IF WE HAVE TO DWELL TOGETHER IN THAT SPACE. RIGHT. BUT THIS PARTICULAR FENCE IS THE METAL PANEL FENCE. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF FENCE YOU TALKING ABOUT. IT, IT DOES HAVE TO BE LEVEL BY, BY CITY ARTS. NO, IT HAS TO BE A CERTAIN HEIGHT. BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS. RIGHT. I MEAN, THE, THE, THEY LOOK HORRIBLE. YES. IT, IT SUPPOSED TO BE LEVEL AT THE TOP ALL THE WAY DOWN AND PAINTED ONE PARTICULAR COLOR. AND IT'S NOT EVEN WHEN THE, WHEN IKE JUNIOR COME THROUGH HERE, THOSE PANELS ARE GOING TO BE EVERYWHERE. RIGHT. IT'S FALLING APART NOW. YEAH. AND WE ALSO, WELL, WE'LL KEEP WORKING WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS TO GET SOME ENFORCEMENT OR, UH, ORDINANCES THAT WE CAN REALLY ENFORCE. AND ONE MORE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE CITY ORDINANCES TO THE INSPECTORS. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TURNOVER, WHATNOT. BUT STILL, WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY SUPPOSED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN A CITATION FOR. RIGHT. THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. OKAY. WE'LL DEFINITELY TALK TO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT THAT. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM, I, I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE ISSUE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN DISTRICT A, BECAUSE I REMEMBER THAT ISSUE. I WAS WITH THE FORT BEND PASTOR IN HOUSTON, COMBINED GROUP WHEN WE HAD THAT PROBLEM. WHEN YOUR COMMUNITY WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT, I REMEMBER IT VERY VIVIDLY AND HOW THAT WAS DONE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL. OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. SHE'S MINE. AND THAT'S, UH, COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE WORK TOGETHER. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I TRY TO EMPHASIZE. I LET ALL OF OUR DISTRICT PEOPLE KNOW AS AT LARGE, I'M GONNA TRY TO SUPPORT THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE DO, IS SUPPORT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE EFFORT. THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO. THAT'S THE WHOLE OBJECTIVE OF THE TOWN HALLS. WE DID. [01:50:01] NOW THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY LEASED IT TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. I'VE TALKED TO BOTH OF THEM TODAY. MM-HMM . FOR TWO HOURS. I SPOKE TO THEM. AND THE, THE ISSUE IS THEY NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. THAT MEETING, IT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN. I WILL LET COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP BARS KNOW, HER STAFF KNOW. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. AND SO THAT THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN IN ANY DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY COME IN, IT'S LIKE OVERNIGHT AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY THERE. AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THIS BIG JUNK. WE TOOK PICTURES LAST FRIDAY, FRED AND I, WE, UH, THURSDAY WE WENT OUT THERE. IT'S DIFFERENT COLORS ON THE FENCE THAT ONE OF THE MS. LEWIS'S HUSBAND SAW A RAT RUN OUT OF THERE BIGGER THAN A CAT. TH TH THI THIS, THIS CANNOT, I MEAN, I WAS SITTING THERE LIKE, MAYOR, I SAID, WHAT? SHE SAID IT SCARED HER HUSBAND, SO YOU KNOW WHAT IT DID TO HER. SO WE, WE, WE HAVE TO DO THIS. THANK YOU COMING DOWN, BROTHER. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. BRINGING IT TO THE TENSION OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. STEVEN JAMES WAS THERE TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. SO WE ON IT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. AND CAN WE KEEP IN MIND JUST AS THE LAST RESULT THAT THE, UH, THE CITY EASEMENT DOES SET ON THIS PARTICULAR PERSON'S PROPERTY? SO THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF WE HAVE TO USE EMINENT DOMAIN OR WHATNOT, LET'S DO IT. BECAUSE MACAU HAS ALL THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY AND HE'S MOVING FROM ONE PROPERTY. THEY ALWAYS BRING ALL THE BAD STUFF TO OUR AREA. STUFF THAT WE DON'T NEED. SO AS, KEEP IN MIND, HE DIDN'T START OFF RIGHT. IT'S NOT GOING TO END. RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION. YOU SAID THAT THERE ARE 16 OTHER LOTS THAT THIS COMPANY OWNS. YES. ARE THEY USING THEM IN THE SAME MANNER? THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING ON THESE LOTS. NO, I, I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY HE'S NOT BUILDING, PUTTING THE SAME TYPE OF THINGS IN THIRD WARD. 'CAUSE THESE LOTS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND, AND THEN IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS LESS THAN 300 FEET BETWEEN THAT PROPERTY, THAT, THAT LINE, THAT FENCE AND THE, UH, ADJACENT OWNER. AND SO THAT'S A VIOLATION. BUT OF COURSE IF HE, IF HE HAS PLENTY MONEY, LIKE YOU SAID, HE CAN JUST MOVE HIS FENCE A LITTLE. RIGHT. SO AND SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO ACTUALLY WORK ON THE ORDINANCE JUST AS, UH, MAYOR PROTI SAID. UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, MONEY SHOULD NOT HELP YOU TO BE ABLE TO HELP USE A LOOPHOLE. RIGHT. TO GET THROUGH, TO HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A MANNER THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ACCEPTING OF IT AND OR ANY, AND I'M SURE HE DOESN'T EVEN LIVE IN THAT AREA. SO IT'S OKAY FOR HIM TO COME TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S AREA. RIGHT. AND DO THAT. BUT THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. RIGHT. SO WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO TERMINATE IT. AND THIS, THIS HOW IT WORK. THEY WILL PUT A PERMIT IN FOR A BOARDING HOUSE, BUT IT'S IN REALITY IT'S A HALFWAY HOUSE. MM-HMM . THAT'S, THAT'S THE LOOPHOLE YOU USING RIGHT HERE NOW BECAUSE LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE PUT THIS BIG FENCE UP, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S BEHIND IT ANYWAY. AND IF WE WANT PERMITTING TO START GETTING ON TOP OF THAT NOW, LIKE THE FENCE HAS NOT WENT THROUGH THE FINAL STAGES YET. EACH, UH, THE FLOOD PLAIN, THE CITY SOIL IS DIFFERENT PHASES TO THE PERMITTING FIELD. BUT WE NEED TO GET ON TOP OF IT NOW. NOW THE SLAP ON THE HAND, AGAIN, TREAT HIM LIKE THEY WOULD TREAT US. WE CAN'T PUT SIDING ON OUR HOUSE WITHOUT THE INSPECTORS COMING BY AND STOPPING IT. YOU KNOW. ALSO, LET ME LET EVERYBODY KNOW IN REGARDS TO LIKE THOSE HALFWAY HOUSES, BOARDING HOUSES, WE ARE HAVING A MEETING TODAY AND THE THIRD WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT FIVE O'CLOCK. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE AS WELL, I'M NOT GONNA BE GONE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I'M GONNA BE GONE NEXT. THANK YOU. CYNTHIA FARMS, MICHAEL HUGHES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ABRAHAM LEVITTS. NOW WHEN I HAVE MY STUFF LINED UP BEFORE I COME UP HERE, I GET HERE AND THEN EVERYTHING GOES ON FREEZE MODE. YEAH. UH, WELL FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ADDRESS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SEBASTIAN, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT CONCERNING THAT ISSUE THAT YOU DO. YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS WOULD BE WORKING OUT. UM, OKAY. WILL DO. I'M TRYING TO FIND MY LITTLE SEGMENT THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL. BUT I GUESS EVERYTHING HAS PROBABLY NEED HAS BEEN SAID CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. BUT BOTTOM LINE, WHETHER YOU HAVE PERMITS ARTISANS OR NOT, AND WE CAN'T REGULATE WHAT YOU CALL, UM, [01:55:02] UH, MORALITY, BUT IT'S REALLY A SHAME FOR SOMEONE TO COME PUT SOMETHING THAT GROTESQUE UP IN PEOPLE'S NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ESTABLISHED. IT'S A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT MIGHT NOT HAVE, UH, $300,000 HOMES, BUT THE TAXES ARE GOING UP EVERY YEAR EXCEEDINGLY HIGH, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE THERE. ANYHOW, UH, SOME OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE GOT EMAILS FROM ME CONCERNING THE ISSUE AND, UH, WE JUST HOPE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET THE SITUATION RESOLVED. THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT I CAN SAY THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID. AND THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL TIME. AND THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL EFFORT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER AZZ, THANK YOU FOR THE INTEREST THAT YOU'RE SHOWING. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHIRAZ. THANK YOU. VERY QUICKLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON THAT BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION YES. WHEN YOU CAME AND SHOWED TO SHOW ME THE PICTURES WHEN I WAS AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. YES. AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT EVER SINCE AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO THAT MEETING AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SHARE ANYTHING, MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THAT BECAUSE ONCE WE KNOW WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE AND WE MUST DO THINGS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY. RIGHT. 'CAUSE LITERALLY I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT D AND I RESPECTIVE 31 YEARS IN DISTRICT D AND NOW CURRENTLY 35 IN DISTRICT I. AND THAT AFFECTS YOUR DISTRICT. 'CAUSE WE RIGHT ON THE BORDER THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE GOT AN EMAIL FROM ME. SO IT AFFECTS ALL OF US. AND JUST LIKE GANG GREEN, THE UH, BIG TOE MIGHT NOT BE A WORD ABOUT THE LITTLE TOE, BUT IT'S GONNA ALL GET CUT OFF WHEN YOU GOT BAD CIRCULATION. SO IT'LL GET TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTUALLY. IT'LL GET TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTUALLY. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT. ABRAHAM LEVITS. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. MAYOR AND STAFF. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY REGARDING THE, UH, DETAILS REGARDING THE PROPOSED SCOOTER BAN. UH, MY NAME IS ABRAHAM LEVITZ. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A COALITION OF LEGAL OPERATORS HERE IN HOUSTON ABOUT THE SCOOTER BAN. UH, WE SHARE THE CITY'S GOAL, A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND WELL-REGULATED DOWNTOWN. RECENT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS BY THE MAYOR ARE WORKING AND IT'S CLEANING UP DISCOVERY GREEN AND THE ANITA OF THE ILLEGAL OPERATORS. SO, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN. T SUPPORTS THAT E SCOOTERS HAVE FAR FEWER INCIDENTS PER TRIP THAN BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, CARS, AND PEDESTRIAN WALKING. LESS THAN ONE IN 10,000 RIDES RESULTS IN AN INCIDENT. AND THAT'S A 0.009% LIKELIHOOD OF AN INCIDENT. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE BAN WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC TO A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS. WE EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF HOUSTONIANS AND HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FLEETS TECHNOLOGY, INSURANCE LEASES AND COMPLIANCE. LEGAL OPERATORS HAVE GENERATED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND COMBINED LOCAL REVENUE SPENDING AND TAX CONTRIBUTIONS, MONEY THAT SUPPORTS USE IN BUSINESSES, CITY SERVICES AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION. WE PROPOSE USING TECHNOLOGY AND A TARGETED SOLUTION TO COMBAT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL FACE. WE HAVE INTRODUCED A PHASE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY EMAILED. UM, AND THAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR APPROACH MOVING FORWARD. WE PROPOSE A SCOOTER BAND USING GEOFENCING TECHNOLOGY AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN IN THE ANITA. AND WE ALSO PROPOSE A TRUSTED OPERATOR PROGRAM WITH A NEW PERMITTING CLASSIFICATION FOR OPERATORS THAT PUT SAFETY FIRST, THAT HAVE LEASES AND BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES AND CAN ENFORCE REGULATION IN CLOSING. A BAN IS NOT THE ANSWER. THERE'S A PATH FORWARD THAT WE CAN COLLECTIVELY WORK ON TOGETHER. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REMOVE ILLEGAL POP-UP VENDORS AND ENACT PROPER REGULATION. A BAN WOULD BANKRUPT OUR BUSINESSES AND PUT HUNDREDS OF HOUSTONIANS OUTTA WORK. TELL ME HOW THAT GEOFENCING WORKS. YES, MA'AM. UM, THERE'S COMMERCIAL GRADE SCOOTERS THAT WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE. IT HAS A TECHNOLOGY BUILT IN CALLED IOT. MM-HMM . UH, THAT TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO CREATE FENCES AROUND ANY PARTICULAR AREA IN THE CITY. AND THE SCOOTERS WOULD BE NON OPERABLE IN THOSE AREAS. SO WHEN YOU DRIVE PAST IT, IT JUST TURNS OFF OR YOU FALL OFF, YOU STOP. WE CAN CONTROL IT. YEAH. IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IS IT LIKE THE GROCERY STORE BASKETS THAT IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT. WE, WE CAN CONTROL IT SO IT SLOWS DOWN AS IT APPROACHES A GEO-FENCED AREA. AND THEN AS IT ENTERS THE GEO-FENCED AREA, IT WOULD SET OFF ALARMS AND SHUT DOWN THE SCOOTER. DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY, UM, SCOOTER BUSINESSES ARE IN THAT DOWNTOWN AREA? I, I REPRESENT A COALITION OF SEVEN THAT WE WOULD DESIGNATE AS LEGAL OPERATORS, BUT THERE ARE, THERE'S MANY THAT WAY MORE THAN SEVEN BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND, AND POP UP. GET YEAH. POP UP. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT [02:00:01] WE'RE TRYING TO COMBAT. 'CAUSE IT'S, THEY'RE LUMPING ALL OF US TOGETHER IN THIS BABY WITH THE BATH WATER SITUATION AND RIGHT. UM, GIVING US A BAD NAME. OKAY. UNDER YOUR MODEL, WHERE WOULD THE, UH, P WHERE WOULD THEY RIDE THE SCOOTERS UNDER YOUR MODEL? THEY WOULD RIDE IN BIKE LANES AND ANY LEGAL RIGHT OF WAY. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S LIMITED BIKE LANES DOWNTOWN. HAVE YOU WITNESSED WHAT MOST OF US HAVE GOING UP? SIDEWALKS, ALLEYS, THEATER DISTRICT, ONE-WAY STREETS, RED LIGHTS WAVING IN AND OUT OF THE WALKABILITY AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER? YES. THE DYNAMO STADIUM. HOW ARE WE GONNA ADDRESS THAT? I, I THINK THROUGH TECHNOLOGY THAT'S GONNA HELP DRAMATICALLY, IT'S NO, THE TECHNOLOGY'S GONNA KEEP 'EM OFF. DISCOVERY GREEN AND OTHER VENUES. YES. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GENERAL MOBILITY AND THE WALKABILITY OF DOWNTOWN. YEP. THERE'S A WHERE DO YOU RIDE A SCOOT? WHERE WOULD YOU PROPOSE A SCOOTER BE RIDDEN? PRIMARILY ON BIKE LANES AND IN PUBLIC ROADWAY. THERE'S SIR, YOU KNOW, THE BIKE LANE IS VERY LIMITED AND HOW YOU GONNA ENFORCE IT? UH, OUTSIDE OF TECHNOLOGY, A LOT OF IT STARTS WITH EDUCATION. SO YOU'RE GONNA RESTRICT 'EM TO A BIKE LANE INITIALLY? YEAH. WE BIKE LANES IN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS. CORRECT. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING DOWN ALLEN PARKWAY Y YES. AND THAT WOULD HELP WITH GEOFENCING IN THOSE AREAS. IN THE THEATER DISTRICTS SAME, SAME ISSUE IN ONE WAY STREETS. YEAH. AND, AND AGAIN, HOW FAST WOULD YOU ALLOW ONE TO GO? DO YOU KNOW THEY'RE DOING 30 AND 35 DOWN WITHOUT HELMETS? YEAH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, MOST OF OUR SCOOTERS ARE LIMITED TO 25 KILOMETERS AN HOUR. SIR, MOST OF 'EM ARE LIMITED TO 25 KILOMETERS AN HOUR. 25. MOST OF 'EM. YES SIR. YOU THINK IT'S SAFE TO DO A 25 MILES PER HOUR IN, IN A CONGESTED AREA? KILOMETERS, SORRY. SIX 16 TO 18 MILES PER HOUR. 16 MILES APPROXIMATELY. YOU THINK THAT'S SAFE? YES. HELMETS? WE OFFER HELMETS. CORRECT. YOU OFFER HELMETS? YES. NOT USE, THEY'RE NO CHARGE FOR THEM. WE OFFER A HELMET SURVEY WRITER. THE, THE, THE COMMITTEE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF HEARINGS, BUT I REALLY THINK WE GOT A REAL HAZARD. UH, WE'VE CREATED A REAL WALKABLE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER TO RESTAURANTS. IS IT NOT FAIR TO SAY MOST OF YOUR FOLKS ARE JUST RECREATIONAL RIDERS? UH, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE RENT TO ARE, ARE USING IT FOR RECREATION. AND SOME PEOPLE USE IT TO GET AROUND THE CITY. SIR MO MOST ARE USING IT FOR RECREATION, SIR. YES. AND IT'S INTERFERING WITH THE HOTEL CONVENTION BUSINESS. PEOPLE CHECK IN ONE NIGHT, CHECK OUT THE NEXT BECAUSE OF THE DISTURBANCE DOWNTOWN. WHAT ABOUT THE WEAPONS? PEOPLE WITH WEAPONS USING SCOOTERS THAT WE, WE AS, UH, PEOPLE IN OUR GROUPS IN OUR COALITION HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH ANY WEAPONS. NO. BUT THE POLICE AND THE VICTIMS HAVE ANYWAY. YEAH, I, AND I, I, I THINK, I THINK WE GOT A REAL TRAGEDY THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR. YOUNG PEOPLE AND MOST ARE COMING IN FROM THE SUBURBS FOR RECREATION. YEP. IF THEY'RE RIDING FOR SCHOOL OR WORK, WE COULD GIVE 'EM A PERMIT AT NO COST AND THEY WOULD NOT BE INTERFERED WITH AT ALL. I THINK IT'S JUST THE ASTROWORLD ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING DOWNTOWN FROM ALL OF OUR ADJOINING JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE REALLY JEOPARDIZING HOUSTONIANS AND OUR GUESTS FROM A LOVELY EVENING IN A THEATER DISTRICT IN WALKABILITY DOWNTOWN. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR STORE TO GET ONE OF THE SCOOTERS, DO THEY HAVE TO GIVE YOU ID OR YES. LIKE WALK THROUGH WITH ME A LITTLE BIT. WHAT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO GET, WHAT DO YOU GET FROM THEM VERSUS THE POPUP FOLKS? UH, GREAT QUESTION. SO WHEN THEY COME TO OUR STORE, NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE ENCOUNTERED BY A LOT OF, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN AND CAN DO RULES. BUT, UH, IN ORDER TO RENT FROM US, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH THE AGE OF 18. UM, ONCE YOU, WE VALIDATED YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, WE THEN GO THROUGH A WAIVER PROCESS. AND THEN AFTER EVERYTHING'S BEEN, UH, SIGNED AND, UH, THE RENTAL'S BEEN PAID FOR, THEY GO THROUGH A SAFETY INSTRUCTIONAL, UM, EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT COMPONENT BEFORE THEY'RE, UH, ISSUED A SCOOTER. AND SO IF THEY DAMAGE SOMETHING, WHO DOES THAT LIABILITY FALL ON YOU? OR, I MEAN, DO YOU CARRY INSURANCE? WE CARRY COMMERCIAL, UH, GRADE INSURANCE, CORRECT. WITH, IT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT INSURANCE TO CARRY. UM, AND WE CARRY, WE CARRY THE BEST INSURANCE AVAILABLE. AND WITH ALL THE CLUBS AND BARS DOWN DOWNTOWN, DO YOU MODIFY, DO YOU, I MEAN, DO YOU CHECK TO SEE IF THEY'RE DRINKING OR, YES. WELL, ONE, ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE WE'RE ISSUING THE SCOOTER DIRECTLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL, IS WE CAN DETERMINE IF THEY'RE INEBRIATED OR NOT. AND WE DON'T RENT TO ANYBODY THAT'S UNDER THE INFLUENCE. AND HOW LONG DO THEY, HOW LONG DO THEY KEEP THE SCOOTERS? UH, TYPICALLY ABOUT AN HOUR. AND WHAT TIME DO Y'ALL CLOSE? [02:05:01] UH, DURING THE WEEK. WE CLOSE AT 2:00 AM DURING THE WEEK. MM-HMM . AND IT, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE OPEN TO CHANGING? 'CAUSE THAT'S KIND OF LATE DURING THE WEEK? WE WE'RE, WE'RE UP TO DO THIS IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUYS TO PROVIDE SENSIBLE REGULATION. UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ENOUGH CONTEXT TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND THAT WE PROPOSED A FRAMEWORK THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY EMAILED THAT HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF THESE. UH, AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION, I'M SORRY TO INTERROGATE YOU, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY CONTENTIOUS CONVERSATION. UM, THEN THE LAST QUESTION I SOUND LIKE COUNCILOR POLLARD. UM, THE LAST, THE LAST QUESTION, UM, IS, UM, WHAT DO THEY, CAN THEY HAVE RADIOS, LIKE LOUD RADIOS ON THE, LIKE DO YOU MONITOR HOW MUCH NOISE THEY'RE CREATING IF THEY HAVE LIKE YEAH. WE, WE DON'T, UH, OFFER ANYTHING THAT MAKES ANY NOISE. THE SCOOTERS THEMSELVES ARE QUIET. UM, AND ANYBODY WHO'S CARRYING ANYTHING, WE DEFINITELY ALWAYS RECOMMEND LEAVING THEIR STUFF IN THEIR CARS AND NOT TO CARRY IT. 'CAUSE THEY CAN FALL DOWN AND, UH, BUT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT HERE TO PROMOTE ADDING ADDITIONAL NOISE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. YEAH. 'CAUSE I MEAN, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THOSE SMALL, YOU KNOW, THOSE RADIOS AND THEY'RE REALLY LOUD. AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN THAT FOLKS HAVE. AB ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE DON'T, THANK YOU MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, ABRAHAM. UM, I COVER MOST OF DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOUR, YOUR, UH, BRICK AND MORTAR'S LOCATED. YES, SIR. UM, WHAT'S, WHAT IS THE MAGIC NUMBER TO HAVE SCOOTERS AT ONE TIME? YOU KNOW, I GUESS DURING THE DAY OR WHATEVER YOU MEAN ON THE STREETS OR RENTED OUT? UH, WE, WE FIND THAT DURING THE DAY IT'S NOT AS FREQUENT 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING. UH, WE TEND TO SEE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC STARTING AROUND SIX, EIGHT O'CLOCK ON ON AVERAGE. SO WHAT'S THAT MAGIC NUMBER? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WOULD BE OKAY TO HAVE HOW MANY SCOOTERS OUT AT ONE TIME? IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. UM, I, I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A NUMBER JUST FROM OUR BUSINESS COLLECTIVELY, HOW MANY SCOOTERS ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW? SINCE YOU REP YOU'RE REPRESENTING SEVEN OPERATORS, HOW MANY SCOOTERS DO YOU SAY ARE OUT? I I THINK COLLECTIVELY ON AN AVERAGE DAY OF THE WEEK, YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEING 500 TO 500 AT 2:00 AM AT 2:00 AM NO, NO. AFTER SIX O'CLOCK, YOU'RE GONNA AVERAGE MAYBE 500 SCOOTERS RENTED IN THE EVENING. I DON'T KNOW. I GOT A NUMBER CLOSER TO A THOUSAND OR MORE THAT YOU CAN HAVE SCOOTERS OUT WITH ALL THE OPERATORS THAT ARE THERE, WHETHER LEGITIMATE OR NOT. YEAH. I I'M JUST TAKING AN AVERAGE. OKAY. UM, AND THEN, UM, I GUESS TO THAT POINT, WHAT'S A GOOD TIME FOR SCOOTERS TO STOP BEING ON THE STREETS? I, I THINK A REASONABLE TIME IS PROBABLY 2:00 AM. UH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT DOES SOMEBODY USE A SCOOTER FOR AT 2:00 AM OR ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING? THEY'RE EXPLORING HOUSTON HAVING FUN WITH THEIR FRIENDS. OKAY. SO YOUR RIDING ESSENTIALLY. ESSENTIALLY. YEAH. OKAY. UM, AND THEN ALSO, UH, THE, YOU SAID YOU TAKEN AN AN ID. WHAT'S THE AGE RESTRICTION? IS THERE A RESTRICTION ON ANYBODY? 'CAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, REPORTS OF 14, 15, 16 YEAR OLDS. YEAH. AT 2:00 AM YEAH. AND, AND THOSE ARE THE ILLEGAL OPERATORS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. UH, WE, WE HAVE AN AGE RESTRICTION OF 18 YEARS OLD WITH THE VALID DRIVERS. SO NO ONE UNDER 18 IS WHAT? UH, 18 YEARS OLD. 18. SO NO ONE UNDER 18 RENTS YOUR SCOOTERS? CORRECT. AND WHAT'S THE COST TO RENT A SCOOTER FOR AN HOUR? $20. $20. UM, YOU KNOW, AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYOR'S PUTTING THE ATTENTION ON THIS. YOU KNOW, DISCOVERY GREEN'S BEEN TORN UP PLENTY OF TIMES, NOT JUST BY SCOOTERS, BUT ALSO BY ATVS. AND THEN, AND THE SCOOTERS ARE HONESTLY JUST, THEY'VE JUST BEEN INVITING MORE OF THIS JOY RIDING. UM, I'M A, I'M A PROPONENT OF MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE ALTERNATE, UH, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS FOR TRA TRANSPORTATION, BUT FOR JOY RIDING AT 2:00 AM THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M DEFINITELY NOT IN, IN AGREEMENT WITH. UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE OF WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD CONCEDE TO? SURE. UM, I, PER PERSONALLY THINK A EIGHT OR 9:00 PM CURFEW, THERE'S NOTHING. THERE'S NOTHING GOOD HAPPENING AT 10, 11, 12 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, UH, JOY RIDING, UM, AGE, OF COURSE, THE GEOFENCING, THE TECHNOLOGY. I THINK THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, DIVING INTO MORE, UM, SPEED GOVERNORS, HOW FAST, RIGHT? MM-HMM . UM, BY THE WAY, WE'RE IN THE UNITED STATES, SO I DON'T, KILOMETERS IS KIND OF HARD TO GET, SORRY, . BUT, BUT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, 15, 15 MILES PER HOUR, IF I, IF I COULD TOUCH ON SOME OF THE TIMING, IF YOU DON'T MIND. UH, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEK SCOOTER RENTAL AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO OTHER FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT AS IT GETS LATER INTO THE EVENING. AND ESPECIALLY WHERE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM. THEY'RE, THEY'RE DISENFRANCHISED. 'CAUSE A LOT OF THE STUFF NEARBY WHERE THEY LIVE IS CLOSED AT EIGHT, OR, YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE IT AT THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR AREA, RIGHT? WHETHER THEY'RE COMING FROM A TASK CASITA ONBOARD, THEY COULD GO AHEAD AND HAVE SCOOTERS AT TWO IN THE MORNING, BUT NOT IN SUGAR LAND FORT BEND. YEAH. YEAH. I THINK I SHOULD DEFINITELY START SETTING UP POP-UP SHOPS OVER THERE AND JUST SEEING WHAT THOSE COMMUNITIES SAY, YOU KNOW, AND HOW THEY RESPOND TO WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. AGAIN, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING THIS FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. I GET CALLS FROM, I'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT I THAT LIVE IN EASTWOOD. SAY I RIDE MY SCOOTER A A, A JUDGE ACTUALLY RIDES A SCOOTER FROM EASTWOOD TO DOWNTOWN THAT'S DURING THE, THE DAY. UM, BUT TO HAVE A SCOOTER AT, YOU KNOW, TWO IN THE MORNING, AND THEN IF, IF THEY GET THERE AT ONE 30 AND THEY STILL CAN RIDE FOR AN HOUR, TWO 30 NOW, OR SOME OF 'EM [02:10:01] GET THERE RIGHT BEFORE TWO, AND NOW IT'S THREE O'CLOCK. I, I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CONCEDE TO SOME OF THESE THINGS, THEN I'D LIKE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU. WE, WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD. UH, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO AGAIN, PROVIDE CONTEXT AND INFORMATION SO WE CAN COLLECTIVELY PUT SENSIBLE REGULATION FOR IF, IF YOU RENT SOMEONE THAT'S 18 WHEN THEY LEAVE YOUR ESTABLISHMENT, WHAT KEEPS 'EM FROM ALLOWING A YOUNGER PERSON TO DRIVE IT WHEN THEY GET A BLOCK TWO BLOCKS AWAY, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS. UH, SO WE PUT IN OUR WAIVER, OBVIOUSLY, THAT YOU, WHAT WE CAN PUT AS MUCH FRAMEWORK AS WE CAN TO TRY PREVENT THAT, BUT, UH, BUT IT'S HAPPENING, SIR, AND IT'S A DANGER TO THE USER OF THE SCOOTER, TO THE PEDESTRIANS. IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD MIX. AND YOU KNOW IT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE MAKING A LIVING OFF OF WHAT I THINK IS A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. AND THAT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WE ARE LITERALLY LOSING CUSTOMERS TO OUR MAJOR CONVENTION HOTELS, THE NOISE OF 500 PEOPLE OR ANYTHING CLOSE TO 500 WITH THEIR MUSIC, WITH THEIR JOY WRITING. PEOPLE ARE CHECKING OUT OF THE MARRIOTT HILTON IN FOUR SEASONS. AND, AND THAT'S WHY I AGREE ON, AND YOU'VE GOT TO APPRECIATE THE CONCERN ABSOLUTELY. OF BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN. ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S THAT YOU'RE INTERFERING WITH THEIR LIVELIHOOD. AND HERE WE'RE FIXING TO HALF, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE VOLUME OF SCOOTER RIDERS DURING THE WORLD CUP WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO WALK TO RESTAURANTS, WALK TO OTHER VENUES, IS JUST A DANGEROUS SITUATION. YEP. AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE FACED WITH IT, BUT I DON'T SEE A REMEDY OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR BIG MONEY. THE LATER, THE MORE CONGESTED DRUGS ARE, ARE INVOLVED, WEAPONS ARE INVOLVED, AND IT'S JUST NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT DOWNTOWN. YEAH. AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROPOSING A BAN THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY IN THOSE AREAS. NO, YOUR, YOUR TECHNOLOGY'S KEEPING 'EM OFF OF A DESIGNATED TURF SITE. LIKE, I MEAN, DISCOVERY GREEN'S ESSENTIALLY NOT USABLE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER NINE O'CLOCK. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR FAMILIES. AND I'M SORRY, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB PLEADING YOUR CASE, BUT, UH, THE, THE SCOOTERS, WHEN THEY VIOLATE THE LAW, THEY RUN FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY GO INTO PARKING GARAGES, THEY GO UP ALLEYS, AND IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WAS DESIGNED. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK YOU A FOR COMING AND, UM, AND, AND BRINGING THIS TO THE ATTENTION, AND LET ME JUST SAY I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR WHAT MAKES OUR CITY BETTER, AND CERTAINLY BUSINESSES AND ALL, OKAY. BUT THIS ISSUE AND, AND SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHO EXPRESSED THAT, ALL THE COLLEAGUES AROUND THIS TABLE ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. MM-HMM . NOW, I WANNA MAKE TWO POINTS, IF I MAY. NUMBER ONE, I ALMOST HIT TWO SCOOTER RIDERS ONE NIGHT. MY WIFE AND I, WE WAS DOWNTOWN AND WE MADE A TURN AND THE SCOOTER RIDER BUSTED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR RIGHT AS WE MAKING A LEFT TURN. AND I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ONCE THEY WENT BY, I'M GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. AND TWO MORE CAME BY, WHICH IS FOLLOWING THAT ONE. SO THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT IN NO REGARD OF THE TRAFFIC, THE VIOLATION, BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT INVOLVED. SO THAT'S A CONCERN. NUMBER TWO, IF YOU WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK. NOW THE MAYOR MENTIONED ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING IN HOTELS WHEN THEY HEAR, THEY WALKING OUT, THINK ABOUT IT. IF YOU ON, YOU WALK IN AND THE SCOOTER COMES UP BEHIND YOU, WHAT IS THE PERSON GOING TO SAY THAT'S WALKING AND THE SCOOTER BEHIND? THEY GONNA HAVE A SCOOTER. RIGHT? RIGHT. THEY'LL LET 'EM KNOW, GET OUTTA THE WAY, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO GO LEFT OR RIGHT. 'CAUSE YOU COMING BEHIND THEM. THAT'S A, THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE. NOW, I MEAN, DOWNTOWN IS NOT AN AMUSEMENT PARK. I MEAN, WE HAD ONE CHORA WORLD YEARS AGO, BUT THEY GONE MAYBE NEVER RETURN. I DON'T KNOW. BUT YOU TURN IT INTO THAT. AND LAST THING, MY CONCERN IS WHEN YOU SEE THE VIDEOS OUT THERE, PEOPLE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM WAS ASKING YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER, JOAQUIN AND I WENT DOWNTOWN LATE AS SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN DOWN THERE AS WELL. BUT WE WERE DOWN THERE TO OBSERVE THIS, THEY, TO UP THE DISCOVERY GREEN. AND, AND THIS IS NOT JUST SAYING YOU PERSONALLY, RIGHT. BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM MAINLY WITH TEENAGERS, A LOT OF TIME GATHERING. YEAH. WHICH ALSO CREATES ANOTHER PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF CHICAGO, WHICH I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT TEENAGE ISSUES AND CRIME, THE HAVE THIS THING CALLED TEEN TAKEOVER. ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY'S DOWN THERE. RIGHT. TWO OR 300 [02:15:01] OF 'EM. IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 2:00 AM IN THE MORNING, THAT'S A HABIT. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE, I LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU PLAN. I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY. MM-HMM . I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL FIX IT PERSONALLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR TIMBERS MENTIONED IT IN THE MAYOR, BUT I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD, WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. UNDERSTOOD. I, I WELCOME THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ. DO YOU KNOW COUNCILLOR DAVIS? YOU JUST REMINDED ME THAT THERE IS A REASON WHY WE DO NOT LIKE BI LET BICYCLES OR SCOOTERS ON MEMORIAL PARK JOGGING PATH. YEAH. PEDESTRIANS, WALKABILITY JUST DOESN'T MIX WITH A SCOOTER OR A BIKE. YOU'RE RIGHT. YEAH. DO YOU LET 'EM GO TO THE LEFT, TO THE RIGHT. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. LEVITTS. UM, AND APPRECIATE YOU MEETING WITH ME. UH, SEVERAL DAYS AGO DURING THAT MEETING, WE HAD A CONVERSATION. I ASKED YOU ABOUT THE NUMBER OF RENTALS YOU DO ON A GIVEN FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT, AND, UH, YOU TOLD ME IT WAS 2000 RENTALS ON A GIVEN FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT. IS THAT RIGHT? UH, SO WE WENT EARLIER WHEN I WAS ASKED ON AVERAGE, IT WAS ABOUT, WE AVERAGE ABOUT 500 RENTALS A DAY ON AVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, ON THOSE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, OR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS WE'RE GONNA AVERAGE AROUND 2000 RENTALS COLLECT. AND YOU'RE JUST ONE OF FIVE COMPANIES IN YOUR COALITION, RIGHT? UH, ONE OF SEVEN, SORRY, ONE OF SEVEN. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. IN, IN YOUR COALITION, RIGHT? YES, SIR. AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER NON BRICK AND MORTAR OPERATIONS IN THE OTHER PARKING LOTS DOWNTOWN. CORRECT. IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS YOU WILL RENT? UM, AT THE MOMENT THERE'S, THERE'S NOT, BUT IF THERE WAS A FRAMEWORK IN THE, THAT WE HAD TO ADHERE TO GOING FORWARD, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY RESPECT THAT FRAMEWORK. ALRIGHT. WOULD YOU BE IN SUPPORT OF A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS THAT ARE PERMITTED TO OPERATE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA? YES. IN OUR, IN OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, WE PROPOSE NOT ONLY A PERMIT CLASSIFICATION, BUT ALSO REGISTERING THE SCOOTERS WITH THE CITY. SO THE CITY HAS, UH, DOCUMENTATION ON ANYONE RIDING A SCOOTER FROM A, FROM A LEGAL OPERATOR. AND THEN THOSE, UH, NUMBERS, I BELIEVE CAN BE, UM, REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED. ALRIGHT. AND, UH, YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS. I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, UH, HERE, BUT HOW MANY LOCATIONS DO YOU HAVE? WE HAVE SEVEN. SEVEN LOCATIONS. HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN PARKING LOTS? UH, WE HAVE TWO BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES IN EAST OF DOWNTOWN AND FIVE, UH, ON PARKING LOTS. SO YOU, YOU HAVE FIVE OPERATIONS IN PARKING LOTS? YES. DOWNTOWN. YES, SIR. HOW, HOW CLOSE ARE THEY TO DISCOVERY GREEN? UH, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WIND PARK MANAGEMENT. SO WE'RE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TOYOTA CENTER, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TOYOTA CENTER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I WAS LEAVING THE DYNAMO STADIUM ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. YOU HAD ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE ALL WALKING OUTTA THE STADIUM. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK WE HAD TO GET OUTTA THE WAY OF SCOOTERS USING THE SIDEWALK INSTEAD OF, I MEAN, IT'S INTERFERING WITH THE DYNAMO AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S WORSE THAN YOU'RE, THAN YOU'RE ADMITTING WELL, I MEAN, IT IS NO 500 ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT. YEAH, I, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A CHALLENGE. YEAH. WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU TO, TO CREATE SOME, SOME REGULATION. YEAH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD REGARDING THIS WAIVER. YES, SIR. DOES THE WAIVER, UM, CUT LIABILITY FOR YOU AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTS OF THE SCOOTER RENTER? SO IF THEY WERE TO DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL OR A VIOLATION OF CITY ORDINANCE, IT RELIEVES YOU OF THE LIABILITY, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO ONCE THAT RENTER LEAVES YOUR SHOP AND THEY DO ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OR, OR RIDE THE WRONG WAY ON THE STREET, NOTHING CAN BE TIED BACK TO YOU, CORRECT. BASED ON THE WAIVER? UH, I MEAN THE WAY THE WAIVER IS WRITTEN, THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO IT WOULD, YOU WOULD THINK THAT TO BE A, A BUSINESS THAT'S A COMMUNITY PARTNER WITH THE CITY, THE WAIVER SHOULD BE THE REVERSE TO WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY WHO SCOOTER BELONGS TO, WHICH OPERATOR. AND IF THAT RENTER DOES SOMETHING THAT IS ADVERSE TO OUR LOCAL LAWS, THAT THE OPERATOR IS THEN HELD RESPONSIBLE. AND I THINK IF THE OPERATORS ARE STARTING TO BE THE ONES THAT'S HELD RESPONSIBLE AND THE WAIVER DOES NOT LIMIT YOU ALL'S LIABILITY, THEN YOU ALL WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT WHO'S GETTING THE SCOOTERS, HOW MANY ARE GOING OUT, WHAT'S THE EDUCATION? BECAUSE [02:20:01] RIGHT NOW THEY'RE LEAVING YOUR OPERATION. AND ONCE THEY GET OUT THERE INTO THE PUBLIC REALM, THEY'RE DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. BUT NONE OF IT IS TIED TO THE OPERATORS. 'CAUSE YOU'RE MAKING THEM SIGN A WAIVER. RIGHT. SO FOR ME, I THINK REGULATION IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, BUT THE REGULATION WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE THE OPERATORS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ON INDIVIDUALS WHO RIDE THEIR SCOOTERS. JUST LIKE AN EMPLOYEE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS DURING THEIR SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN EVANS SCHOZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I DON'T MEAN TO PILE ON, BUT, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY MENTIONED IT , BUT PEOPLE ARE GETTING ROBBED BY PEOPLE ON THESE SCOOTERS, SO, AND THEY CAN GET AWAY SO QUICKLY. AND SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOME REGULATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF FIGURING OUT WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY'RE GOING. BUT WE KNOW THAT IF THEY DID GET THAT SCOOTER FROM THIS PARTICULAR PLACE, THAT WE COULD TRACE THAT BACK AND PERHAPS WE COULD STOP SOME OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, UH, DOWNTOWN. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND ONE, ONE LAST QUESTION. UM, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING FOR AND OFFICERS FOR ENFORCEMENT. SO IN, IN THIS FRAMEWORK THAT YOU'RE CREATING, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO PAYING FOR CAMERAS OR ADDITIONAL OFFICERS OR ANY OF THOSE? HAVE YOU TALKED TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THAT? YEAH, THE, THE, THE IRONY OF A LITTLE BIT OF THIS IS THAT FOR MONTHS WE WERE GOING TO LOCAL PRECINCTS AND EVEN TRYING TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH DISCOVERY GREEN TO PAY FOR OFFICERS AFTER HOURS TO HELP CLEAN UP THE, THE DOWNTOWN AREA 'CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. UM, BUT IN MY PROPOSED FRAMEWORK THAT WE, WE'VE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL TO EVERYBODY, UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT THERE'S A REVENUE GENERATOR DERIVED FROM THE PERMITTING AND ALSO THE REGISTRATION OF THE SCOOTERS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THAT WILL FUND A LOT OF THESE INITIATIVES TO HELP, UM, TACKLE ANY DEFICIT THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED WITH, UH, THIS REGULATION. WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, I MEAN THE REVENUE GENERATION, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING MAYBE ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, THE REVENUE GENERATION PROBABLY SHOULD COME TO THE CITY. SO WE CAN MAKE THE REPAIRS ARE NECESSARY THAT THE SCOOTERS ARE, ARE MAYBE POTENTIALLY DESTROYING MM-HMM . BUT IF THERE'S SECURITY AND CAMERA PLACEMENT, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE GENERATED FROM, FROM YOUR COALITION VERSUS, YEAH, WE, IT THEN BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO COLLECT AND THEN PAY FOR. WE, WE WELCOME THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. NICK. ERIC, ROSS, ROBERTO ELLO. . GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. PROBABLY THIS NOW. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME THERE? UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THE WORK, UH, AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO. IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED, MUCH APPRECIATED MORE TODAY WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON. MY NAME IS ROBERTO CUO. I'M A HOMEOWNER, TAXPAYER FATHER, BUSINESS OWNER, AND VOLUNTEER WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS. I SPEAK TODAY FOR MYSELF AND SOME NEIGHBORS. UH, WE'RE SUBMITTING A PETITION AS PASSING AROUND FOR URGENT, UH, DRAINING AND DRAINAGE AND ASPHALT MAINTENANCE NEEDED IN 2025 ON HUTCHINS STREET BETWEEN MCGOWAN AND HADLEY BY THE FIRE HYDRANT. UH, THE LACK OF DRAINAGE IS CAUSING HIGH AMOUNTS OF PESTS, ANIMAL HAZARDS, AND EVEN FLY INFESTATIONS, WHICH IS REFERENCED ON 3 1 1 ON PAGES 25, 26 AND 27. WITH REGARDS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE PACKET IN WHICH NOTHING, NOTHING UNFORTUNATELY WAS DONE FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING IN THE PACKET ON PAGE 24. PAGE 24 IS PAGE TWO OF CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE CITY HOUSTON DESIGN MANUAL, WHICH I MENTIONS THE FIRE HYDRANT SHALL BE LOCATED TO, UH, CONSIDERING ADEQUATE DRAINAGE TO AVOID FLOODING, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING. IF YOU COULD CHECK ON PAGE 12, 13, AND 14 WITH REGARDS TO THE FIRE HYDRANT, THERE'S, UH, IMAGES OF THAT, UH, FOR YEARS, THE HUTCHINS TREE ASSOCIATION, WHICH INCLUDES MYSELF AS A PRIOR VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBER FOR SIX YEARS, AND DR. DONALD WHITE, WHO'S ON THE CURRENT BOARD. AND ON THE PETITION AS WELL, WITH SUPPORT OF NUMEROUS OTHER MEMBERS, WE'VE MAINTAINED THE WALKWAYS AND THE GREEN SPACE OURSELVES, WHICH IS ON, UM, LABELED IN GREEN, UH, CLEANING LINE SPACE, ADDING TOTAL LIGHTING, UH, ALL FOR PERSONAL FUNDS AND AN HA. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU GUYS SUPPORT DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS, UH, EVERY WORK ORDER WAS SUBMITTED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT SHABA COUNCIL. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. UH, IF YOU COULD STEP AND TALK TO THE LADY OVER THERE, UH, THAT IS IN DISTRICT D. YES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION. AND [02:25:01] THIS IS A, A GREAT, YES, WE, I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF. THIS IS A GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. WE'VE, WE'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH MS. INGRAM. UM, WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED IT WITH 3 1 1. I'M HERE BECAUSE WE GOT STUCK IN THE PROCESS, UH, LIKE SIX MONTHS AGO. AND THEN THERE'S BEEN NO RESPONSE. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CLOSED OFF. WE'VE BEEN SUBMITTING AND IT'S LIKE FLIES AND IT'S, IT STINKS. AND SO IT'S LIKE HUNDREDS OF HOMES AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF CONSTRUCTION ONE BLOCK AWAY AND THEN THERE'S DRAINAGE THERE. AND THEN, AND THEN, SO I HAVE A LIST OF THE TAXPAYERS THAT ARE ON THE STREET, SOME PICTURES THERE ABOUT, THEY'RE GETTING NEW STREETS WITH PAVING. THERE'S NO HOUSES THERE. WE ARE LIKE CLEANING IT ALL UP. AND THERE'S THIS AREA THAT NEEDS A LOT OF MAINTENANCE THAT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY PROGRESS FROM 3 1 1. SO, UM, I SPOKE TO SAL, SAL CALLED ME 'CAUSE HE SAW MY NAME ON THE LIST. HE SEEMS LIKE A NICE GUY, BUT WE GOT STUCK LAST TIME. I'M JUST KIND OF HE IS NICE. YEAH. YEAH. WE HAD THANKSGIVING MOVING, SO YEAH. SO WE JUST WANNA, I JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO ATTENTION THAT WE, YOU SAID ARE HUSTLING WITH REGARDS TO OUR BLOCK, TRYING TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF, CLEANING IT UP. UH, BUT WE HAVE THIS ISSUE, WE CAN HANDLE IT. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE. WE'RE GETTING INTO ARGUMENTS OVER IT. UM, SO PLEASE, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IS YOUR HELP WITH THIS. OKAY. I'LL LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, HAZEL BERRY, DR. INGA FORD. DARRELL JOHNSON. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? UH, JUST, UH, MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL I'M HERE ON TODAY. UH, IF YOU NOTICE IT, SAY METRO, UH, I'VE BEEN WITH METRO FOR 28 YEARS. I WAS A BUS DRIVER. I WON NUMBERS, AWARDS, AND, UH, I GOT TO BE A, UH, A STEWARD, A UNION STEWARD, WHEREAS I HAD TO, I SAVED A LOT OF PEOPLE JOBS. AND THEN FROM THE UNION STEWARD, I MOVED UP FOR BEING ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. SO I DID WHAT Y'ALL DID RIGHT HERE, FOLLOWING THE RULES OF ORDER AND EVERYTHING. UM, I'M HERE ON TODAY BECAUSE, UM, I GOT AN INSUBORDINATION ON ME AT METRO. AND MAYOR, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THIS REAL GOOD. UH, THE INSUBORDINATION IS, WE HAD A GENTLEMAN DID SOMETHING AND I PASSED A FLYER TO Y'ALL, UH, INAPPROPRIATE TO ONE OF THE LADIES. I WANTED HIM TO BE REMOVED. OKAY. AND, UH, WE HAVE OUR, UH, HALL MEETINGS AT METRO AND I'VE BEEN TO FOUR, GO AHEAD. OKAY. I'VE BEEN TO FOUR OF THE METRO HALL MEETINGS AND I WAS ASKING METRO OFFICIALS, WHY HAVE Y'ALL NOT MOVED THIS GENTLEMAN ON WHAT HE DID TO THE LADY ON THE JOB. AND MR. MAYOR, I REALLY WANT YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS. WHEN, WHEN DID THIS, UH, OCCUR? ACTUALLY, MR. MAYOR, ABOUT ME BEING THE INSUBORDINATION OR, YEAH. WHEN WERE YOU DISMISSED? UH, NOVEMBER OF, UH, 24TH. THE INSUBORDINATION LAST NOVEMBER? YES. DID YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY, SIR? DID YOU HAVE A, A REPRESENTATIVE, AN ATTORNEY? NO. OKAY. AND YOU APPEALED AND YOU LOST YOUR APPEAL? HERE'S THE DEAL, WAS NO APPEAL. WE HAD A GENTLEMAN NAMED MR. KIRK LAWSON. HE THREW MY PAPERWORK IN THE TRASH AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS. YEAH. WELL, I'M GONNA SUGGEST YOU MIGHT WANNA GET A LABOR ATTORNEY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISPUTE. YOU, YOU'VE WORKED THE PROCESS, YOU STILL ARE UNHAPPY. SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER AN ATTORNEY. WELL, MAYOR, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN, IT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO ENTER THE PICTURE. CERTAINLY WE'RE NOT THE METRO BOARD, SO, BUT THIS WASN'T NOTHING DEALING WITH MY JOB FOR AS, UH, COMING TO WORK, DOING MY JOB. THAT WAS A 100 THERE. THE, THE ISSUE WAS ME COMING TO THE BOARD MEETING AND ASKING WHY HAVE THIS GUY WASN'T I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. AND ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. MAYOR, IF YOU WAS TO MAKE THE PHONE CALL, WHICH I WAS HERE FOR ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THIS MATTER, WHEREAS YOU CAN SEE I WAS DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT, BUT AT THE END I WAS, IT'S LIKE A BOGUS INSUBORDINATION, BASICALLY. YEAH. I'M SIR. WELL, I'M SORRY THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THIS SITUATION. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET AN ATTORNEY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. UH, I TOO [02:30:01] AM UH, SORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS SITUATION. I, I'LL TALK WITH YOU OFFLINE TO SEE IF, UH, WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME, SOME CREATIVE IDEAS ON HOW TO RESOLVE. PLEASE DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT JAMES POST TO BE FOLLOWED BY HIR EL MAHMUD. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS JAMES POST. I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON. I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL OF CITY COUNCIL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THIS, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR VAST GLOBAL COMMUNITY. I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON PERTH SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION. ON MARCH 1ST, 1942, THE USS HOUSTON AND THE HMAS PERTH FOUGHT TOGETHER AND SENT A STRAIGHT, THEY FOUGHT AGAINST IMPOSSIBLE ODDS AGAINST SUPERIOR JAPANESE FORCES. AND THEY WERE BOTH LOST. THEY WERE LOST KNOWING THAT WAS GOING TO BE THEIR FATE. THEY GAVE ALLIED FORCES TIME TO REGROUP AND HELP PREVENT THE INVASION OF AUSTRALIA. IN 1998, THE USS HOUSTON FOUNDATION LOBBIED AND MANAGED TO GET A STATUE, UH, ERECTED IN SAM HOUSTON PARK THAT COMMEMORATES THE USS HOUSTON. EVERY YEAR ON MARCH 1ST, WE HAVE A CEL, WE HAVE A CELEBRATION, A COMMEMORATION OF THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YOU WERE THERE THIS PAST YEAR. UM, COMMANDER JIM STERLING, UNITED STATES NAVY RETIRED. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE USS HOUSTON FOUNDATION, AND HE WAS CRITICAL IN GETTING THE USS HOUSTON MONUMENT IN SAM HOUSTON PARK. HE HAS PROPOSED WRAP IT UP. WE'VE HAD A LONG DAY. HE HAS PROPOSED TO HAVE A, A MONUMENT FOR THE HMAS PERTH INSTALLED NEARBY THE USS HOUSTON. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY MONEY ON THIS. THIS WOULD ALL COME FROM PRIVATE DONATION. WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING THIS APPROVED. THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON. HAVE A GREAT DAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SHIELD EL UD TO BE FOLLOWED BY HAROLD HERRERA. OKAY. UH, HELLO EVERYONE. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, UH, TWO CONCERNS TODAY, BUT IT DEPENDS IF YOU GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME OR NOT. SO THE FIRST CONCERN IS REGARDING THE RIDE SHARE PLATFORMS. UH, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE WAGE WE OBTAIN ARE NOT REALLY ENOUGH TO COVER THE EXPENSES BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE USING YOUR CAR, YOU ARE NOT ONLY LOSING, UH, FUEL LIKE YAZ OR DIESEL OR ET CETERA, YOU ARE ALSO, UH, WEARING OUT THE TIRES, THE BRAKES, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND SO MANY COMPONENTS. SO WHICH AUTHORITY CAN PRESSURE THESE PLATFORMS TO SET UP, UH, A MINIMUM FAIR OR A MINIMUM WAGE TO BE REASONABLE. AND JUST, SO THIS IS MY CONCERN, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW ME TO DISCUSS THE SECOND CONCERN. I'M READY. UH, THANK YOU. WILL YOU WE HAVE A ONE MINUTE YES. LIMITATION TODAY. OKAY. THE SECOND CONCERN IS, UH, THAT I DO USE 3 1 1 APP TO REPORT SOME PORTHOLES OR ANY OTHER ROAD IMPERFECT, BUT SOMETIMES THE INSPECTORS DON'T MAKE ENOUGH. WHAT TIME HAS EXPIRED? COMING BACK. THANK YOU. NEXT HAROLD HERRERA. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. PROCEDURAL PROCEDURAL PROCEDURAL MOTION. NO, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. IT'S A PROCEDURAL MATTER. YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO THAT'S FINE, SIR. THANK YOU. MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE, UH, ROBERTO CARDENAS. I'M SORRY. CONTRERAS. UH, AFTER MR. HERRERA, WHO'S NEXT? SECOND. MOTION MAIDEN. SAGNA IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. HAROLD HERRERO. NO. NEXT. ROBERTO CONTRERAS. ROBERTO, COME ON DOWN. GOOD AFTERNOON. [02:35:01] UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ROBERTO CONTRERAS. I'M PRESIDENT OF DC PARTNERS. I'M ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER. UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, I AM THE FATHER OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE AUDI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, WHICH NOW SHARES A FENCE WITH A VERY ACTIVE CONCRETE BATCH PLANT SERVICING THE I 10 EXPANSION PROJECT THROUGH THE YEAR 2028, AND VERY LIKELY BEYOND. UH, THIS CONCRETE BATCH PLANT IS JUST DOZENS OF FEET AWAY FROM TWO SCHOOLS WITH CHILDREN AGE THREE MONTHS TO SEVEN YEARS, UH, AS WELL AS THE NEW ROCKETS, UH, TRAINING FACILITY. UH, YOU SEE THIS BATCH PLANT USED TO BE MUCH SMALLER. UM, AND THEN IT WAS SET VACANT AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IDLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL IT WAS ALLOWED TO REOPEN UNDER A NEW OPERATOR, UH, AT A MUCH LARGER SCALE. THIS LAST MAY, UH, THAT SAME MONTH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, CITED THE BATCH PLANT FOR DUST EMISSIONS. UM, AND THAT SAME MONTH, SEVERAL OF THE TWO SCHOOLS OF STUDENTS CAME DOWN WITH SEVERE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES. UH, YOU SEE THIS DUST FROM CEMENT, BATCH PLANTS IS NOT JUST ANY KIND OF DUST. UH, IT'S, UH, DUST THAT CONTAINS CRYSTALLINE SILICA, WHICH IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN AND KNOWN TO BE VERY HARMFUL TO CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR. UH, SO WE'VE JUST HANDED OUT SOME PACKETS OF INFORMATION THAT WERE PREPARED BY SOME OF THE PARENTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SURE. WE'RE THROWING THE FULL FORCE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, IN PROTEST. UH, IT WAS PERMITTED IN 2011, AGAIN, 2014, 2019. THE 24 PERMIT WAS TEMPORARY. UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO CITE THEM. WE'RE ULTIMATELY GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR HARRIS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. AND, UH, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. I'VE FOUGHT BATCH PLANTS ACROSS MY SENATE DISTRICT FOR YEARS, BUT WE HEAR YOU. UM, LET'S STAY IN CONTACT. LEGALS INVOLVED. OUR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR IS INVOLVED, BUT YOU WELL KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION. YES, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE IT IS PERMITTED BY THE STATE. WE DON'T HAVE ZONING, SO YES, WE GO CITE THEM. BUT TO GET 'EM OUT OF THERE, IT'S A WEBER COMPANY. WE'RE TRYING TO PUT SOME CONSCIENCE ON THEIR MINDS, BUT IT HASN'T WORKED. SO YES, MR. RAM MAYOR, WE UNDERSTAND. UM, THANK YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE INFLUENCE THAT YOU CAN SURE. PUSH, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR CONTACTS IN THE STATE, UM, SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT'S CORRECT. MR. THANK WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH YOU AND, AND PARENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I MEAN, I LIVE A ROCK THROW FROM IT MYSELF. I GO OLD KATIE QUITE OFTEN. UH, I'M SHOCKED THAT IT'S THERE AND, UH, WE'LL STAY ON TOP OF, IT'S ALL I CAN MAKE A COMMITMENT TO. AND THE ROCKETS HAVE, ARE ALSO AWARE OF IT NOW AS WELL. SURE. THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE OUTDOOR. THEY HAVE AN OUTDOOR SORT OF TRAINING AREA THAT'S JUST ABOUT 20, 30 FEET AWAY FROM, FROM SOME BIG MILES. I'M NOT EVEN CERTAIN WHAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THEY'RE WORKING ON NOW. IT, IT'S THE I 10 EXPANSION. UM, WHICH THE, WHICH ONE? THE I 10 EXPANSION PROJECT. UH, CLOSE HERE TO DOWNTOWN, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL BATCH PLANTS THAT THEY COULD GO TO. I MEAN, BEING IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT MYSELF, I CAN TELL THAT THERE'S MUCH LESS CONSTRUCTION NOW THAN BEFORE. IT'S I 10 CLOSER TO THE HEIGHTS. YEAH. OKAY. SURE. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU. BUT WE'VE GOT A BRIEF, WE'RE READY TO ROLL. WE'RE PROTESTING, BUT ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO OUR LEGISLATORS AS WELL, IN WHICH WE ARE. BUT, AND, AND SO WHAT, WHAT IS THE TCIQ IS, WE HAVE THE TCEQ RIGHT NOW INVESTIGATING, BUT WHAT IS THE FASTEST WAY TO, TO GET? WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH 'EM. OKAY. WELL, THE SCHOOL STARTING NEXT WEEK, WE'RE IN FULL CRISIS MODE. I UNDERSTAND. BUT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. PORT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, VICE MAYOR PORT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND I KNOW MORE PARENTS ARE SPEAKING ON THIS ISSUE, UM, IN A LITTLE BIT. AND MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON IT WITH YOUR OFFICE AS WELL. UM, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO OUT THERE TO, UM, CHECK FOR AIR QUALITY AND DUST, UM, PARTICLES AS WELL. UM, AND THE MAYOR'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE TCEQ AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THE ENTITY THAT PERMITS THIS. SO AT THE CITY LEVEL, WE DON'T HAVE THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO SAY YES OR NO, BUT RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING, I WAS ON A PHONE CALL THAT REPRESENTATIVE LACEY HULL ORGANIZED, UM, ALONG WITH SENATOR MOLLY COOK WITH THE TCEQ AND THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE PERMIT AND WHY THERE THE [02:40:01] WORK EXPANDED ON THAT PROPERTY. THEY'VE ASKED ALL THOSE QUESTIONS. AND THE TCEQ HAS, UM, LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALL OF THAT. AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME ANSWERS HERE PRETTY SOON. BUT I THINK WE ALL SHARE THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TIMING AND WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO EXPAND. SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THOSE ANSWERS, UM, VERY SOON. I KNOW WITH SCHOOL, STARTING UP TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK WITH OUR STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEN ALSO HERE AT THE CITY LEVEL WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ANYTHING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO TO, UM, TO DO WHAT WE CAN HERE AT THE CITY LEVEL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN COUNCIL. MAYOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I MEAN, THIS ISSUE, UM, IS INCREDIBLY COMMON IN SOME AREAS. I MEAN, THEY'RE BLOCK AFTER BLOCK. AND SO, UM, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING. UM, I, I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AS WELL. I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH AIR ALLIANCE, UM, AND WE ARE, WE'RE TRACKING THIS. WE'VE ALREADY WRITTEN A LETTER, UM, TO TCQ AND JUST KNOW, STAY ENGAGED. BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT'S MANDATED AND, UM, ALL THE PERMITS ARE GIVEN BY THE STATE AS MENTIONED BEFORE. UM, BUT YOUR ADVOCACY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HOUSTON DEALS WITH ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. AND IT'S, UM, OFTENTIMES IN REALLY POOR COMMUNITIES. UM, BECAUSE, AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE THE, THE FINANCES OR THE RESOURCE, YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCES TO, TO FIGHT THIS, BUT BAND TOGETHER, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD, WRITE LETTERS, MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY'RE UP FOR RE FOR RE PERMITTING, UM, THAT YOU WRITE, UM, TO TCQ AND YOU GO TO ALL THE HEARINGS. UH, AND WE DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTING, UM, HELPING MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND I'M WILLING TO HELP YOU TOO. I MEAN, I'VE WORKED A LOT OF, A LOT OF THESE IN A LOT OF THE AREAS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. NEXT SIDNEY MAY YOUNG SIDNEY MAY YOUNG BE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE JOHNSON. HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M A CALISTHENIC ATHLETE. UH, I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE MEMORIAL PARK FOR YEARS NOW. THANK YOU FOR REBUILDING THE CALISTHENIC, UH, PORTION ON THE 1500 BLOCK OF WEST MEMORIAL. THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY MICHELLE NI BELIEVE THE ONE THAT, UH, RUNS THE MEMORIAL PARK, I GUESS DIRECTOR THAT YOU MAYOR CALLED AND SAID THAT WE ARE A, UH, INTIMIDATING, UH, THE PEOPLE OF MEMORIAL AND NOT, UH, AND THEY'RE UNABLE TO, UH, WORK OUT IN THE CALISTHENIC AREA. I FEEL THAT IS INCORRECT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN, UH, VERY INVITING AND IN FACT, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THAT AREA 'CAUSE OF US. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE INTIMIDATION IS BECAUSE WE ARE INTO HEALTH AND FITNESS. WE'RE NOT A COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION. WE'RE NOT A NONPROFIT. WE'RE JUST REGULAR HOUSTONIANS THAT LIKE TO WORK OUT. UH, THERE'S 4 MILLION, UH, RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, GO. GO AHEAD. THE 4 MILLION RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON, THIS IS NEW TO 10,000, COME THERE DAILY. HOW COME WE, US HOW COME, UH, WE'RE BEING TARGETED AND, UH, HOW COME THEY'RE TELLING US THAT WE NEED A PERMIT? WAIT, LEMME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND. THEY WANT THE, THE MEMORIAL PARK. I GUESS THE CONSERVANCY WANTS YOU TO GET A PERMIT TO WORK OUT. YES. YES. WHEN THE HELL DID THEY TELL YOU THAT? LAST WEDNESDAY ON THE SIXTH TO TAKE A, YEAH. LET ME SEE. I STILL DON'T HAVE A MENTAL PICTURE OF THIS. YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES YES. WORK OUT THERE BY THE BENCH? YES. WHO APPROACHED YOU? UH, THE, UH, HER NAME IS, I HAVE TO ANYWAY. WHAT CAPACITY? UH, SHE A PARK RANGER. UH, SHE SAYS SHE RUNS THE HELEN MICHELLE. HELEN MICHELLE DID. HOW DID SHE IDENTIFY HERSELF? UH, SHE SAID THAT SHE'S THE, I GUESS DIRECTOR OR THE MANAGER WHO RUNS THE MEMORIAL CONSERVATORY. WELL, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. AND SO HAVE YOU GONE BACK? UH, WE'VE SUSPENDED GOING THERE BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEING TARGETED EVERY TIME WE GO THERE. EVERY TIME WE WENT THERE, THEY TOLD US TO BREAK APART. WE WENT THERE AGAIN. THEY TARGETED US AGAIN. DID SHE TELL YOU WHERE YOU GET THIS PERMIT? SHE SAID WE CAN'T GET A PERMIT BECAUSE THE SPACE DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW THE, THE, THE SPACE, THE, SHE SAID THEY'RE NOT GONNA ISSUE A PERMIT BECAUSE THE SPACE DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO EVEN ISSUE ANY PERMIT. SO THEY'RE CONFUSED. HAVE YOU BEEN BACK SINCE, SINCE THIS ENCOUNTER? WE'VE BEEN BACK ONCE AND THEY TARGETED US AGAIN, AND THEN WE JUST STOPPED GOING CHARGE YOU. [02:45:01] THEY TARGETED US AGAIN. TARGETED YOU? YES. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE? HOW MANY PEOPLE? THE THING IS WHAT TIME OF DAY? GIVE US A VISUAL OF THIS. WHAT TIME OF DAY ARE YOU TRYING TO WORK AT? 6:30 PM WEDNESDAY. MM-HMM . THERE'S USUALLY A RUN CLUB THAT'S THERE. SURE. I I'D SEE I WAS THERE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THERE'S, THERE'S NO PROBLEM. . YES. SOMEBODY'S CREATING A PROBLEM. OKAY, SO, SO WEDNESDAY, 6:30 PM AND SUNDAY IN THE MORNING. WERE ORIGINALLY THERE. OKAY. WE RECOGNIZE YOU. COUNSEL ACADEMY. THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME YEAH. MISUNDERSTANDING. C YEAH, IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME. I, I GUESS, I GUESS THAT THE DIFFERENCE SOMETIMES, UH, NOT, NOT AT MEMORIAL PARK, BUT IN OTHER AREAS OF TOWN WHEN I'VE BEEN CALLED ON ABOUT MATTERS THAT ARE, SEEM LIKE AN ORGANIZED ACTIVITY. LIKE IF IT'S A, IF IT'S SOME KIND OF ORGANIZED REGULAR THING YEAH. OR FOR A FEE YEARS, SOMETHING YEAH. THAT, THAT, THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT. BUT YOU KNOW, JUST GENERAL, LIKE, HEY, MAYBE SOME FRIENDS. I, I GUESS, UH, THE MAYOR PROTE MENTIONED, UM, HOW MEN WE'LL GET TO BY LIKE, IF IT'S AN ORGANIZED, AND I'M NOT SURE. I'D HAVE TO HAVE PARKS BREAK DOWN THE EXACT RULES. BUT I MEAN, WELL SAY, SAYING YOU NEED A PERMIT. YEAH. WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO REBECCA WILLIAMS IN MY OFFICE AND WE'LL IMMEDIATELY GET IN TOUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAKE SURE WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND WE'LL GET THIS RESOLVED. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WHAT REBECCA? WORK WITH THIS GENTLEMAN AND LET'S GET DIRECTOR ALLEN CONSERVANCY, A LITTLE WORKING GROUP AND FIX THIS. THERE MIGHT BE THE REST OF THE STORY THAT, UH, WE NEED TO LEARN. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS IN THERE. I'M SORRY, SIR. YOU HAVE HOLD ON. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, HOLD ON. CAN YOU COME BACK PLEASE? THANK YOU. SO I, I KNOW THAT YOU LIVE IN ALE AND SO, UM, I JUST WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE INTERIM TO USE THE WONDERFUL $60 MILLION PARK THAT'S RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. YES MA'AM. RIGHT DOWN THE USE BOTH. WE USE BOTH. CONTINUE TO USE THAT. IT'S THE THING IS, THE THING IS THIS IS, IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE CITY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT WITH MEMORIAL WHEN YOU GOT SEVEN GOOD ONES. THAT'S THE POINT IS IT'S FOR HOUSTONIANS. I'M AN ESTONIAN. I CAN USE MUCH. IF IT'S NOT HIM, IT'LL BE SOMEONE ELSE COUNSELING. RIGHT. BUT YOU GOT HARVARD PARK RIGHT THERE. YES MA'AM. ALMOST A MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT TRAILS, TREES. THAT IS TRUE. $60 MILLION ON THAT'S THOUGH. WHY DO I HAVE TO BE, I I GET THAT THOUGH. WHY DO I HAVE TO BE, UH, WHY AM I RESTRICTED FROM USING MEMORIAL? YOU'RE NOT RESTRICTED. HEY, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE WHOLE PORTFOLIO AVAILABLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. YES, MA'AM. AND ALSO I WANNA GIVE ONE RECOMMENDATION. I THINK THAT IF WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON, YOU SHOULD MAKE THE, UH, CALISTHENIC, UH, UH, UH, PARKS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. JUST LIKE IN EUROPE, JUST LIKE IN OTHER COUNTRIES THAT IT'S SO SMALL. IF CAN ONLY ACCOMMODATE 10 PEOPLE AND THERE'S 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE, YOU NEED TO EXPAND IT. THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT DISCUSSED WITH ESTONIANS, IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. LET'S, LET'S SOLVE YOUR IMMEDIATE PROBLEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. TALK TO REBECCA WILLIAMS. WE MIGHT NEED TO REMIND THE CONSERVANCY. IT IS A CITY PARK. CITY PARK, OKAY. CITY PARK. THANK YOU, SIR. WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH. NEXT. ANNIE JOHNSON. I BELIEVE THAT MARIELLA RUIZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY GREG EGAN. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REGARDING, ABOUT THE PANHANDLER. UH, UH, THEY, UM, HAVE AN ISSUE REGARDING ABOUT THAT, ABOUT, UM, THEM HAVING CHILDREN. UH, WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS A RIGHT THING FOR THEM TO BE HAVING THEM OUT IN THE STREETS IN THE HEAT. AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT MORE ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND, UM, I THINK IF PEOPLE WANNA GIVE, UH, MONEY TO THEM AND STUFF, THAT'S THEIR, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE, BUT NOT TO BE PUTTING CHILDREN UP IN THAT POINT. UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT KENYA DO REGARDING ABOUT THAT ISSUE. SO THAT'S ALL I CAME HERE FOR TO THAT, BECAUSE I SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED ABOUT THAT MATTER. AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I SEE THEM UNDER THE STREETS AND UNDER THE FREEWAYS AND THE CHILDREN OVER THERE IN THE HEAT AND DOG DIRTY. AND I SOMETIMES CALL THE OFFICERS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T COME OUT ON TIME. SO, SO IF Y'ALL CAN SEE IF Y'ALL CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AND THEN I APPRECIATE IT, HOWARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. YES. THIS, [02:50:01] THIS IS, UH, MAYOR A, A ISSUE THAT NOT ONLY MY DISTRICT FACES, BUT I'M SURE MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS FACE WHERE WE GET CALLS OR WE'RE JUST RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND WE SEE INDIVIDUALS ON THE SIDE OF THE STREETS WITH THEIR CH YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE SELLING ITEMS. AND I KNOW FROM OUR OFFICES STANDPOINT, WE DO CONTACT HPD, UH, FOR THEM TO GO OUT THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, CONSIDERED ON, ON SOME DEPARTMENT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A DIRECT LINE TO WHO WE CAN NOTIFY WHEN WE SEE THESE TYPE OF THINGS. BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IN HOUSTON, WHEN IT'S SO HOT OUTSIDE YES. AND THEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE NEAR THE CURB WITH THESE SPEEDING CARS GOING BY. YES. AND THE CHILD HAS NO, UM, ABILITY TO SAY, I DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE. THEY HAVE TO BE OUT THERE WITH THEIR PARENT BECAUSE THEIR PARENT IS MAKING 'EM STAND THERE. THIS, THIS IS A REAL ISSUE AND I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE OVER AND OVER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AND SO COLLECTIVELY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO THINK OF WHAT CAN BE DONE. UH, WHEN WE DO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREET WITH THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN, HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT HPD OR WHOEVER PRIORITIZES THAT CALL, THAT NEEDS TO BE A, A HIGH PRIORITY CALL. AND WE SHOULDN'T LOOK AT IT AS ONE OF THE LOWER LEVEL, UH, VIOLATIONS, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE MORE OF A PRIORITY ONE CALL SINCE A CHILD IS INVOLVED. AND SO, UM, I'LL CONTINUE TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THAT. I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. THIS IS A QUESTION MORE FOR LEGAL. I REMEMBER DECADES AGO THEY HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE AN ADULT HAD THEIR CHILD OUT IN ON THE CORNER SELLING MERCHANDISE AND THE CHILD FELL INTO THE STREET, GOT HIT BY A CAR, AND I, I BELIEVE WAS KILLED. AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE CITY PASSED AN ORDINANCE SAYING THAT YOU COULD NOT DISPLAY GOODS FOR SALE IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A PERMIT. YEAH. WE STILL HAVE SOMETHING. IT USED TO BE CALLED, UH, IT THAT IS CORRECT. I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING. SO IT'S, IT'S ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW. CORRECT. UH, YOU, YOU NEED, YOU NEED TO, UH, NOW OBVIOUSLY THAT DOESN'T IMPACT PANHANDLING, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT. IT DOES NOT. SO, BUT THERE'S BEEN BEEN A FEDERAL CASE THAT GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO BE THERE. I MEAN, WE ARE, WE'RE ON IT. WE ALL SEE IT. WE WORK WITH HPD, BUT THEN IF YOU TALK TO LEGAL, THERE'S A FEDERAL CASE THAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO, TO BE IN PUBLIC SPACE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE. AND NOBODY LIKES TO HAVE THE ENCOUNTERS. MANY OF THEM ARE PROFESSIONAL PANHANDLER. YOU GET INSIDE THE OPERATION AND HEIGHTS AND I 10 IS A $300 A DAY JOB. WASHINGTON AND I 10 IS A $200 A DAY. SO MANY PEOPLE CONFUSE THEM WITH HOMELESS. BUT IF YOU VISIT WITH 'EM, MANY OF THEM HAVE A RESIDENCE AND ADDRESS. I'VE SEEN THEM BEFORE. THEY A PO BOX NUMBER WHERE THEY GET THERE, WHERE THEY, THEY PARKED DOWN THE STREET. YEAH. AND GO GET IN THE CAR WHERE THEY GO TO. SO IT'S OTHER PAN HANDLERS ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT'S A TRAFFIC HAZARD, IT'S A DANGER TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE THERE. BUT IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE BECAUSE THE COURTS ARE PROTECTED. THEM JUST LIKE THE COURTS ARE PROTECTING THE LIBRARY ABOUT THIS TIME OF DAY WILL START BEING VERY CONGESTED. SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COURTS, USE OUR JUDGMENT AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. YOU KNOW, MANY WOULD SAY JUST DON'T PARTICIPATE AND, AND GIVE 'EM ASSISTANCE, BUT THAT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO DO. THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP. THANK YOU. NEXT, GREG EGAN, PATRICK EDGE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LEE BENNER. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL AND MAYOR. UH, OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THE, THE WHITE LINEN FESTIVAL DEGRADE INTO A BRO FEST FUELED BY BUD LIGHT AND TACO TRUCKS. I'D LIKE TO SEE CHANGES THAT EXEMPLIFY THE DIVERSE, COLORFUL, UH, ATMOSPHERE OF THE CITY. AND I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A BAN ON ALCOHOL AND VEHICLE BASED VENDORS WITHIN THE FESTIVAL LIMITS. [02:55:08] VERY WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT. NEXT LEE BENNER TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIE DREW. WELL, THIS IS REAL DIFFERENT, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE SOME SCULPTURE OUT OF THE SIDEWALK DOWNTOWN THAT I PUT IN ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WITHOUT GETTING ARRESTED. SO I'VE CALLED EVERYBODY I CAN FIND IN THE CITY FROM CULTURAL ARTS TO THE SIDEWALK PEOPLE TO EVERYBODY. I, AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY THAT COULD TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT TO DO. SO HERE I AM. YOU LIVE IN SUGAR LAND? YES, SIR. WELL, WELCOME. THANK YOU. YOU TALKING ABOUT OUR SIDEWALKS OR SUGAR LANDS? NO, NO. IT'S DOWNTOWN AT TWO 18. TRAVIS AND I, I USED TO OWN THE BUILDING THERE. YEAH. BACK WHEN I PUT THE STUFF IN. OKAY. AND THE, SO DURING THE COWA PROJECT WHEN THEY WERE REDOING THE SIDEWALK, I PUT IN THREE COLUMNS IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND THAT WHEN THEY PUT THE SIDEWALK IN, IT LEFT SOME HOLES ABOUT SQUARE, ABOUT 10 INCHES OR SO. OKAY. AND THEY WERE A FEW INCHES DEEP AND THEY JUST FILLED UP WITH CIGARETTES. SO I THOUGHT, OH, I'LL PUT SOME OF THESE SCULPTURES. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOTTEN A PICTURE OF 'EM. I'M LOOKING AT IT. WE'LL CHECK ON IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, OVER THE YEARS, THREE OF 'EM HAVE BEEN STOLEN. YEAH. AND, AND THEN THE ONE YOU CAN SORT OF TELL MY I GOT FROM MY WIFE AND IT WAS HERS AND SHE'S LIKED IT 'CAUSE IT'S, AND TO HER IT'S ME WHEN, WHEN I'M MAD. OKAY. WE'LL TRY TO, WE'LL TRY TO REMEDY THESE. THESE REALLY BOTHER YOU A LOT, HUH? THEY WHAT? THEY'RE HIS OH, I REALLY, YEAH. THEY BOTHER YOU A LOT, HUH? HE WANTS 'EM BACK. THEY'RE HIS I WANT 'EM BACK. HE WANT 'EM BACK. SO WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE 'EM WHEN YOU MOVED, WHEN YOU SOLD THE PROPERTY? OH, WELL, I, I ACTUALLY PUT 'EM IN RIGHT AFTER I SOLD THE PROPERTY TO COVER. WAS IT A GIFT TO THE CITY? CIGARETTES TO COVER UP THE CIGARETTES? YEAH, BECAUSE ONE BACK, IT WAS FOUR HOLES OUT IN THE SIDEWALK. YEAH. RIGHT NEXT TO THE, UH, UH, ARE THEY IN CONCRETE? OR YOU CAN JUST PULL 'EM OUT. YOU SAID PEOPLE HAVE STOLEN THEM? YEAH, BUT THEY'RE, YOU CAN JUST PULL 'EM OUT. WELL, WITH A HAMMER AND A SCREWDRIVER. YEAH. YOU CAN POP 'EM RIGHT OUT. YEAH. WHEN DID YOU PUT 'EM IN THERE? WHEN? YEAH. ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO. OH MY GOODNESS. WELL, I'M, WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY. . WELL, I JUST, WE'LL GO TO WORK ON IT, . YEAH, THANK YOU. WE WILL, WE WILL ASK PUBLIC WORKS TO CHECK IT OUT. OKAY. AND Y'ALL HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER OR SOMETHING? YES. OH, WE GOT IT. OKAY. GOOD. COUNCILOR P*****K. SO, SO THE, UH, YOUR SCULPTORS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE INSIDE, UH, CONCRETE THAT'S ON CITY PROPERTY? YEAH, IT'S ON THE SIDEWALK RIGHT NEXT TO THE, UH, OLD HORSE RINGS, BUT IT'S CITY PROPERTY. RIGHT. SO WHEN YOU, I'LL TELL YOU, WELL ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE I MET IN THE CITY CAME UP WITH SOMETHING AND SAID THAT SHE THINKS THAT THAT SIDEWALK IS PART OF THE COUNTY. A COUNTY. I THINK, WELL, MAYBE THEY PUT MONEY IN, IN THE COX WALL PROJECT, BUT THAT DIDN'T. SO WHEN YOU PUT THOSE, YOU DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT IT WOULD BECOME A PART OF THE CITY'S PROPERTY GOING FORWARD? NO. IT WAS A CITY PROPERTY. I KNOW. SO WHEN YOU MADE THE SCULPTORS, DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY'S PROPERTY AND THAT IT WOULD BECOME CITY'S PROPERTY? NO, I, I DIDN'T GIVE THAT MUCH OF A THOUGHT. THAT'S 15 YEARS AGO. PUT SOMETHING THERE THAT WAS INTERESTING. THAT WAS BETTER THAN CIGARETTES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHTY. WE'LL GO TO WORK. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO WORK ON IT. THANK YOU. NEXT WILLIE DREW, MARISSA RAN. REBECCA, PUT THAT ON YOUR TO-DO LIST. WILL YOU MARISSA. R JANICE SPANGENBERGER. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. I'M HERE WITH THE AUDI PARENTS. I'M A PARENT OF A THREE AND A HALF YEAR OLD AT LIP BABBLE PRE-K. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, THERE ARE ROUGHLY 85 CHILDREN AT OUR PRESCHOOL THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SCHOOL, UH, THROUGH THE SUMMER CAMP ALL SUMMER, BEING EXPOSED [03:00:01] TO THE SILICA DUST FROM THIS CONCRETE BATCH MIXING FACILITY. UM, MY THREE AND A HALF YEAR OLD IS ASTHMATIC. WE'VE HAD ONE HOSPITALIZATION THUS FAR, UM, BUT MANAGED WITH A MEDICATION NOT RELATED TO THIS CEMENT FORTUNATELY. UM, JUST FOR CONTEXT, WE HAVE 26 INFANTS, THREE MONTHS TO EIGHT TO 18 MONTHS WHEN, AND TWO PREGNANT TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS, UH, ALL SUMMER. UNBEKNOWNST TO US AND UNBEKNOWNST TO OUR SCHOOL, WE HEARD ABOUT THIS ON THURSDAY LAST WEEK AFTER PARENT TEACHER ORIENTATION FOR THE NEW PRE-K CURRICULUM THAT STARTED YESTERDAY. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS, UM, AS PARENTS, THERE ARE SEVERAL PARENTS THAT HAVE RELOCATED THEIR CHILDREN TO OTHER LIT BABEL LOCATIONS. THERE'S THREE SITES, HOWEVER, NOW THOSE ARE FULL. UM, IT'S A FULL LANGUAGE IMMERSION CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES IN FINISH UP, UH, THAT TEACHES IN, UH, SPANISH, FRENCH, AND MANDARIN AND FULL, UH, EDUCATION IN THOSE LANGUAGES, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AT THOSE PRESCHOOL LEVELS IF YOU WANT TO RAISE A BILINGUAL OR MULTILINGUAL CHILD, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE SOUGHT OUT THESE EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE VERY FEW FAR BETWEEN AND WAITLISTED IN THE CITY. UM, WE'RE UP AGAINST IT. I UNDERSTAND. UM, UM, HOW UP AGAINST IT WE ARE WITH THE INDUSTRY AND IF THERE IS ANY HELP, UH, FOR US AS PARENTS THAT ARE NOW HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE GENERAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE EDUCATION WE DESPERATELY WANT THEM TO GET. UH, THAT'S NOT EVEN A, A CHOICE. UM, I HAVE TO PULL HIM, UH, AS, UM, SEVERAL OF THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO, WHICH IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE BUSINESS FOR, FOR LIT ABEL. AND THESE TEACHERS ARE WONDERFUL. YOU KNOW, MY GRANDSON, WHO I DO HAVE CUSTODY OF, SO I DO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR HIM, IS THRIVING AT THIS SCHOOL. HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 23. THEY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE TEACHERS. THEY'RE PHENOMENAL. UH, THAT IS NOT EASY. THAT'S NOT EASY TO FIND. ANYONE THAT'S RAISED CHILDREN KNOWS THAT'S A SURE, THAT'S A BLESSING. WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SYMPATHETIC AND SORRY THAT YOU EVEN FACED WITH THIS DISCUSSION, BUT IT'S THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE'RE CONTACTING THE PERMITTING, BUT, UH, I DON'T SEE A QUICK FIX FOR IT. IF I DID, I'D DO IT RIGHT THIS MINUTE. I TRUST THAT. SO ANYWAY, COUNCIL VICE MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DID WANNA SHARE AN UPDATE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL. UM, THEY GOT THE RESULTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS AND FOUND NEARLY NON-DETECTABLE, UM, CONTAMINANTS IN ALL OF THE SAMPLES AND NO IDENTIFY IDENTIFIABLE HAZARDS, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FROM THE CITY HAS FOUND AS WELL. BUT THAT'S NOW, WE KNOW IN THE PAST THAT THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. AND THEY DID FIND ISSUES AND CITATIONS WERE WRITTEN, SO MM-HMM . UM, AT LEAST AT THE MOMENT, THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO GO OUT THERE TO DO, UM, THOSE TESTS AS WELL. BUT AT LEAST FOR RIGHT NOW, UM, THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT. OF COURSE IT WILL. IS THAT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE PUT UPON THE PARENTS AND THE SCHOOLS TO NO, WE'LL BE TESTING. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT MALIA TIPTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL MAHONEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAJOR COUNSEL. MY NAME IS MEL TIPTON. I'M A GEOPHYSICAL ENGINEER, MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG HOUSTONIANS WITH A FOURTH ONE ON THE WAY. I'M ALSO AN AUDI PARENT, AS YOU KNOW. NOW WE HAVE AN ACTIVE CONCRETE BATCH PLANT THAT SITS RIGHT ACROSS THE FENCE FROM OUR SCHOOL. LAST MAY WHEN THESE PLANT PLANT STARTED OPERATION, MY OLDEST SON DEVELOPED PNEUMONIA. HE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED WITH PERSISTENT ASTHMA, A LIFELONG CONDITION. SO EVEN THOUGH TCQ ONLY REQUIRES THESE PLANS TO BE A HUNDRED FEET OR MORE AWAY FROM THE SCHOOLS, THIS ONE SHARES A FENCE WITH US AND IS ALLOWED TO, UH, OPERATE 24 7 UNTIL AT LEAST 2028. HOW WAS THIS PERMITTED ON THE FIRST PLACE? WE KNOW THIS IS HARD. WE KNOW THIS IS CHALLENGING, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM FOR A SCHOOL. IT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE COM COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A WHOLE TO DECLARE AUGUST A CIVIL HEALTH MONTH TODAY. SO I PLEDGE THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH US IN TRYING TO RELOCATE THIS PLANT OR REDUCE THEIR OPERATING HOUR FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN BY STILL ALLOWING THE PROGRESS OF OUR CITY. BECAUSE A PLANT CAN BE MOVED AND REBUILT, [03:05:01] BUT A CHILD'S LUNGS CANNOT BE REBUILT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, DANIEL MAHONEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I'M DR. DANIEL MAHONEY, UH, BOARD CERTIFIED ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS. MY DAUGHTER SOPHIA, UH, IS ABOUT TO START KINDERGARTEN AT AUDI. UM, I APPRECIATE MAYOR, YOUR COMMENT THAT THIS CONCRETE PLANT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. UM, AND WE'RE ALL VERY UPSET THAT IT DID. UM, OUR CHILDREN ARE ABOUT TO START SCHOOL NEXT WEEK. THEY'LL BE BREATHING THIS AIR SIX HOURS A DAY, 180 DAYS A YEAR FOR A CHILD WHO'S THREE YEARS OLD. AND IT STAYS FOR THE NEXT THREE, THREE YEARS THROUGH THE END OF THIS PROJECT. IN, IN 2028, THAT'S HALF OF THEIR LIFE THAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO, KNOWN CAR, KNOWN AIRBORNE CARCIN ENGINES. ALL THE DATA ABOUT SILICOSIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS, IS COMES FROM ADULTS. UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA IN KIDS BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT TO EXPOSE THEM AT THIS YOUNG AGE BECAUSE THEIR LUNGS ARE DEVELOPING AND IT REALLY IS JUST, IT'S SO UNHEALTHY. UM, I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE. WE, AS A AN AUDI PARENT COMMUNITY HAVE RECEIVED, UH, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS PECK AND ALCORN AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR, UH, STATE LEGISLATORS, HOLLEN COOK, WHO HAVE ALL RAISED AWARENESS AND EXPEDITED THE PERMIT REVIEWS TO HELP SUPPORT US AND ALIGN WITH US IN THIS. THANK YOU. NEXT HANKA AWA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSE BANJO. MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL MEMBERS, I FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT AUDI. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON FOR 50 YEARS, DEVELOPING HOUSING IN OUR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND AS AN ENGINEER, A HOME BUILDER, I DEPEND ON CONCRETE PLANTS TO PROVIDE READY MIX QUICKLY AND THE RIGHT STRENGTH JUST LIKE TDOT DOES FOR THEIR PROJECTS. BUT I SOURCE THAT CONCRETE PLANTS, NOT FROM PLANTS THAT ARE LOCATED NEXT TO AUDI, BUT FROM PLANTS THAT ARE LOCATED IN INDUSTRIAL SECTORS OF THE CITY. AS AN ENGINEER, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SOLUTION. TYPICALLY, WET CONCRETE HAS A 90 MINUTE LIMIT. ONCE IT'S LOADED INTO THE TRUCK TO BE PORTED A PROJECT THIS TIME CAN BE LENGTHENED WITH CURING RETARDERS CHILLED WATER OR EVEN ICE IN THE MIX. NOW THE WEBER BATCH PLANT, WHICH STARTED OPERATING RECENTLY, IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO MY KID'S SCHOOL. THIS PLANT CONVENIENTLY PROVIDES READY MIX FOR THE I 10 ELEVATION PROJECT FIVE MILES AWAY, WHICH IS JUST A 15 MINUTE DRIVE FOR THE TRUCKS. GENERALLY, CONCRETE PLANTS, AS YOU KNOW, ARE LOCATED IN INDUSTRIAL PARTS OF THE CITY AND THEY'RE NOT ADJACENT TO SCHOOLS. THEY MAY BE IN THE SAME REGION, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOOD TIME. HAS, IF I MAY HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE, PLEASE GO AHEAD. WRAP IT UP. THANK YOU. SO THE I 10 PROJECT, THE ELEVATION PROJECT, WE NEED IT SORELY. I KNOW NO ONE LIKES FLOODING IN HOUSTON. IT'S RIGHT HERE AT 45 AND I 10. SO THAT PLANT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER PLANTS THAT CAN PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF CONCRETE USING THESE PROVEN METHODS TO EXTEND THE DELIVERY TIME AND STILL GET THE END RESULT OF A I 10 THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO FLOOD. SO BASICALLY THIS PLANT WAS A CONVENIENT LOCATION FOR TXDOT, BUT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS, AUDI SCHOOL, THE LIP SCHOOL, AND THE CHILDREN AND THE TEACHERS WOULD BE SUFFERING NOT JUST FOR, UH, THE TIME THAT IT'S IN OPERATION RIGHT NOW, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PLANT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE THREE YEARS OR EVERYTHING WITH PROJECTS ARE DELAYED. YOU'RE LOOKING AT WELL OVER THREE YEARS. VERY GOOD. WE'RE, WE'RE IN TOTAL AGREEMENT. I, I I, I WANNA JUST MAKE ONE MORE POINT TO, UM, THE RESULTS THAT WERE, UH, JUST ANNOUNCED. THE PLANT RIGHT NOW IS OPERATING AT A LIMITED CAPACITY. IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND WALK ALONG THE WHITE OAK HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, YOU'LL SEE THAT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY HAVE JUST STARTED PUTTING IN THE COLUMNS AND THE PILLARS. THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF CONCRETE IN THOSE COLUMNS. THEY MAY BE THREE, FOUR FEET IN DIAMETER AND THEY ONLY HOLD MAYBE A FEW TRUCKS OF CONCRETE IN EACH COLUMN. ONCE YOU START POURING THOSE MAIN LANES, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TRUCKS AN HOUR LINED UP GOING IN AND OUT OF THAT FACILITY, POURING MILLIONS OF YARDS OF CONCRETE. ARE YOU GONNA WAIT ANOTHER TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS TO GET THOSE TEST RESULTS WHILE THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL, WHILE THESE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING 'EM? I, I, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, BUT THEIR SOLUTIONS HERE, RAM HERE S LET'S USE THOSE SOLUTIONS. THANK, THANK YOU SIR, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THIS CONCRETE BATCH PLANT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT A AND REALLY THAT PLANT IS NOT ALL THAT FAR AWAY FROM [03:10:01] WHERE I LIVE. I DO WANT TO NOTE THIS IS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER REF REFERENCED IT. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS WHO LIVE IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND, UM, IF WE COULD REGULATE THESE THINGS, WE WOULD, UNFORTUNATELY THE STATE HAS MADE IT EASY, UH, FOR THEM TO GET PERMITS AND FOR THEM TO GET PERMITS RENEWED EVEN WHEN THERE ARE VIOLATIONS. UH, I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO US AS WELL, BUT I JUST, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, WE, WE ARE SYMPATHETIC. UM, BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM ALL AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING ON THE EAST SIDE, NORTHEAST, YOU NAME IT. THANK YOU. I, I URGE YOU TO WORK WITH THE TEXT ENGINEERS TO USE THESE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE DELIVERY TIMES TO SOME OTHER TYPE OF PLANT THAT'S NOT IN ANY OF THESE SCHOOL LOCATIONS OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS. RIGHT? THERE'S PLANTS IN INDUSTRIAL SECTORS. THEY COULD, THEY COULD USE IT ALL AS ALTERNATES. WE AGREE. MY ADVICE IS, IS ALSO TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS. AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PECK REFERENCED THAT SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. YES. HALL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT HO. JOSE. GIO, CAR CARBO HALL NEXT. PHILLIP HAR STUFF WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, OKAY. A NEW VISION FOR HOUSTON. WHY OUR CITY NEEDS A BETTER FLAG. HOWDY. MY NAME IS PHILIP PARK. I'M 13 YEARS OLD AND MY PASSION FOR FLAGS RUNS DEEP. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN VEX ASSOCIATION, NAVA, AND I BELIEVE FLAGS ARE POWERFUL SYMBOLS OF PRIDE, JOY, AND UNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, HOUSTON'S CURRENT FLAG DOESN'T LIVE UP TO THESE STANDARDS, AND IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE. HOUSTON, THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, DESERVES A FLAG THAT TRULY REPRESENTS ITS SPIRIT. OUR CURRENT FLAG. THE CITY SEAL ON A STAR WITHIN A BLUE BACKGROUND FAILS TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF GOOD FLAG DESIGN. ACCORDING TO NAVA, A GOOD FLAG SHOULD, NUMBER ONE, KEEP IT SIMPLE SO THAT A CHILD COULD DRAW IT FROM MEMORY, USE MEANINGFUL SYMBOLISM, USE TWO OR THREE BASIC COLORS, HAVE NO LETTERING OR SEALS, AND BE DISTINCTIVE OR BE RELATED TO ANOTHER FLAG. HOUSTON'S FLAG FAILS ON ALL OF THESE POINTS, ESPECIALLY ON THE USE OF A SEAL. THE PROBLEM WITH SEALS IS THAT THEY'RE IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOGNIZE FROM A DISTANCE. OUR FLAG LOOKS JUST LIKE THE 33 OTHER STATE FLAGS THAT ALSO FEATURE THEIR SEALS ON A MONOCHROME BACKGROUND FROM A DISTANCE. IT EVEN LOOKS LIKE THE CONNECTICUT STATE FLAG. IN CONTRAST, CITIES LIKE CHICAGO, DENVER AND WASHINGTON DC POST ICONIC FLAGS THAT FOLLOW THESE PRINCIPLES AND HAVE BECOME CULTURAL SYMBOLS. THE CHICAGO FLAG, FOR EXAMPLE, IS SO BELOVED THAT THERE'S AN ENTIRE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO TATTOOS OF IT. HOUSTON'S FLAG IS A, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WHERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? UH, I GO TO ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX SCHOOL. A OS IN MONTROSE. OKAY. IS THIS SCHOOL PROJECT, WHAT? IS THIS A SCHOOL PROJECT OR YOU'RE JUST ON YOUR OWN INITIATIVE? NO, I WANTED TO DO THIS 'CAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THE HOUSTON FLAG FAILED. OH, WE'RE SORRY. THAT'S GONNA MEMBER FLICKINGER. MAY I HAVE A FEW MORE MOMENTS TO FINISH OR COUNCIL? YOU BETTER WRAP IT UP. WE BE A LONG DAY AND WE STILL GOT WORK TO DO UHHUH, AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THAT FLAG. UH, I THINK IT OUGHT TO HAVE A GENERATOR ON IT MYSELF. INSPIRED BY GREAT CITY FOX, THEY GOT LOCOMOTIVE OFF AND PUT A GENERATOR. INSPIRED BY GREAT CITY FLAGS WHAT YOU DO WITH A PLOW . I'VE DESIGNED A NEW FLAG FOR HOUSTON. I DREW THE COLORS BLACK, WHITE, AND YELLOW FROM SAM HOUSTON'S COAT OF ARMS. MY DESIGN FEATURES A SINGLE BLACK STAR ON A FIELD OF HORIZONTAL STRIPES. THE BLACK STAR IS A KNOT TO THE LONE STAR STATE. IT SYMBOLIZES OUR VITAL OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS THE VASTNESS OF SPACE, REFLECTING OUR IDENTITY AS THE SPACE CITY. THE TOP YELLOW STRIPE REPRESENTS THE SUN SHINING BRIGHTLY ON OUR CITY, WHICH IT CERTAINLY DOES. WHILE THE BOTTOM BLUE STRIPES SIGNIFIES OUR BY USING WATERWAYS, THE WHITE BACKGROUND SYMBOLIZES UNITY. REFLECTING ON HOW HOUSTONIANS COME TOGETHER AS ONE. REPLACING OUR FLAG WOULD COME WITH A COST. HOWEVER, THE LONG TERM IMMEASURABLE RE RETURNS IN CIVIC PRIDE AND COMMUNITY TOGETHERNESS FAR OUTWEIGH THIS INITIAL INVESTMENT SINCE 2021. THREE STATES AND MANY CITIES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CHANGED THEIR OUTDATED FLAGS. [03:15:01] WHILE MY DESIGN FOLLOWS THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD VOLOGY, THE ULTIMATE DESIGN IS A DECISION FOR THE CITY. I PROPOSE THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO EITHER APPROVE MY DESIGN, HIRE, DESIGNER, OR HOLD A PUBLIC CONTEST. WELL, THANK YOU. YOU'RE A SHARP YOUNG MAN. WE APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL COUNCILOR FLICKINGER? YES, MR. HART. JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, YOU'RE WAY AHEAD OF ME. UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS AND I TOURED WALKER THE THE OTHER DAY, AND THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT WE HAD A FLAG. I HAD NO IDEA. , COME UP TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WE GOT IT. VICE MAYOR PROTON. VICE MAYOR, PRO IMPACT. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I APPRECIATE IT. I LIKE THE FLAG DESIGN THAT YOU CAME UP WITH UHHUH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING IT WITH US. UHHUH. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. THANK YOU, SIR. HAVE A GOOD DAY. YOU TOO. NICK JACQUE LANGO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOE OR HAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. MAYOR. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF. YES. MY NAME IS OPPOSED. JACK DI BINGO. LONGO PASTOR OF KADASH KINGDOM CHURCH HERE IN HOUSTON. I SPEAK FOR THE LSSE VICTIMS TEAM, HUNDRED OF HOUSTONIANS AND THOUSAND WORLDWIDE, ROBBED BY A CRIMINAL NETWORK CALLED LIGHTNING SHARE SCHOOL COMPANY. ON MAY 3RD, 2024, THE COLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE ISSUED L-S-S-C-A CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING, WHICH THEY USED TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THEY WERE LEGITIMATE. IN JUNE, 2025, THEY LYNCH A CARNIVAL PROMOTION PROMISING NO WITHDRAWAL FEES, MAJOR PAYOUT AND OPENING OF US HEADQUARTERS IN DALLAS. PEOPLE EMPTY RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND 401K PLANS TO PARTICIPATE, BUT IT WAS A LIE. BY JULY 11TH, 2025 WITHDRAWALS WERE BLOCKED. THEY DEMANDED CRYPTO CONVERSIONS AND IDENTITY FEES. ON JULY 30TH, WE REPORTED THEM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE US SECRET SERVICE TO TODAY. PARENTS CAN'T SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. FAMILIES CAN'T PAY RENT OR BUY FOOD. SOME VICTIMS HAVE DIED. WE HAVE TRACED OVER $4 BILLION TO A HONG KONG WALLET LINKED TO LSSE. MR. MAYOR, WE ASK YOU TO URGE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FREEZE THIS WALLET. HELP CREATE AN EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND. WE HAVE REGISTERED OVER 1000 VICTIMS IN URGENT NEED PUSH FOR A STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. WE ARE NOT HERE FOR PITY. WE ARE HERE FOR JUSTICE AND PROTECTION OF HOUSTON. RESIDENT LSCC PLAYED WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES. STAND WITH US. SO JUSTICE IS SWIFT AND RESTITUTION RAIL. THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY? LSSC, LIGHTNING SHARE SCOOTER COMPANY. LSLS. S-C-L-S-S-C. SO THEY SCAMMED YEAH, THEY SCAM YOU AND OTHER FOLKS OUT OF THEIR MONEY. SO OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE SCAMMED BY THIS ONE COMPANY. OVER A MILLION OF PEOPLE. YES. BUT HERE WE JUST REGISTER 1000 PEOPLE TO OUR, UH, NO-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO CAME TO US TO REPORT TO THE SECRET SERVICE AND TO THE POLICE. AND YOU FILED A POLICE REPORT? YES, WE DID. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LOOK UP THIS TYPE OF SCAM. I DON'T, I DON'T ANTICIPATE. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT THE FINANCIAL CRIMES. FINANCIAL CRIMES, YES. HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANYBODY IN FINANCIAL CRIMES? YEAH, WE TALKED WITH THE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS. THEY WERE HERE, BUT THEY LEFT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL WAS FOR THE COMMITMENT. YES. OKAY. SO WE HAVEN'T TALKED YET WITH FINANCIAL CRIMES. WE JUST MADE A POLICE REPORT. YOU MADE A POLICE REPORT. OKAY. YES. THEN I WOULD SEE IF, UH, OUR POLICE OFFICERS CAN GET YOU IN TOUCH WITH FINANCIAL CRIMES BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SOLVE HERE. UM, BUT WE COULD ENCOURAGE OUR FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION TO HELP WITH, WITH YOUR CASE. NOW MA'AM, THERE IS A REQUEST. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE, UH, WE'VE DONE INVESTIGATIONS AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE MONEY IS. WE'VE TRACKED THE WALLETS BECAUSE IT'S CRYPTOCURRENCY, UH, TRANSACTIONS. WE KNOW WHERE THE WALLET, SO YOU KNOW WHERE THE WALLET IS, IS A CRYPTOCURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. SO THE FINANCIAL CRIMES FOLKS NEEDS, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE WALLET AND THE CRYPTOCURRENCY. BUT I'M SURE THAT THE FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION WOULD HAVE THE SPECI SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY AND PEOPLE TO HELP YOU TRY TO IDENTIFY AND STOP THE [03:20:01] SCAMMING FROM MOVING FORWARD. NOW, WE APPRECIATE THAT, MA'AM. NOW ABOUT RETRIEVING THE FUNDS, OUR, OUR PLEA HERE TO THE MA'AM AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN. CHRISTIAN. WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? CHRISTIAN AOU. A WOH. AOU. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE YOUR MA'AM. SIR, OUR PLEA HERE TO ME, SO I PLEA TO THEM, MA'AM, BECAUSE THESE CRIMINALS ARE MOVING FAST. THEY'RE EXPANDING GLOBALLY. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ASKING THAT THEY STOP IT, BUT ALSO FOR US TO HAVE THE FALSE BACK OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE SCAMMED. UH, WE ARE ASKING THAT IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO, IS ONE AN INJUNCTION THAT POSSIBLY CAN FREEZE THOSE ACCOUNTS, THAT CAN FREEZE THOSE ACCOUNTS? SO THAT'S, THAT'S NOT QUITE A CITY FUNCTION TO FREEZE THOSE ACCOUNTS. THAT'S WHY I, MY SUGGESTION IS TO TALK TO FINANCIAL CRIMES. OKAY. SO WE CAN SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION. OKAY. MY NEXT, CAN YOU, CAN YOU MEET WITH THEM TO GET THEM TO FINANCIAL CRIMES? MY, MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT EITHER THE SENATOR CAN MAKE A CALL OR ANYONE ELSE CAN MAKE A CALL? AND WHILE WE SPEAK WITH FINANCIAL, WHO IS YOUR SENATOR? I DUNNO. OH, YOUR US SENATOR. OKAY. WE, WE CAN GET YOU, WE CAN GET YOU THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. I WILL APPRECIATE IT. ABSOLUTELY. I'LL APPRECIATE THAT, MA'AM. OKAY. SENATOR CRUZ. ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN GET YOU THEIR ALL FINANCIAL CRIMES AND GET THE CONTACT OF THE SENATOR AND WE APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED, WE WANT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE MANY HOUSTONIANS ARE BEING SCAMMED OUT OF THIS. SO IT'S, WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S LIGHTING SCOOTERS COMPANY, RIGHT? SO MANY PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY MYSELF THAT PEOPLE WILL LEARN FROM THIS BIG COSTLY MISTAKE. YES MA'AM. BUT IF YOU DEFINITELY WANNA STEP OVER AND TALK TO OUR POLICE OFFICER HERE AND SHE CAN HELP YOU WITH GETTING IN TOUCH WITH FINANCIAL CRIMES. OKAY, MA'AM, APPRECIATE BEST WISHES TO YOU. OKAY? AND, AND REBECCA, CAN YOU GET THEM SENATOR CRUZ'S CONTACT? YEAH. THANK YOU. YOU NOT ANYMORE. NEXT SPEAKER? YES. THANK YOU. OKAY, MA'AM, I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. JOE ALARCON. I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE. JOSEPH SMITH. HE LEFT YOU. MARION SCOTT. SHE NOT HIT BACK. MM. MICHELLE IBO. ALRIGHT THEN. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. UHUH. MICHELLE. OH, MICHELLE. OKAY. THE A CLU WARNED THIS CATEGORY WAS RIPE FOR ABUSE. AND ABUSE IS EXACTLY WHAT THE FB I'S DOING. HARASSING CIVILIANS THROUGH A CATEGORY IT WAS NEVER AUTHORIZED TO HAVE. SOUNDS LIKE COINTELPRO, DOESN'T IT? AND I WANNA SHOW YOU WHERE THIS ALL BEGAN. BACK IN 2003, THE PRESIDENT ISSUED THE HSPD SIX EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH GRANTED THE FBI LIMITED AUTHORITIES TO CREATE INVESTIGATIVE CATEGORIES FOR KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TERRORIST. BUT RATHER THAN OPERATING WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY, THE BUREAU QUIETLY CREATED ITS OWN UNAUTHORIZED CLASSIFICATION ENTIRELY OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF EXECUTIVE OR CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL UNDER THE H HSP D SIX, WHICH WAS THE FBI'S ONLY SOURCE OF LEGAL AUTHORITY TO POPULATE THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST. ONLY TWO CATEGORIES WERE EVER LAWFULLY AUTHORIZED HANLEY CODES ONE AND TWO. THESE APPLY TO INDIVIDUALS WITH VERIFIED LINKS TO TERRORISM. AND WHAT WE COMMONLY KNOW TODAY AS KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TERRORIST, EACH AS A NATION, AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT ORDER WAS REQUIRED TO MEET A LEGAL THRESHOLD BACKED BY EVIDENCE OVERSIGHT AND A FORMAL REVIEW PROCESS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I GOING ON? OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. CAN I CONTINUE GOING ON JUST A REAL SHORT LITTLE BIT? OKAY. OKAY. LIKE 30 SECONDS. YEAH. UM, CAN I GET A MINUTE? ? OKAY. TAKE A MINUTE, CHRIS. A FAST MINUTE. A FAST MINUTE. SO EACH DESIGNATION, RIGHT? HANDLING CODES ONE AND TWO WERE THE ONLY AUTHORIZED CATEGORIES TO BE ON THE TSDB, RIGHT? AND THEY REQUIRED A FORMAL REVIEW PROCESS, RIGHT. EVIDENCE RIGHT GO FOR RIGHT, RIGHT. EVIDENCE OVERSIGHT IN A FORM REVIEW PROCESS. RIGHT. BUT THE FBI DID NOT FOLLOW THAT. RIGHT. IT SIDESTEPPED THAT LAW ENTIRELY. MANUFACTURING ITS OWN PRIVATE CATEGORIES, HANDLING CODES THREE AND FOUR. THESE CODES HAD NO LEGAL AUTHORIZATION, NO EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND NO CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. THEY WERE NEVER REVIEWED, NEVER VETTED, AND NEVER [03:25:01] AUTHORIZED BY LAW. YET THERE WERE QUIETLY SLAPPED ONTO CIVILIANS, ORDINARY AMERICANS WITH NO CHARGES, NO CRIMES, AND NO CONNECTION TO TERRORISM. JUST SUSPICION FABRICATED IN A VACUUM OUTSIDE THE LAW. OKAY. YOU MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. UM, YEAH, I WOULD REALLY LIKE, UH, AM MAYOR, I KNOW I EMAILED YOU. I WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS CATEGORY TO BE REFERRED TO THE PROPER PARTIES. THIS CATEGORY WAS NEVER AUTHORIZED BY THE DOJ, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OR OKAY. OR CONGRESS. THANK AND NOT, NOT ONLY WAS IT EVER, YOU KNOW, AUTHORIZED FOR CREATION, BUT IT WAS CREATED BY THE FBI IN DEFIANCE OF AN EXECUTIVE MANDATE. OKAY. THANK AND INTELLIGENCE, INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO DEFY EXECUTIVE MANDATES AND CREATE AND ENFORCE THEIR OWN PRIVATE CATEGORIES. SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A PUSH FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN REAL PATIENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT WILL BE MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE THIS ACT QUALITY. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS JULIA ORA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BARBARA DENSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JUA REGIONAL DIRECTOR AT TEXAS HOUSERS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT TO REFLECT ON. YOU HEARD FROM LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS, MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPERS AND ADVOCATES ALIKE THAT WE NEED HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS. AND YOU ANSWERED THE CALL WITH A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN HOUSTON. WE LIVE IN A COMPOUNDING HOUSING CRISIS WITH MANY STILL RECOVERING FROM HARVEY AMELDA, YURI, AND LAST YEAR'S DISASTERS MADE MORE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UNLIVABLE MORE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, UNSAFE AND UNINHABITABLE AND LESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK FOR HOUSTONIANS AVAILABLE MEANS THAT THE FASTER WE SEE THIS HOUSING CRISIS UNFOLD, I HOPE THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION IN THE LONG ROAD TO HOUSING AND RECOVERY AND NOT THE END, THE REAL START. THE REAL WORK STARTS NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD, MAYOR. THANK YOU. NEXT. BARBARA DENSON. I'M BARBARA DENSON URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON BOTH AMENDMENTS. THAT WOULD CUT FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES. HOUSTON'S EMERGENCY INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE POWER CORRIDOR, OUR CITY'S HEARTBEAT. IT KEEPS FIRE STATIONS, HOSPITALS, AND SHELTERS RUNNING AND POWERS THE CREWS CLEARING DEBRIS AND SAVING LIVES. THESE AMENDMENTS THREATEN TO YANK THAT CORD FROM THE WALL. DISASTER RELIEF IS HOW WE DISASTER. RELIEF ISN'T JUST ABOUT HELPING SINGULAR HOMES, IT'S HOW WE PROTECT EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES. SENIORS ON OXYGEN, FAMILIES AND SHELTERS, FIRST RESPONDERS WHO NEED POWER AND CLEAR ROADS TO SAVE LIVES. THIS ISN'T ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN COMPASSION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ABOUT CHOOSING RESILIENCE. LET'S KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, THE ROADS CLEAR AND THE HEARTBEATS STRONG. VOTE NO ON BOTH OF THESE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. NEXT. OH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD, MA'AM. SO I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU MY PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS AND I, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND TIME YOU MAY HAVE COME FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME HERE. UM, THE CITY LOOKS AT THE DAMAGE AS A TOTALITY. OKAY? AND WITHIN THAT DAMAGE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEN ALLOCATES DOLLARS BASED ON THE TOTAL DAMAGE THAT THE CITY HAS SUSTAINED. SOME OF THAT DAMAGE IS TO PEOPLE'S HOMES. AND SOME OF THAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN CATEGORIZED AS BEING THE HIGHEST UNMET NEED WITHIN THE CITY AS IT AS IT RELATES TO DISASTER AND DISASTER RECOVERY. SO AS WE ARE, UH, PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY ASSETS ARE RESILIENT, HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND DAMAGED BASED ON THE STORMS OF NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN ALSO HAVE TO BE PROTECTED AS WELL. AND SO THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE THERE. AND SO I KNOW THIS IS MY TIME, AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND FROM MY STANDPOINT ON WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT JUST CITY FACILITIES THAT HAVE TO BE PROTECTED INDIVIDUALS AND, AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY VULNERABLE, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO FIX THEIR HOMES. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GIVING THAT AID AS AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE TO FIX THEIR HOMES. AND, BUT FOR THOSE DOLLARS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING. AND IN THE PAST, THE STATE HAS BEEN PRIMARILY OVER HOW WE'RE ABLE TO PUT FORTH A PROGRAM WITH THESE DR 20 FOREFRONTS. IT WILL BE UNDER THE CITY'S UMBRELLA. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE DOLLARS WILL BE EXECUTED IN A MORE, UM, PRUDENT MANNER AND THAT THESE HOMES WILL BE REPAIRED IN A PROMPT [03:30:01] FASHION. BUT I DO THINK THAT ONLY THINKING ABOUT PROTECTING CITY ASSETS AND NOT THINKING ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE, UH, WE WOULD NOT BE DOING OUR JOB AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE COMMUNITIES IF WE WERE NOT TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. WELL, LET ME SAY, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD TWO HOMES GET FLOODED AND HAS HAD ZIPPO TAKEN CARE OF AND HAD TO HANDLE EVERYTHING ON OUR CELL, I TOTALLY GET THAT. YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH. IT'S BEEN HORRIFIC. I WOULD LIKE THOUGH TO SEE US TAKE CARE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE THAT TAKES CARE OF EVERYONE AND START DOING MORE TO KEEP THESE FLOODS FROM HAPPENING. I'M SEEING ZERO. I KNOW. I THINK I DON'T THINK THE CITY DOES ANY OF THAT. I THINK IT'S MORE LIKE THE COUNTY AND STATE AND ALL THAT, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE OUT IN THE WEST PART OF TOWN WHERE THOSE RESERVOIRS OPENED UP. NOTHING IS BEING DONE. AND THIS HAS BEEN YEARS NOW AND, AND WE'VE GOTTEN ALL THIS MONEY FOR IT AND NOTHING'S BEING DONE. SO WE NEED TO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S YOU GUYS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I FEEL FOR YOU. I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, ONE MOMENT, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. MS. DISON, UM, I, I, I THINK YOUR COMMENTS ARE DEEPLY DISCONNECTED FROM, DEEPLY DISCONNECTED FROM THOSE OF, UH, YOUR NEIGHBORS, HOUSTONIANS, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL THRESHOLD THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD TO RECOVER AFTER TWO STORMS. THESE ARE THEIR TAX DOLLARS, OUR TAX DOLLARS RETURNING BACK TO US TO MEET THE EXACT NEED THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DO. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT, UM, YOU DIDN'T HAVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT I'M SHOCKED THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO EXTEND THAT. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THAT LACK OF SUPPORT BECAUSE YOU, BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO YOU AT MY TIME. HOLD ON. YOU SAT HERE FOR HOURS TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION, UM, FOR PEOPLE THAT IN DISTRICT B, WHERE 76,000 PEOPLE DURING 2024 RECEIVED $76 MILLION OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, SPECIFICALLY FOR HOUSING SPECIFICALLY. AND SO WHAT THE $314 MILLION PACKAGE DOES, IT'S A FAIR OPTION FOR THE CITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC FACILITIES. WE WILL INVEST IN FIRE STATIONS, POLICE STATIONS, MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. BUT WE ARE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT ONCE THEY LEAVE THAT LIBRARY FROM CHARGING THEIR OXYGEN TANK, THAT WE ALSO CAN FIX THEIR ROOF. AND WE CAN DO, AND IN BOTH IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE DONE IT. WE'VE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY. THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE FOUND WEAKNESS, WE WILL IMPROVE THAT. BUT I THINK IT IS A, I AM AT SHOCK AND SHAME THAT YOU WOULD COME HERE AND SIT HERE FOR HOURS AND SAY, TO VOTE AGAINST AN AMENDMENT FOR PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLARS WHO DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL SAFETY NET. THEY DON'T HAVE THE INSURANCE. INSURANCE HAVE TOLD THEM, NO, THEY DON'T HAVE THE FLOOD INSURANCE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE DISCRETIONARY INCOME. AND BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO EXPERIENCE IT TOO. SO I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN THE ITEM DOES COME UP, THAT IT'S A UNANIMOUS, UM, VOTE OF SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVE OUR RESILIENCY IN THIS CITY. THANK, I THINK I GET TO SPEAK AGAIN THEN. NO COMMENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. I HAVE KNOWN SO MANY PEOPLE OUT WHERE I LIVE THAT LOST EVERYTHING. PEOPLE THAT DIED FROM THE DEPRESSION, PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR HOMES HAD TO MOVE IN WITH FAMILY. I KNOW SO MANY. AND THE THING IS, THIS IS A LITTLE BANDAID THING YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT'S GONNA GO TO CERTAIN PEOPLE. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE'S HOMES. SO YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO YOU'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO. WHO ARE YOU GONNA TAKE CARE OF? AND I, AND I NEVER SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING TO HELP THE PEOPLE OUT WHERE I LIVE. AND I'VE SEEN TONS OF DESTRUCTION, TONS OF FAMILIES RUINED PEOPLE LOSING EVERYTHING. IT'S, IT'S NOT ALL THAT EASY OUT THERE. YOU JUST CAN'T, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD, REBUILD EVERYBODY'S HOME. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER INGER. MA'AM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND GIVING US YOUR PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL. HUFFMAN COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MS. SSON FOR COMING. UM, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, BEING OUT ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOUSTON, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOST EVERYTHING. AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING, IT'S THE DEPRESSION THAT FOLLOWS AFTERWARDS. IT'S ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS, YOU KNOW. UM, I FLOODED IN HURRICANE HARVEY. MY HOUSE STILL ISN'T FIXED. YOU KNOW, WE RAN OUTTA MONEY. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING. UM, NOBODY PUTS A DISASTER LIKE THIS INTO THEIR FAMILY BUDGET. AND SO I THINK THAT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO, TO SHAME HER FOR JUST COMING AND GIVING HER OPINION ON THIS. THIS IS HER OPINION. THAT'S NOT, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE IMPACT. THIS PERSON WAS DIS DISRESPECTFUL. OKAY? WE'RE NOT GONNA, THAT'S WHAT'S DISRESPECTFUL. HEY, WE'RE NOT GONNA AGREE. OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL. WELL, I THINK IT'S DISRESPECTFUL FOR YOU TO MAKE HER FEEL BAD ABOUT, MAKE HER FEEL BAD. SHE OPINION [03:35:01] THAT WAS CHOSE TO COME UP HERE. Y'ALL TAKE IT UP IN THE BACK. WE CAN TAKE IT UP IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND ON THE CAMERA TOO. SHE SAT HERE FOR HOURS. AND SO THERE'S NO BU AND SO HERE'S THE DEAL. YOU GOTTA BE PREPARED FOR WHAT MEETS YOU BACK. WHEN YOU COME UP HERE AND YOU SAY THESE THINGS AND YOU, YOU MAKE THESE TYPES OF STATEMENTS, PEOPLE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING IMPACT FROM HURRICANES. YOU'VE HAD IT PERSONALLY. SHE'S HAD IT PERSONALLY. THE, WHAT I'M REFLECTING BACK TO HER IS JUST BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A SAFETY NET DOES NOT MEAN THAT OTHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. ONCE WE HAVE THE DOLLARS, IT'S ONLY 314 MILLION. IT'S NOT A BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE LIKE HARVEY. AND THESE ARE THEIR TAX DOLLARS RETURNING BACK TO THEM. SO WHY CAN'T WE DO ANDY BOTH IN THIS? I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO RESPECT EVERYBODY'S PERSPECTIVE. OKAY. Y'ALL WE'RE, YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER. MEMBER DAVIS. NEXT PLEASE. NEXT MA'AM. SHE'S LIKE, HELLO, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. CAN WE MOVE ON? GO AHEAD, MA'AM. HI, I'M TIFFANY HOGUE AND I'M, UH, THE POLICY DIRECTOR OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. I'M GONNA KEEP IT SHORT. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. UM, I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO HOUSING. I APPRECIATE MAYOR, WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT THIS WAS A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS. AND I WANNA SHOUT OUT SOME OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND BRING THEM OUT, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THEIR MOST, UH, BIGGEST NEED FOR THESE DOLLARS. UH, TEXAS HOUSERS, TEXAS APPLESEED, WEST STREET RECOVERY, UH, NORTHEAST ACTION COLLABORATIVE. I ALSO WANNA APPRECIATE AND SHOUT OUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND POLLARD AND RAMIREZ FOR COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETING BACK IN MAY TO HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE DOLLARS AND WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THEM. UM, AND PLUMBER, WHO'S NOT HERE YET, BUT, UM, FOR HER COLLABORATION, OUR MEMBERSHIP IS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY GOING TO HOUSING. AND FRANKLY, IT COULD BE MORE, BUT WE'RE VERY THRILLED THAT WE WERE AT ZERO AND NOW WE'RE AT A HUNDRED MILLION AND THAT'S GONNA IMPACT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A MEANINGFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. AND WE'RE HERE ALSO TO SUPPORT MAKING AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, SINIA MCQUEEN. SENECA. SENECA MCQUEEN. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME IS SENATOR MCQUEEN. I'M A MEMBER OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. I'M NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THIRD WARD SINCE 1974. I'M ALSO A COMMU, UH, UH, I RESIDE IN DISTRICT D. I'M HAPPY HERE TO SUPPORT THE 100 MILLION FOR HOUSING CONCERNS AND THE DISASTER RELIEF ACTION PLAN. THIS IS A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN LIFTING UP THIS NEED DURING THIS PROCESS. AND IT'S A WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO HAVE LONGER TERM RECOVERY NEEDS MET. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE WANT TO EXTEND APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALLIES WHO CONTINUE TO LIFT UP THE CONTINUED NEED FOR HOUSING RECOVERY RESOURCES. WE APPRECIATE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS. BEHIND THE SCENES, THE OPENNESS OF THE MAYOR AND THE HOUSING DEPARTS TO CHANGE OPINION TO INCLUDE THE 100 MILLION. WE WANT TO EXTEND, UH, GRATEFUL APPRECIATION TO, UH, CITY COUNCILMAN TIFFANY THOMAS AND LETISHA PLUMBER FOR WORKING WITH US AND GET THE, UM, GETTING THE AMENDMENT AND GETTING THIS A HUNDRED MILLION ON THE TABLE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS VERSION OF ACTION PLAN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, HOUSED, PASSED UNANIMOUSLY TOMORROW MORNING, AND WE LOOK, ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE PROGRAM RUNNING EFFECTIVELY WITH ACCOUNTABILITY. AND TOP IS HERE, READY HERE TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT KIVA ST. FOR SHE'S NOT HERE. REEM TARIQ, SANDRA ALLEN, ELLIE MONTOYA, RES. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAJOR, UH, WITH MA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I CHOSE A TOPIC OF, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED? UM, THEY'RE PERSISTENT. THE CASE IS IN THE COURT, SIR. UH, I FILED THE SMALL CLAIMS YOU IN FEMA. I USED THAT MONEY TO TACKLE SOME OF, UH, MY ENEMIES AS PRO. I LEARNED FROM, UH, AN ATTORNEY. UM, I'M PROBABLY FROM, UM, S TURNER. UM, WE GET A NOTICE SAYING THAT THEY WANNA EVICT US FROM MY TRAILER, THAT WERE DOING A TRANS, UH, TITLE TRANSFER. UH, THEY SAID, UH, ROMAN, AMANDA, ROMAN, NO OCCUPANTS AGAINST JOHN DOE. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE AGAINST YOU IN AUSTIN, FROM AUSTIN. YOU DROP TO MAJOR. UH, AND THEN, I DUNNO WHAT ELSE IS [03:40:01] HAPPENING. ME PERSONALLY, YOU JUST FIRE ME. BUT THERE'S MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE CITY SYSTEM. I'M A MINORITY SIR, AND I JUST WANNA, I KNOW I'M UNDER INVESTIGATION. I'M FIGHTING FOR MY LEGAL RIGHTS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE'LL GO TO COURT. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. JOSEPH AMMAR. OH MY DAMN. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING WELL. UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY TO THE, UH, PEOPLE AT WHO, UH, CAN AFFORD THE GENTRIFICATION OF PROJECTS. I'M GLAD YOU CAN AFFORD IT. I'M NOT HATING ON YOU OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT HOUSTON MUST REEVALUATE, UH, THE DIFFERENT POLITICAL ECONOMIC TERM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING VERSUS MARKET VALUE RENT VERSUS FAIR MARKET VALUE RENT, BECAUSE NO ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT WORTH $900 OR 900 POUNDS. THE MORTGAGE NOTE, FOR A THREE TO FIVE BEDROOM HOUSE AND A SUBURB ON ANY MONOPOLY BOARD, THE HOMELESS VOUCHER PROGRAM MUST BE TRADITIONAL FAMILY FRIENDLY AND SENIOR FAMILY TRUCTURE. FEELING THAT MEANS MARRIED COUPLE WITH CHILDREN ARE WELCOME. THE GOSPEL LEADER STATE, WE FALL DOWN, WILL GET BACK UP. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE FALL DOWN THESE HOME DEVELOP TO PULL US OUTTA THE PIT OF HOMELESSNESS OF OUR POVERTY. DURING THE EIGHTIES, WE SAW WHITE AMERICAN MEN, WIVES, AND CHILDREN SLEEPING AND LIVING IN CARS AND COLD WINTERS OF NORTHEAST, SOUTH, AND WEST. THESE HOMES, VOUCHER PROGRAMS ARE VERY GOOD PROGRAMS. ALSO, THE HARRIS COUNTY TRANSITIONAL HOME GRANT PROGRAM IS A VERY GOOD PROGRAM. IT'S A THREE YEAR HOMELESS GRANT PROGRAM THAT ALLOW HOUSTON HOMELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I GET JUST THREE MONTHS? 20, 30 SECONDS LEFT. THREE SECONDS. OKAY. OKAY. UH, IT ALLOWS HOUSTON HOMELESS TO LIVE IN, UH, LIVE THERE UNTIL THEY GET THEIR SECTION AID OF PUBLIC HOUSING VOUCHER. THE SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER ALLOWS YOU TO LIVE IN ANY APARTMENT, HOUSE, OR ANY COMMUNITY OR ANY, OR ANY COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD AS LONG AS THEY ACCEPT THE VOUCHER. WELL, WE ALSO MENTIONED THAT, UH, I'M THREE YEARS DUE. UH, BACK PAY BY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND, UH, UNITED STATES AMERICA MORE SUCCESSFUL START SUCCESSFUL VERY WELFARE STATE PROGRAM. IT'S TWO OH $200 TRILLION SURPLUS IS NOW IS A LOT OF MONEY TO FIGHT. GO FORWARD WHITE WALL RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA. RIGHT HERE AT HOME BECAUSE SENIOR CITIZEN BENEFITS THANK YOU AS STATE, IT'S NOT, IT'S AMERICA INTEREST, NOT ENGLAND INTEREST, NOT IT REAL IS KOREA, VIETNAM. OKAY. THANK SIR. IT'S AMERICAN INTEREST AND AMERICAN SENIOR CITIZEN INTEREST AND FUTURE INTEREST IN HI THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR AND STARTING THE WAR OVER. THANK YOU. LS. A MORIA. HELLO, Y'ALL. . GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL FACES. JOHN WHITMEYER, GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, I'M HERE TO BRING A CONCERN. UM, I FILED A CLAIM WITH THE CITY ABOUT AN OFFICER. YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST, THIS HAPPENED THIS YEAR. I FILED A CLAIM. NOBODY'S FOLLOW UP. I FILED A LAWSUIT AND I JUST HOPE Y'ALL GET READY. AND WITH LOVE, PATIENCE, DOUBT, GOD'S LOVE. WE ALL NEED GOD'S LOVE. AND IN THIS COURTROOM AND ANYWHERE WE GO, WE NEED THE FIGHT OF OUR SPIRIT. AND WE, AND WE JUST TAKE THE SWORD. WE'RE NOT GONNA FIGHT AGAINST FLETCH AND BLOOD AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES. AND SO WE'RE NOT GONNA STAND AGAINST THOSE STRONGHOLDS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I I'VE BEEN FACING THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH SO MANY OFFICERS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND I NEED Y'ALL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. OKEY DOKEY. I GOT YOU. AND SO ANOTHER THING, MAYOR, I'M SORRY JUST A MINUTE. I, I WAS PLANNING TO HOST A, UM, A REVIVAL OUT HERE. I'M NOT SURE IF I NEED PERMITS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I HAVE SOME TEAM. VERY AWESOME BAPTISM. AND THESE TAKES ALL. TALK TO LOUIS. LOUIS, HELP THIS GENTLEMEN WITH HIS ISSUE. THANK YOU SIR. AND PLEASE, UH, MAYOR LOUIS, THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE, I UNDERSTAND WELL TRAINED THIS THE MAYOR TO, TO JUST TAKE THE INTERNAL FORCE. LOUIS RIGHT HAND DID, DID NOT TAKE ACTIONS. YOU'RE A GOOD ONE. YOU'RE A GOOD HANDS. THEY TOOK ACTIONS ON THE OFFICER AND YOU GUYS NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL. WE GOT YOU COVERED. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. Y APPRECIATE Y'ALL. GOD BLESS. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU. NEXT, NEXT, THIS COMPLETE, THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. NEXT, Y'ALL REALLY, Y'ALL REALLY WANT THIS TO END RECESS. [RECESS] WE STAY IN RECESS [03:45:01] TILL NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. [MAYOR'S REPORT] COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT. UM, I'VE ASKED BRIAN MASON TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE US A REVIEW OF THE GENERATOR PROGRAM. THAT'S BEEN CERTAINLY PART OF OUR DISCUSSION IN OUR RECOVERY EXPENDITURES. RYAN, UH, FIRST OF ALL, YOU RUN OUR EMERGENCY CENTER DIRECTOR, WHICH YOU HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND WE GOT YOU FROM TRANS STARS. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND, UH, YOUR DEVELOPMENT, UH, EXPERTISE ON RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY. AND I THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE, THE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING OUR INTERIM, UH, ACTING CHIEF OF RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY. AND I THINK A NEW SET OF EYES ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE DURING RECOVERY AND DURING A STORM IS SO VALUABLE. UH, YOU'VE CERTAINLY COUNSELED ME THAT THE 150 MILLION THAT WERE SET ASIDE FOR GENERATORS FOR STRATEGIC CITY LOCATIONS NOW, UM, WE'RE GONNA GET THE JOB DONE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. UH, THE BEST WAY WE CAN SPEND A HUNDRED MILLION. SO THAT REALLY WAS KIND OF BORING OUTTA YOUR SHOP BASED ON YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL. SO WOULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WHY IT IS SO ESSENTIAL DURING THE STORM? TO HAVE ENERGY? IT'S OBVIOUS, SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE. BUT DURING LAST YEAR'S STORM, THAT WAS OUR MOST CRITICAL NEED. AND IT CERTAINLY MADE AN IMPRESSION ON ME. I WAS SHOCKED AS MAYOR TO LEARN THAT OUR , OUR COOLING CENTERS WERE NOT BACKED UP WITH GENERATORS, NOT TO MENTION OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO I WILL YIELD TO YOU, IF YOU WOULD GIVE US SOME PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR EXPERIENCE LAST YEAR. WE, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS WENT LIKE TWO WEEKS WITHOUT. SO WHILE WE'RE CONCERNED AND WE'RE ADDRESSING DAMAGED HOMES, THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO GET TO A CENTER FOR FOR CARE AND SAFETY. SO, UH, LET ME YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I COULD PROBABLY TALK FOR THREE HOURS ON THE SUBJECT, BUT I'LL KEEP IT REALLY, UH, SHORT AND CONCISE. SO, JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS A LITTLE BENCHMARKS, LAST YEAR DURING, UH, DIRE AND BARREL, WE HAD ABOUT 70,000, UH, INDIVIDUALS GO TO, UM, COOLING CENTERS. AND USUALLY WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR COOLING CENTER INCREASE WHEN WE HAVE WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES. SO, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, TRYING TO MAKE THOSE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, THOSE RESILIENCY HUBS OR THOSE PLACES OF REFUGE IS A REAL IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GENERATOR PROGRAM. UM, I'LL BACK UP. SO THE GENERATOR PROGRAM, TO GIVE YOU GUYS ASSURANCE, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE WORKED WITH ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN THE BACK OF A, OF A ROOM AND WE CAME UP WITH A SMALL LIST. THIS WAS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON. UH, WE'VE GOTTEN WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE'VE GOTTEN WITH OUR NGOS, WE'VE GOTTEN WITH A LOT OF OUR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY WHAT FACILITIES DO AND DO NOT, UH, CURRENTLY HAVE FULL FACILITY BACKUP GENERATION. UM, A LOT OF OUR FACILITIES RIGHT NOW HAVE WHAT'S REQUIRED IN THE, IN THE CODES, WHICH IS MORE EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT, EMERGENCY LIGHTING, FIRE SYSTEM, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. BUT IT'S NOT A GENERATOR THAT PROVIDES POWER TO HVAC AND ALL THE OTHER, UH, FAC UH, UH, SERVICES INSIDE THE FACILITY. SO IT'S BEEN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM WHERE, ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE GOTTEN WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, UM, A LOT OF OUR NGOS TO KIND OF IDENTIFY THAT LIST. UM, WE HAVE A LIST OF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OVER 300 SITES CURRENTLY THAT DO NOT HAVE FULL FACILITY BACKUP GENERATION POWER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, THAT'S A WIDE VARIETY FROM OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS TO OUR, SOME OF OUR FIRE STATIONS AND POLICE STATIONS AND OTHER FACILITIES. UM, SO KIND OF THROUGH THE PROCESS WE'VE GONE THROUGH, UM, WE'VE EVALUATED THOSE LOCATIONS. WE'VE STARTED TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MECHANISMS TO EXECUTE THIS ONCE, UM, FUNDING HAS BEEN SECURED, UM, I CAN TELL YOU MY PRIORITY AND A LOT OF THE PRIORITY OF, OF THE TEAM IS MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE FULL FACILITY GENERATION, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, AT THOSE PLACES OF REFUGE. SO THOSE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS. AND AT THE 300 PLUS YOUR WORKING GROUP CAME DOWN WITH ABOUT 140 THAT WE THOUGHT WERE ESSENTIAL FIRE POLICE, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, COOLING THE HUBS. SO THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT [03:50:01] WAS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE TO GET 140 OUT OF THE MILLIONS THAT WE WERE BUDGETING. YES SIR. YOU REVIEWED IT, NEW SET OF EYES AND SAID IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, A HUNDRED MILLION WILL ACCOMPLISH OUR STRATEGIC GOALS. ULTIMATELY, THIS ENTIRE LIST OUGHT TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME TO LEARN IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM THAT PREVIOUS DECISION MAKING BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID NOT HAVE BACKUP POWER AND IT WAS LIFE THREATENING. SO ANYWAY, DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT, BUT OUTTA THE 300 PLUS THE 140 THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS ESSENTIAL AND WE'RE STILL GONNA PROVIDE FOR THAT. YES, SIR. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE, UH, PLACES OF REFUGE OR THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, IT'S ALSO SOME OF OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR WATER REPU STATIONS, OUR LIFT STATIONS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE, UM, THE FACILITIES THAT SUPPORT OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND OUR RESPONSE SERVICES. SO, YOU KNOW, THE HECK, THE 9 1 1 CENTER, UM, SOME OF THOSE LOCATIONS. SO IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE LIST. AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND EVALUATING IT, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WHAT'S NUMBER ONE AND WHAT'S NUMBER FIVE ON THAT LIST. 'CAUSE AS WE'RE EVALUATING, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT EVALUATION. UM, IS NATURAL GAS READILY AVAILABLE? HOW DIFFICULT IS IT GONNA BE TO GET IT THERE? IF WHEN, WHEN WE START TO UPGRADE THINGS ON OUR SYSTEM, WE MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE TO MEET. SO IT'S A VERY COMPLEX, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PUZZLE OF PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE CAN EXECUTE THINGS AS EFFICIENTLY. UM, ANOTHER KIND OF CURVE BALL IS RIGHT NOW WITH SUPPLY CHAIN. SOME OF THESE ITEMS MAY BE A 12 TO 18 MONTH LEAD TIME TO GET SOME OF THESE ITEMS IN AFTER WE ORDER THEM. SO IT'S A VERY COMPLEX, UH, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM WE'RE WORKING THROUGH. IT'S NOT, UM, A DICTATORSHIP OR ONE PERSON MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. WE'RE DEFINITELY WORKING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SERVING EVERYBODY. AND I, AND I'LL INTERJECT HERE. WE WELCOME INPUT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE, CERTAINLY DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY HAVE THE INPUT FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS TO WHAT THEY CONSIDER ESSENTIAL. WE'VE DONE, I THINK, A VERY THOROUGH REVIEW TALKING TO OUR CHIEFS OF FIRST RESPONDERS, PUBLIC WORKS HEALTH, BEEN SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. BUT, UM, IT IS SHOCKING TO ME THAT IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED, NEVER DISCUSSED THAT I CAN DETERMINE AT THIS HORSESHOE BEFORE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF BARREL. AND THEN OF COURSE, CENTER POINT GOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE, BUT A WEEK AND TWO WEEKS WITHOUT POWER PROVED HOW WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER. AND THAT'S, UH, GOT THE APPROVAL OF OUR, UH, FRIENDS IN WASHINGTON. NOT ONLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH HUD THAT THEY SAW DURING THE STORM. YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE BACKUP POWER. IT WAS NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF HOUSTONIANS. THEN WE GO FORWARD INTO DAMAGED HOME REPAIRS, UH, VEHICLES FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS DURING THE STORM. SO IT'S REALLY DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND, AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, WE COORDINATED WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. A LOT OF, UH, MOST COUNCIL MEMBERS GAVE US LISTS OF AREAS THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE GOOD COOLING CENTERS OR PLACES OR REFUGE OR PODS OR POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION. SO ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THIS A TRUE DEPARTMENT-WIDE OR CITYWIDE INITIATIVE. UM, AND IF I ALSO MAY MAYOR, UM, THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT ANGELA BLANCHARD. SHE PUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF TOGETHER. SHE DID A LOT OF GREAT WORK. UM, HER CONNECTIONS WITH THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY AND THE NGOS AND A LOT OF THOSE PARTNERS OUT THERE, UM, SHE WAS THE REAL KIND OF BACKBONE FOR A LOT OF THIS TO GET THIS SYNERGY GOING. UM, I'M, I'M VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING FORWARD, BUT A A LOT OF THIS IS, IS A CREDIT TO DIRECTOR BLANCHARD FROM HER PREVIOUS WORK. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT, UH, ANGELA WAS THE LEAD ON THIS. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO ALSO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY, UH, THE COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, LOOKING AT THEIR, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS AND ALSO THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO IT'S BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE, THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, THE NONPROFITS, UH, THE YI CAN NAME, YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING. A LOT OF THE, UH, PARTNERS WE'VE MET WITH, THEY HAD BACKUP POWER, BUT NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MM-HMM. YES, SIR. UNTIL WE'RE FIXING TO VOTE TODAY. YES, SIR. UH, WHILE I HAVE YOU, DO YOU WANNA GIVE US A WEATHER REPORT? , IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S MIDDLE OF AUGUST THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER. THE TROPICS [03:55:01] ARE DEFINITELY HEATING UP. UM, IT LOOKS LIKE AARON IS GONNA BE PROBABLY A MAJOR HURRICANE. GOOD THING IS SHE'S GONNA TAKE A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT AND STAY OFF, YOU KNOW, OFF OF THE NORTH, UH, IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND GO OFF TO THE OCEAN. UM, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE IS A TROPICAL KIND OF PLUME OF MOISTURE THAT'S DOWN, UM, AROUND BELIZE AND THE CARIBBEAN. IT'S TRACKED TO MOVE INTO, UH, THE BAY CAMPECHE AND UP INTO THE GULF, UM, LATER IN THE WEEK. UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING IT TO FORM INTO A STORM. UM, BUT WE COULD HAVE SOME MOISTURE COME UP HERE AND GIVE US SOME RAIN. UM, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND EVERYBODY, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A KIT. MAKE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED NOT ONLY AT WORK, BUT AT HOME. UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, ANGELA ALWAYS, UH, USED TO ALWAYS SAY, AND IT'S IT'S TOTALLY TRUE, UM, COMMUNITIES ARE MORE RESILIENT AND COMMUNITIES RECOVER FASTER FROM AN INCIDENT. SO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR, CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBOR. UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PERSON, IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY AT HOME THAT CAN HELP IS GONNA BE YOUR NEIGHBOR, RIGHT? THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU. THEY CAN HELP OUT. SO, UM, PLEASE MAKE SURE WE'RE PAIRED, MAKE SURE WE HAVE A, UH, MAKE SURE WE HAVE A KIT, MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE HURRICANE SEASON IS, IS IS HERE. AND UH, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T GET SOMETHING. BUT, AND YOU, AND YOU DO RECALL LAST SUMMER, UH, BEFORE BERYL CAME THROUGH ON MONDAY MORNING AT 2:00 AM THAT SATURDAY IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER, THE BEST REPORT WAS SATURDAY MORNING, IT WAS GOING TO MEXICO OR SOUTH TEXAS'. AND THEN DURING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IT TURNED TOWARDS US. SO WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT. IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR SHOP, THE EMERGENCY CENTER, WORKING WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IN PREPARATION? ARE YOU, I KNOW YOU LIKE TO SAY WE STAY READY EVERY DAY. YES SIR. BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THIS COUNCIL, THIS CITY, THE MAYOR CAN DO TO GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, PERSONNEL, OR PREPARATION? UM, NO SIR. I MEAN, I, I, I THINK BY AND LARGE OUR STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, CITY, COUNTY, STATE, UM, FEDS, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH EVERYBODY. UM, JUST BEEN TALKING WITH T THEM ABOUT A BUNCH OF THINGS. SO WE ARE BEING AS PREPARED AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE FOR A STORM COUNTY. AND OF COURSE IF WE HAVE A STORM COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO THE EMERGENCY CENTERS. YES, SIR. I KNOW LAST SUMMER THERE WERE SEVERAL, UH, THAT WERE PRESENT AND HELPED MONITOR THINGS, PARTICULARLY MAKING CERTAIN THAT, UH, SUPPLIES AND ESSENTIALS WERE FURNISHED TO THEIR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS. YEAH. YES, SIR. AND PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO OR SO, WE GAVE A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS CAME OVER, THEY GOT A TOUR OF THE HECK. WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH SOME OF OUR OPERATIONAL, OUR CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS. WE'VE DONE SOME ONE-ON-ONE TOURS WITH SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO, UM, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME BY, UM, MEET THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE 9 1 1 FLOOR, KIND OF SEE HOW WE OPERATE IN THE, IN THE EOC. PLEASE COME ON BY. WE'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU GUYS A, A TOUR. THANK PLEASE. YOUR EMPLOYEES. YES SIR. BEING AN EMERGENCY CENTER DURING A STORM AND WATCHING PEOPLE BRING IN THEIR SLEEPING BAGS OUT OF THE CAR AND, UH, IT'S JUST, WE, WE OWE SO MUCH PUBLIC WORKS HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, YOUR EMERGENCY CENTER RANK AND FILE, THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY DEAR DURING A STORM WHEN THEY HAVE LOVED ONES THEIR DAMAGED HOMES, THEY'RE DOWN THERE LOOKING OUT FOR HOUSTONIANS. SO THANK YOU. AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, SIR. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AS IT PERTAINS TO THE GENERATORS, UM, ARE THERE DIFFERENT MODELS AND TYPES OF GENERATORS PER FACILITY THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UH, THE DYNAMICS OF THAT? ALSO? YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE CAN BE ECO-FRIENDLY OPTIONS FOR GENERATORS AND CAN, CAN YOU GET INTO THAT, UH, FOR A MOMENT? SURE. UM, SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERATOR SOLUTION, UM, UH, THERE ARE LOTS OF PRIVATE PARTNERS THAT PROVIDE THOSE SOLUTIONS. UM, WE'VE KIND OF SPLIT THINGS UP INTO SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE FACILITIES BASED ON THEIR SIZE. UM, RIGHT NOW WE'VE, SOME OF OUR FACILITIES WE'RE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM DIESEL. SO FOR DIESEL, FOR FUEL, UM, BACK THERE AND BARREL, UM, DIRECTOR GLASS CLOCK, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE HAVING TO MOVE 60 OR 70,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL A DAY TO A LOT OF THESE FACILITIES TO KEEP OUR GENERATORS GOING. UH, SO NATURAL GAS IS KIND OF A, A INITIAL KIND OF PREFERRED OPTION, BUT WE ARE ALSO EVALUATING SOLAR AND BATTERY AND SOME OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL. SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION BASED ON WHAT'S THE AVAILABILITY OF NATURAL GAS, UM, WHAT'S THE LAYOUT OF THE FACILITY, WHAT'S THE POWER REQUIREMENT OF THE FACILITY TO KIND OF MERGE THAT TOGETHER TO WHERE WE HAVE THE BEST SOLUTION. UM, I CAN'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAILS ON THE PROCUREMENT, BUT WE'VE DONE A FEDERAL SIDE AND A NON-FEDERAL PROCUREMENT. WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE GONNA BE LOOKING [04:00:01] TO THOSE EXPERTS TO HELP GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT SOLUTION THAT THEY RECOMMEND. AND SO THE 12 TO 18 MONTH TIMELINE, IS THAT SIMPLY JUST TO GET THE EQUIPMENT HERE AND THEN THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL TIME THAT IS NECESSARY TO THEN IT COULD CONNECT AND YES SIR. IT COULD. AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF WITH THE SOLUTION WE PICK IS THAT IF IT'S A 18 MONTH LEAD TIME FOR SOMETHING, BUT WE CAN GET SOMETHING ELSE IN SIX MONTHS THAT ALLOWS US TO INSTALL THE GENERATOR IN 12 MONTHS VERSUS 24 MONTHS, THEN THAT WOULD BE PART OF OUR DECISION TREE AS WE'RE EVALUATING THE BEST OPTION FOR THAT FACILITY. OKAY. AND LASTLY, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. UM, WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD GENERATORS IN ALL OF FACILITIES, BUT YOU DID MENTION THAT WE WERE UP TO CODE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE AT THESE FACILITIES. WE JUST DID MAY NOT HAVE HAD UP TO DATE GENERATORS EVERYWHERE, BUT WE DID MEET THE, THE, THE MINIMUM STANDARD OF WHAT'S IN THE CODE, CORRECT? THE, THE LEGAL CODE FOR THE EMERGENCY PORTIONS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE, BUT NOT FOR THE PORTION OF THE RESILIENCY TO KEEP THE ONGOING SERVICES. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS IN PARTICULAR, YEAH WE USE THEM AS COOLING CENTERS OR WARMING CENTERS, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THE ELDERLY COMMUNITY, UM, THE WIC COMMUNITY. UH, SO THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE SERVICES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OCCUR IF WE WERE WITHOUT POWER. AND YOU SAID SEVEN OR SEVEN, 7,000 OR 70,000? 70,000 BETWEEN 60 AND 70,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL IS NO, UH, PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE, UH, UH, OH, I'M SORRY, 70,000, I THINK THE NUMBER'S, 68,000 IN SOME CHANGE TO BE EXACT. SO THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCED SOME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THEIR HOME, WHETHER ELECTRICITY OR, OR SOMETHING THAT CAUSED THEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO STAY AT HOME AND THEY HAD TO COME TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER, CORRECT? NO. TO ONE OF THE COOLING CENTERS. COOLING CENTERS, YES SIR. YES. YES SIR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND, AND USUALLY THAT WAS ALL POWER RELATED, SO SOMEBODY WITH THAT POWER, YOU KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 137, I BELIEVE IT IS COOLING CENTERS OPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY RIGHT NOW. SO THAT'S PART OF OUR NORMAL OPERATION. IT'S JUST WHEN WE HAVE AN EVENT, WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY TRACK AND GET SOME GOOD DATA ON WHO'S REALLY GOING TO THOSE FACILITIES DUE TO A POWER OUTAGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TEAM SERVICE. YES, SIR. PLUM, UH, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR, FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THE INFORMATION. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE OF CASHMERE? WHEN I SPOKE WITH DIRECTOR BLANC CHURCH, SHE SAID THAT WE'RE MOVING A LITTLE BIT FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED. CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT? I WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW BACK UP WITH YOU, BUT IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE SOON, ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT'S INSTALLED. THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE GOT THROUGH A PHILANTHROPIC GROUP. AND SO I'LL HAVE TO VERIFY AND GET YOU THAT EXACT DATE, BUT IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. OKAY. AND THEN DID IT, DID IT, DID IT START UP? I I, OKAY. I, I DIDN'T WANNA COMMIT TO ANYTHING, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS ALMOST DONE OR DONE, BUT YEAH, I THOUGHT TO YESTERDAY. OKAY. YES MA'AM. OKAY. BUT, BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE I GIVE YOU THE EXACT, UH, CORRECT ANSWER ON THAT. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, IN TERMS OF YOUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AND OF COURSE I'M GOING BACK TO WORKING WITH DR. BLANCHARD ON THE CASHMERE GARDEN PROJECT. UM, THERE WAS ALREADY SOME, YOU KNOW, PROCUREMENT PROCESS ALREADY IN LINE. ARE WE DUPLICATING THAT PROCESS IN WAYS THAT WE CAN, ARE WE CREATING NEW PROCESSES BASED ON THE FACILITY? SO I AM NOT A PROCUREMENT EXPERT, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST. SO I THINK SOME OF THE INITIAL THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO PROCURE WAS UNDER SOME INITIAL CAPACITY WE HAD ON SOME ADDITIONAL OR SOME PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A MUCH LARGER ENDEAVOR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE CAPACITY. SO WE WERE GOING THROUGH PROCURING THE FED AND NON-ED. A LOT OF IT'S THE SAME PLAYERS, A LOT OF IT'S THE SAME INFORMATION, BUT I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO HAVE MORE OF A ROBUST CAPACITY TO EXECUTE. OKAY. AND IT'S GOOD TO HEAR, UM, MAYOR THAT THOUGH WE WERE ABLE, WE HAD TO REMOVE OR WE MOVED THE $50 MILLION OUT OF THE GENERATION TO HOUSING, WHICH I THINK WAS, I MEAN, TO HOUSING REPAIRS, WHICH I THINK WAS A GREAT IDEA BY THE WAY. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE V VULNERABILITY INDEXES. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE MAKING THE CHOICE OF WHICH ONES ARE HAPPENING FIRST? SURE. SO I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED. WE CAN PROBABLY MEET OFFLINE TO WHERE I CAN GIVE YOU MORE OF A IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S THINGS AS FAR AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, SVI SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, THE POVERTY LINE OR POVERTY INDEX. WE'RE LOOKING AT MEDICAL MEDICALLY FRAGILE OR VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA. UM, IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE THING WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. IT'S NOT JUST A, A WILLY-NILLY, I WANNA DO THIS FACILITY OVER THAT FACILITY. BUT THERE IS A PLAN AND CONSISTENCY THOUGH. YES, MA'AM. AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY AGREE WITH THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE COMING UP WITH. OKAY. AND THEN I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CREATING [04:05:01] MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? VERSUS JUST A LOCATION. UM, TALKING ABOUT MICROGRIDS, YOU KNOW, AND THOSE KIND OF, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANY FUTURE PLANS ON THAT? ALL STILL IN THE WORKS, ALL STILL IN DEVELOPMENT? UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH SOME THINGS, BUT YES, ALL THOSE OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, SAME WITH UM, NOT JUST RELYING ON UH, UM, INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OR HYDROCARBONS LOOKING AT OTHER GREEN ALTERNATIVES FOR SOME OF THE BACKUP GENERATION. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE BEING FACTORED IN AND EVALUATED. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU AND, AND HAVING SOME DEEPER CONVERSATIONS. YES MA'AM. MAYOR PROTE TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTION STEMS AROUND THE AGE OF SOME OF THE BUILDINGS. I'M THINKING ABOUT A BUILDING LIKE THE HI CLARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. MA'AM, WHEN THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT, WE WERE NOT PUTTING GENERATORS. YES MA'AM. IN BUILDINGS. A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT BEFORE OUR WEATHER IS UH, CHANGING AND UM, IT IS DEFINITELY A CAUSE FOR US TO CHANGE THE WAY WE BUILD BUILDINGS. UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD PRIOR WAS THE COST TO KIND OF PLUMB A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT A LONG TIME AGO TO ACTUALLY HAVE GENERATION. YES MA'AM. UM, AND, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT TODAY, BUT I WANT TO KNOW KIND OF HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY GETTING THOSE BUILDINGS READY TO RECEIVE A GENERATOR? 'CAUSE THEY WERE BUILT SO LONG AGO WHEN WE WERE NOT PUTTING GENERATORS ON THESE FACILITIES THAT WE USE AS MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. YES, MA'AM. AND, AND THAT'S PART OF THE EVALUATION AS WE'RE DOING THE INITIAL CONCEPTUAL DESIGN. AND AS YOU ACCURATELY SAID, UM, IF I'M GONNA PUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR GENERATOR OUT THERE, I MAY HAVE $5 MILLION OF OTHER WORK TO ENABLE THAT HALF A MILLION DOLLAR GENERATOR. I MAY HAVE TO UPGRADE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I MAY HAVE TO UPGRADE OTHER COMPONENTS. SO THAT'S ALL THE THINGS AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS EVALUATION PROCESS, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PRODUCT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, OF HOUSTON. WHY FACTORING ALL THOSE THINGS WITH THE AVAILABLE FUNDING. AND THEN MY OTHER, UM, QUESTION IS, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE BUILT A, A NEW LIBRARY IN DISTRICT A AND THE LIBRARY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A GENERATOR ON IT. WE WENT INTO COST OVERRUNS. IT GOT CUT, THE GENERATOR GOT CUT. YES. YES MA'AM. UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE FOR US TO NOT CUT GENERATORS WHEN WE GO INTO, YOU KNOW, PRICE OVERRUNS MOVING FORWARD. I MEAN, HINDSIGHT IS 2020. YES MA'AM. UM, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CUT THE GENERATOR OUT OF THE PRICE OVERRUN. BUT THE GOOD THING IT WAS, I GUESS IS THE WORD PLUMBED OR PREPARED? IT WAS THE ELECTRICITY WAS THERE. SO WHEN WE HAD THE FREEZE, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN ONE OF THOSE REALLY BIG GENERATORS AND HOOK IT UP TO THE LIBRARY AND IT WAS USED AS A PLACE, A COOLING CENTER, AND A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. UM, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD AS WE ARE BUILDING FACILITIES AND, AND PLACES THAT WE WILL CONSIDER PLACES FOR COMMUNITY TO COME, WE NEED TO DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CUT, CONSIDERING HOW OUR WEATHER CONTINUES TO, TO CHANGE. YES, MA'AM. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU AND CAN PUBLICLY TELL YOU FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS, GENERATORS WILL BE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOT ONLY YOUR FACILITY, BUT CERTAINLY POLICE AND FIRE. WE DID A, UH, GROUNDBREAKING AT THE NORTH BELT POLICE AND FIRE STATION. GUESS WHAT'S A PRIORITY? BACKUP GENERATORS. WE'RE GOING A POLICE FIRE STATION AT GESNER AND I 10 BUILT BY THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. A PRIORITY IS BACKUP GENERATORS. IT IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY GOES FOR REFUGE DURING A STORM. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE DAMAGED HOMES, BUT IT'S SENIOR CITIZEN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES THAT WE'RE EVACUATING. YOU TALK ABOUT THE HUB, THE CASHMERE HUB, SUCH NOTORIETY, SUCH RECOGNITION, NO GENERATOR, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE POINTING TO IS GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR REALLY PRIDE AND JOY. FIRST HUBS, NO GENERATORS. SO THIS IS HUGE AND IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, CERTAINLY WITH WEATHER CHANGES, IT'LL NOT ONLY BE GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES THAT NEED BACKUP GENERATORS, I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE AND MORE INSTITUTIONS DORMITORIES AT OUR COLLEGES. AND I CAN GO ON, IT'S JUST GONNA BECOME A FACT OF LIFE. AND WE RIGHTFULLY SO ARE TAKING THE LEAD. AND, UH, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, ANGELA AND ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. AND I REALLY APPLAUD THE COUNCIL FOR BACKING THIS, UH, PROPOSAL. COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU RYAN FOR BEING HERE. YES SIR. AND CERTAINLY THE INFORMATION YOU'RE PROVIDING. UM, LET ME JUST ASK, [04:10:01] WHEN WE DEALT WITH, I MEAN WE'VE HAD MANY TALKS AND THEN WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT TO THE TENSION OF YOU OF PRESENTING CHURCHES AND PASTORS WHO WOULD STEP UP. WE PUT A LIST TOGETHER ON THE MAYOR'S MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD. UH, I REACHED OUT TO MULTIPLE PASTORS ACROSS THE CITY AS A SUPPLEMENTAL OBJECTIVE TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE STORMS. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE STORMS GONNA GO. WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT PART OF THE CITY STORMS GO IN. WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT, BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO REACT TO WHENEVER THESE STORMS HAPPEN. NOW, LAST YEAR WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS, WE HAD TO END UP GOING TO GET ICE, WHICH WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY PARAMETER, RIGHT? YES, SIR. ON, ON TOP OF THAT TO, TO PROVIDE FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY. UH, SO RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU SAY YOU GOT 140 FACILITIES THAT COULD APPLY TO THAT. DO YOU HAVE THAT MAP OF THE CENTRAL PLACES THAT THOSE AREAS ARE? DO YOU HAVE THAT LIST OF THOSE 140? YES, SIR. IN THE CENTRAL LOCATIONS WHERE THEY ARE? YES, SIR. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO GET, YOU KNOW, THE LOCATION OF THEM. SURE. YES, SIR. SO THAT WAY IN THE PARAMETER OF WHAT WE PROVIDE FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT CASE, BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED. WE GOT CALLS FROM PEOPLE MM-HMM . THAT HOW DIDN'T GET HIT, BUT TREES FELL IN FRONT OF THE HOUSES. SO WE KNOW WE HAD THIS TREE ISSUE GOING ON. MY CONCERN IS, AND GOD KNOWS IF ANYBODY IS, IS CONCERNED IN A SAMARITAN MANNER ABOUT PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE, IT'S ME. I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS ALL OF THESE, THIS ISSUE AROUND THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH I BECAME AWARE OF AFTER PRESENTED, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THIS, I WANNA SEE PEOPLE SERVED. IF THEIR HOMES ARE ALL, ARE, ARE, ARE HIT, I WANNA SEE THAT SERVED. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, AND THE, THERE'S GENERATORS, THE PROPOSAL ON THE GENERATORS. MM-HMM . BECAUSE HERE'S THE DEAL. WE ALL OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS GONNA GET CALLS AFTER CALLS AFTER CALLS. WE NEED WATER. WE NEED ICE. I GOT MANY CALLS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THAT. SO NOT UNDERSTANDING, I'M NOT DISMISSIVE OF PEOPLE HOUSING MULTIPLE OR SINGLE HOUSES BEING PREPARED, REPAIRED. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, THE CITY HAS TWO THINGS, A PRIORITY AND A RESPONSIBILITY. SO HOW DO YOU WEIGH THAT? THE, THE BEAUTIFUL THING WAS, I WOULD'VE BEEN LOVED TO SEE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE CITY AND GET $500 MILLION. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT THE CASE. WE COULD USE IT. WE COULD SPEND IT. YEAH. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. SO I WANT THAT LIST OF THOSE PLACES BECAUSE YES, SIR, THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS IN THIS CITY, HOMEOWNERS, TAXPAYERS, WHO DID NOT GET ANY HELP OF SERVED WHEN THERE WAS FLOODING AND OTHERS, AND THEY HAD TO BE RESCUED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. THAT'S THE ISSUE. AND THEN GUESS WHAT WE GOING TO DO? WE HAD TONS OF PEOPLE, AND I RESPECT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT DOLLARS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. I KNOW I WAS BORN IN AN UNDESERVED COMMUNITY CITY. I DIDN'T TRANSPLANT HERE. I WAS BORN HERE. AND I, AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COME UP IN THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY AND THANK THE MAYOR AND THE STAFF AND THE TEAM AND ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR DOING THIS. BUT I WOULD ALL OF US UNDERSTAND THE STORM IS OVER AND IT LOOKS REAL NICE THAT A STORM IS OVER. BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS ANOTHER ONE IS COMING. MM-HMM . LET'S DON'T FOOL OURSELVES AND TO BE A GOOD SAMARITAN. YOU KNOW, THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN, WHAT MADE THEM FAMOUS? THAT HE HAD MONEY PERSON THAT WAS BEAT DOWN AND BRUISED AND HE HELPED, BUT HE HAD MONEY. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY MM-HMM . TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, THEN YOU, YOU, YOU'RE LOST IN THE WOODS. SO I LIKE TO GET THAT FROM YOU. YES, SIR. SO THAT WE COULD TAKE THAT BACK TO PASTOR. I PRESENTED THIS, YOU KNOW, TO COUNCIL A YEAR AGO WE GOT MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 'CAUSE WHEN THE DISASTER HAPPENS, GETTING TO THE PEOPLE IS THE MAIN THING TOO. SERVICING THE PEOPLE HOMES. GOD KNOWS. I WANNA SEE MANY PEOPLE HOW TO GET, PREPARE, REPAIRED. IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF WE COULD DO THAT MULTIPLE LARGE SINGLE FAMILY, BUT THE PROVIDING AND HAVING GENERATORS FIRST THING, ONE OF THE GROUPS OF PASTORS ACTS, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS, IF WE SET UP OUR CHURCH OR WHATEVER, ARE WE GONNA HAVE A GENERATOR? SO I, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. YES. UM, I'M NOT ARGUING FOR OR AGAINST, I'M JUST SAYING WE HAVE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT OUR PRIORITY IS AND HOW WE GOING TO HANDLE [04:15:01] IT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. OH, ACTUALLY, YEAH, GO AHEAD. MARTINEZ CAN WAIT. , GO AHEAD. I'LL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE. GO AHEAD. I'M NOT GONNA RETRACT YOU. GO AHEAD. WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR AND DIRECTOR, SIR, FOR THE UPDATE LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD CENTER POINT HERE AFTER BARREL, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO ASK 'EM A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS. AND WE HEARD ABOUT THEIR VERY EXPENSIVE MOBILE GENERATORS THAT WEREN'T USED POST STORM. SO AS WE LOOK AT THE FACILITIES THAT Y'ALL ARE CONSIDERING TO OUTFIT WITH GENERATORS ARE THE MOBILE GENERATORS THAT CAN COME IN AND THEY'RE FACTORED IN? THEY ARE FACTORED IN. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND WHAT, HOW DOES THAT LOOK? SO, UM, NOT TO GET NERDY ELECTRICAL ENGINEER STUFF ON YOU, BUT GENERALLY MOST OF THEIR GENERATORS ARE VERY, VERY LARGE GENERATORS. FIVE MEGAWATTS, 15 MEGAWATTS, VERY, VERY LARGE GENERATORS. THEY AREN'T DESIGNED TO HOOK STRAIGHT UP TO A FACILITY. THEY'RE ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO HOOK INTO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ITSELF AND DISTRIBUTE POWER THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SO A LOT OF THE CHALLENGE BACK THERE AND BARREL WOULD'VE BEEN THAT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ITSELF WOULD'VE BEEN DAMAGED TO WHERE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOOK UP THAT GENERATOR AND SEND THAT POWER OUT ACROSS. WE DO REGULARLY COORDINATE WITH CENTERPOINT. IF WE HAVE A STORM COMING, THEY DO GO PRE-STAGE SOME OF THEIR SMALLER GENERATORS AT SOME OF OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS RIGHT NOW. SO WE ALREADY PARTNER OUR FACILITIES THAT DON'T HAVE FULL GENERATOR BACKUP. WE ALREADY PARTNER WITH THEM RIGHT NOW FOR THEM TO PROACTIVELY STAGE THEM THERE TO GIVE US THAT BACKUP. GOT IT. SO THOSE WOULD BE FACILITIES IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS ON THE LIST TO BE RETROFITTED. SO WHAT WE, WE ARE GOING TO HOPEFULLY INSTALL OUR OWN GENERATORS AT THOSE FACILITIES, WHICH THEN NOW ALLOWS THOSE GENERATORS FOR CENTERPOINT TO BE AVAILABLE TO DO ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT OR SOMETHING ACROSS THE CITY OR ACROSS THE REGION. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPDATE AND ALL THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING ON THIS. AND THANK YOU. AND ANGELA BLAZER DID, UH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND VITAL THAT WE GET THESE CRITICAL FACILITIES, UH, OUTFITTED WITH BACKUP POWER. AND ALSO JUST WANNA THANK YOUR TEAM. YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING PREPARED. UM, I HOSTED SOME DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS AND THEY WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO PRESENT TO ALWAYS CONSTITUENTS. FANTASTIC. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. UH, COUNCIL MARTINEZ. SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GO FOR IT. YOU, YOU HELPED ME OFF. ACTUALLY, I WAS GONNA START BY JUST SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY. UH, BY THE WAY, IF NO ONE KNOWS NOW, YOU KNOW, NOW. NO. BUT, UH, HOW OLD ARE YOU? BUT, UM, WHAT I WAS GOING TO, UH, JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES. UM, WE SAT DOWN AND I CAN APPRECIATE STEPPING BACK, RIGHT. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET DONE WHATEVER WE DO NEED TO GET DONE WHEN IT COMES TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR ESSENTIAL LOCATIONS, WHETHER IT'S PUMP STATIONS, WHETHER IT'S, UH, LIFT STATIONS. UM, WHEN WE SAT DOWN, UH, WE, WE ONLY IDENTIFIED ONE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IN THE EAST END. NOW WE'RE LEANING INTO THE ROCK A CHURCH AND THEN HCC NORTHEAST, WHICH IS NOT A CITY FACILITY. MM-HMM . UM, SO AS, AS WE'RE STARTING TO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS MORE OFFLINE, UH, THOSE 140 ESSENTIAL, I'D STILL LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN IDENTIFY FUNDS. AND I KNOW WITH THE, THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP AND, UM, AND, AND YOUR WORK, WE CAN HOPEFULLY FIND THESE FUNDS TO, UH, GET THE OTHER HALF OF MM-HMM . FACILITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE NEEDED AS WELL. 'CAUSE WHEN I THINK OF OTHER FACILITIES OUTSIDE OF THE MAGNOLIA MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, I THINK ABOUT GARDENVILLE AS PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. I THINK ABOUT CHARLTON PARK, I THINK ABOUT, UH, CLINTON PARK, HARTMAN, MELCHER, STANKER LIBRARY, LIKE THESE ARE OTHER LOCATIONS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, THAT QUITE FRANKLY CAN SERVE AS A HUB OR A CENTRAL LOCATION WHERE FOLKS CAN GO FOR A COOLING OR WARMING CENTER AS WELL. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT 1 140 LIST, WHAT HAS BEEN CONSOLIDATED TO, UM, AND THEN SEE WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE VAL JANKY HHFD TRAINING FACILITY. I'VE TALKED TO CHIEF MUNOZ SEVERAL TIMES IN THE HOBBY AREA. WE DON'T HAVE A CITY FACILITY. AND HE'S WILLING TO WORK WITH MY TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT IN ANY, ANY DISASTER THAT THEY COULD BE A, A STAGING LOCATION FOR NOT JUST DISTRIBUTIONS, BUT ALSO TO HELP, HELP WELCOME FOLKS IN IF THEY NEED IT FOR, AGAIN, A COOLING OR A WARMING CENTER. AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. YES, SIR. UM, I, I'M GOOD WITH SHIFTING THESE DOLLARS TO HOUSING, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE GENERATORS AT OUR CITY FACILITIES AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY WELL, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WE'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE ITEMS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TRANCHE? DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THOSE LOCATIONS AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED FOR THAT? WE'RE, WE'RE, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, FOR US, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, UM, OBVIOUSLY POTABLE WATER'S VERY IMPORTANT. WASTEWATER, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACILITIES THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL. IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND OTHER POTENTIAL GRANT FUNDING, IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO SELF-FUND THROUGH THE UTILITY THROUGH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. UM, WE ARE IDENTIFYING [04:20:01] THAT WITH OUR CONSULTANTS. THEY'RE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE PART OF THE EVALUATION IS, IT'S NOT JUST, ONCE AGAIN, THE PRICE TO BUY THE GENERATOR. IT'S EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO INSTALLING AND COMMISSIONING THAT GENERATOR. SO, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, IF I'M BUYING A 500 KW GENERATOR, THAT MAY BE 300 GRAND. WELL, THERE MAY BE $5 MILLION OF OTHER EXPENSES. SO WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE FOR EVERY LOCATION IT'S BEING AT LEAST IN AN INITIAL ENGINEERING KIND OF HIGH 50,000 FOOT VIEW THAT STUFF'S BEING LOOKED AT. BUT WE WON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE DETAILS TILL WE GET KIND OF THAT TO THAT 10% DESIGN OR SOME REAL DESIGN WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THAT COST REALLY GONNA BE FOR ALL THOSE DIFFERENT FACILITIES. OKAY. NO, I UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE SERVICING AND ALL THAT. IN FACT, I, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR HOW WE WERE DOING THE GENERATORS THAT WE ARE PURCHASING AND THE SERVICING OF THEM. YES, SIR. MADE A LOT OF SENSE. I MEAN, REALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXISTING RESOURCES AS FAR AS PEOPLE THAT THE CITY HAS, YOU KNOW, TAKING ON THAT ADDITIONAL WORK, I MEAN, IT'D BE EVEN WORSE TO HAVE A GENERATOR THAT DOESN'T WORK VERSUS NOT HAVING ONE AT ALL. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN WE WILL HAVE THE LIST OF HOW MUCH IT WILL BE IF, AND I I WOULD ALSO ASSUME THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST TO GET THE ESTIMATES. MAYBE WE FIGURE, OKAY, THE NEXT 50, YOU KNOW, LOCATIONS AND THIS IS WHAT IT'LL COST. ARE WE LOOKING AT IT LIKE THAT AT ALL? OR? SO WE HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY, I WILL CALL THEM EDUCATED GUESSTIMATES THAT IN THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT WORLD, WE WOULD CALL THEM ROUGH ORDER MAGNITUDE. IT MAY BE PLUS OR MINUS 25%. BUT SO WE HAVE SOME EDUCATED NUMBERS THAT, UM, ONE OF OUR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS HAS BEEN ABLE TO, TO ONCE AGAIN PUT US A HIGH LEVEL GUESSTIMATE JUST FOR A, A ROUGH BUDGETARY PURPOSE. AND, AND HOW MANY LOCATIONS THAT ARE ON THE LIST, WILL WE NOT HAVE GENERATORS FOR WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE? I MEAN, THAT'S A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER. UM, YOU KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW FOR THE PRELIMINARY LIST, IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THAT A HUNDRED ISH, MAYBE 140 ISH NUMBER. OKAY. BUT THAT'S, WE HAVEN'T OPENED ALL THE DOORS. WE HAVEN'T OPENED ALL THE PANDORA BOXES, SO I'D HATE TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING. AND THEN AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH DESIGN, WE FIGURE OUT, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S ANOTHER FIVE X COST TO DO THIS FACILITY. DO WE KNOW OF HOW MANY WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT HAVE DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST OF THE ONES FOR THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE NOW? EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY. THE, THE LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED YES. THAT WE SAID WE'RE NOT GONNA FUND THESE IMMEDIATELY. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE FROM THAT ONE 40 LIST TO THE 300 PLUS LIST. THAT'S THAT INITIAL DELTA THAT WE KNOW WE'VE CUT, CUT OUT RIGHT NOW. AND THEN WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT INITIAL ONE 40. AND WE'VE KIND OF PARED THAT DOWN A TINY BIT, BUT NOT VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF FACILITIES. SO A MINIMUM OF ONE 60. AND THEN WE PROBABLY HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE TRADITIONALLY LOOKING AT. YEP. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEP. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. YEP. AND, AND, AND LET ME SAY THIS, I DON'T WANNA ADD ANY MORE WORK TO YOUR IT'S OKAY. PLATE. UM, BUT WHEN, WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH ADMINISTRATION AND WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ON MY APARTMENT REFORM AND LOOKING AT SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES AND PUTTING GENERATORS TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST HAVE ONE ROOM FOR REFRIGERATOR, MAYBE AN ELEVATOR, UM, WE WERE HITTING SOME ROADBLOCKS WITH THE STATE. SO BASED ON WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A GENERATOR IN THESE SENIOR FACILITIES. THERE JUST HAS TO BE AN EMERGENCY PLAN. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. AND WE SAW THAT DURING MANY OF THE STORMS. SO WHAT MY ASK IS, UM, AFTER YOU GET OFF WITH ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING, IS IF YOU COULD HELP US, UM, KIND OF LINE OUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, JUST FROM A, UM, IMPLEMENTATION PERSPECTIVE, SO THAT WHEN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE STATE, TO LEGISL TO LEGISLATION AND KIND OF ADVOCATE, UM, FOR THIS, WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTION. I MEAN, WE'RE CLEARLY LEADING THE NATION, OUR GENERATION, UM, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF WHERE WE LIVE IN THE CITY, BUT JUST KIND OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH WITH STORMS. BUT IF WE CAN START PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO MAKE IT MORE FEASIBLE, I THINK IT'LL BE REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE FACILITIES PRIMARILY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY NOT BE SO BURDENSOME AND WHAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO MOVING FORWARD. SURE. YEAR BY YEAR TO START, YOU KNOW, UM, PUTTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THEIR FACILITIES TO DROP THESE IN. AND, AND I'M NOT THE EXPERT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK JOSH SANDERS, I KNOW WITH DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, THEY WERE DOING A LOT OF LOBBYING TRYING TO GET STUFF PASSED IN AUSTIN AT THE LAST SESSION. YES. I DON'T THINK EVERYTHING PASSED TO OUR HOPE OR OUR LIKING, BUT, UM, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON FROM A REGULATORY POINT OF VIEW. 'CAUSE A LOT OF THOSE FACILITIES AREN'T REGULATED AND THEY KNOW, THEY GET RIGHT UP TO THE LINE OF, AND THEN THEY DON'T CROSS THAT LINE TO WHERE THEY TRIGGER TO BE A REGULATED FACILITY. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING, THAT ADMINISTRATION'S BEEN WORKING WITH AUSTIN TO TRY TO, TO LEGISLATE THAT. YEAH. AND LET ME GIVE A CUE SHOT OF JOSH. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. I MEAN, HE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. AND, AND I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ON THE TOP OF HIS MIND. AND SO YES MA'AM, WE HAD TO PULL IT OUT OF OUR ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF THE STATE CODES. AND SO, UM, SO YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, IF YOU COULD HELP US CREATE SOME TYPE OF WORKFLOW, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK [04:25:01] LIKE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. SO WE'RE A BIT MORE PREPARED WHEN WE, WHEN WE GO AND WE CAN START IMPLEMENTING THIS AND OFFERING THIS TO PEOPLE THAT OWN THE FACILITIES NOW BECAUSE THEY CAN START DOING IT SLOWLY. YES MA'AM. UM, THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. YES, MA'AM. SO THANKS AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REPORT. AND, AND I WANNA THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR TALKING ABOUT THE, THE FACILITIES, UH, WHERE OUR SENIORS ARE LIVING. IT, IT'S A NIGHTMARE FOR THEM. THEY ARE TRAPPED MM-HMM . IN THOSE BUILDINGS WHEN THERE'S NO ELECTRICITY. MM-HMM. AND SO CERTAINLY MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT SOME INCENTIVE THAT COULD HELP THE OWNERS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE YES MA'AM. THESE GENERATORS. 'CAUSE THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. UH, AGAIN, I GOT COUNTLESS CALLS, UH, FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE TRAPPED. THEY COULDN'T GET TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, THEY COULDN'T GET DOWNSTAIRS TO DO ANYTHING, TO LEAVE THE BUILDING TO GET A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, NOTHING. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF, UH, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR YES MA'AM. SENIORS IN PARTICULAR. AND I THINK JOSH AND THEM WERE TRYING TO WORK THAT INTO THE PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION WAS INCENTIVES AND TAX BREAKS AND STUFF, BUT I GUESS IT DIDN'T MATERIALIZE, YOU KNOW, BUT HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH THE STATE? AND THEY MEET EVERY TWO YEARS AND RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT AGENDA. UM, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING OF THIS NATURE, EVEN IN THE REGULAR SESSION. AND SO THIS NEEDS TO GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE AND HELPING THE PEOPLE. YES MA'AM. AND NOT DEALING WITH ALL OF THESE POLITICAL ISSUES. THANK YOU. I'LL DEFINITELY DEFER TO JOSH FOR THAT. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANNA NOTE, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN WE LAST MET, UH, IN MY POPOFF, I ASKED FOR THE LIST. AND MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR SHARING THAT LIST. STEVEN SENT IT TO US ON JULY THE 24TH. SO WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF IT SINCE THEN. UH, ON, ON THAT DAY, THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, HAS OFFERED AN AMENDMENT WHICH WE'RE GONNA CONSIDER, OR IN THE PROCESS OF CONSIDERING THAT WOULD PEG THE AMOUNT FOR POWER GENERATION AT 101 MILLION AND CHANGE. AND JUST SO I'M CLEAR, ARE ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT THAT AMOUNT WOULD HELP ADDRESS OUR MOST CRITICAL POWER GENERATION NEEDS IT TO BE HONEST. IT HELPS, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE WHOLE PROBLEM. SO DIRECTOR MAC GUY, SOME OF HIS FACILITIES, HE MAY HAVE 20 MILLION OR 30 MILLION JUST FOR ONE FACILITY. RIGHT. FOR SOME OF HIS REALLY LARGE FACILITIES FOR A CRITICAL WATER REPU STATION OR A CRITICAL WASTEWATER LIFT STATION. SO ALL THIS IS GONNA COME DOWN TO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BUDGET OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NUMBER AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES. UM, WE CAN DO THIS ONE, BUT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT ONE. DO I HAVE ALL THOSE ANSWERS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW? NO, I DON'T. 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOT INTO THAT MORE OF AN IN-DEPTH DESIGN TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS. BUT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH, UM, GENERAL FUND AND THE UTILITY OF YOU HAVE A CRITICAL FACILITY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT FUNDING. PLUS, KEEP IN MIND TOO, IF WE'RE USING FEDERAL GRANT MONEY, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS OR THINGS THAT GO INTO USING THAT MONEY. SO JUST BECAUSE WE IDENTIFY THAT AS A CRITICAL FACILITY THAT MAY NOT MEET THE HUD REQUIREMENTS OR THE FEMA REQUIREMENTS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT GRANT MONEY. SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED DANCE OF LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS AVAILABLE, FUNDING SOURCES, EFFICIENCY BENEFIT TO TRY TO GET ALL THAT TO MERGE TOGETHER AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN. ALRIGHT. AND, AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE, HAVE YOU NOT BRIAN? YES, SIR. UM, SEE ALL THE GRAY HAIR. YEAH. YEAH. , I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT, UH, DR. 21, UM, ALLOTTED A MUCH, MUCH SMALLER AMOUNT FOR POWER GENERATION, SOMETHING LIKE 11 OR 12 MILLION. AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH, UH, SPENDING THAT, THAT ALLOTMENT OF MONEY. SO, SO EVEN WITH THE AMENDMENT, UH, IF IT WERE TO PASS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 10 TIMES MORE APPROXIMATELY MONEY, UH, DEVOTED TO POWER GENERATION. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND, NOTHING MOVES FAST WHEN YOU'RE TALKING FEDERAL DOLLARS. RIGHT. IT IS A SLOW, SYSTEMATIC PROCESS TO GET THROUGH TO EXECUTE THAT. SO, UM, THERE'S A REASON WHY SOME OF THAT, DR 21, WE DID SOME HM. GP GRANTS WHERE WE HAVE SOME MONEY TO INSTALL SOME GENERATORS AT A POLICE STATION AND FIRE STATION, THOSE STILL AREN'T DONE RIGHT. IT'S A VERY, VERY, VERY SLOW PROCESS TO COMPLY WITH ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO SPEND THAT MONEY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. YES, SIR. COUNCIL POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING WHAT A GUESSTIMATE LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, 25% HERE, 25% THERE, RIGHT? YEAH. SOMETHING I WOULDN'T COMMIT TO, BUT YES, [04:30:01] A HIGH EDUCATED GUESSTIMATE. WHAT WOULD, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I WOULD HAVE TO GET WITH OUR CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THE LATEST SPREADSHEET. WE'RE CONSTANTLY EVALUATING, UM, THE ENGINEER, RIGHT? WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH CENTERPOINT ON COST TO INSTALL NATURAL GAS. WE'RE EVALUATING A LOT OF THINGS. SO THOSE NUMBERS, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY COMING IN AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGING. YEAH. AND, AND MY, YOU KNOW, MY FOCUS ON THAT IS YOU SAY A 12 TO 18 MONTH JUST FOR IT COULD, SUPPLY CHAIN, COULD BE, AND THEN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS MAY BE NECESSARY EVEN TO OUTFIT A PARTICULAR SITE BASED ON WHAT YOU FIND WHEN YOU GET THERE AND START TO LOOK AROUND. YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA AFFECT THE BUDGET. IT COULD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT COULD, YOU KNOW, 2, 3, 4 YEARS FROM NOW. UM, AND WHEN WE'RE ALREADY IN A TIGHT BUDGET, WHERE THOSE DOLLARS GONNA COME FROM AND, AND WE AS A BODY IN, IN A FEW YEARS, WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT. AND I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT TODAY THAT IMPACT 2, 3, 4, OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, TO MAKE BASED ON THE DECISIONS THAT WE DID TODAY. SO, WANT TO KEEP THAT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY'S MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THESE $314 MILLION THAT ARE WITHIN THIS PACKAGE. IT'S NOT ALL THE DOLLARS THAT'S NECESSARY TO PUT FORTH THIS PLAN. AND, UM, WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT EITHER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST MAYBE PREMATURE QUESTION, BUT, UM, I, I'M JUST KIND OF LISTENING TO COUNCILMAN POLLARD POINT OF EMPHASIS ABOUT DOWN THE ROAD, AND I TOTALLY AGREE. SO I, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, MAYOR, 'CAUSE I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE AT LEAST MADE SOME, IF NOT WHOLE, BUT SOME HELP IN, IN, IN THEIR HOMES AND WHATEVER. SO LET ME JUST ASK THE QUESTION, MAYOR, I, I MEAN, FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN AND NOW THE, THE NEW ONE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TODAY, HOW COMFORTABLE ARE, I MEAN, ARE YOU, IT'S YOUR STAFF PUT TOGETHER, HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ANOTHER STORM AND WE WILL, THAT WE, WE DON'T GO INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE GOING TO BE DISCUSS AROUND THIS TABLE AGAIN ABOUT WHO GETS WHAT AND WHEN. SO I JUST, AS, AS I, I JUST, HOW ARE YOU, LET ME JUST ADDRESS THAT. FIRST OF ALL, TRANSPARENCY IS THE KEY. NEVER IN ANYONE'S RECALL HAS THERE BEEN A DISCUSSION LIKE THIS AT THIS HORSESHOE. YOU CAN'T FIX SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT'S BROKEN. RIGHT? I WAS SHOCKED DURING BARREL TO LEARN THAT OUR KEY LOCATIONS, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER THAT WE WERE SENDING FOLKS TO DID NOT HAVE POWER. I WAS SHOCKED. SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD MORE THAN FOUR YEARS TO DISCUSS THIS. I LEARNED IT DURING THE MIDDLE OF A STORM. SO THE KEY TO SOLVING THIS IS TRANSPARENCY. YES. FUNDING WILL BE A CHALLENGE. IT WAS A CHALLENGE THIS GO AROUND. AND BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE MISDEEDS OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, HUD DID NOT WANT TO GO WITH HOME REPAIRS. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID, NO, WE WANT TO SEE ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU GET INTO HOME REPAIRS. IT'S WHO THE CONTRACTORS ARE, WHO THE ENGINEERS ARE, WHO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE. WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD. WE'RE STILL ADDRESSING HARVEY FUNDING RECOVERY FUNDS IN YURI. SO THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS HITTING A RESTART BUTTON, WE HAD TO APPROACH HUD WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT OUR CRITICAL NEEDS WERE. WE DO NEED SOME FIRST RESPONDER VEHICLES. WE'RE GETTING POLICE AND FIRE AND LARGE NUMBERS OF VEHICLES. WE GOT 31 SOLID WASTE VEHICLES, DEBRIS PICKUP, ALL THE ESSENTIALS DURING RECOVERY ARE BEING ADDRESSED. SO IT BECOMES A BALANCING ACT OF TRYING TO BE FAIR. PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINION. WE, WE CERTAINLY WITNESSED IT YESTERDAY. YEAH. YEAH. AND THAT'S FINE. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. WE STARTED WITH A RECOMMENDATION WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, OUR STAKEHOLDERS, LISTENING. WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF HEARINGS. WE LISTEN TO THE HOUSING CHAIR OF THIS PANEL. WE LISTEN TO THE INDIVIDUALS. SOME WERE AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER LAST SUMMER, SOME WERE NOT. IT'S EASY TO BE CRITICAL. THERE'S [04:35:01] NO PERFECT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I'VE DONE IT MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE. I'M DOING IT TODAY ON MY BIRTHDAY. THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE. EXPERIENCE MATTERS, OPINIONS MATTER. SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS FAIRLY? WE'VE DONE IT. IS IT PERFECT? NO. DO PEOPLE WANT TO STILL PICK AT IT? OF COURSE. THAT'S A POLITICAL AGENDA. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A POLITICAL AGENDA, SO I'M VERY PLEASED THIS GENTLEMAN IS AN EXPERT AND HE EVEN WAS TRANSPARENT IF HE NEEDS TO GET ADVICE FROM HIS CONSULTANTS. SO WE OUGHT TO BE REALLY PROUD OF THIS CITY COUNCIL TODAY. AND THE PRODUCT THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING. WE'RE NOT THROUGH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT AMENDMENTS IN A MOMENT, BUT GENERATORS ARE A HIGH PRIORITY. I WAS JUST TELLING THE MAYOR PRO TIM. YEAH. WITH THE WEATHER CHANGES, I THINK IT'LL BECOME EVEN MORE A PROMINENT DISCUSSION GOING FORWARD. WHAT WE'VE GUARD AGAINST IS THAT WE DON'T LET THE HAVES HAVE GENERATORS AND THE HAVE-NOTS NOT HAVE GENERATORS. RIGHT. RIGHT. NOT ONLY OUR INSTITUTIONS, BUT I THINK OUR FAMILY HOMES GOING FUTURE GOING FORWARD, SOMEDAY YOU'RE GONNA NEED A GENERATOR. YEAH. AND IT'LL BECOME ESSENTIAL FOR GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD GENERATORS. WE WILL LOOK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE WILL LOOK TO THE STATE, OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, THE NON-PROFITS, THE PHILANTHROPIC, HOW WE CAME UP WITH THIS PROPOSAL. SO IT'S, I'M, I'M AS PUMPED AS I CAN BE ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN 341 MILLION THAT WE CAN NOW APPLY TO RECOVERY FROM BARRELL AND TO RETAIL. THE COUNTY ASKS FOR SIMILAR AMOUNTS AND THEY GOT 61 MILLION. YEAH. AND WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD. OUR RELATIONSHIP, WE GOT THIS, WE HAD THE HUD SECRETARY OF HUD DOWN HERE LAST MONTH. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. IT WAS THAT. YEAH. HE WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH ME. HE KNOWS SOME OF THE PLAYERS AND THE CHALLENGES. SO ANYWAY, YES. FUNDING WILL BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'LL PROVIDE IT. OKAY. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. AND HOUSTONIANS WILL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE. NOW, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S GONNA BE CRITICS, BUT THAT'S JUST GOES WITH THE TERRITORY. THE PUBLIC RECOGNIZES THE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANNA BE POSITIVE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING. YEAH. WELL, I, I, NO, I APPRECIATE, AND CHURCHES YOU MENTIONED, YOU AND I HAVE AN ACTIVE DISCUSSION. YEAH. CHURCHES, CENTERS OF FAITH WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PROVIDE COOLING CENTERS. SURE, SURE. WARMING CENTERS. YEAH. SO ANYWAY, AND IT'S, AND THIS, IT IS A, A NECESSITY. SO, AND I'M NOT JUST SINGLING OUT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, TATUM, BUT HER POINT ABOUT HER DISTRICT AND THE FACILITY THAT A GENERATOR WOULD COME IN AND THE COST OF THAT. 'CAUSE THE BUILDING WASN'T BUILT, YOU KNOW, AND OTHER DISTRICTS PROBABLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF PLACES. SO, SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M, IT, IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST PROVIDING FOR OTHERS. AND I WANNA BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES TO PEOPLE, AND THAT INCLUDES THESE GENERATORS. AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION IN REGARDING TO THAT, OUR, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY. UH, YESTERDAY, SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MET WITH, UH, JOSH SANDERS AND STEPHEN DAVID BEHIND CHAMBERS. AND I THANKED THEM FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE EVEN ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. ALTHOUGH THERE'LL BE SOME DISAGREEMENT ON WHAT THE, THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD IS THE IDEA THAT THE CITY RECEIVED MORE THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT WE ASKED FOR. AND I DO WANNA CORRECT YOU ON THIS, THOUGH. THE COUNTY ACTUALLY ASKED FOR 600. THEY GOT 10% OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR. SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB. IT'S A, UH, IT'S BEEN A REWARDING PROCESS WE'VE KNOCKED THROUGH, BUT AS I STARTED A MOMENT AGO SAYING, YOU CAN'T FIX SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T ADMIT IT'S A PROBLEM. WE'VE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. AND THERE ARE OTHER AREAS VERY SIMILAR. WITH THAT SAID, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE [NON CONSENT AGENDA - NUMBERING] OUT OF ORDER, UH, MEMBERS ITEM 67, 68, AND 69. I HEAR THAT MOTION PASS. TA MOVE. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED DATE. UM, THE FOURTH ITEM 67. I UNDERSTAND. COUNCILMAN THOMAS, YOU HAVE A SUBSTITUTE. LET HIM CALL IT. LET HIM CALL IT. MR. SECRETARY. [04:40:01] GO AHEAD. MR. SECRETARY. ITEM 67 IS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, UM, COLLEAGUES BEFORE YOU. UH, A TABLE AMENDMENT WAS PRESENTED ON JULY 23RD, UM, SPEAKING TO THE $50 MILLION INCREASE. UM, I HAVE A, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE TO THE AMENDMENT, AND WE'LL NEED A SECOND TO MOVE FORWARD. I'LL READ THE, UH, UH, AMENDMENT WITH THE CHANGES, FOLLOWS. I MOVE TO INCREASE THE CITY, THE CITY'S HOUSING ALLOCATION FROM 50 MILLION TO 100 MILLION FROM THE C-D-B-G-D-R 24 DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REALLOCATE $50 MILLION FROM THE $150 MILLION POWER GENERATION AND RESILIENCY PROGRAM, AND MOVE TO THE HOUSING PROGRAMS. THIS WILL BRING THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS TO 100 MILLION, WITH 50 MILLION DESIGNATED FOR SINGLE FAMILY, AND 50 MILLION DESIGNATED FOR MULTIFAMILY. VERY WELL. SECOND, MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT. SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AND THEN HER AMENDMENT AS AMENDED. NOW. MEMBERS, UH, THE FORCE SAYS THE THOMAS AMENDMENT AS AMENDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. COUNCILOR PLUMMER WANTED A COMMENT. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. NO OPPOSED NAY. LOOK AT YOUR, NO. WOULD YOU LIKE A ROLL? LIKE A ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR MEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. I'M, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? YES. YES. VERY GOOD. IT PASSES 12 THREE. THE, UM, MOTION PASSES. 12. YES. THERE'S THREE NOS. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T NOT WANNA CALL ON YOU. I JUST WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE. I RECOGNIZE YOU. NO, NO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THEN CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS A REALLY GREAT DEAL. I ALSO HAD PLACED AN AMENDMENT FORWARD AS WELL. UM, I WANTED, OBVIOUSLY PULL THE AMENDMENT. WE HAD A CONVERSATION, UM, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I'M INCREDIBLY HAPPY TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES AMENDMENT IN, GLAD THE COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING THE FUNDS THAT THEY WELL DESERVE ON HOME REPAIRS. UM, I DO WANNA MAKE A NOTE, UM, THAT IN THE AMENDMENT THAT I PRESENTED MOVING FORWARD, I, I FOUND OTHER PLACES, UM, TO FIND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE IN THAT $50 MILLION. SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PULL IT FROM GENERATION. MY, MY PROPOSAL REALLOCATED FUNDING FROM SPECIFIC, UM, CATEGORIES THAT THE CITY COULD TAP INTO. SO IN THE FUTURE, I WANT US TO LOOK AT THOSE CATEGORIES, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SHORTFALL ON GENERATION, AND THESE OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE A POTENTIAL OPTION FOR THAT. UM, AND MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE WITH THE REMAINING FUNDING FOR THE GENERATORS, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THESE FUNDS GO TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. AND SO IT IS BE VERY IMPORTANT TO, UM, TO, TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE. BE INCREDIBLY TRANSPARENT ON HOW WE CHOOSE THESE LOCATIONS. THE MONEY IS JUST NOT ENOUGH, AND YOU HEARD WHAT THE DIRECTOR HAD MENTIONED, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PROTOCOLS, WHATEVER SYSTEMS THAT THEY USE TO CHOOSE ON WHERE THESE GO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT VERY CLEARLY. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THE GENERATION, THIS GENERATORS ARE PLACED IN, IN OUR CITY EQUITABLY. IN ADDITION, HISTORICALLY, WE'VE ALL SEEN, UM, THAT THE DELIVERY OF HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR, UM, HAVE BEEN LESS THAN ACCEPTABLE. AND SO, MAYOR, AND I'M OBVIOUSLY DEFERRING TO, UM, TO THE CHAIR OF HOUSING COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBLE WAY IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS THAT WE CAN, THAT WE CAN HAVE THE DEPARTMENTS DO A PRESENTATION IN HOUSING, UM, TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW THESE REPAIRS ARE BEING DONE, WHO ARE DOING THEM, HOW ARE WE VETTING THESE CONTRACTORS? HOW DO WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THEIR WARRANTIES IN PLACE? WHERE ARE THE RESOURCES COMING FROM? HOW DO YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE ISSUES MOVING FORWARD? WHERE DO THEY GET RE UH, MONIES, UM, MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF INSURANCE? ALL THAT, HAVING A LARGER, BROADER CONVERSATION, UM, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS VERY CLEARLY WHEN THAT WHEN THEIR HOUSES ARE REPAIRED, THERE IS SOME LEVEL [04:45:01] OF WARRANTY AND THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN DONE PROPERLY. VERY GOOD. ALL SHE'S, I BELIEVE SHE'S WITHDRAWN. OH. AND WITH THAT, I WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT. OKAY. UM, AND, UM, AND THEN I'M EXCITED. VERY EXCITED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND YOUR WITHDRAWAL IS ACCEPTED, UH, AS AMENDED. NOW WE'RE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ IS IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. UM, SEVERAL OF THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT AND THERE WAS CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, HOW, UH, THE END PRODUCT WAS RIGHT. AND SO FOLKS WERE COMING IN SAYING THAT I STILL, MY, MY WALLS WEREN'T EVEN, UH, PUT UP PROPERLY, MY SHEET ROCK. AND SO THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THESE DOLLARS COULD HELP SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN A QUALITY JOB DONE. AND SO I HAVE CONCERNS AS WELL, UH, WITH THE, THE FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY TO, TO, TO, UH, DO RENOVATIONS OR REBUILDS. UM, AND I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE VET THESE, THESE INDIVIDUALS, THESE CONTRACTORS. THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS ABOUT JUST THROWING MONEY TO HOUSING WHEN WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE YOU THE RIGHT, UH, THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT QUALITY OF HOUSING. UM, AND THEN FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, THE HOUSING WAS, THIS HOUSE WASN'T DONE PROPERLY. AND SO, UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COUNCILLOR PLUMMER. I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE END RESULT IS WHAT YOU EXPECT AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE GIVING TO YOU AS WELL. UM, I ALSO WANNA CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, ON GENERATORS AS WELL. UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THEM, OF COURSE. UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS I LOOK AT MY COMMUNITIES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE PLACES OF REFUGE, I'M LOOKING AT COMMUN, UH, COMMUNITY CENTERS. I'M LOOKING AT LIBRARIES. AND SO, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH A DIRECTOR AS WELL ON THE GENERATORS, UH, SIDE. BUT ON THE HOUSING, WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT. WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, SO THAT WAY FOLKS AREN'T COMING TO A PUBLIC SESSION SAYING, MY HOUSE WASN'T DONE PROPERLY, UH, WITH, WITH, UH, WITH THESE DOLLARS. SO, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL MEMBER, SHE WANTS TO DO AFTER THE VOTE. AFTER THE VOTE. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY. UH, 69, ITEM 69 IS AMENDED. UH, MS. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RY? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO? YES. BEING 12? YES. THERE'S THREE NOS. THE, UH, AMENDED ITEM 69 IS FINALLY PASSED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND COLLEAGUES AS WELL. UH, UH, TODAY, UH, THIS IS LARGER THAN A WIN FOR ONE COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, THIS IS LARGER THAN A WIN FOR EVEN MAYOR WHITMEYER OR THIS ENTIRE BODY. IT'S A WIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, UM, WHICH IS REALLY CLEAR BY, UH, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD TO HAVE SINCE JUNE SINCE RECEIVING THESE DOLLARS. UM, AS MENTIONED, $314 MILLION IS NOWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MEET THE DEMAND OF DOING A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, ADDRESSING OUR HOUSING INVENTORY SHORTAGE, BUT ALSO, UM, CLOSING THE GAPS ON RESILIENCY FOR US TO BE HYPER-LOCAL. UM, BUT TODAY WHAT WE DID PASS AND WHAT THE CITY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS. I WAS GOING THROUGH, UM, AS SOMEONE, UM, UH, THAT EXPERIENCE OF THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA WITH MY FAMILY, UM, RECEIVING THEM TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN HOUSTON OPENED ITS DOORS. AND IN THE ALGORITHM, FORMER MAYOR TURNER WAS TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS HURRICANE HARVEY, UM, LEFT IN THIS CITY. AND THE REPORT SPEAKS TO 200, $300 MILLION OF CUBIC OR WHATEVER THE, THE MEASUREMENT WAS. AND SO WHAT WE HAVE PASSED TODAY ALLOWS US TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE. SO IF WE EXPERIENCE ANOTHER STORM, WE'RE ALREADY STAGED TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'RE ALREADY STAGED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE RAPID RESPONSE TO REMOVE THE TREES TO BLOCK THAT'S BEEN BLOCKING YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ARE ALREADY PROACTIVE TO CUT THE VEGETATION FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MITIGATE AND REDUCE HARM AND DANGER IN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THAT'S A POINT AS WE INSTALL GENERATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, FIRE STATION, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES LIKE OUR LIBRARIES, ONCE YOU CHARGE UP, ONCE YOU'RE ABLE TO CHARGE UP YOUR OXYGEN AND MAINTAIN YOUR MEDICATION, YOU CAN GO HOME AND START RECOVERY WITH ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN YOUR [04:50:01] OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF. I PERSONALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TEXAS HOUSES, THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, EVERY CIVIC CLUB MEMBER, SU SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEMBER THAT PARTICIPATED ON ALL OF THE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS OF THE, UM, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S WILLINGNESS TO EXTEND AND ADD ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD THE PULSE ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING FROM INDUSTRY AND RESIDENTS THAT WOULD BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM THESE FUNDS. I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT MY COLLEAGUES WHO WERE WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ME ABOUT, UH, THE ENTIRE PACKAGE. THE, UM, AND, AND THE, A MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IN HER ABSENCE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM, AND ALWAYS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WHO'S ALWAYS READY TO TUSSLE FOR SOME GOOD TROUBLE. I, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. UM, BUT LASTLY, I, I WANT TO, UH, TALK ABOUT, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, UM, FIRST OF ALL. AND SO I THINK WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS, UM, IT'S NO, IT'S NO SECRET THAT I AM, UH, PASSIONATE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS HORSESHOE AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS CLEARLY. UM, THERE ARE TIMES THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I LOCK OUR HORNS IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE. I THINK THAT'S A FAIR WAY TO PUT IT. BUT THIS IS ALSO A WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUBLICLY DEMONSTRATE WE CAN UNLOCK OUR HORNS AND GET SOMETHING DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, UH, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND, UH, HE IS, I BELIEVE, VERY COMMITTED FOR US DOING AND IN BOTH, UM, INVESTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY DEMONSTRATION OF HIS SUPPORT, HIS OPEN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT, AND ALSO BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, IN, IN OUR CITY TO RESPOND TO RESILIENCY. AND, AND LET ME SAY THIS, WHEN MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, UM, UH, AMENDMENT, I SAID, MAYOR WHITMEYER, LOOK, WE COULD BE DON KING AND MIKE TYSON ON THIS IF YOU LET IT. AND MAYOR WHITMEYER SAID, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO MIKE TYSON AND WHO DON KING . SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHO GONNA BE WHO. SO THIS IS, WE, WE CAN WALK, UH, YOU KNOW, CONFIDENTLY AND CELEBRATE THIS TOGETHER, THAT WE ARE REALLY COMING OUT AS, AS A DUO ON THIS, TO HAVE THE MAYOR'S SUPPORT AND ALSO AS CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT I THINK THIS IS A MODEL HOW WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, THAT WE CAN FIGHT IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE. WE CAN DEBATE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE, BUT THIS IS THE WORK THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR ELECTED MEMBERS ARE WILLING TO DO THAT FIGHT FOR YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU TO OEM. I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN DIRECTOR MASON'S ABILITY TO GET THIS PLAN DONE. IT IS AGGRESSIVE ON A LIMITED TIMELINE, AND I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR INVENTORY MULTIFAMILY, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO EX MOVE ON SINGLE FAMILY REPAIR. AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY'LL BE MORE THAN WILLING TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY, PRESENT A PLAN, PRESENT METRICS EVALUATION, AND HOW WE DO THIS WORK IN THIS CITY SO WE CAN, WE CAN, UM, REMOVE THE, THE BLACK EYE AROUND HOME REPAIR. AND THIS, WE CAN, THIS IS FINALLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPIN ON THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO. LET ME THANK YOU. UH, YOU JUST GAVE ME THE BEST BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT , ARE YOU DONALD KING? A SHOUT, SHOUT MY SHOUT A SHOUT OUT. AND, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE SO MANY MORE OCCASIONS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STADIUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEFORE OUR BREAK WEEK, UM, I DID, UH, TALK ABOUT, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM, HOW I, I HAVE A UNIQUE LOOK AT INSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS ALONGSIDE, UM, MY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND I TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, HEAVINESS OF THE DIVISIVENESS IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR STATE, AND WHY I LOVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO MUCH. AND WHILE, UM, YOU KNOW, ONENESS IS NOT SAMENESS, I THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE SHOWING, UM, CONSTITUENTS AND HOUSTONIANS IS THAT WE CAN HAVE 17 INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN WORK TOWARDS, UH, THE VERY BEST FOR HOUSTON. AND WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HAS LISTENED TO HOUSTONIANS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, TALKING ABOUT THE, THE DISTRESS THAT THEY HAVE. THE, THE ENTIRE CITY, UM, IS HOLDING THEIR BREATH WHEN THERE IS A WEATHER ALERT, WHEN SOMETHING IS BREWING IN THE GULF, WHEN SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, UM, THAT COULD COME TO HOUSTON AND CAUSE A STORM, OR CAUSE US TO HAVE TO PREPARE. WE'RE ALL HOLDING OUR BREATH. I MEAN, WE, WE'VE DEALT WITH IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. UM, BUT I HOPE THAT JUST LIKE THE MEDIA REPORTS DISSENT AND THE DIVISIVENESS, THAT THEY ALSO WILL USE THAT SAME ENERGY TO REPORT WHEN WE COME TO A SITUATION LIKE THIS. AND HOUSTON [04:55:01] WINS. BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IS THE MAYOR ASKING HIS TEAM TO WORK ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS A WIN FOR HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WHO IS OUR, OUR CHAIR OF HOUSING, AND WHO SPEAKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN HOUSTON AND ON HOUSING ISSUES. BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE SHE'S AN EXPERT IN HOUSING. I, I MEAN, I MEAN, YOU, YOU SEE HER WORKING WITH MARSHA FUDGE AND, UM, SOME OF THE GREATEST HOUSING EXPERTS IN THE COUNTRY AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN HOUSTON. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT FOR LI TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. UM, AND I ALSO DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT LIGHTLY THAT THIS COUNCIL VOTED 12 THREE TO SUPPORT HOUSTON. AND THE BREAKDOWN OF THE 300 AND, UH, $14 MILLION IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE. MM-HMM . UM, EVERY ASPECT OF THE TROUBLES THAT WE GO THROUGH IN A STORM IS TOUCHED BY THIS $314 MILLION. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL CONSIDER THIS A WIN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WANNA SAY A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOUR, YOUR AMENDMENT WAS THOUGHTFUL. UM, I THINK IT WAS QUITE APPROPRIATE. UM, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, UM, THANK YOU FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THIS BODY AND REPRESENTING, UM, EACH OF US, UH, FOR WHAT WE DO TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, CONGRATULATIONS HOUSTON, ON THIS WIN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IT WAS THE FIRST APPOINTMENT I MADE, AND I HAVE NOT REGRETTED IT. ONE DAY YOU ARE SITTING AT THE TABLE, AS WE DID EARLY THIS MORNING TO REVIEW OUR PROPOSALS AND REFINE THINGS TO REFLECT WHAT'S IN HOUSTON'S BEST INTEREST. AND I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU AS OUR MAYOR PROTE. AND ALSO, ONE OF THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENTS I MADE WAS THE CHAIR OF HOUSING, UH, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE EXPERTISE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENTS TO THIS SUBJECT. AND HER INSTRUCTION AND TEACHING AT PRAIRIE VIEW IS RECOGNIZED. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I'LL SAY AGAIN, I THINK ONE OF THE, ONE OF MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN 20 MONTHS IS THE TEAM THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE, MIKE NICHOLS. WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER THESE FUNDS, UH, PROPERLY, HONESTLY, WITH ACCOUNTABILITY. I SEE PUBLIC WORKS THERE THAT'S GONNA BE INVOLVED IN IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND JEB, THANK YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT, AND OF COURSE, ONE MORE SHOUT OUT FOR BRIAN MASON. BRIAN, YOU, YOU DON'T MISS A BEAT. YOU'RE, YOU'RE ON, YOU'RE ON ON THE JOB FULL TIME. SO AS EVERYONE IS SAYING, IT'S, IT'S HOUSTON ONE TODAY, AND, UH, IF WE'LL CONTINUE THIS COLLABORATION WITH ONE ANOTHER, THERE'S NOTHING HOLDING US BACK. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, BARRY. I ALLUDED EARLIER TO THE MEETING WE HAD YESTERDAY. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS REALLY SHOCKED TO FIND OUT IS THAT THE AVERAGE COST FOR THE HOME REPAIR THAT WILL BE IN THIS PROGRAM IN THE PAST HAS BEEN OVER $200,000. UH, APPARENTLY THAT'S DRIVEN QUITE A BIT BY HUD RULES AND ALSO SOME ORDINANCES ON OUR PART THAT IF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS A ROOF THAT'S BEEN RIPPED OFF AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY ALSO HAPPEN TO HAVE A FOUNDATION PROBLEM, THAT WE ALSO FIX THE FOUNDATION PROBLEM IF THEY'VE GOT ELECTRICAL, THAT'S AN ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STORM. WE ALSO FIX THE ELECTRICAL. UH, I HOPE WHATEVER WIGGLE ROOM THERE IS THAT WE'LL USE THAT TO TRY AND LIMIT IT TO STORM DAMAGE RATHER THAN AN ALL INCLUSIVE REPAIR. UM, ALSO I GOT WITH, UH, HOUSING YESTERDAY AND, AND THEY RESPONDED BACK THAT, UH, THE PFCS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS MONEY ALSO. I THINK THE PFCS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF US. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND LIMIT THEIR INVOLVEMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS COUNCIL MEMBER. JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES. I WANNA CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, AND FOR SUBMITTING THIS AMENDMENT. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, DISTRICT B WAS HIT HARD. UM, FEMA UM, RECOGNIZED THAT WITH 73,324, UM, THOUSAND PEOPLE IN DISTRICT B ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE, GOT ASSISTANCE DURING A RECENT STORM, AND THAT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER PERSON. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS STILL, UM, TRYING TO GET THEIR HOMES REPAIRED. AND SO THESE DOLLARS ARE GONNA HELP THE COMMUNITY RECOVER AND MOVE FORWARD. AND SO, UM, WANNA THANK TOP, UM, TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, WHO'S ALWAYS LEADING THE EFFORT AROUND DISASTER RECOVERY, UM, FROM IKE HARVEY, UM, AND NOW BARROW. AND SO, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, COUNCIL RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, [05:00:01] MAYOR. UM, YOU TOUCHED ON ONE POINT I WANNA MAKE EARLIER, AND THAT IS TRUST. THERE'S A LEVEL OF TRUST IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND YOU PERSONALLY, MAYOR, THAT EXISTS IN AUSTIN AND EVEN EXISTS IN WASHINGTON, THAT HAS NOT EXISTED BEFORE. AND THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN MY VOTE ON THIS ISSUE. I TRUST YOU AND I TRUST OUR HOUSING DIRECTOR, AND I TRUST OUR, UH, RESILIENCE FOLKS TO ADMITTER ADMINISTER WHATEVER FUNDS ARE SPENT IN AN HONEST WAY. I COULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, BUT, BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME. I ALSO WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ONLY OUR FIRST VOTE ON HOW THIS MONEY GETS SPENT. UH, ANY MULTIFAMILY, UM, PROJECTS THAT, UH, NEED APPROVAL ARE GONNA COME BACK BEFORE US FOR APPROVAL, AND WE'LL GET TO VOTE YES OR NO ON WHETHER WE THINK THOSE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS SHOULD BE FUNDED. WE'LL ALSO GET TO VOTE ON THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, UH, AND IF WE DON'T LIKE THEM, WE CAN, UH, ADJUST THEM, UH, AS APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME. AND, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER POINTS. I I HEAR YOU. THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE WRITTEN INTO THE CODE OF FEDERAL, UH, CODE OF, UH, THE FEDERAL CODE, RIGHT? AND SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES. IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CHANGE THOSE, THEY CAN DO SO. UM, I ALLUDED EARLIER TO THE TRUST THAT WASHINGTON HAS IN, IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. I UNDERSTAND CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAD WITH HUD AND THEY'RE COMFORTABLE, UH, WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM IN AN HONEST WAY, AND THEY WILL BE WATCHING. SO, UH, MARY, IT WAS ON THAT BASIS LARGELY THAT I CAST A, A VOTE. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST, UM, IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE ON COUNCIL IS TO LISTEN. AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE DID THAT. AND SO THE VOICES OF TOP KNACK, WEST STREET RECOVERY, TMO, ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE, UH, TIRELESSLY TO GIVE YOUR PERSONAL, UM, EXPERIENCES AND WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, REALLY ALLOWED US TO MAKE A DECISION. AND SO I WANT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRANSPARENCY. THANK FOR YOU FOR THE SACRIFICES. I KNOW MANY OF YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE AT WORK OR TAKING CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES OR WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SACRIFICING ALL OF THE EFFORTS TO BE HERE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES. AND I WANNA TELL THANK, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THE TEAM, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS VOTE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS LIFE CHANGING, TRANSFORMATIONAL VOTE. UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS, HOUSTON. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE LEAVE, I MUST THANK MY STAFF JOSH HAD FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITH, WITH HIS CHILDREN. SO HE'S JUST ARRIVED. HE DIDN'T GET TO HEAR OUR, UH, SHOUT OUTS. JOSH, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH THE PARTNERS IN HUD. STEPHEN DAVID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE. CYNTHIA, UH, WILSON, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT CHIEFS OF STAFFS AND THE COUNCIL OFFICES. SO YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR TEAM MEMBERS, YOU AND YOUR STAFF, AND YOU KNOW THAT AS WELL AS I, SO IT'S A GREAT MORNING. IT'S A GREAT DAY. LET'S, UH, [HEARINGS] LET'S MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS NOW. UH, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE'VE GOT, UH, AKIA LEWIS AND APPRENTICE COLLINS. MS. LEWIS AKIA, APPRENTICE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NIKIA LEWIS, AND I AM THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR RECREATION AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATIONS AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. CITY ATTORNEY ARTURO MICHELLE, AND ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY BRAD BEBE ARE ALSO HERE FOR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEARING OR THE STATE CODE AND CITY ORDINANCE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO BRING THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO CITY COUNCIL. NEXT SLIDE. THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARING IS TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCE CODE 42.041 [05:05:02] B 14. NEXT SLIDE. THE STANDARDS OF CARE ARE INTENDED TO BE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL USE TO OPERATE THE SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY 2,500 SCHOOL AGED YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM EACH YEAR, AND TYPICALLY ABOUT 3,500 SCHOOL AGE YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN OUR AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BASED ON FOUR CORE COMPONENTS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, FITNESS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SPORTS, NATURE, EDUCATION, AND CREATIVE FUN. NEXT SLIDE. THE YOUTH AND YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM STANDARDS OF CARE IS CODIFIED IN ARTICLE 12 OF CHAPTER 32 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CODE OF ORDINANCE, TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE 42.041 B 14 PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION FROM CHILDCARE LICENSING FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS SERVING ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN AGE SIX TO 13 WITH THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA. NEXT SLIDE, A MUNICIPALITY OPERATIONS PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THESE STANDARDS OF CARE TO THE PARTICIPANTS OF EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT. THE ORDINANCE INCLUDES YOUTH STAFF RATIOS, MINIMUM EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS, MINIMUM BUILDING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS AND MECHANISMS FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING THE ADOPTED LOCAL STANDARDS. NEXT SLIDE. THE PROGRAM INFORMS THE PARENTS THAT THE STATE DOES NOT LICENSE THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM DOES NOT ADVOCATE ITSELF AS A CHILDCARE OPERATION, AND THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY ANNUALLY ADOPTS STANDARDS OF CARE BY ORDINANCE AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. WE ARE REQUESTING COUNCIL ACTION TODAY TO READOPT THE HOUSTON YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM STANDARDS OF CARE WITH NO CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE. NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME. MAYOR PRO, TIM KASICK STADIUM. MR. LEWIS. I WANTED TO THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE ONE OF THE, UM, GREATEST PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS, UM, THE, THE AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR, UM, PARKS. WHEN I GO TO TOWN WOOD PARK AND SEE ALL THOSE KIDS THERE, THOSE KIDS ARE HAPPY. THEY ARE PLAYING OUTSIDE, THEY ARE SAFE. UM, WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO TURN KIDS AWAY. IT IS AN AFFORDABLE PROGRAM FOR PARENTS THAT WORK OR PARENTS THAT, UM, NEED CHILDCARE. AND I AM ECSTATIC ABOUT HOW MANY KIDS GET THE SERVICES THROUGH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT IT EXCEPT WHEN YOU, WHEN Y'ALL COME HERE TO DO THE STANDARDS OF CARE PRESENTATION. BUT I DID NOT WANT THIS TIME TO PASS WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE, UM, STAFF AT OUR PARKS WHO ARE MAKING SURE THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE SAFE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING THEIR CHILDHOOD. I MEAN, THE, THE POOLS, THE, THE, THE PARKS. AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING, UM, REPLACED. UM, BUT ALL OF THAT IS PART OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR, IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND SO IF YOU WILL MAKE SURE THEY ALL KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT. I MEAN, IF YOU, YOU GO TO LINK WOOD AND SEE THE KIDS THAT ARE PLAYING THERE AND THE PROGRAMMING THAT THEY HAVE, THEY'RE STELLAR. I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING, UH, THEY'RE LEARNING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HAVING FUN. UM, THEY, THEY ARE EXERCISING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HAVING FUN. UM, WE, WE CAN'T, UM, PUT A PRICE ON, UM, MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE LEARNING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AT, UH, OUR, OUR CITY FACILITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS AND I DEFINITELY, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING, UM, WHEN IT COMES ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND MR. LEWIS, I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS PRESENTATION, SOMEBODY THAT USED TO MANAGE YOUTH PROGRAMS MYSELF. I'M INTIMATELY, UH, AWARE OF HOW THIS WORKS. UM, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS, AND I STILL WANT TO, TO CONTINUE TO STRESS THAT CORE SERVICES FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR ME IS MOWING, MAINTAINING. AND RIGHT NOW, I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF CDSF PROJECTS FOR MAIN MAINTENANCE OF, UH, OF THESE PARKS, UM, TO, TO GET FULFILLED. UM, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ANY KIDS OR FAMILIES AT OUR PARKS, YOU KNOW, WE, IT JUST DOESN'T, DOESN'T DO WELL IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTING OR THERE ARE NO BENCHES OR THE WALKING TRAIL IS, IS NOT UP TO PAR. AND SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF, OF, AND A PROPONENT OF AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM, SOMEBODY THAT MANAGE THESE, THESE TYPES [05:10:01] OF PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO WANNA STRESS THAT HOWEVER MUCH POSSIBLE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO PARTNER AND LEVERAGE OUR, OUR, UH, RESOURCES WITH NONPROFITS. THERE'S SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT I KNOW WOULD LOVE TO COME INTO THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THEY COULD ACTUALLY RUN A PROGRAM THEMSELVES THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, PUT US, UH, KIND OF IN ANOTHER, ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR OR WE DON'T HAVE, UH, PROGRAMMING. BUT I, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE'RE SHIFTING SOME OF OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE MAKE SURE WE'RE MAINTAINING PARKS. AND WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT MOWING SCHEDULE AND HOW IT'S GONNA BE DELAYED. UH, THAT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. UH, DELAYING MOWING WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT, THAT ARE IN THE CENTER, THE KIDS ARE, ARE GOING RIGHT, IF, IF THERE'S A HIGH GRASS THERE, AND I, I REMEMBER VIVIDLY GOING TO EASTWOOD PARK, GOING TO THESE PROGRAMS. THE, THE GRASS USED TO BE UP TO MY, ALMOST TO MY WAIST WHEN I WOULD GO AND START OFF SUMMER PROGRAMMING. UM, I, I WOULD'VE MUCH RATHER HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, UM, A MOW GRASS THAN GET TO THE PARK AND THEN ME AND MY, MY BROTHER AND SISTERS COULD PLAY ON OUR OWN. RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE THIS PROGRAM AND A PROPONENT OF IT, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LEVERAGING OUR RESOURCES TO, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES THAT WE WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. YOU SHOW UP WHEN THEY START BRAGGING ON YOU. . I'M LOOKING AT IT IF I, IF I MAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, FIRST OF ALL, HIS GRANTED US THE ABILITY TO REHIRE. SO WE'LL BE STACKING OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF, UH, TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH THE MOOING. I KNOW WE CAME ABOUT STANDARDS OF CARE. YEAH. I WANT TO THANK NIKIA LEWIS, WHO'S ONE OF OUR VERY OWN KIDS THAT CAME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM. NOW HE'S RUNNING THE PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AS A THAT'S NICE. DIVISION MANAGER. SO THIS FULL CIRCLE, I WANTED HIM TO PRESENT. HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, AND SO HE'S GONNA TAKE IT, UH, EVEN FURTHER THAN IT IS NOW IN, IN PARTNERSHIPS TO FILL THE GAP. UH, WE'VE ALSO HIRED CAREER RECOVERY RESOURCES. THEY'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF ESPLANADES, UH, AWESOME. AT LEAST IN EACH DISTRICT. UM, SO THAT'S GONNA HELP. SO THE MAYOR HAS GRACIOUS, HAS GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED US TO DO MORE WITH LESS, BUT TO DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY, UM, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE EARNEST AND YOUNG STUDY. SO WE'RE MAKING SOME HEADWAY. UH, WEATHER HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE MOORING ISSUE, UH, IN JUNE, EVERY OTHER DAY IT RAINED. WE CAN'T PUT OUR MOWERS ON ESPANADE AND PARKS WHEN THE GROUND IS SATURATED. SO WE ARE MAKING SOME GROUND. YES, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES, BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT DIRECTOR. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS LAST CDSF ABOUT 150,000 THAT I'VE GIVEN TOWARDS PARKS FOR PARKS THAT HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING. RIGHT. WALKING TRAILS, UM, DOWN IN THE HOBBY AREA, UH, COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT NEED LIGHTING. AND AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THIS AND I WANT WANNA JUST EMPHASIZE THAT WE WANNA SEE THESE PARKS BE WELCOMING TO THE KIDS, RIGHT? YES. WE WANT SEE WELCOMING TO THE FAMILIES. AND SO I, UH, I WANNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, WITH YOU YES. UH, AND YOUR TEAM. AND AGAIN, I'M A PROPONENT OF AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM. WITHOUT A DOUBT. WITHOUT A DOUBT. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S NONPROFITS THAT ARE WANTING SPACE TO COME IN AND DO WORK. SOME OF THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT THEY CAN DO AS WELL. AND IT'S JUST A ADDED VALUE TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND WE CAN BRING THESE PARTNERS IN. YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY ACCURATE AND WORTHWHILE STATEMENT. WE ARE WELCOMING NONPROFITS. WE'VE JUST INTRODUCED OUR SUNRISE CENTERS AT MARION PARK, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HISD. SO WE WELCOME NONPROFITS. WE, WE WELCOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT, THAT'S PASSIONATE ABOUT KIDS AND THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE NOT SERVING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A LOT OF NUMBERS. WE WELCOME ORGANIZATIONS IN TO PARTNER WITH US SO THAT, SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE WIDE OPEN FOR THAT. THANK YOU. KENNETH. ALSO, YOU MIGHT WANNA MENTION WHERE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, THEY HAVE RIDLEY GONE A LONG WAY STARTED ASSISTING US ALL THE PRECINCTS. YES, SIR. UM, UNDER YOUR DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP, UH, WE'VE PARTNERED JUST ABOUT WITH EVERY COMMISSIONER AND SOME IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. BUT I THINK I WILL MENTION ONE, UH, COMMISSIONER BRIANNA HAS DECIDED TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE ALL THE PARKS IN HER PRECINCT. ISN'T THAT AMAZING? WHICH IS GONNA BE A REAL HEAVY LIFT, UM, BECAUSE I CAN TAKE THOSE RESOURCES, WE CAN TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AND DIRECT THEM TO THE AREAS WHICH WILL SHORTEN SOME OF OUR MOVING CYCLES. THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. IT'S ON, IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT SHE'S WILLING TO DO. YES. INSIDE THE CITY, IN HER PRECINCT, AND THE OTHERS ARE, UH, MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. SO YES, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THE, GET THINGS FIXED. [05:15:01] UM, COUNCILOR HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW, PARENTS REALLY DEPEND ON PROGRAMS JUST LIKE THIS. IT IS SO HARD TO FIND AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SAFE CHILDCARE. AND THESE PROGRAMS REALLY DO OFFER PEACE OF MIND. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. COUNCILMAN EVANS SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE TO LIFT UP NIKIA LEWIS. HE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FOR US IN DISTRICT D. AND SO I WANNA SAY THAT IN FRONT OF YOUR BOSS AND HIS BOSS, HOW , HOW YOU HAVE JUST BEEN, UH, A PHENOMENAL PARTNER AND CERTAINLY DIRECTOR ALLEN. UH, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I, WE HAVE WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH YOU ON THE HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE USERS OF THAT COURSE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE, UH, TO A EVEN GREATER LEVEL. AND SO WE'LL, WE'LL TALK, YES. AND CERTAINLY THE MAYOR IS IN AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD, AND WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE GOLF COMMUNITY BEFORE WE MAKE ANY CONCRETE PLANS REGARDING REDOING, REVAMPING, REFURBISHING, WHATEVER THAT'S GOING ON AT HERMAN PARK. SO PUBLICLY. I THANK YOU. WELCOME. AND, AND IT'S ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP FROM HAVING THE DIRECTOR DESCRIBE THE TRANSFORMATION OF WHAT'S ABOUT, NOT ONLY IN HERMAN PARK, BUT THE, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER JUDGE ROBINSON TALKING ABOUT MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. UH, BUT WE'LL SAVE THAT TO THE NEXT MEETING. BUT, UH, THAT'S PRETTY DARN EXCITING. UH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IMPROVEMENTS, MA'AM. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO USE THEM. YOU OUGHT TO HEAR ME. NOT, NOT ONLY I KNOW THE CITY PART, THE CONSERVANCY. ABSOLUTELY. I DO DIRECTLY RAISE CANE THAT THERE'S YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF ALL OF THOSE ASSETS THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS AFFORDABLE AND WELCOME. AND YOU CAN START WITH THE CONSERVANCY, THE ZOO, THE GULF. UM, I UNDERSTAND IT'S COSTLY TO HAVE A INTERNATIONAL ZOO, BUT ALSO KNOW WE NEED PRE-DAY, WE NEED THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION TO GET CHILDREN FROM ACROSS THIS CITY, CERTAINLY THIRD WARD, TO THESE CITY'S ASSETS. SO, YOU KNOW THAT I START AND FINISH ALL THE MEETINGS WITH THESE FOLKS. I GET TO MEET PEOPLE THAT I NEVER MET WHEN THEY HEAR ME CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF PARKING, WHICH I DON'T LIKE, QUITE FRANKLY. BUT, UH, NO, WE, WE NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE YOU THINK, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE CONSERVANCY AGREEMENT. I MEAN, THESE ARE CITY ASSETS SUPPORTED BY CITY DEPARTMENTS AND TAXPAYERS, AND THEY NEED TO BE OPEN AND FRIENDLY. AND WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT LEADERSHIP IN ALL THOSE INSTITUTIONS, BUT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. COUNT A MEMBER, FLICKINGER. I THINK THESE PROGRAMS ARE GREAT FOR THE KIDS AND DIRECTOR. WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE ASSIST ON THE, THE MOWING. NOT ONLY CAN YOU NOT GET YOUR EQUIPMENT OUT THERE WHEN IT'S WET, BUT WHEN IT'S WET AND HOT, THE GRASS GROWS. SO IT REALLY MAKES IT TOUGH FOR YOU. AND, AND THIS HAS BEEN, SEEMS LIKE WE'VE BEEN GETTING WATER EVERY SECOND OR THIRD DAY, JUST KIND OF PERFECT TO MAKE IT GROW. SO I APPRECIATE MUCH AS YOU'VE DONE TO KEEP UP WITH IT. THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP PERMAN PARK. I JUST WANNA LET THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT, UH, IN QUANTITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT MONDAY AT 10, WE WILL HEAR FROM KARA LAMBRIGHT, UM, PRESIDENT OF THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, AS WELL AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION. AND I BELIEVE YOU'LL BE THERE AS WELL, DIRECTOR. WE WILL HEAR ABOUT THE CHANGES COMING AT HERMAN PARK, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE GOLF COURSE. SO INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME ASK QUESTIONS AND, UH, BECOME INFORMED. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE IT'S JULY 20TH. YEAH. THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE YES. AND A DISPLAY OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE, UH, COMING FORWARD. IT'LL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE. I CERTAINLY WANNA ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYONE THAT CAN, UH, MAKE IT THAT. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE FIVE 30 ON AUGUST 20TH. AUGUST 20TH, FIVE 30 AT HERMAN PARK. UM, UH, GOLF COURSE AT THE CLUBHOUSE, WE'LL HAVE, UH, AN OPEN HOUSE AND A PRESS CONFERENCE, VISUAL AIDS, EVERYTHING. A DISPLAY. YES. EVERYTHING WILL BE LAID OUT. UM, [05:20:01] AND VERY GOOD. COUNCILOR DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. WHAT AN OUTSTANDING, UH, PROGRAM TO KEEP IT UP, BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY NEEDED. AND I WAS GOING TO SUBMIT TO THIS LATER IN THE POP OFF. BUT LET ME JUST SAY, IN LIEU OF THAT, ALL OF OUR PARKS WE ARE PROUD OF, BUT WE CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE, YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO CUT THESE, UH, AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE PARKS ARE ALL TAKEN, YOU KNOW, UP CARE, THE CARE OF THESE PARKS. UH, I'VE DONATED A PALLET OF WATER YES. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. YES. UH, I STARTED IT BACK IN JUNE AND, UM, AND, AND THE MONTH OF JULY. AND WE JUST TOOK 54 CASES OVER THERE TO THE VILLE ON, ON, UH, A FEW DAYS AGO BECAUSE THEY DRINK A LOT OF WATER AND THAT WATER'S NOT SUPPLIED TO THEM. SO I, I'VE DONATED THAT, THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO THOSE PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THESE PARKS AND TRY TO KEEP THESE PARKS CLEAN. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE. THERE IS NO ONE THAT'S SIGNED UP. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TM. MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. Y'ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION IS PASSED. ITEM TWO, UH, ITEM TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING. RYAN BIBS IS HERE. WHO? RYAN GIBBS. MR. BIBBS. WITH HOUSING. WITH HOUSING. I RECOGNIZE YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS. I AM RYAN BIBBS. I'M WITH THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS MORNING. I WANTED TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS IN REGARDS TO, UH, THE AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER TWO AND THREE. THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, T-D-A-C-A, ADMINISTERS THE STATE'S HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES TAX CREDITS TO ENCOURAGE QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS PER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 23 0 6 6 7 7 1. THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY MUST HOLD A HEARING BEFORE THE DEVELOPER CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR NON-COMPETITIVE 4% TAX CREDITS TO T-D-H-C-I TO RECEIVE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FROM THE MUNICIPALITY REQUIRES A THREE STEP PROCESS, WHICH ARE, NUMBER ONE, REQUEST A MOTION TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH HAPPENED JULY 30TH. NUMBER TWO, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS HAPPENING TODAY. NUMBER THREE, COUNSEL, CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL ON RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, WHICH WILL HAPPEN THE 20TH OF THIS MONTH. THERE ARE FOUR PROJECTS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UH, THE FIRST ONE IS HAVERSTOCK EAST, LOCATED AT 56 19 ALDEEN BENDER ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 3 2. UH, THIS WILL BE A FAMILY REHAB, UH, PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT'LL BE A 268 UNITS. THE NEXT PROJECT IS HOVER STOCK WEST, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 56 0 9 ALDEN BENDER ROAD, UH, FAMILY REHAB, ALSO PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS WILL BE 432 UNITS. BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ARE LOCATED IN THE CITY'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. THE ETJ, UH, BOTH ARE, UH, CLOSEST TO COUNCIL DISTRICT, UH, B AND TODAY WE HAVE CHRIS J REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER STEAD HERE WITH US TODAY. IF THERE'S, UH, ANY QUESTIONS. THE THIRD PROJECT IS WATERS AT ARROWWOOD. LOCATED AT TH 83 0 4 SOUTH COURSE DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 72. ALSO WILL BE A FAMILY REHAB RECONSTRUCTION, PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT WILL HAVE 302 UNITS. UH, WE HAVE KENT FOSTER REPRESENTING ATLANTIC HOUSING WITH US TODAY TO ANSWER READING QUESTIONS. AND THE LAST PROJECT, COOL WOOD OAKS, LOCATED AT 7 7 7 COOL WOOD DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 13, WHICH WILL ALSO BE A FAMILY REHAB RECONSTRUCTION, PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING 168 UNITS. UH, NONE OF THESE DEALS WILL REQUIRE FUNDING FROM THE CITY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF PRESERVING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST WANTED TO, UH, LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT COOL WOOD OAKS UP IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF, UH, HOUSTON, UM, DISTRICT I, THERE IS A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS. WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING AND SHARING WITH INFORMATION WITH, [05:25:01] UH, FOLKS UP IN THE NORTHEAST PART. WE PROMOTED THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL. UM, WE'RE WELCOMING ANY FEEDBACK. THIS UNIT, UH, THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX. UM, AFTER HARVEY, QUITE FRANKLY, ALMOST EVERY DISASTER, UH, I'VE MADE, I'VE ACTUALLY PERSONALLY HAVE VISITED AND WE'VE HELPED WITH SOME, SOME, UH, SUPPLIES AT TIMES. IT'S, IT'S IN NEED, UH, FOR SURE. IT'S IN NEED. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE COME, AS IT COMES FORWARD TO THE AGENDA, I'D APPRECIATE, UH, MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE UNITS, SPECIFICALLY FAMILY, UH, IN NORTHEAST, UH, DISTRICT GUY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTO. MAYOR PROTE CAN STICK TO TATUM. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR, JUST A, A A POINT OF, UM, CLARIFICATION, I THINK MR. BIBBS, YOU DID ITEMS TWO AND THREE TOGETHER. YES. YES, MA'AM. SO WE DID ITEMS TWO AND THREE TOGETHER. YES. AM MY, MY QUESTION IS BOTH OF BOTH, THE ITEM TWO AND THREE ARE REHABS. YES, ALL FOUR. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I LOVE A GOOD REHAB . UM, I I THINK THAT, UM, WITH, UH, LAND, UH, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT NOT PUTTING MORE NEW HOUSING ON THE LIMITED LAND THAT WE HAVE LEFT. MM-HMM . UM, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT K, WE'VE GOT SO MANY APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT WE ARE REALLY ASKING DEVELOPERS TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DO MORE REHABS MM-HMM . AS OPPOSED TO, UM, NEW CONSTRUCTION. NEW CONSTRUCTION. OKAY. AND SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS OFFLINE, BUT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN ATTRACT MORE DEVELOPERS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED. AND I KNOW THAT, THAT I KEEP GETTING THE RESPONSE THAT THESE, UM, C AND D APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAVE TO WANNA SELL. UM, BUT I MEAN, SOME OF THESE ARE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION THAT IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT ARE 400 UNITS, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST, IT'S JUST TOO BIG. 500 UNITS IS JUST TOO BIG. WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO TEAR PART OF THAT DOWN AND GIVE THEM MONEY FOR REHAB TO GET PEOPLE LIVING IN BETTER CONDITIONS IN THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. SO, I WANTED TO JUST SAY ON, IN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THAT I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE REHABS AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO TRY TO GET MORE REHABS IN OUR CITY TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK. OKAY. I'LL REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE FOR SOME OKAY. OTHER PLANS WE HAVE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION FOR ONE. THANK YOU. UH, THE WATERS AT ARROWWOOD, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT J. I HAVE TALKED TO THAT, UH, DEVELOPER SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE'S KEPT US UP TO DATE ON THEIR VISION AND PLAN FOR THAT. AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW IN DISTRICT J, UH, ABOUT 80% OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES, SO THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA OF THE CITY. AND, AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE LAND. SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, UM, GOOD REHABS. AND, UM, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT I THINK REHABS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE PRIORITIZE. MM-HMM . WHEN, WHEN THESE DEVELOPERS ARE ABLE TO GET THESE, UM, UM, TAX CREDITS, IT ALLOWS THEM TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY, BUT NOT GO UP ON THE RENT TO DISPLACE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. AND, BUT FOR THESE SUBSIDIES, UH, IT, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO EVEN DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND SO, UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS, AND I HOPE MY, MY COLLEAGUES WOULD SUPPORT, UH, THE WATERS AT ARROWWOOD AS WELL. THANK YOU COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM, I LIKE GOOD REHABS. AND SO, UM, HAVE A STOCK APARTMENTS WE KNOW HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM. HUGE PROBLEM. AND SO JUST REVITALIZING THIS, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEX, IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO ENHANCE IT, BUT MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE SAFE. AND, UM, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH STEAD ON COPPER TREE APARTMENTS THAT THEY THAT'S RIGHT. UM, REHAB. SO, MM-HMM . LOOKING FORWARD TO, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DISCUSSION, A CONVERSATION REAL SOON ABOUT. YEP. YEP. SO, UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. HOPE MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT IT. UM, WE NEED MORE OF THEM, AND SO THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANKS. NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IS THERE, UH, ANYONE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO, IF NOT, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING CAST TM. MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND. MOTIONS ARE MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY MOTIONS CLOSED. AND WE DO NUMBER THREE. NUMBER THREE. UH, IS THERE A MOTION CLOSE ITEM THREE, CAST, MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND ON ITEM THREE. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. GIVE ONE SECOND. [CONSENT AGENDA] [05:30:11] SECRETARY, YOU CAN PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT. CAST A, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [ACCEPT WORK - NUMBERING] PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEMS 15 AND 16 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS? 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, AND 17. CAN TATE A MOVE? SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE [PROPERTY] PROPERTY CATEGORY. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 18, 19, AND 20. CASTEX TATU. MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER [PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS] THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY. ITEM 23 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 21, 22 AND 24. CASTEX. SAY A MOVE. NEXT. SECOND. ALL IN MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEMS 26 THROUGH 32. NEED A MOTION, CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. UNDER [ORDINANCES] THE ORDINANCE ORDINANCES CATEGORY, SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEMS 38 52, 55, 58, 61, 62, AND 63 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. ITEMS REMOVED FOR FROM ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 30, ITEM 35, 36, 39, 45, 46, 55, 56 AND 59. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 35, 36, 39, 45, 46, 55, 56 AND 59. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. PLEASE NOTE [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 64 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEMS FOUR. NEEDS A MOTION CAST. EX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. EX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION. MR. SECRETARY, LET ME BE RECOGNIZED. UM, MEMBERS, LET'S HAVE A DIALOGUE ON ITEM 15. UH, I'VE ASKED FOR A BRIEFING ABOUT ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS INVOLVED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CITY IS PAYING THE NERI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MONIES FOR PREVIOUS WORK. WORK WAS DONE IN 20 AND 21. HE WAS INDICTED FOR FELONY BRIBERY LAST YEAR. PLED GUILTY OF GIVING A GIFT TO A PUBLIC SERVANT. THAT BEING PATRICIA LEE, A PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS INDIVIDUAL AND HIS COMPANY SHOULD NOT GET ANY CITY PAYMENTS WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME FOR THE AGENDA. THEY'VE BEEN DEBARRED BY THE CITY, THE FIRM, AND THE INDIVIDUAL. HE GOT DEFERRED [05:35:01] SERVING TIME FOR, AGAIN, FELONY BRIBERY OF ONE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ALSO PLED GUILTY. BUT THIS IS FOR THE SUBCONTRACTORS. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY ARTURO AND J AND ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED, OUR DIRECTORS THAT I LISTENED TO, THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE A PROCESS THAT THE SUBS GET PAID. THOSE THAT WERE HONEST AND DELIVERED A SERVICE TO THE CITY. BUT IN TRYING TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT, PROTECT THIS COUNCIL, THE INTEGRITY OF MY ADMINISTRATION, WHICH DOES NOT TOLERATE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. I WANNA THANK AB DAVIS AGAIN WITH CHANNEL TWO. BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION ON THE APPEARANCE. YOU WOULD THINK YOU'RE STILL DOING BUSINESS WITH THE NERE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, SPECIFICALLY JOSEPH NERE. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. THEY'VE BEEN DEBARRED FOR FIVE YEARS, AND AS LONG AS I'M MAYOR, THEY'LL BE PERMANENTLY DEBARRED. I FIRST SAID, WELL, LET LET THEIR LAWYERS COME FORWARD AND EXPLAIN WHY THEY'RE ENTITLED TO BE PAID FOR WORK THAT WAS BEFORE THE CONVICTION. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PENALIZE OUR SUBS. WE DON'T WANT TO PENALIZE SMALL BUSINESSES, FAMILY BUSINESSES, MINORITY BUSINESSES. SO THAT'S WHAT'S INVOLVED. SO I'VE COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ASK LEGAL AND PUBLIC WORKS AND JEB TO REVIEW THE WORK ORDERS AND SEE THAT THE SUBS ARE PAID THAT NEAR CONSTRUCTION AND JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHER RECEIVED NO CITY DOLLARS. SO THAT'S THE POSITION WE FIND OURSELF IN. I UNDERSTAND SOMEONE WAS INTERESTED. ANTAGONIST. UH, I PERSONALLY WILL HONOR THAT TAG FOR SURE, BUT WOULD EVEN REFER IT BACK TO MY ADMINISTRATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW. UM, I THINK THAT IS ABOUT AS TRANSPARENT IN THE STATUS REPORT THAT I CAN GIVE. UM, I DON'T THINK NEAR CONSTRUCTION SHOULD GET A DOLLAR. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY THINK THEY EARNED BEFORE THEY WERE CONVICTED OF BRIBERY. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, UH, THE SUBS HAVE LEGAL STANDING, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THEIR WORK. AND IF THEY'RE HONEST, THEY SHOULD GET PAID FOR WORK THAT WAS CONDUCTED IN 2021. THE INDICTMENTS AND THE MALFEASANCE AND CRIME WAS COMMITTED BEFORE MY ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS A DAILY NEWS ITEM ABOUT THE TIME I WAS SWORN IN. OTHER PARTIES WERE INVOLVED. THE TEXAS RANGERS, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE CITY, THE DA, ALL PROPER AUTHORITIES HAVE REVIEWED TRANSACTIONS AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WITH THAT SAID, I YIELD TO COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. UH, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE SUBS THAT DO GOOD WORK AND GET CAUGHT UP WITH A PRIME THAT'S A BAD ACTOR AND THEY'RE NOT POSITIONED TO, YOU KNOW, NOT GET PAID. SURE. AS, AS A PRIME COULD. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THIS ITEM. MY INTENTION WAS TO TAG IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE REPORTED WORK, UH, STREET CONDITIONS THAT THEY THINK ARE RELATED TO THIS PROJECT THAT HAVE DETERIORATED. SO I'VE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TO GO LOOK INTO THAT. THEY ARE DOING THAT, BUT WE ARE STILL, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT INVESTIGATION. I THINK A TAG IS VERY APPROPRIATE. I THINK THE VICE MAYOR PRO TIM ANTICIPATED TAGGING IT. SO WE CAN GO THAT ROUTE. BUT I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM UNTIL IT IS SCRUBBED, UH, BY OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND OUR PROCUREMENT AND RANDY AND, UH, WE IDENTIFY THOSE SUBS AND SEE THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY TREATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ME. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. UM, AND WHILE I KNOW THIS WAS FOR WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED BEFORE THESE CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS CAME TO LIGHT, IT'S ALSO CONCERNING THAT ONCE HE WAS UNDER INDICTMENT, HE WAS AWARDED AN ADDITIONAL CONTRACT BY THE CITY. AND, UM, BEFORE YOU AND I GOT HERE, I THINK MM-HMM. UH, NO, THIS WAS IN 2024. 24. YES. IN 2024. UM, AND SO RANDY RANDY'S SHAKING HIS HEAD NO. OKAY. I HAVE TO GO WITH THE BEST ADVICE I GET. YES, [05:40:01] PLEASE INFORM US. LET'S KEEP IT, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS COMPANY. YEAH. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. UH, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT AND, AND MAYOR, YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS WE TACKLED RIGHT AFTER YOU WERE SWORN IN. BUT IT HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR SOME SPECIFIC, UH, GUARDRAILS AND SAFEGUARDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THOSE THINGS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. IN FACT, IN EARLY 2024, BECAUSE OF THE REGULAR PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND HAD ALREADY BEEN UNDERWAY, UH, NEAR RECONSTRUCTION HAD BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE ANOTHER AWARD. WHEN THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION PRIOR TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA, WE HELD IT BACK AND WE SAID, NO, GO ON THAT WHATSOEVER. JED THEN PUT A HARD HOLD ON THAT IN THE SYSTEM SO THAT NO WORK ORDERS AND NO PAYMENTS COULD BE ISSUED IN THE PROCESS THERE. SO THIS COUNCIL NEVER, UH, AWARDED ANOTHER CONTRACT TO NERE CONSTRUCTION AFTERWARDS. NOW, IN OUR SAP SYSTEM, THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, THAT KIND OF IS OUR SYSTEM OF RECORD THERE, IT SHOWED THAT THE AWARD WAS SET TO BE MADE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UH, A, A CLERICAL ISSUE WITH THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE RELEASES AS IF IT WAS AN ACTIVE CONTRACT. BUT IN FACT, IT WAS NOT. THERE REMAINED A HARD HOLD THERE. NO WORK WAS EVER ISSUED UNDER IT. THIS BODY NEVER APPROVED ANOTHER CONTRACT. AND BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DISBARRED, THIS BODY WILL NOT APPROVE ANOTHER CONTRACT. BUT I DO WANNA MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU FOR FOR CLARIFYING THAT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE SHOULD BE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE THAT IF SOMEONE IS UNDER INDICTMENT FOR A CRIME, THAT THEY COMMITTED AGAINST THE CITY, THAT NO FUTURE CONTRACTS, UM, SHOULD BE AWARDED. AND IN THIS CASE, HE ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CRIME. UM, SO I'M GLAD THAT, THAT YOU'RE TACKLING THAT PROBLEM. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THAT. PLUMBER, COUNCIL AND PLUMBER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I KNOW HISTORICALLY WE'VE ALL HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUBPAR WORK AS WELL. NOT JUST THE LEGALITY OF WHO THE OWNER IS, BUT ALSO, UM, CONSTRUCTION, UM, COMPANIES THAT JUST, JUST DO WORK THAT'S JUST REALLY INFERIOR. SO IF YOU, UM, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO MAKE A MOTION TO REFER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION OR TAG IT EITHER WAY, I AM FINE. BUT I'M, I'M, I'M PREPARED TO REFER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION JUST SO WE HAVE MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS. 'CAUSE I DO WANT, UM, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE SUBS ARE PAID. UM, THOSE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, MID-SIZED BUSINESSES THAT DO DESERVE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR MONIES, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DID THE WORK. SO NOW THAT MAY BE A LEGAL CONVERSATION AS WELL. VERY FINE. LET'S ALLOW EVERYONE TO HAVE COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOUR MOTION. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I BELIEVE THAT THE, UM, THE PRIME SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THIS MONEY. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE SUBS SHOULD BE, BE PAID. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF ENERGY FOR, UM, PRIMES THAT DON'T PERFORM UP TO, UH, THE CONTRACT EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MD MWBE PROGRAM AS WELL. BECAUSE MANY TIMES THERE'LL BE A PRIME WHO DOES NOT GO THROUGH WITH THE DEVIATION PROCESS A CERTAIN WAY. AND THEN, UH, THE SUBS ARE NOT SATISFIED. OR WE SAY WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY THE PRIME JUST BECAUSE THE PRIME IS UNDER CONTRACT. SO IN THIS INSTANCE, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, UH, THIS ALSO WILL SET SOME TYPE OF PRECEDENT FOR THE BODY TO KNOW WHEN WE SEE PRIMES THAT ARE NOT, UH, ABIDING BY THE EXPECTATIONS OR TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD MAKE THEM FIGHT FOR THEIR MONEY. WE SHOULD NOT JUST AUTOMATICALLY GIVE OUT AND ALLOCATE DOLLARS TO FIRMS THAT ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES. AND SO, UH, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS GOING BACK AND I WOULD SUPPORT FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD WE HAVE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE, UH, TO PROTECT SUBS WHEN PRIMES AREN'T DOING WHAT THEY'RE CONTRACTED TO DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE ACTION THAT YOU'RE TAKING ON THIS. UM, DEFINITELY SUBS NEED TO BE PAID FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID. UM, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT THIS AGAIN AND SEEING WHAT WE COULD DO, UM, FOR THIS CONTRACTOR. SO, UM, GRETA DIDN'T INTEND TO TAG IT, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF REFERRING IT BACK INSTEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL SUPPORT EITHER A MOTION OR REFER BACK OR A TAG, BUT SINCE WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, UH, CAN WE HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY ADDRESS, UM, THE POSSIBILITY OF PAYING THE SUBS DIRECTLY? UH, CAN WE BYPASS THE PRIME IN THIS INSTANCE? OR WHAT? ASK ONE THING UNDER, UH, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING. YOU KNOW, OUR, WE DON'T HAVE A CURRENT CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, BUT IF WE PAY THEM AND OBTAIN A SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE, EVEN IF WE'RE, UH, SUED BY THE PRIME, THAT WOULD GREATLY LIMIT THE DAMAGES. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'D BE DOUBLE PAYING FOR THE, FOR THAT TYPE OF, UH, PAYMENT. THAT'S ONE OF THE, UH, UH, PRIME THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA [05:45:01] LOOK AT IN, IN, IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THIS ACCORDING TO WHAT THE MAYOR HAS DESCRIBED AND DO, IF, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CONTRACT THAT WOULD, UM, ALLOW US TO AVOID PAYING THE PRIME, UH, FOR ILLEGAL CONDUCT? UH, YOU KNOW, GUILTY PLEAS, YEAH. ET CETERA. THERE, THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE. WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW STRONG THAT IS IN ASSESSING IT. UH, LIKE MOST LITIGATION, WE INTEND TO GO TO THE TABLE AND SEE IF WE CAN WORK OUT, UH, A GOOD COMPROMISE ON THIS THAT FULFILLS THE CITY'S NEEDS. AND DO, DO WE KNOW IF IN FACT THE SUBS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID OR ARE THEY STILL AWAITING PAYMENT? UH, I BELIEVE NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN PAID. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT. WE DO. WE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE FROM OUR OWN RECORDS AND WE CAN SUPPLEMENT THAT IN CONTACTING THE SUBS. OKAY. THANK YOU MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND JUST WANTED TO, UH, IF YOU REMEMBER, MAYOR, WHEN WE FIRST TOOK OFFICE, I THINK THAT EVENING I HAD ASKED THAT I WANTED TO BE ETHICS AND CHAIR ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE, UH, CHAIR. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD. SO I'D, I'D LOVE TO HAVE, UH, RANDY COME IN AND DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT OF THESE GUARDRAILS. UH, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES KNOW WHAT, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE IMPLEMENTING, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AVOIDING SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES. AND NOT JUST WITH PUBLIC WORKS, BUT I WOULD SAY WITH ANYBODY THAT WE'RE DOING CONTRACTS WITH AS WELL. I WOULD INVITE YOU TO HAVE A ETHICS COMMITTEE, UH, RELATED TO THIS. WE HAVE A, UH, COUSIN OF MR. NERI THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY THAT'S HAD A CLEAN LEGAL BILL OF HEALTH. SO I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO AHEAD AND REVIEW THE PROCESS, HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE, AND THEN ALSO, UH, ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS ABOUT A WRONGDOER HAVING A CITY EMPLOYEE THAT HAS CLEAN HANDS. I THINK IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HOLD THOSE THAT ARE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE AS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ARE DOING THINGS PROPERLY AND UNFORTUNATELY, OR HAPPEN TO HAVE THE SAME, SAME FAMILY, UM, TREE. SO ANYWAY, THAT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR GUARDRAILS AND THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR, UM, FOR REFERRING THIS BACK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND CERTAINLY SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND SCRUTINIZED. LAST YEAR IN 24, PRIOR TO DIRECTOR MACKEY, THAT WAS A CASE, UH, WHERE WE HAD A PRIME WHO FILED BANKRUPTCY ON A PROJECT CITY CONTRACT. AND THE SUBS, UH, WAS ASKING FOR THEIR MONIES. AND SO I CONTACTED, THEN THE DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE GOT BACK TO ME. WE HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, AND I INDICATED ABOUT THE INSURANCE THAT COVERS THEM. YOU KNOW, WHETHER CITY, IF THE CITY MADE THOSE PAYMENTS TO THOSE PEOPLE, THE TIMEFRAME WHEN WE GET OUR MONEY BACK, WHICH I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT CLOSELY BECAUSE THAT CAN TAKE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING ALLOCATED OUT. BUT TO SURE. AND I KNOW MAYBE IT'S THE CITY TURNS OFFICE IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WORKS INSIDE THAT CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT, UH, IN TERMS OF THE CITY GETTING THIS MONEY BACK FROM THOSE, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ COULD INCLUDE THAT IN HIS REVIEW YEAH. OF THE GUARDRAILS. AND ALSO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATED FAIRLY. I'VE, I'VE HEARD FROM SUBS, THE AIRPORT MM-HMM . HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIME THAT THE SUBS FELT THEY WEREN'T GETTING PAID. SO WE JUST WANNA BE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND HOPE WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE AND HELP THE SUBS THAT THAT DEPEND ON GETTING PAID. YES. SO, THANK YOU INGER. COUNCILMAN FLICKING QUESTION FOR LEGAL, IN YOUR RESPONSE TO COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE THAT SOMEWHAT ADDRESSES THIS. ARE WE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN THAT? I MEAN, I WOULD THINK FOR THE BEHAVIOR THAT TOOK PLACE, WE SHOULD HAVE IRONCLAD LANGUAGE THAT NO, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET PAID. AND MAYBE THAT WOULD EVEN DISCOURAGE ANYBODY TEMPTED TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE. YEAH, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT. THE LAW'S ALWAYS EVOLVING AND YOU LOOK AT THE LATEST CASES TO SEE HOW STRONG WE CAN MAKE OUR CONTRACTS TO PROTECT THE CITY'S INTEREST. BUT WE WILL LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST TO GET CLARIFICATION, UH, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT PAY SUBS. UH, UH, IS THAT THE CASE OR IS THERE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THAT? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, AND I THINK THE PAST POSTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT IT IS UP FOR THE PRIME TO DETERMINE. I THINK WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL SITUATION HERE WHERE WE HAVE, UH, ALLEGATIONS OF POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT I THINK THERE'S A, A MECHANISM BY WHICH WE COULD MAKE PAYMENT [05:50:01] DIRECTLY WITH SETTLEMENT WITH THE, THE PRIMES AND REDUCE ANY EXPOSURE WE WOULD HAVE WITH THE PRIME FOR DOING THAT. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO APPROACH THE CONCERNS THAT YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND THE MAYOR ARE TALKING ABOUT. SO IF THERE WAS A BREACH OF CONTRACT BETWEEN A PRIME AND A SUB BASED ON NOT FOLLOWING, UH, THE CONTRACT, THE TERMS AND NOT, AND, AND NOT FOLLOWING A DEVIATION PROCESS, WILL WE STILL BE ABLE TO USE THOSE EXCEPTIONS TO PAY A SUB? OR SINCE WE'RE NOT CONTRACT CONTRACTUALLY, UM, INVOLVED WITH THAT SUBCONTRACTOR, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO IN THAT INSTANCE? WELL, I, I THINK ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, WE CAN ALWAYS ADDRESS IT DIFFERENTLY, DOING IT BROADER IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO. I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO SET UP THE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS. AND THAT INVOLVES NOT ONLY, UH, THE THREAT OF LITIGATION, BUT THE, THE EFFORT AND THE TIME ON THE PEOPLE WHO ADMINISTER THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ADMINISTER THE CONTRACTS. BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS GONNA SPARK US LOOKING AT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? UH, COUNCIL AND PLUMMER, YOU WANT TO, I'D WELCOME IT BEING REFERRED BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO REFER THE ITEM AND BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION SECOND. UH, MOTION MADE AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. MARTINEZ SECOND. YEAH, ITEM 16 NEEDS A MOTION. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SO I'VE BEEN IN THIS CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. UH, THIS WAS, UH, ABOUT $4 MILLION FOR SWAT PROJECTS. SO THESE ARE DRAINAGE PROJECTS. UH, WE SPENT ABOUT 200,000. UM, I'M STILL WAITING. UH, WELL, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE DOLLARS WILL BE GOING BACK TO, LET ME PULL THIS UP REAL QUICK, UM, TO D-D-S-R-S. UH, BUT THERE'S NO SPECIFIC WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO. AND SO I WANNA TAG THIS SO LIKE, THAT WAY I CAN GET MORE INFORMATION. THESE ARE DRAINAGE PROJECTS, SWAP PROJECTS, AND I, WHETHER THEY'RE IN DISTRICT I OR IN ANY OTHER COUNCIL DISTRICT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT IN THAT MANNER. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ TAGS. ITEM 16. NEXT. ITEM 23 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE, AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVORS? YEAH, GO AHEAD. SAY YES. ALL OPPOSED, NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 35 IS AN, OR DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS? YEAH. BEFORE WE TAKE UP 35, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT 31 NEW GARBAGE TRUCKS ARE BEING PURCHASED, DELIVERED NINE WILL ACTUALLY BE HERE FRIDAY. THEY'LL BE ON THEIR ROUTES MONDAY. UH, THE DIRECTOR SAYS THIS WILL MAKE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BACKLOG, PARTICULARLY THE FLEXIBILITY OF THESE TRUCKS. IT'LL BE BACK LOADS AND SIDE LOADS. DRIVERS WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE BOTH. SO THIS OUGHT TO GO A LONG WAY TO START RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE AND RECYCLE PICKUPS. BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. BUT I'M, UH, VERY PLEASED WITH THE DIRECTOR AND HIS NEW LEADERSHIP AND HIS TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. SO, AS WE, UH, AS WE, UH, TALKED YESTERDAY, UH, WE'RE GONNA REVIEW THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VENDOR IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL DROP OFF POINTS AND TRANSFER STATION. SO HELP IS DEFINITELY ON THE WAY, BUT CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES ON FUNDING THESE, UH, 31 NEW TRUCKS. UH, THEY'LL BE HITTING THE ROAD MONDAY. THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE PAINTED. WE WANT 'EM, WE WANT 'EM IN CIRCULATION SO QUICK. UH, AND WE'RE SAVING $3,000 PER VEHICLE FOR NOT PAINTING IT. SO IF YOU SEE, IF YOU SEE A WHITE ONE, UH, THAT'S ONE OF OUR NEW ITEMS. SO ANYWAY, IT'S, UH, CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. MAYOR, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS. UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, TRASH HAS BEEN THE CONVERSATION FOR MONTHS. UM, AND SPEAKING WITH DIRECTOR, UH, HUSAN, UM, OPERATION CHALLENGES, UM, ARE IMPACTED BY OUR EQUIPMENT CHALLENGES. UH, WE DID A SITE VISIT ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND 30 30 TRUCKS WERE WAITING TO BE MAINTAINED, UM, FOR MAINTENANCE. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, STAYING FOCUSED ON THIS, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF IT. AND I'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO ADDRESS ALL OF OUR SOLID WASTE CHALLENGES. THANK YOU. AND I'LL NOTE, AS UNLIKE PREVIOUS YEARS, THESE ARE NEW TRUCKS, NOT USED TRUCKS. MM-HMM . WHICH, UH, IS A GOOD INVESTMENT. UH, I KNOW WE WANT TO REVIEW FEES AND RESOURCES, BUT IT WOULD BE [05:55:01] WRONG TO THROW MONEY AT A BAD MODEL. SO GIVE THE DIRECTOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT AND HAVE PEOPLE NOT TAKEN OFF WEDNESDAY AND ABUSING OVERTIME, SOME CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT HE'S FOUND. SO, UH, WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR AND, UM, I'LL BE THERE MONDAY TO, TO THANK THE RANK AND FILE AND SEND THEM OFF IN THEIR NEW WHITE TRUCKS. OKAY. UH, NEXT ITEM. NEXT ITEM, PLEASE. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED THE MOTION PASSES. ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. ITEM 45 AND UH, 46 ARE BOTH INVESTMENTS IN OUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND, UH, UPDATING EQUIPMENT THAT'S NO LONGER USED FOR SUPPORTED. UH, THEY'RE BOTH GREAT ITEMS. WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS AS WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN HOW WE DELIVER CITY SERVICES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF, OF THE WAY THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE OPERATING. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING BOTH AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 55 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. HUFFMAN, NO HUFFMAN, NO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN VOTING? NO. OKAY. HUFFMAN VOTING NO. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. WITH HUFFMAN VOTING NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 56 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 59 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 65 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA, COUNCIL [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. I ALMOST MISSED IT. I WANTED TO TELL YOU. UH, THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING OUR OFFICE TO RESEARCH THE CONCERN ABOUT THE SEWER LIFT STATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PINEAPPLE SQUARE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PROJECT. WE WERE VERY PLEASED THAT THE DESIGN TEAM PROVIDED A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE NEW REGIONAL LIFT STATION THAT IS SLATED TO GO ONLINE THIS OCTOBER. THIS WAS THE REASON THE LIFT STATION DISCUSSION WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONVERSATION CONCERNING PINEAPPLE SQUARE. IT WAS REASSURING THAT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ENGINEERING DESIGNER TEAM CONSIDERED THIS NEW FACILITY TO ACCOMMODATE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO THE OLDER HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT WAS SUPREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT NONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS, CONSTITUENTS WOULD BE IMPACTED. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. UH, OUR STAFF WAS ACTUALLY, UH, ON TOUR. THEY WENT ON TOUR OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ON RANKIN ROAD. I, I KINDA, I HAD A A ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT. I REALLY, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO GO LOOK AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN , BUT ANYWAY, THEY REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED IT. MY INTERNS WENT ALONG WITH MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, AND MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR AND THEY REALLY ENJOYED IT. AND WE ARE INVITED TO TWO OF THE NEW FACILITY ON ZELENSKY THIS COMING TUESDAY. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME SO THAT WE COULD GET A TRUE UNDERSTANDING AND LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THE INVESTMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE ALREADY LIVING IN THOSE HOMES, THEIR CONDITIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM PLEASE. ITEM 66 IS A MOTION. A MOTION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. THAT COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA [06:00:01] VERY WELL. THANK YOU MEMBERS. UH, NOW POP OFF. I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR ON COLLEAGUES ON AUGUST 26TH, THAT 2:00 PM I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN ATTEND. UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, CASTEX TATUM AND I WILL BE HOSTING THE JOINT MEETING TO DEAL WITH THE CIP AMENDMENTS AND THE CIP PROCESS. REMEMBER ALL THAT DISCUSSION DURING THE CIP. SO THIS IS GONNA BE A WORKING MEETING. LIKE COME WITH YOUR IDEAS, COME WITH YOUR WAYS. YOU WANNA SEE THE CIP PROCESS IMPROVED. WE'LL DEAL WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PECKS AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S AMENDMENTS. UM, WE'LL DISCUSS THOSE IN DETAIL, BUT WE WANT IT, WE'LL HAVE THE DIRECTORS OF GSD AND FINANCE AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS. EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED IN THE CIP HERE, THEY'LL BRING THEIR IDEAS. BUT THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THIS AS A, A FIRST MEETING, TO BE A WORKING MEETING. IF, IF YOU WANNA SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CIP PROCESS AND, AND HOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED IN IT. UM, DON'T MISS AUGUST 26TH, UH, BFA. AND ALSO THIS AFTERNOON, I WILL WON'T STEAL YOUR THUNDER COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. BUT ARTS AND CULTURE, I'M EXCITED. THERE'S A BUNCH OF PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY IN HOUSTON AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STATE JUST DID TO IMPROVE INCENTIVES AND HOPING THAT FILM AND TV AND COMMERCIALS AND ALL THOSE THINGS CAN BE A BIG ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE CITY COMING SOON. I REMEMBER. PLUMBER, YES. PASS. . YOU SURE? GABRIEL? YES. . COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. NO SUCH LUCK. NO, I WILL NOT BE PASSING. THANK YOU. SHE'S GOING TO GIVE HER TIME. . THANK YOU. UH, DISTRICT D STATE ACTIVE THIS WEEKEND, SHOWING UP ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES AS WE PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. AS A RETIRED TEACHER, IT WAS HEART HEARTWARMING TO SEE IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. OH MY GOD. 'CAUSE I REMEMBER THOSE WERE SOME REALLY, REALLY TOUGH DAYS. UH, BUT SO WELL WORTH IT TO IMPACT OUR STUDENTS ON SATURDAY, WE KICKED OFF THE DAY AT THE HISD BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCE FAIR AT THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE FAMILIES RECEIVED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HAIRCUTS, AND HEALTH SCREENINGS. THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITEDHEALTHCARE, THEY WERE SO PRESENT AND, AND CERTAINLY JUST, IT WAS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE COMMUNITY. WE FOLLOWED THAT WITH A VISIT TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL JAM, HOSTED BY THE WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. THE EVENT WAS FILLED WITH GAMES, MUSIC, GIVEAWAYS, AND A SHORT PRESENTATION FROM JACKIE POTTER ON LAW AND THE COMMUNITY. AND JACKIE POTTER IS SOMEBODY I HOPE, HOPEFULLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH 'CAUSE HER PROGRAM IS PHENOMENAL. ON SUNDAY, I ATTENDED THE KINDER EARLY LEARNING CENTER OPEN HOUSE ON YELLOWSTONE. THE EVENT BROUGHT OUT FAMILIES TO EXPLORE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OPTIONS AND FEATURED FOOD BOUNCE HOUSES, AND HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR WORKING FAMILY, WORKING PARENTS. AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK, UM, ANTHONY, UH, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN THIS. HE AND HIS AND HIS WONDERFUL WIFE, WHOSE FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER THE CENTER, AND THEY ARE REALLY PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND ON MONDAY, WE WRAPPED UP WITH A BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY AT BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE YWCA. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SUPPLIES, WE ALSO CONNECTED WITH TEACHERS AS THEY PREPARE THEIR CLASSROOMS TO WELCOME STUDENTS BACK. DISTRICT D REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR ENTIRE EDUCATION COMMUNITY FROM OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS TO THE DEDICATED LEADERS LEADING THEM. UH, THERE WILL BE AN UPCOMING COMMITTEE, UM, MEETING THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD ITS NEXT MEETING ON TODAY AT 2:00 PM IN THE ANN RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. AND FINALLY, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SWIFTLY DEPLOYING THE CITY TO ABATE THE DESPICABLE LIVING CONDITIONS AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN HOUSTON. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ONLY ONE, AND THERE ARE MANY WHERE, UH, THESE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A HUGE EFFORT TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS THIS COMPLEX, BUT OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT LIVING IN SIMILAR OR EVEN MORE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF WE DON'T CHANGE OUR MINDSET, THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO SAVE US FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. I WITNESSED PICTURES OF PEOPLE EVEN AFTER THEY LEFT OF THROWING TRASH. AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE SENDING THEIR KIDS OUT TO TAKE THE TRASH WHO CAN'T EVEN REACH THE DUMPSTER. SO THEY'RE JUST DROPPING IT. AND IT'S, IT IS JUST, IT'S JUST MIND [06:05:01] BOGGLING. AND SO OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING AND MIMICKING OUR BEHAVIOR AND IT HAS BECOME A GENERATIONAL PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ELDERLY AND THOSE WHO ARE COM WHO HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNITY THAT ARE SEVERELY IMPACTED. AND SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE OUR MINDSET. I I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THESE COMPLEXES WITHOUT MOVING THE PEOPLE OUT, BECAUSE THOSE RATS AND ROACHES ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN THOSE CONDITIONS. BUT THEY DO BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF KEEPING THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT CLEAN AND WITHOUT THROWING TRASH EVERYWHERE. MM-HMM . AND MOST OF US, A LOT OF US HAVE HOT TEAMS THAT ARE GOING AROUND CLEANING UP AFTER OTHER PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE IN DISPOSING THEIR TRASH. AND SO PREACH, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA LOOK IN THE MIRROR LIKE, UH, WHAT'S HIS NAME? UH, MICHAEL JACKSON SAYS, YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THE MAN OR WOMAN IN THE MIRROR TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE PLAYING, WHAT PART YOU ARE PLAYING IN THESE CONDITIONS. AND SO ANYWAY, I'M GONNA JUST SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR AFTER ALL OF THAT. AND AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR, YOUR WITNESS IN YOUR, IN YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. WELL, THIS CONCLUDES GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. I GOT IN MY, ALRIGHT, YOU WAITING ON COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO START BY WISHING ALL THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS, UH, A HEALTHY AND HAPPY UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO THIS PAST WEEK, UH, DISTRIBUTE A NUMBER OF BACKPACKS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AROUND 500, WHICH WE GOT FROM YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, FROM THE YMCA TO, UH, VARIOUS CHURCHES, BELLA VISTA, TO APARTMENT COMPLEXES LIKE YALE VILLAGE, WE WERE ABLE TO, TO DO DISTRIBUTIONS AND, AND HAND OUT, UH, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND OTHER RESOURCES. AND, UH, WANNA WISH EVERYONE, UM, A SAFE AND HEALTHY UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. I'LL BE HOSTING ON AUGUST THE 18TH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, A COMMUNITY MEETING, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION AROUND THE, UH, CHANGES FROM THE 2023 DISPARITY STUDY. AND THIS IS GONNA BE AT ALAMO TAMALES, 8 0 9 BERRY ROAD, 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM. UM, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW THE STUDY, UH, THE 2023 STUDY, UM, CHANGES WILL ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. AND YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VITAL. SO WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THIS AND SHOW UP. WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT HOW TO REGISTER FOR THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE MONDAY, AUGUST 18TH, SIX TO 8:00 PM ALAMO TAMALES ON BERRY ROAD. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, HPD NORTH DIVISION CAPTAIN WATSON. UH, PART OF MY SERVICE FUNDS WENT TO AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS, UH, THE AFTER HOUR BARS AND CLUBS THAT ARE, UM, SELLING ILLEGAL ALCOHOL AND DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS. I KNOW, UH, A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED SOME OF THEIR SERVICE FUNDS TO THIS EFFORT THIS PAST WEEKEND. UH, THEY DID, UM, A RAID ON A AFTER HOURS CLUB IN DISTRICT H, UH, MADE A NUMBER OF ARRESTS, APPREHENDED DRUGS, GUNS, YOU NAME IT. AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS IN HELPING ADDRESS, UH, A PROBLEM THAT'S CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. BUT, UH, DEFINITELY IN DISTRICT H, UM, AND WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS THERE ALSO, UM, WE RECENTLY HAD A, A TRAGEDY ON THE HARRISBURG HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. WE HAD A, A ELDERLY GENTLEMAN WHO WAS BIKING TO WORK IN THE MORNING, UM, STABBED, ULTIMATELY WAS KILLED, AND HPD IS STILL LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECT. THEY HAVE SHARED INFORMATION AND, AND IMAGES OUT THERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR TIPS, REACH OUT TO CRIME STOPPERS. 7 1 3 2 2 1. TIPS. 8 4 7 7. UM, WE ACTUALLY DID A SITE VISIT, MY OFFICE DID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH PUBLIC WORKS WITH PARKS AND RESIDENTS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OVERGROWN BUSHES AND TREES THAT COULD LEND SOMEONE TO HIDE ON THIS TRAIL AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. UM, I DO WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR, UH, YESTERDAY GOING OUT AND CLEARING A BUNCH OF THOSE BUSHES AND TRIMMING TREES, UH, MITIGATING SOME OF THE SAFETY ISSUES. I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO MEET WITH OUR PARKS DIRECTOR TO TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THAT, UH, STRETCH OF GLAND MOVING FORWARD, UH, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING. AND, AND I DO WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR SWIFT ACTION TO, UH, TO REMEDY IT. AND FINALLY, UH, ALSO WANNA WISH YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MY FRIEND, COUNCILOR DAVIS. UH, THANK [06:10:01] YOU MAYOR, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST IN THE OPENING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ON TODAY. AND, UH, MANY, MANY MORE. JUST WANTED TO, UH, FIRST AND SECONDLY, THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, THE WELL ESTABLISHED WORK WITH YOUR STAFF WITH THE SHELL FOR THE BACKPACK, UH, GIVEAWAY BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT OUR BACKPACKS TO LIKE 10 DIFF DIFFERENT, UH, INITIAL NON-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS WHO HAD NEVER GOTTEN IT BEFORE. AND SO WE USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER. SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND MANY OF THE KIDS, UH, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH, UH, WE TRY TO SPREAD IT ACROSS THE CITY. NEXT ALSO WANT TO, AGAIN, I SAID EARLIER, WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON THE, ON THE FIELD SIDE, UM, OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT EVERY DAY, CLEANING AND, UH, CUTTING GRASSES AND TREES AND OUR PARKS TO KEEP 'EM NICE AND UP, YOU KNOW, UPKEPT AND WANT TO THANK THEM. AND WE'RE HONORED THROUGHOUT STAFF TO HELP THEM BY SUPPLYING AND DEDICATING A CASE OF WATER EACH MONTH TO THOSE GUYS, MANY AND WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE WORKING. UM, WE, WE WANTED TO DAMON SLATER, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOUSTON PARKS EAST DIVISION HEADQUARTERS ON WATERVILLE ROAD. WE SUPPLY THAT PALLET TO THEM AND THEY DISTRIBUTE OUT TO OTHER PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY RUN OUTTA WATER. SO WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT AND WOULD BE GOOD TO KIND OF ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME FOR THOSE DOING IT. UM, BUT I THINK IT'S A WORTHY, WORTHY CAUSE. I WANT TO THANK, UM, ST. PAUL MICHIGAN BAPTIST CHURCH, PASTOR JAMES NASH FOR HIS DONATION. WE WENT OUT THERE AND PICKED UP 54 CASES OF WATER THAT HE HAD AND WE DONATED IT TO, UM, TO OUR PARKS, UH, DEPARTMENT. AND SO THANK, THANK PASTOR NASH AND THE ST. PAUL CHURCH FOR THAT. UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUALLY DOING IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO HELP THEM. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK, UM, MS. NIKITA BRO AND, UH, DIRECTOR SIA HARD AND OTHERS FOR WORKING WITH ME. WE ARE TRYING TO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO AN UPCOMING FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM. UH, IN THE UPCOMING MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. UH, WE WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES, OTHER NON-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS TO HELP THEM GET DOLLARS THAT ARE SO NEEDED. ALL OF OUR DOLLARS ARE NOT COMING FROM THE CITY. ALL OF OUR DOLLARS ARE NOT GONNA COME FROM THE STATE. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE MONIES AND WE NEED TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT OF BRINGING THESE INSTITUTION UP TO DATE ON THE LAW. THE FEDERAL LAW UNDER THE CRA ACT OF 1977, WHICH IS A US FEDERAL LAW DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE AND ALSO REQUIRE BANKS, UH, AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO MEET CREDIT NEEDS, ALL SEGMENTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH LENDING, INVESTMENT AND OTHER, UH, IT WAS ENACTED TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION, UH, LENDING PRACTICES LIKE REDLINING. THIS WAS DONE YEARS AGO. AND SO WE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, EXPANDING THAT. WE LOOKING TO HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT IN REGARD TO THE SYMPOSIUM SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON OTHER WAYS IN ORDER TO GET THESE DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE MWBE PROGRAM. AND, UH, DIRECTOR HARD HAS BEEN A HELP AND WE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER, UH, IN DOING THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, TO START OFF, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AS WELL, SO HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT ONE TODAY. UH, ON A HAPPY NOTE, KIND OF DOVETAILING WHAT COUNCILMAN DAVIS JUST TALKED ABOUT, WE HAD, UH, AN EVENT YESTERDAY DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. UM, I WAS, UH, LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ. UH, OBO WAS OUT THERE. DIRECTOR HORDE WAS OUT THERE. WE HAD GOOD ATTENDANCE. UH, I THINK IT WOULD'VE BEEN QUITE A BIT BETTER, BUT THERE WAS, UH, QUITE THE STORM DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE AND CLEAR LAKE HAD PROMOTED IT QUITE A BIT, AND THERE WAS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT WITH THE WEATHER. UH, BUT IT, IT WAS A GOOD EVENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN. UH, ON A SATURDAY NOTE, UH, KINGWOOD HAD A FIRE THIS MORNING, TWO ALARM, FIRE AND APARTMENT COMPLEX. UM, SEVERAL UNITS WERE COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED. THE PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. HAD A FIREFIGHTER THAT WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. UM, HE WAS NOT INJURED. APPEARS THAT THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SOME HEART ISSUES. SO WE'LL BE CHECKING UP ON HIM AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE DOING FINE AS WELL. UH, AND THEN A PROBLEM I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, [06:15:01] HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH, UH, CHIEF HARDIN AND, AND WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. AND A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY SEEMS TO THINK THAT CRIME BEING A PROBLEM IS LAID AT THE DOORSTEP OF HPD. OBVIOUSLY, HPD PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THAT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PLAYERS IN, IN THAT WELL, THAT ARE REALLY CAUSING US SOME PROBLEMS. AND WE JUST HAD THIS PAST WEEK HAD, UH, THE 351ST CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT, JUDGE NATA CORNELIA GAVE A PR BOND FOR AGGRAVATED ROBBERY, WHICH THE STATE OUTLAWED THAT PRACTICE. SHE VIOLATED STATE LAW BY GIVING THIS PERSON A PR BOND. AND NOT ONLY THAT, HE WAS ALREADY ON PROBATION FOR ARMED ROBBERY. AND ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS HAD VIOLATED THAT PROBATION NUMEROUS TIMES. AND THEN AFTER GETTING HIS PR BOND, HE'S PICKED UP TWO ADDITIONAL CHARGES. IN FACT, THE MEDIA DESCRIBED IT AS POSSESSION OF A MACHINE GUN. SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LITTLE DIFFICULTY BLAMING HPD FOR OUR CRIME ISSUES WHEN THEY ARREST SOMEBODY AND THEY HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO TO GO TO, TO SPEAK ABOUT THE JUDGE VIOLATING THE LAW. I SHARE YOUR CONCERN AND WE'LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH POLICE. THEY WILL NEVER WORK HARD ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THAT SITUATION. AND WHY IN THE WORLD, THE PRESS AND OTHERS DO NOT FOCUS ON THAT DECISION IS BEYOND ME. BECAUSE H HPDS IS DOING THEIR JOB. THEY HAD 20 OFFICERS DOWN, DOWN LAST WEEKEND TO DEAL WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. WE GO TO EMANCIPATION, WE GO, WE'RE FIXING TO HAVE THE LARGEST CLASS EVER. UH, WE'RE GETTING LATERAL HIRES, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ANYONE'S MEMORY. THE RETIREMENTS ARE NOT OUTNUMBERING THE RECRUITS. SO HPD IS A FINE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY ALSO GET VERY FRUSTRATED WITH TAKING KNOWN CRIMINALS BACK AND CHARGING THEM, AND THEN THEY'RE PLACED ON A BOND. WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ATTORNEY REGULARLY, YOU HAD CLIENTS THAT WERE SUFFERING REVOCATION OF PROBATION. IT JUST DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE. THEY GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, ANOTHER PR BOMB. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS. WE ALL BELIEVE NONVIOLENT, CERTAINLY DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED CASES SHOULD GET THEIR TREATMENT. AND SECOND CHANCE IN THE PROPER INSTANCES WITH THIS VIOLENT OFFENDER TO GET A PR BOND IS OUTRAGEOUS. WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH CRIME STOPPERS AND OTHER CRIME VICTIMS GROUPS. UM, THE DA NEEDS TO BE VERY ACTIVE IN HELPING HOLD THOSE JUDGES ACCOUNTABLE. WE'VE GOT SOME OUTSTANDING JUDGES, SOME TOUGH AND SMART JUDGES, BUT THE INSTANCE THAT YOU JUST POINTED OUT, THAT PERSON'S BACK OUT ON THE STREET WITH A KNOWN VIOLENT RECORD, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND COLLECTIVELY WE'RE ALL ADDRESSING IT, BUT THERE'S NO REMEDY IN SIGHT. IF A JUDGE PRACTICES POOR JUDGMENT IN MY, IN MY JUDGMENT AND AS PROFESSIONAL AS HPD IS, AND NONE OF THEM WILL EVER TELL YOU THAT THIS AFFECTS THEM DOING THEIR JOB. THIS HAS GOTTA BE A HECK OF A KICK IN THE CASE. WELL, THEY GO, THEY ANOTHER ISSUE TALKING ABOUT THE ROUTINE. THEY, THEY'LL PICK UP THIS GUY WHO ALREADY IS ON PROBATION, TAKE HIM TO INTAKE WHERE THEY SOMETIMES HAVE TO SIT TWO AND THREE HOURS, WHICH WE NEED TO ADDRESS WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS WHEN THEY NEED A SEARCH WARRANT. HOMICIDE WILL GO TO CERTAIN JUDGES, COURTS, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, AND THEY WILL NOT STOP THE BUSINESS TO HELP THE OFFICER GET A SEARCH WARRANT AND BACK OUT ON THE STREET. WE HAVE SOME KNOWN JUDGES THAT'LL MAKE AN, AN OFFICER SIT THERE AN HOUR, TWO HOURS WAITING FOR A JUDGE TO SIGN A WARRANT. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND, UH, INVESTIGATIONS, IT'S, IT'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS A SYSTEM, [06:20:01] AND ANY BROKEN PART OF IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE SYSTEM. AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO REINFORCE, WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY FINE JUDGES, CERTAINLY GOT OUTSTANDING POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER AGENCIES. BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA TURN A KNOWN VIOLENT CRIMINAL LOOSE ON A PR BOND, WE WILL NEVER HAVE THE SAFE COMMUNITY THAT WE DESIRE. AND, UH, LAST SESSION, I PASSED LEGISLATION THAT MOVED MURDER CASES TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A BACKLOG. AND THEN I THINK ON THE CONSTITU, NO, I DON'T GUESS IT PASSED. DID HUFFMAN'S LEGISLATION PASS ON THE JUDGE'S, UH, DENIED BOND AFTER A HEARING? YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. THE CONSTITUTION OF TEXAS STARTING IN 1836 REQUIRES A BOND FOR EVERYONE. AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT WAS HANDLING THE SETTLERS. IT'S BEEN IN EVERY VERSION OF OUR CONSTITUTION THAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO A BOND REGARDLESS, AND IT GOES BACK TO THE SETTLERS. SO PERHAPS THAT CONSTITUTION NEEDS TO GET UPDATED TO ALLOW A JUDGE TO USE HIS OR HER DISCRETION. LOOKING AT THE TOTALITY OF THE, UH, CRIMINAL EPISODE, UH, AND I, IF I'M CORRECT, THEY HAD A BILL AND THAT FAILED PASSED. YEAH, IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TAKES TWO THIRDS THE PASSES SENATE. THE HOUSE HAS OBJECTIONS TO IT, BUT, UH, IT WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE AFTER A PROPER HEARING AND ALL THE SAFEGUARDS TO ALLOW A JUDGE. OF COURSE, THAT JUDGE WOULDN'T USE IT. BUT, UH, ANYWAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. AND CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IS, IS AN ADVOCATE FOR SMART JUSTICE AND SECOND CHANCE AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH HER ON THROUGH THE YEARS. SO, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT IF YOU'RE THROUGH, I'M READY TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S, LET'S CONTINUE. UH, GIVEN THAT ATTENTION IT DESERVES, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA START OFF BY, UM, RECOGNIZING OUR SUMMER INTERN. MS. KAYLEE, YOU CAN STAND UP. KAYLEE CAME TO OUR OFFICE THROUGH THE SUMMER CITY SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM AND BROUGHT INCREDIBLE ENERGY, DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM TO EVERYTHING SHE DID FROM ANSWERING THE PHONES, UM, HELPING OUR CONSTITUENTS AND DESIGNING THE NICE FLYER FLYERS, UM, FOR OUR RESIDENCE. UM, SHE'S A STUDENT AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE'S ON THE PATH TO MAKE ANY REAL DIFFERENCE, UM, IN THE WORLD. UM, WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, KAYLEE, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR TIME IN DISTRICT B. OKAY. AND THE SECOND THING, MAYOR, I WANTED TO POINT OUT, UM, WHEN I CAME TO OFFICE IN 2021 AND HE'S OVER THERE HAVING A CONVERSATION, ONE OF THE FIRST CONCERNS, UM, THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE GLENWOOD FOREST, UM, RESIDENCE WAS THE EMERGENCY LIGHT, UM, BY THE FIRE STATION NUMBER 32. AND SO WHAT MY OFFICE DID WAS WE DID PAY FOR THE DESIGN, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FIRE LIGHT WILL BE UP, UM, THE SUMMER OF 2024, BUT IT'S STILL NOT UP. AND SO WE ARE NOT GETTING LIKE, CLEAR, UM, THE NOT TELLING US EXACTLY WHEN THE LIGHT WILL BE INSTALLED. AND SO I WAS HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP US, UM, WITH THAT, THAT, THAT FIRELIGHT. SURE. UM, BUT WE ARE TALKING TO RANDY, BUT WANTED TO SEE IF YOU CAN NO, IT, UM, ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND, UM, RANDY, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVING THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD K MARK STRUCTURE ON HOMESTEAD ROAD THAT HAS BEEN A BLIGHT IN AND DISTRICT B FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I'LL BE THERE WITH YOU. HUH? I SAID YOU AND I WILL BE THERE. YES. AND I, I THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, THE RESIDENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT CLOSELY. WE DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE YET, UM, BUT WE KNOW IT'S GONNA HAPPEN SOON. AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT, WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S IT. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE MEETING NEXT MONDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM WHERE WE'LL HEAR ABOUT CHANGES AT, UH, HERMAN PARK, ONE OF OUR NICEST PARKS. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN MENTIONED THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING COMING UP WHERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, AMENDMENTS AND THE PROCESS. BUT I ALSO WANNA MENTION, UH, THAT UNDER, UH, CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UH, LEADERSHIP, WE WILL HAVE AN ETHICS COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT THURSDAY, AUGUST THE 21ST. UM, AND WE WILL HEAR A COUPLE PROPOSALS THAT I HAVE REGARDING CAMPAIGNS, FINANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND [06:25:01] PERSONAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES. APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WILLINGNESS TO ADD THOSE TO THE AGENDA AND GIVE THEM A HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? SURE. THANK YOU. I WANNA RESERVE MY, UM, COMMENTS AND DEDICATE THE, UH, PASSING OF THE AMENDMENT TO BARBARA QUATRO. UM, BARBARA QUATRO IS, UH, WAS A LONG STANDING, UH, CHAIR OF THE AILEY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, NUMBER 25. UM, UH, BUT SHE WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. SHE WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND, UM, AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST INDIVIDUALS TO ENCOURAGE ME TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL IN 2019. UM, SO I KNOW BARBARA IS IN HEAVEN GIVING EVERYBODY HELL AND INSTRUCTION, UH, AND, AND WORK TO DO. UM, AND SHE WOULD BE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS. I DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT SHE WAS MUCH MORE THAN THE TREE LADY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THAT SHE WAS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PARTICULARLY ALE WILL BENEFIT FROM HER LEADERSHIP FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. UM, SHE SINGLE-HANDEDLY, UH, PLANTED THOUSANDS OF TREES. UH, THE BEAUTIFICATION AT HARWIN PARK, THE TREES THAT ARE AT HARWIN PARK IS BECAUSE BARBARA AND HER CHILDREN PLANTED THOSE TREES. THE TREES AT THE INTERSECTION OF BENU, KIRKWOOD, BEL AIR, YOU NAME IT. THAT WAS BARBARA. AND UP UNTIL HER PASSING, SHE WAS WORKING FOR US, COORDINATING THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT, WHICH IS HOSTING AN EVENT IN ALE. I'M GONNA MISS MY FRIEND. BUT WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY HER LOVED ONES, HER FAMILY, HER FRIENDS, AND THOSE WHO WORKED WITH HER AND ADMIRED HER COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT WITH HER, AND IT WAS SO GOOD, UM, TO TELL HER JOB WELL DONE, AND THAT SHE COULD TAKE HER BREATH. AND WHEN I STARTED TALKING ABOUT GOING TO DC AND FIGHTING, UH, DONALD TRUMP, I HEARD HER, HER BODY MOVE. SO I SAID, ALL RIGHT, BARBARA HEARS ME BECAUSE SHE WAS A COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE, UH, THAT WE TAKE DOWN TRUMP. SO, UH, BQ, THIS IS FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. TAKE YOUR DEEP REST, YOUR DEEP BOW, UM, AND TO ALL WHO LOVED HER AND PARTNERED WITH HER. STAY TUNED. WE WILL HONOR HER, UM, AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WHICH HAS HER NAME ETCHED INSIDE THE BUILDING. BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF BARBARA CUATRO AND HER COMMITTED, UH, FOCUS IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT COMMUNITY HAD A $60 MILLION, UH, CENTER, WE WILL HOST A MEMORIAL, UH, EVENT FOR HER, UH, IN THE COMING MONTHS. SO, UH, UH, PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY AND EVERYONE WHO SERVED AND WHO MISS HER. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEMP. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO 10. FIRST, I JUST WANNA WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND SAFE SCHOOL YEAR. UH, MONDAY, UH, MY WIFE AND I WERE ABLE TO DROP OFF OUR KIPPSTERS IN THE EAST END, UH, PRE-K FOUR SECOND AND FOURTH GRADE, BUT ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST WANNA WISH EVERYBODY A SAFE SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL FOR COLLEGE UNIVERSITIES. JOAQUIN'S GONNA BE SECOND YEAR, YEAR OF AGE. SO, UM, WITH THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, VISIT A FEW SCHOOLS, UH, YESTERDAY. ONE OF THEM WAS, UH, CORN ELEMENTARY AND THE OTHER, UH, MILBY HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, RAIL SAFETY, UH, DISTRICT GUIDE HAS 17 CRITICAL CROSSINGS. UH, YESTERDAY I WAS WITH UNION PACIFIC, UH, JOINED THEM IN IN SHARING MATERIALS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, UH, VEHICULAR SAFETY AROUND, UH, AROUND MILBY HIGH SCHOOL. AND JUST A FEW THINGS. JUST, UM, ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN FROM ANY DIRECTION. ONLY CROSS AT DESIGNATED AREAS. NEVER WALK BETWEEN THE RAILS. DON'T TEXT WHILE YOU'RE CROSSING THE, THE RAILROAD TRACKS. UM, AND THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, I KNOW IT'S SHOWN ON THE MEDIA A LOT OF TIMES, FOLKS GOING UNDER AND OVER, UH, DURING A, A STALLED TRAIN. UH, I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE WE STOP NORMALIZING THAT. UM, WE DON'T WANT FOLKS TO BE CROSSING UNDER AND OVER A TRAIN. UM, AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, TO FOLLOW A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, YOU, WE WANNA WELCOME KAYLEE ARKA, YOU KNOW, HER SUMMER, UH, YOUTH INTERN IS NOW OUR SUMMER INTERN FOR THE LA REMAINING THREE WEEKS. UH, WE SAW, WE SAW HER, HER, UH, DOING SOME GOOD STUFF. AND SO SHE'S A RISING SOPHOMORE FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDYING SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE. SO PRIOR TO HER HEADING BACK OUT TO COLUMBIA, WE SNATCHED HER UP AND SHE'S GONNA GET TO WORK FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. THE OTHER THING IS I ALSO WANNA THANK ANGEL DE LA TORE, WHO'S LAST WEEK WILL BE THIS WEEK HE'S GONNA BE ATTENDING. HE'S GONNA GO BACK TO BAYLOR, UH, AS A SOPHOMORE. UM, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO BRING YOUNG FOLKS ON TO, TO, UH, WITHIN THE OFFICE. I'M A PART OF THE TEAM, JUST SO THAT WAY THEY KNOW WHAT IT TAKES, BUT ALSO START, START MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MENTORING YOUNG, YOUNGER FOLKS TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND, AND THIS ENVIRONMENT. SO, UH, THANK YOU KAYLEE, FOR ACCEPTING IT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. WHO'S NEXT? MAYOR PROAM. AND, UH, COUNCIL POLL. MAYOR PROTI. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, UH, COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UH, BARBARA, HE WHO WAS OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE IS OFFICIALLY RETIRED. UH, I AM THE FOURTH COUNCIL [06:30:01] MEMBER THAT, UH, BARBARA HAS WORKED FOR. THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT COULD COME THROUGH THAT DISTRICT, A OFFICE THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE. SO, UM, SHE IS OFFICIALLY RETIRED. WE WISH BARBARA AFTER HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, GOOD HEALTH AND A HAPPY RETIREMENT. UH, DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM WILL BE HOSTING A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE SIMS BAYOU. WELL, EIGHT ON TOMORROW, AUGUST THE 14TH AT 5:30 PM SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TO JOIN THE MEETING, UM, AND GET INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT. UH, THAT WILL DEFINITELY PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY SOME LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY WITH IMPROVED MODERNIZED INFRASTRUCTURE. SO, UM, YOU CAN LOOK AT ENGAGE HOUSTON FOR THE LINK TO JOIN. AGAIN, THAT'S TOMORROW AT FIVE 30. AND THEN I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO, UH, START PLANNING THEIR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS. IT'S NOT TOO EARLY TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE SEVENTH. WE USUALLY HAVE SEVERAL EVENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. UM, THE TIME IS MOVING FAST. SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A NATIONAL NIGHT EVENT, NATIONAL NIGHT I EVENT, AND YOU PLAN ON HOSTING ONE, LET JOE IN OUR OFFICE KNOW SO WE CAN GET OUR PLANNING TOGETHER TO VISIT YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES ON OCTOBER THE SEVENTH. AND HIS EMAIL IS JOE DOT GAON@HOUSTONTX.GOV. UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU, MASS. MAYOR , WE DID, YOU DONE COUNCILMAN POLLARD, UH, RESIDENTS OF JAY CITY. I DO WANT TO, UM, ALERT YOU ALL THAT THE MONTICELLO SQUARE APARTMENTS, WHICH IS ENGULFED IN ON THE BORDER OF BEL AIR. UM, THE ABATEMENT AND THE, UH, DEMOLITION OF THAT PROPERTY HAS NOW, UH, STARTED TO TAKE PLACE. UH, THAT IS A PROPERTY THAT THE CITY, UH, BOUGHT SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS CONTINUOUSLY FLOODING. UM, BUT IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE KIND OF DORMANT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN AN EYESORE AND HAD A LOT OF, UH, HOMELESS AND CRIMINAL ACTS TAKING PLACE AT THE PROPERTY. UH, BUT STAYING ON TOP OF THAT WITH PUBLIC WORKS, IT HAS FINALLY COME TO THE POINT WHERE THE DEMOLITION HAS BEGUN. AND SO I WANT TO THANK, UM, PUBLIC WORKS FOR ALL THEIR WORK AND MAKING THAT, UM, A PRIORITY, UH, FOR THE DISTRICT. UH, OUR EVENTUAL PLAN FOR THAT, UH, PROPERTY WILL BE FOR IT TO TURN INTO A GREEN SPACE AND DETENTION FOR THE AREA. AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A, UM, A WELL USED COMMUNITY AMENITY. UH, I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING, UH, EMPLOYMENT TO VISIT MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM. IT'S A ONE-STOP SITE FOR JOB SEEKERS. UH, IT HAS RESOURCES FOR JOB FAIRS, INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES, HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR INTERVIEW AND HOW TO BUILD YOUR RESUME. AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF JOBS THAT WE UPLOAD ONTO THIS WEBSITE EVERY SINGLE WEEK. AND SO, REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE, UM, A POSTGRADUATE DEGREE OR YOU'RE JUST LOOKING FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION, MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM, UH, SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE A SITE THAT YOU CAN USE AS A RESOURCE, UH, FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF JC CITY. UH, WE WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE REGARDING, UM, ISSUES THAT YOU'RE FACING WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE, WE, WE ALWAYS WANT YOU TO GO TO 3 1 1, BUT WE DO WANT YOU TO EMAIL US AT DISTRICT J@HOUSTONTX.GOV FOR THINGS THAT OUR BEAUTIFICATION TEAM, OUR SUPPLEMENTAL MAINTENANCE TEAM, OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM THAT DOES, UM, HOME REPAIRS FOR SENIORS, UH, ALL OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING. WE WANT YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF OUR, UH, HARDWORKING CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE EXPEDITE THOSE PROJECTS, UH, FOR YOU, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE. I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, KRIN ANDERSON, IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU WOULD STAND. UH, HE'S BEEN SHADOWING ME FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, UH, RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, AND HE IS HEADED OFF TO LAMAR UNIVERSITY, UH, NEXT WEEK. AND SO, UH, HAPPY TO HAVE YOU IN THE OFFICE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, I TOO WANT TO, UM, GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF BARBARA TROW, UH, WORKED WITH HER, UM, FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS ON COUNCIL. AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS HER KNOWS YOU CANNOT, UH, RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE OR DO ANYTHING COMMUNITY-WISE IN THE ALE AREA WITHOUT BEING INTERTWINED WITH, UH, BARBARA. AND SO SHE WILL BE MISSED, UH, VERY MUCH. AND MAYOR, HAPPY 76TH BIRTHDAY AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. WE STAND ADJOURN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.