* 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] [00:00:03] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES TO RECOGNIZE THAT NONPROFIT'S EFFORTS. OH, GOT IT. YEP. GOT IT. OKAY. . THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM, AND MAYOR. UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY TO MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ORGANIZATIONS AND DISTRICT A, WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES HAS EMPOWERED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES, SKILLS, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO ACHIEVE STABILITY AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS THROUGH EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES. AND WHEREAS ON MARCH 18TH, 2026, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF THE HAMILL EDUCATION WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER, MARKING A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN MAM'S CONTINUED GROWTH AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE NEW 21,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY EXPANDS MAM'S SPRING BRANCH CAMPUS AND SERVES AS A HUB FOR CAREER READINESS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION. AND WHEREAS AS PART OF ITS GROWING OUR IMPACT TOGETHER INITIATIVE, A $22 MILLION CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. THIS EXPANSION WILL ENABLE MAM TO SERVE MORE THAN 21,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY AND INCREASES EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS BY 50%. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES ON THE EXPANSION OF ITS SERVICES AND RECOGNIZES THE ORGANIZATION'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO HELPING THOUSANDS OF HARDWORKING HOUSTONIANS BUILD STRONGER AND MORE SECURE FUTURES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK FOR BRINGING THE MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES TO OUR ATTENTION. UH, IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SO MANY GROUPS, NONPROFITS MADE TO HOUSTON'S GREATNESS. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW FACILITY. I'M CERTAIN IT'LL JUST ENHANCE YOUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOUR GREAT TEAM, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 9TH, 2026 IS MA'AM DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR WITTMEYER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. UM, MY NAME'S SONYA GTZ, MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT, CEO OF MA'AM. UM, MY DAD AND MY GRANDPARENTS CAME TO HOUSTON OVER 80 YEARS AGO WITH A DREAM TO MAKE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILY. AND THEY FOUND THAT OPPORTUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON. THEY OWNED SOME OF THE FIRST BUSINESSES AND THEY CERTAINLY FACED BARRIERS, BUT WHAT I'M SO PROUD ABOUT IS THEY, IN ADDITION TO BUILDING A GREAT FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILY, LIVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO HELP OTHERS TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES JUST LIKE THEY FOUND IN OUR AMAZING CITY. SO I'M PROUD TO BE A HOUSTONIAN. I'M PROUD TO BE A PRODUCT OF HOUSTON, ISD OF RICE UNIVERSITY, AND I'M PROUD THAT TODAY IN A CITY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW, MAM GETS TO SERVE OVER 20,000 PEOPLE AND THEIR PATHWAYS TO LIFELONG STABILITY. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE CITY, SO DIVERSE WITH SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A CITY WITH THE LARGEST POVERTY RATE OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN THE US. AND SO THERE'S SO MUCH WORK FOR US TO BE DONE. IT HAS BEEN OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND HER TEAM. AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU IN THE SERVICE THAT YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE FAMILY, JUST LIKE MINE NOW FOR TWO AND HOPEFULLY ON OUR THIRD GENERATION, CONTINUE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO LIVE STABLE, HEALTHY LIVES AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR AMAZING CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. UM, WE AND MY TEAM THAT'S HERE TODAY, UM, LOVE GETTING TO WORK WITH OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. I CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH MA'AM EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE TRULY VALUE ALL THAT YOU BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU LIKE [00:05:24] YOU READY? GOOD LUCK. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE WOMEN'S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS IN HONOR OF ITS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THE, UH, PRESENTING THE PROCLAMATION TO THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS, WHEREAS THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS WAS FOUNDED IN 1976 BY A GROUP OF, OF LOCAL PHYSICIANS WHO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR A HOSPITAL EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED TO THE CARE OF WOMEN AND NEWBORNS, AND WHO INTENTIONALLY CHOSE THE NAME WOMEN'S RATHER THAN WOMEN'S TO HONOR EACH PATIENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND TO REFLECT THE PERSONALIZED PATIENT-CENTERED APPROACH TO CARE. WHEREAS SINCE ITS OPENING, THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN 300,000 BABIES AND DELIVERS MORE BABIES EACH MONTH THAN ANY OTHER HOSPITAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHEREAS THE HOSPITAL IS A HOME TO A LEVEL FOUR NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, WHICH PROVIDES THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR PREMATURE AND CRITICALLY ILL NEWBORNS, AND IS DESIGNED AS A LEVEL FOUR MATERNAL PROGRAM FOR OBSTETRICS AND HIGH RISK PREGNANCY CARE. WHEREAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, TEXAS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY JOINS A COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATING THE PIONEERING HOUSTON AND TEXAS INSTITUTION AND RECOGNIZES DEDICATED STAFF AND LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF HOUSTON WOMEN'S AND FAMILIES OVER THE PAST FIVE DECADES AND COUNTING. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SALINA. AND WHAT A EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL. AND I JUST LEARNED FOR MYSELF, , WHY IT'S NOT THE WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, BUT IT'S A WOMAN'S HOSPITAL TO EMPHASIZE THE SINGULAR CARE OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 50TH YEAR AND WE ALL KNOW THE BEST YEARS ARE YET TO COME, SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 20TH, 2026, IS A WOMAN'S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS DAY ACROSS HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS, . YES. DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS THAT YOU, WOULD Y'ALL LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? OH, I DO. YES. , THANK YOU. SHE KNOWS ME. . SHE KNOWS I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, THANK YOU, UH, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. MY NAME IS GINA BAMBERG. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING IN MY DREAM JOB AS THE CEO OF THIS AMAZING HOSPITAL. AS YOU HEARD, FOR 50 YEARS, THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING HOUSTON'S WOMEN, BABIES AND FAMILIES DURING SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN THEIR LIVES. WHAT BEGAN IN 1976 WITH THE VISION OF 29 PHYSICIANS BECAME HOUSTON'S FIRST HOSPITAL AND THE STATE OF TEXAS DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO WOMEN AND NEWBORNS. AND OVER THE DECADE, DECADES, WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IN THIS FINE CITY. OUR STORY IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO HOUSTON'S STORY. AS HOUSTON HAS GROWN AND DIVERSIFIED AND BECOME A GLOBAL LEADER IN HEALTHCARE, THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS HAS GROWN ALONGSIDE IT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT, THE PARTNERSHIP, AND THE TRUST WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. SO ON BEHALF OF 10 NORA BOYKINS, MY BOARD CHAIR, MY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SENIOR LEADERS WHO ARE WITH ME HERE TODAY, OUR ENTIRE MEDICAL STAFF, COLLEAGUES AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE SERVED. THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR RECOGNIZING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN OUR HISTORY. WE ARE HONORED TO BE PART OF HOUSTON'S LEGACY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE THIS REMARKABLE CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU AGAIN. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE FOR COMMENTS. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR COMING. ONE OF THOSE 300,000 BABIES WAS MINE. I HAD MY FOURTH BABY AT WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, AND I THINK MY DOCTOR'S ONE OF, HI, I THINK IT'S DAD, ONE OF THOSE JACOBS'S, UM, YEAH, WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS, BUT OKAY. YEAH, HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS. GREAT CARE THERE. UM, WONDERFUL HOSPITAL, GREAT TO HAVE YOU GUYS IN TOWN. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. HAPPY 50TH AND GOOD TO SEE YOU GENOA. THANK YOU. [00:10:01] COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROTI AND TO YOU, GINA, AND TO, UM, DENO. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. UH, UNLIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, BABIES THAT CAME THROUGH THERE, BUT I GOT A BUNCH OF GODCHILDREN, UH, THAT CAME THROUGH THERE AND MANY OF MY PARISHIONERS IN OUR CHURCHES. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS HISTORY OF, OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN TERMS OF THE WOMAN HOSPITAL. SO CONGRATULATIONS BOTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY SISTER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR , AND CONGRATULATIONS. HEY, GINA. HI. CONGRATULATIONS TO Y'ALL AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR WOMEN, FOR CHILDREN. UM, I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UM, THE HOSPITAL AND YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. IT WAS, I MEAN, I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT, UM, JUST FROM, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE HALLS, THE BABIES, THE ROBOTICS ON HOW YOU GUYS PERFORM THE SURGERIES. AND SO IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. AND SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. THANK YOU, MA'AM. OKAY. GINA AND GENO, 50 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. I'M SO EXCITED THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, UH, SAW FIT TO CELEBRATE WITH A PROCLAMATION. UH, AND MAYOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. UM, AS A PERSON WHO HAS, UM, HAD A HUMAN GROWING INSIDE OF MY BODY, I KNOW, UH, THE KIND OF CARE THAT YOU NEED WHEN IT IS TIME TO, UM, BIRTH YOUR SON OR YOUR DAUGHTER, UM, AND THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO YEAR AFTER YEAR, DAY AFTER DAY AT THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL IS EXTRAORDINARY. AND WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND, UM, I LOVE THAT YOU SAID THIS IS YOUR DREAM JOB. IT IS. YES, MA'AM. I LOVE THAT. THANK YOU. I LOVE THAT. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. 50 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. TO CELEBRATE ITS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I AM HONORED TO TODAY PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THEY ARE, UM, A FANTASTIC ORGANIZATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TAMMY WALLACE, HER BOARD, AND HER STAFF. IT HAS NOW GROWN TO BE ONE OF THE PILLARS OF HOUSTON'S LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE CELEBRATING THIS YEAR, THEIR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THAT. WHEREAS 2026 MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREATER HOUSTON L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDED IN 2016 TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, VISIBILITY AND EMPOWERMENT FOR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON REGION. AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE CHAMBER HAS BECOME A LEADING VOICE FOR LGBTQ PLUS ECONOMIC INCLUSION, FOSTERING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS AMONG BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY AND CIVIC LEADERS, WHILE STRENGTHENING PATHWAYS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS. AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION, THE CHAMBER HAS BUILT ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST VIBRANT LGBTQ PLUS ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEMS, BRINGING TOGETHER L-G-B-T-Q AND ALLIED BUSINESSES, PROFESSIONALS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, NONPROFITS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO THRIVE. AND SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE CHAMBER HAS WORKED TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY, CLOSE ECONOMIC GAPS, STRENGTHEN SUPPLIER DIVERSITY, [00:15:01] AND ELEVATE THE VISIBILITY AND IMPACT OF LGBTQ PLUS BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT GREATER HOUSTON. THE CHAMBER HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE MEANINGFUL INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT LGBTQ PLUS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, INCLUDING EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION OF THE LGBTQ PLUS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT COORDINATOR POSITION AND THE OFFICE WITHIN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE CHAMBER'S FOUNDERS, MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE VISION AND DEDICATION HAVE HELPED CREATE LASTING PROGRESS AND A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE REGIONAL ECONOMY. ON THIS OCCASION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES THE GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON 10 YEARS OF IMPACT ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY, AND RECOGNIZES ITS ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY, AND STRENGTHENING THE FUTURE OF LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON. THANK YOU COUNCILOR CASTILLO AND I COULD BE A GREAT WITNESS, EXPERT WITNESS TO THE FORMATION OF LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER. MEANING I WAS IN PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE THE CHAMBER. I'VE WITNESSED THE 10 YEARS OF PROGRESS. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOUSTON WITHOUT THE CHAMBER, THE NETWORKING. I COULD, UH, I COULD DESCRIBE THE CONTACTS THAT I'VE MADE. YOU HAD A FOOD DRIVE AND THE, I PULLED UP AND THE MEXICAN CONSULATE GENERAL WAS THERE. SHE HAS BECOME A LONG TIME FRIEND. SHE'S IN SAN DIEGO NOW, BUT THINK OF THAT WONDERFUL CONTACT THROUGH THE LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER AND IT COULD GO ON AND ON. SO HOUSTON'S A BETTER CITY FOR THE CHAMBER. I'M IMPRESSED WITH ITS GROWTH. I THINK WE NEED TO ALL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP AND ALLOW IT TO PARTICIPATE AND SPREAD EQUALITY NOT ONLY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY. THEY ARE SUCH A GREAT FACILITATOR FOR ALL OF US. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 9TH, 2026, IS GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DAY ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, TAMMY. UM, TAMMY WALLACE. I'M A CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF THE GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND TO SAY THAT TODAY IS NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE WOULD ACTUALLY BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. 11 YEARS AGO, GARY WOOD AND I SET OUT TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION TO FILL A GAP WHERE LGBTQ PLUS BUSINESSES WERE NOT AT THE TABLE. WE WERE NOT AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CITY. AND WE SET OUT TO CHANGE THAT, NOT ONLY TO CHANGE THAT, TO GET A SEAT, BUT TO GET A VOICE. AND 10 YEARS LATER, WE ARE IN ROOMS, WE ARE IN SPACES, WE ARE, WE HAVE CONNECTIONS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DID NOT HAVE. MM-HMM . WE ARE SIX, ALMOST 600 MEMBERS, STRONG AND GROWING. THINK ABOUT THE LAST 10 YEARS, POLITICAL HEADWINDS, HURRICANE HARVEY, THE PANDEMIC, WINTER STORM, URI, I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON. BUT THIS CHAMBER HAS PERSEVERED AND WE HAVE DONE IT FOR TWO REASONS ACTUALLY. ONE IS OUR MEMBERS AND SECONDLY, OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHEN I OFTEN SAY WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED AS WE CELEBRATE 10 YEARS, AND THIS FRIDAY WE LAUNCH INTO OUR NEXT 10 YEARS AT OUR PRIDE AND BUSINESS CELEBRATION. WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. WE'RE BUILDING A BIGGER ECOSYSTEM. WE'RE BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO THIS WORK SO WE CAN SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, CLOSE GAPS, SUPPORT OUR CITY AND SUPPORT OUR REGION. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. AND TO OUR BOARD AND OUR STAFF, THEY HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THEY ARE WITH US TODAY, OUR BOARD CHAIR, STEVEN MIRANDA, OUR BOARD MEMBER RACHEL BICKHAM. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP BECAUSE I DON'T DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT THEM, AND WE DON'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE, UH, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. WE'LL START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PANZELLA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, TAMMY, STEVEN, RACHEL, CONGRATULATIONS ON AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT HERE. I WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR USING YOUR VOICE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION IN HOUSTON. I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING Y'S BRUNCH ON FRIDAY, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MANY MORE YEARS OF SERVICE AHEAD. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE [00:20:01] YOU ALL HERE TODAY. AS A FORMER, UH, BOARD MEMBER OF THE LGBT CHAMBER, I, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SPECIAL IT IS TO GET TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY WITH YOU, STEVEN AND TAMMY, YOU ALL ARE ICONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO ELEVATE US AND YOU UNDERSTAND PERHAPS BETTER THAN ANYONE JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOT ONLY TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BUT ALSO IN THE BOARDROOMS ACROSS THE CITY. AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE FAR MORE THAN PERHAPS MOST TO HELP MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. AND I KNOW THAT WHEN WE WRITE THE HISTORY OF HOUSTON, TAMMY WALLACE, YOUR NAME'S GONNA BE IN THERE. IT IS AN HONOR TO KNOW YOU. IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU AND ALL OF THE L-G-B-T-Q LEADERS IN HOUSTON, IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION TO, UH, TODAY TO CITY COUNCIL. TAMMY AND, UH, STEVEN, I SEE YOU BACK THERE, DISTRICT EYE RESIDENT. UM, AND RACHEL, CONGRATULATIONS ON 10 YEARS AND TO 10 YEARS MORE SUCCESS. UM, AND JUST WANT TO ALSO JUST CONTINUE TO EXTEND HOWEVER DISTRICT EYE, UH, BUSINESSES CAN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE AND EVEN DO OUTREACH. UH, MY, MY TEAM AND I ARE HERE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, TAMMY, FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DOES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR GREAT WORKS TOGETHER. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HFD, CAPTAIN ANDY ROSEBOROUGH AND DR. JOY ITY TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE. THANK YOU MADAM PRO TIM. AND MEMBERS, UH, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT YOU OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, ONE HONOR, MCC CO. THANK YOU. ONE OF OUR CAPTAINS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE ANNIE ROSENBERG, CAPTAIN. THANK YOU, SIR. AND DR. UH, . THESE GREAT HOUSTONIANS WERE VACATIONING IN MEXICO, NEAR MEXICO CITY, VISITING THE PYRAMIDS AND HEARD GUNSHOT AND OUTCRY FOR HELP. AND IT WAS A YOUNG CHILD HAD BEEN SHOT. THEY DID WHAT THEY WERE TRAINED TO DO, NEVER WORRYING ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. RAN TO THE YOUNG PERSON'S ASSISTANCE, STOPPED THE BLEEDING, WAITED FOR MEXICO'S FIRST RESPONDERS AND SAVED A LIFE. AND SO THE DEPARTMENT IS CERTAINLY PROUD OF CHEAP, CERTAINLY THE UNION, BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF ALL ESTONIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, YOUR, YOUR BRAVERY. AND, UH, WE WANTED YOU TO BE HERE IN COUNCIL TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, YOU'RE GREAT REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHEREVER YOU TRAVEL. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 9TH, 2026, IS CAPTAIN ANDY ROSENBERG AND DR. TI DAY ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EITHER ONE OF YOU, DO YOU HAVE, DO THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? AND WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q. THANK YOU, . THANK, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL. IT, IT FEELS WEIRD TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BOTH DONE A LOT IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF OUR DUTIES, BUT I'M, I'M SO PROUD OF MY WIFE TO SEE HER SPRING [00:25:01] INTO ACTION IN A VERY TENSE AND BAD SITUATION. I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE WHAT WAS A VERY BAD DAY, A LITTLE BETTER FOR A COUPLE PEOPLE THERE. HMM. SO THANK YOU TO THE MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL SYSTEM AND TO THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR GIVING US THE, THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING THAT ENABLED US TO HELP THAT DAY. THANK YOU. PASS COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YEAH, JUST WANTED TO SAY, I SAW THIS ON THE NATIONAL NEWS AND THEN I GOT A TEXT FROM MARTY INFORMING ME THAT THIS WAS A HOUSTON FIREFIGHTER. I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW COLD IS THAT? AND JUST SPEAKS TO, YOU KNOW, THE PROFESSIONALISM OF BOTH OF YOU AND FANTASTIC THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THIS IS A WELL-DESERVED PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL [2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME, UH, STEVE SIMONS TO THE PODIUM. MR. SIMONS IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, A DEDICATED HUSBAND, DEVOTED FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, AND RESPECTED SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. HE'S ALSO THE PROUD MEMBER OF THE OAKS DADS CLUB HALL OF FAME, AND FORMER STATE DIRECTOR OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. THROUGHOUT HIS TIME WITH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, MR. SIMONS HAS HELD MANY LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING SERVING AS THE COUNCIL DIRECTOR FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERFAITH MINISTRIES AND CHAIRS OF THE COLUMBIAN SQUIRES AND INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH FRATERNITY FOR BOYS AGES 10 TO 18 FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. MR. SIMONS HAS DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO SERVING HIS FAITH, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS COMMUNITY. HIS COMMITMENT TO BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND UPLIFTING OTHERS HAS TOUCHED MANY LIVES. IN ADDITION, MR. AND MRS. SIMONS HAVE RAISED AN INCREDIBLE SON WHO WILL BE MARRYING MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF RACHEL MAXEY IN SEPTEMBER. SO, WELCOME, THANKS, COUNCILWOMAN. THIS AFTERNOON WE GATHER AS MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY DIVERSE IN OUR BACKGROUND PERSPECTIVE, IN OUR EXPERIENCES, YET UNITED A SHARED COMMITMENT TO WELLBEING OF OUR [00:30:01] GREAT COMMUNITY. MAY WE LISTEN MORE THAN WE SPEAK? SEEK UNDERSTANDING BEFORE JUDGMENT AND WORK FOR NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN, BUT COMMON GOOD. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS TOGETHER. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP AND PURPOSE. TODAY. WE WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY, FOR THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT STRENGTH US AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER WITH KINDNESS AND HUMILITY. PLUS, EACH PERSON HERE GOT OUR THOUGHTS, OUR WORDS, AND OUR ACTIONS, SO THEY REFLECT COMPASSION AND INTEGRITY. UNITY. MAY THIS GATHERING BE ONE OF WISDOM, ENCOURAGEMENT, A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION THAT CARRIES BEYOND THESE WALLS. WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING ON OUR FAMILIES, OUR WORK AND OUR SHARED MISSION. AND WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE MANY WAYS YOU CONTINUE TO LEAD US FORWARD. IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. CONGRATULATIONS FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE PUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] MR. SECRETARY, YOU ON CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PEG HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PANZELLA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF MAY 27TH AND JUNE 2ND. AND THIRD CAST, MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA MOTION PASSES. ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY. IF NOT, UH, I CALL YOUR [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] FIRST SPEAKER, MR. SECRETARY GLORIA ZINO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA CABRERO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GLORIA ENO AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF BODY OF DOGS, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE EAST END AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT I I WAS IN THE EAST END. IT WAS IN THE EAST END, EXCUSE ME, THAT I FOUND THE TRUE INSPIRATION OF BODY OF DOGS HAVING WITNESSED THE ISSUE OF STRAY ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. FIRSTHAND, OUR ORGANIZATION ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSES OF THIS CRISIS THROUGH A LONG-TERM STRATEGY OF YOUTH EDUCATION BY TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THEIR ANIMALS AND THEIR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO PROVIDE FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES FOR PET OWNERS THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR SUPPORTING US WITH THESE TYPES OF SERVICES ALONG WITH PET SET AND EMPTY THE SHELTER PROJECT. BUT EVEN WITH ALL THAT SUPPORT, WE STILL FACE A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEED MORE SUPPORT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO HUGE. AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN MENTIONED LAST WEEK, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT TO SOLVE IT. I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE $500,000 TO BARK WILL BE APPROVED. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, PATRICIA CABRERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY GLENDA OSORTO OF SPRING. OKAY, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M PATRICIA CABRERA WITH EASTON COMMUNITIES, A COLLABORATIVE OF ORGANIZATIONS, PARTNERS AND RESIDENTS OF MAGNOLIA PARK AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. WE PROMOTE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING BY IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. RIO DOGS IS ONE OF OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, SO WE UNDERSTAND THE LONG EXISTING PROBLEM OF STRAY DOGS. WE HOLD A MONTHLY WELLNESS WALK AT ALGO PARK, ARMED WITH SUB SUNSCREEN, BUG SPRAY, AND WALKING STICKS IN CASE WE ENCOUNTER THE VERY LIKELY STRAY DOG OR TWO, WE KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMPLEX AND EXACERBATED BY THE ECONOMY, HOUSING AND GENERAL LACK OF INFORMATION ON LAWS, RESOURCES, AND KNOWLEDGE OF RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP. BUT WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SUPPORT THESE CRITICAL SERVICES, YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY, AND MOST OF ALL, CONNECTED WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS ON SIDEWALKS, PATHWAYS, AND PARKS. [00:35:01] WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE SERVICES THAT HELP OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS AND CREATE SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT GLENDA OTO OF SPRING TO BE FOLLOWED BY BERNADETTE BLANCO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, COUNCILS. UM, MY NAME IS GLENDA OSORTO. I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT WORKS AT SARAH JOBS, UH, AND I AM HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED FUNDING FOR BARK. MY TAKE IS GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO IN MY WORK, I MEET PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHO ARE TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. THEY'RE GOING TO SOME TYPE OF TRAUMA, WHETHER IT BE, UM, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, UNEMPLOYMENT, OR SIMPLY NAVIGATING TO LIVES, UH, DIFFICULTIES AT TIMES. AND USUALLY THEIR COMFORT COMES FROM A VERY UNEXPECTED SOURCE, THEIR PETS. WHETHER IT'S A VETERAN LIVE LIVING WITH PTSD, A SENIOR, UM, BATTLING LONELINESS, A PERSON IN RECOVERY, OR ONE OF MY VERY OWN CLIENTS, UM, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT THESE LITTLE ANIMALS BRING TO OUR PEOPLE. UM, BUT BARK'S ROLE EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ADOPTION. EVERYDAY ANIMALS IN OUR CITY, UM, WHO SUFFER NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT, ABUSE, AND CRUELTY, THEY CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AND BARTS BECOMES THEIR ADVOCATE, THEIR REFUGE. AND, UM, OFTEN MORE THAN NOT A BETTER CHANCE AT, UH, LIVING BARK ALSO PROTECTS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY ADDRESSING STRAIN AND ABANDON ANIMALS HUMANELY KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. WHEN YOU FUND BARK, YOU ARE NOT JUST FUNDING AN ORGANIZATION, YOU ARE FUNDING A COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING. ITS SAFETY AND ITS COMPASSION. YOU ARE FUNDING THE HEALING OF THE PEOPLE I SERVE AND THE PROTECTION OF THE VOICELESS ANIMALS THAT DEPEND ON US. I RESPECTFULLY, UM, URGE YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT BARK AND APPROVE THEIR, UM, BUDGET ASKING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, BERNADETTE BLANCO TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARLA BERRY. HELLO, HOUSTON CITY LEADERS. MY NAME IS BERNADETTE BLANCO. I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE EAST END DISTRICT. I, I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER FOR BARRIO DOGS, UH, AN ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CREATING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ANIMALS AND OUR COMMUNITY. I HELP, UH, SUPPORT BARRIO DOGS, YOUTH AND PAWS EDUCATION PROGRAM. WE'RE ADDRESSING HOUSTON'S ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM BY PROVIDING EDUCATION TO TEACH YOUNG HOUSTONIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT PROPER PET CARE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SPAIN AND NEUTERING PETS. I AM HERE TO ASK OUR CITY LEADERS TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR BARK OPERATIONS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND EMBARRASSING THAT OUR CITY SPENDS LESS ON ANIMAL WELFARE THAN OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES. MY DAILY COMMUTE INCLUDES DRIVING ALONG LOCKWOOD DRIVE BETWEEN, UH, MAIN CAMPUS AND LBJ HOSPITAL AND FIFTH WARD. IT'S VERY COMMON FOR ME TO SEE MULTIPLE STRAY DOGS, UH, ALONG THIS VERY BUSY THOROUGHFARE. AND I ACTUALLY SAW A DOG GET HIT AND RUN OVER BY A TRUCK, AND THEN FRIGHTENING RUN ACROSS OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO SAFETY. IT WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR, BUT I WAS ABLE TO HONK MY HORN AND PAUSE TRAFFIC LONG ENOUGH FOR THE DOG TO GET OUT OF THE STREET. SADLY, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE DEAD DOGS ON THE SIDE OF THIS AND MANY OTHER HOUSTON ROADS. IT IS HEARTBREAKING NOT ONLY FOR THE DOGS, BUT FOR THE CHILDREN AND RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA. IT IS TRAUMATIC. STRAY CATS ARE ALSO A CONCERN. THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE STRAY CATS THAT ARE REGULARLY ON MY PROPERTY. THEY'RE FIGHTING AND MATING WAKES ME UP AT NIGHT, MY STREET, EVEN THOUGH RESIDENTIAL IS VERY BUSY AND CARS ARE CONSTANTLY SPEEDING DOWN THE ROAD. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, A CAT WAS HIT AND THEIR DECEASED BODY LAID ON THE UTILITY EASEMENT FOR DAYS. MY HUSBAND ALSO FOUND A HALF DECEASED CAT IN OUR YARD LAST MONTH. I AM SURE YOU ALL HAVE READ THE JUNE 2ND, 2026 OPINION PIECE IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE BY SHARON STEINMAN. THIS ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTED THAT OUR CITY ALLOCATES ONLY $6 AND 75 CENTS PER PERSON FOR BARK FUNDING. WHILE OTHER TEXAS CITIES LIKE DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO SPENT ALMOST $14 PER PERSON. YOU ALL ARE ALL IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT ON HOUSTON'S ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS PLEASE INCREASE FUNDING FOR BARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT COUNCIL. I'M SORRY. ONE MOMENT PLEASE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? YES, MAYOR, UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD LUCY MORENO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TWO AMENDED, UM, AGENDA LIST. PLEASE HOLD ONE SECOND. MOTION MADE AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. YES, MA'AM. AYE. I AM DARLA BERRY WITH EAST END KITTIES. WE ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT CONDUCTS TNR FOR ABOUT 250 CATS A YEAR. AND WE RESCUE KITTENS TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS. [00:40:01] I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT WE CANNOT SOLVE HOUSTON'S ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION CRISIS ON OUR OWN. EVERY WEEK I SEE DUMPED ANIMALS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOMEONE REACHES OUT FOR HELP WITH UNWANTED KITTENS OR CATS. WE ARE OVERWHELMED BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM WHOSE SOLUTION IS ALREADY WELL KNOWN. SPAY AND NEUTER IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT OUR CITY CAN MAKE. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THREE SUGGESTIONS. WE NEED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. FOR MANY FAMILIES, THIS COST IS SIMPLY OUT OF REACH. WE NEED PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO SHARE THE ENORMOUS BENEFITS OF SPAYING AND NEUTERING. THIRD, WE COULD FOLLOW SEATTLE'S LEAD AND BAN THE UNFAIR PRACTICE OF PET RENT. PET RENT PLACES A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON LOW INCOME RENTERS WHO OFTEN HAVE TO ABANDON THEIR FAMILY MEMBER. PET DAMAGES CAN BE COVERED BY A PET DEPOSIT OR THE REGULAR DEPOSIT. WE RESCUERS ARE WILLING TO DO THE WORK, BUT WE NEED STRONGER PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO PREVENTION. I WANT TO ADD A FINAL IMPORTANT PLEA FOR MORE FUNDING FOR BARK. THERE ARE VALUE VALUABLE PARTNER, BUT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MEET AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE CREATED BY HOUSTON RESIDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD VETERINARY CARE OR THEY DON'T CARE, OR THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF SPAY NEUTER. BARK IS EXPECTED TO DO THIS WITHOUT THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. AND THIS IS JUST NOT FAIR. THEY NEED MUCH GREATER FUNDING TO SUPPORT A CITY OF OUR SIZE. HOUSTON CAN DO BETTER. THE ANSWER IS NOT MORE CRISIS RESPONSE. WE COULD BUILD 10 MORE SHELTERS AND THEY WOULD ALL BE FULL TOMORROW. THE ANSWER IS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, MARTINEZ AND CASTILLO FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT. NEXT. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO IN THE QUEUE. DARLA, I WAS GONNA MAKE A COMMENT TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. I WANTED TO ONE THANK YOU AND ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WERE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT BARK. Y'ALL ALL MADE FANTASTIC POINTS AS TO WHY WE NEED TO ADD MORE RESOURCES TO BARK AND INCREASE FUNDING FROM THE SPAY AND NEUTER TO THE EDUCATION ON RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP TO TRAP, NEUTER, RELEASE, ALL OF IT. IT'S AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH. UM, THIS IS WHY I'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR BARK, UH, THROUGH THE CITY, THROUGH MY SERVICE FUND, WORKING WITH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND AS WELL. UM, THIS IS ALL PART OF A, OF A EFFORT THAT ULTIMATELY IS GONNA NEED TO INVOLVE THE COUNTY AS WELL. UH, BECAUSE THOSE LINES DON'T MEAN ANYTHING TO THE ANIMALS. AND IF WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY'S NOT DOING IT THEIR PART, IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE THE IMPACT WE WANTED TO MAKE. SO, UH, I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT Y'ALL IN YOUR EFFORTS AND WORKING ON THOSE LONGER TERM BIGGER SOLUTIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU. SELENA BRA BULLS TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUCY MORENO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SELENA. I'M A DISTRICT C RESIDENT AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH PEER JUSTICE. I'M HERE ALONGSIDE MY FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND A COUPLE RECENTLY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SPEAKING TO Y'ALL BEFORE ABOUT THE NEED TO REIMAGINE SAFETY AND PUT FORTH SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BASED IN RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO MEANINGFULLY HELP THOSE CLOSEST TO OUR ISSUES. YES, SAFETY CERTAINLY INVOLVES UPDATED APARTMENT INSPECTIONS AND MOVE AWAY FROM HARM TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES. AND IT ALSO REQUIRES ADDRESSING RESIDENTS INCREASINGLY URGENT NEEDS BEFORE THEY EVOLVE INTO ACTIVE DANGER. LIKE WHEN LARGE TRASH ITEMS ACCUMULATE ON OUR STREETS, DITCHES AND SIDEWALKS WHILE THE SUBMARINES PICK UP. AND THIS DEBRIS INEVITABLY FLOATS INTO THE ROADS AND CLOGS DRAINS, WHICH ONLY WORSENS AND QUICKENS THE LOCAL FLOODING. THE ONGOING ILLEGAL DUMPING THE HIRING CRISIS WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS AND LINGERING CONCERNS REGARDING CONTRACTS AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE ALL PRESSING MATTERS AND ISSUES THAT ONE WILL NOT SIMPLY JUST VANISH AND TWO FALL DIRECTLY WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY TO TAKE ACTION ON. I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AMENDMENTS 4 0 2 TO INVEST IN HIRING FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO ADDRESS CITYWIDE DRAINAGE ISSUES 4 0 1 TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING ADJUSTMENT. AND 1 0 5 TO CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR BUDGET FUNDS STEERED TOWARDS CORPORATE BENEFITS RATHER THAN, AGAIN, THE CITY'S PRESSING NEEDS. THESE AMENDMENTS WILL HELP THIS BUDGET MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT YOUR STATED POSITIONS OF PRIORITIES OF TAKING CARE OF US AS HOUSTONIANS, KEEPING US SAFE AND PREPARING THE CITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SEASONS. THE WORLD CUP EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE ARE GOING TO BE FUN AND VIBRANT AND EXCITING IN A WAY THAT ONLY HOUSTON CAN MAKE HAPPEN. AND AS WE OUTSTRETCH OUR ARMS TOWARDS VISITORS AND FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE CANNOT FORGET TO EXTEND [00:45:01] A HAND TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED YEAR ROUND BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, BY INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND POVERTY. WE CANNOT DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JUST A SECOND. MAYOR. COUNCILMAN AARON SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I NEVER WANNA MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE YOU. YOU ARE JUST PHENOMENAL AND YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR YOUTH. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND WE'LL CERTAINLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED. THANK YOU COUNCIL. HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU TOO. THANK YOU. NEXT LUCY MORENO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHERYL CHANDLER. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ FOR ADDING ME ON. FIRST I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN. PAY ATTENTION. I HAD TO PAY GAS. I'M ON SOCIAL SECURITY TO GET HERE. SO I THINK I DESERVE YOUR ATTENTION. YOU'RE ASKING $5 MORE FROM US. I'LL GLADLY GIVE IT TO YOU. BUT THEY BETTER PICK UP MY TRASH. YESTERDAY I HAD TO FIGHT WITH THEM. I'M HANDICAPPED. THEY WANTED ME TO PUSH MY TRASH CAN OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY PASSED OUTSIDE. AND I'M SITTING IN MY CAR. I HAVE CAMERAS FACING THE STREET, I HAVE PICTURES, VIDEOS, THEN MY OTHER NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET, HE'S HALF PARALYZED. HE COMES DRAGGING HIMSELF TO LET THEM KNOW THEY DIDN'T PICK UP HIS TRASH EITHER. THE LADY HAS A NERVE TO ASK HIM TO DRAG HIS TRASH CANS OVER TO THEM. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. YOU WANT OUR MONEY? WELL, THEY BETTER GET ON THE BALL BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO US. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME BECAUSE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE TO SPARE. AND I'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE BARK THING. I THINK I BROUGHT 'EM TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE AN ASSISTANT TO TRAVINO, BUT I'M VERY ANGRY. VERY ANGRY. OH, BEST OF ALL, THEY BROKE MY TRASH CAN ON PURPOSE IN FRONT OF MY FACE, MY GREEN ONE. SO THERE YOU GO. AND IF I HAVE ANY MEDIA PEOPLE OUT THERE, I WILL GIVE THEM THE VIDEOS. I WILL GIVE THEM EVERY PICTURE I HAVE BECAUSE HOW DARE THEY? AND I'M ANGRY, MAYBE NOT DIRECTLY AT YOU, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU BECAUSE THEY THINK WE'RE IGNORANT. WE'RE IN THE BARRIOS. WE'RE IN WHEREVER WE LIVE AND WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEAK UP. THEY'RE VERY WRONG BECAUSE SOME OF THEM, EVEN SOME OF US EVEN HAVE TWO DEGREES. BUT WE LIVE THERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE WERE RAISED. I TAUGHT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WILL ALWAYS SPEAK UP FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EAST END. SO HOW DARE THE CITY TAKE THAT ATTITUDE WITH US THAT YOU CAN EVEN BREAK OUR TRASH CAN BECAUSE HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE DEALING WITH IT. SO NO. AND WHEN I COME UP HERE, I'M GONNA HAVE RECEIPTS. SO I DIDN'T COME UP HERE TO WASTE YOUR TIME OR MINE. YOU WANT PICTURES? I THINK I SENT SOME TO COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS'S OFFICE AND I'LL PULLED UP MY RING VIDEOS BECAUSE THIS IS ONE CRAZY WOMAN THAT HAS 38 CAMERAS AROUND HER HOUSE. 'CAUSE I LIVE TOO CLOSE TO GREYHOUND. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR PAYING ATTENTION. ONE MOMENT PLEASE. MAYOR PRO TEAM. SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU HAD THAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE EXPERIENCE WE WANT FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND IF YOU DO HAVE FOOTAGE OF SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY BREAKING YOUR TRASH CAN, I DEFINITELY WANNA SEE IT. UM, BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY EITHER NEEDS TO BE RETRAINED OR DISCIPLINED. UM, ALSO, UH, WANT TO NOTE, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OUR SOLID WASTE BACKDOOR PROGRAM? UM, SO IF THERE ARE RESIDENTS, WE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE PARALYZED OR HAVE SOME MOBILITY ISSUES WHERE THEY HAVE THE PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN TAKE THEIR TRASH CAN IN AND OUT. AND IF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THAT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROGRAM. ESPECIALLY YOU SAID YOU HAD A NEIGHBOR THAT'S PARALYZED THAT WE GET FOR HIM, HIM ON THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO ASSIST WITH HIS TRASH ON, ON, ON A WEEKEND TO DRAG HIMSELF TWO HOUSES AWAY FROM HIS TO TRY TO GET HIS TRASH PICKED UP. VERY WRONG. RIGHT? SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND ALSO THAT WE WILL ADDRESS IF THERE WAS AN INCIDENT OF SOMEONE BREAKING YOUR TRASH CAN INTENTIONALLY, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT FOOTAGE THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE, THE DIRECTOR. I CAN OPEN THE RECYCLE BIN ANYMORE. I WE CAN GET YOU A REPLACEMENT. THEY'RE STILL THERE. AND THE, IT'S STILL THERE. MINE AND THE OTHER GENTLEMAN'S ON THE SIDE BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER CAN DEFINITELY WORK TO GET YOU A REPLACEMENT DATE. NO, I [00:50:01] KNOW HE WILL. AND SO WILL SELENA. WE CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW. UH, A COUPLE MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS. IF YOU'LL GIVE MS. WILSON BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR ADDRESS, WE'LL GET YOU ONE. HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU GET HOME. OKAY? AND WE'RE SORRY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES NOT REFLECTIVE OF SOLID WASTE. WE HAVE OUTSTANDING CITY EMPLOYEES AND I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE. YES, THEY ACCEPT SOMEBODY. IT HASN'T JUST BEEN YESTERDAY. I HAVE ANOTHER VIDEO WELL, WHERE I HAVE FOLLOWED UP. WE'LL LOOK AT YOUR VIDEOS AND HAD MARTINEZ'S OFFICE ON THE PHONE LIKE THIS SO THEY CAN HEAR. SURE. BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO PICK UP MY TRASH FOR SOME REASON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. LET ME YELL TO MY COLLEAGUES. BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE, GIVE YOUR ADDRESS. I WILL. AND, UH, WE'LL CALL THE DIRECTOR. HE'LL HAVE SOMEONE DELIVER YOU. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A RECYCLING BIN. THANK YES. THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S BROKEN. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, LUCY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM, I DID GET THE DIRECT MESSAGE THAT YOU SENT ON FACEBOOK, BUT, UH, I WANNA STEP OUT AS WELL BECAUSE, UH, ASIDE FROM FACEBOOK, IT'S GOOD TO CALL THE OFFICE AS WELL. UH, THE PROGRAM THAT, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND CASSIUS TATUM MENTIONED, UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ON AND OR ANY, ANY OF THE NEIGHBORS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HELP A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, GET ON IF THEY HAVE DISABILITIES OR HAVE CHALLENGES TAKING THE, THEIR, THEIR, UH, REFUSE CART TO THE, UM, TO THE, UM, TO THE STREET AS FAR AS THE, UH, THE BEHAVIOR. I, I ECHO AS, AS WELL, UH, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM. UM, COMMENTS, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE INTENTIONALLY, THEN ALLOW MY TEAM TO BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO IT AND HELP ADDRESS IT, UM, AS WELL. BUT, UH, WHAT I WANNA DO IS BEFORE, UH, I'M GONNA STEP OUT AND SPEAK TO YOU, UH, BEFORE YOU LEAVE TODAY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALSO HAVE THE OFFICE NUMBER, THE DISTRICT I EMAIL BECAUSE THE, THAT FOOTAGE IS IMPORTANT AND WE CAN, WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AS WELL. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THAT'S OKAY. HOW UPSET I WASN'T, I FORGOT I SAID I HAVE ALL THAT RING VIDEO. WHAT THE HECK AM I PAYING FOR ALL THESE CAMERAS FOR? I'M NOT . NO, I, I GET IT. AND, AND LIKE I SAID, I KNOW WE, WE COMMUNICATE SOMETIMES TO THE, UH, FACEBOOK MESSENGER, BUT REALLY THE, UH, THE, THE BEST WAY TO, TO GET GO ABOUT DOING, YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF WORK IS TO CALL THE OFFICE. SO THAT WAY MY TEAM CAN JUMP ON IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SO I'LL STEP OUT IN A BIT WITH YOU AS WELL. AND I ASK THE REST OF YOU THAT, THAT HAVE SENIORS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ABUSES THE NOT TAKING THEIR TRASH AND THEY TAKE IT OUT ON THEM. IT'S EASY TO TAKE IT OUT ON US BECAUSE THEY THINK WE'RE MEEK. WE'RE NOT THAT MEEK. I WAS OUT THERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE THAT DAY, ALL DAY. SO I WILL GO OUT AND FIGHT FOR YOU GUYS, BUT YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR ME. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, EVAN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. HOLD ON, MS. MORENO. OH, MS. MORENO. OH, OKAY. YOU, YOU KNOW, I LIKE YOUR FIRE, MS. MORENO. I MEAN, YOU GETTING SOME ACT RIGHT IN HERE. YOU GOT EVERYBODY PUT THEIR PHONES DOWN, ESPECIALLY ME. AND CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, POOR BEHAVIOR AND MISTREATMENT IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE. AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CAMERA, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T. BUT IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A CAMERA FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW TO TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. I MEAN, WHO'S TO SAY WHEN OR IF WE WILL EVER BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO, TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT WE EXACTLY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DOING? AND SO CERTAINLY IT IS VERY MINDFUL OF THIS BODY THAT MORE MONEY DOES DEMAND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND SO CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE, UM, JUST A, A TERRIBLE THING FOR US TO ASK FOR THE ASSISTANCE TO TRY TO GET THESE THINGS AND THEN NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE. UH, THE SERVICE DOES NOT IMPROVE. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I'M GONNA, MY PHONE IS DOWN. I CAN'T PROMISE IT'S GONNA STAY DOWN, BUT CERTAINLY I DO APPRECIATE YOUR FIRE AND YOU'RE COMING TODAY. IT'S JUST, I PAID MONEY FOR MY GAS. I'M SORRY, . ONE SECOND. COUNCILOR SALINAS, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO COUNCIL. UM, I'M SO SORRY THAT THAT HAPPENED TO YOU. IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY, BUT YOU ARE INCREDIBLY BRAVE AND PROUD. I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO VERONICA ON MY TEAM YESTERDAY. KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR ALL SENIORS IN HOUSTON, BUT WE'VE GOT YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. MA'AM, TALK TO MS. CHERYL CHANDLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL BAXLEY. HELLO, MY NAME IS CHERYL CHANDLER. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU TO DISTRICT B COUNCIL LADY JACKSON FOR HER ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND I STAND BEFORE YOU. TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN HONORARY STREET MARKER AT SIX 11 GROVE STREET AT GILLESPIE. THIS MARKER IS FOR REVEREND LACEY. REVEREND BIRD LACEY JR. REVEREND LACEY WAS A SERVANT. HE PREACHED 62 YEARS. HE PASTORED AT ONE CHURCH 40 YEARS. [00:55:01] HIS EARTHLY WORK INCLUDED FIVE CHURCHES THAT HE PASTORED. HE BUILT FOUR OF THOSE CHURCHES. AND ALL THOSE CHURCHES UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP WERE PA WENT UP ON HIS DEPARTURE. THEY WERE ALL PAID FOR, WHICH MEANT THAT THEY HAD BURNT THEIR NOTE. REVEREND LACEY SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY BECAUSE OF HIS GOD-GIVEN ASSIGNMENT AT GREATER MOUNT OLIVE. THE BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED AND YOUR OWN COUNCILMAN POLLARD WAS OUR SPEAKER. HE ESTABLISHED A LACY DAY PROGRAM, THE LESTER, HER SCHOLARSHIP FUND, A YOUTH CHOIR THAT GREW TO 50 OR MORE CHILDREN, THE SAY TO NO DRUG PROGRAM, THE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. HE REESTABLISHED THE WOMEN'S MISSION DEPARTMENT. EACH SUMMER WE HAD BACKPACKS FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE COMMUNITY AND A VOUCHER WHERE THEY COULD GO BY THEIR UNIFORMS. REVEREND LAS WAS ALSO HONORED AS PASTOR OF THE YEAR BY PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY MINISTRY ASSOCIATION. HE HELD A TITLE OF DEAN IN THE SOUTH TEXAS DISTRICT WHERE HE TAUGHT ETHICS. HE WAS HONORED BY THE LATE SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND SYLVESTER TURNER FOR HIS SO ENTIRELY WORK IN THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY. I DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO TELL YOU ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE APPROVE THIS MARKER. FOR A MAN THAT WAS HAD INTEGRITY, CHARACTER, MORALS, AND HONESTY, A MAN THAT YOU WOULD'VE BEEN PROUD TO KNOW, PLEASE APPROVE THIS MARKER BECAUSE IT WILL CELEBRATE OUR MOTHER'S HUSBAND, OUR FATHER'S LIFETIME SERVICE AT ONE CHURCH, ONE CORNER, AND ONE COMMUNITY IN FIFTH WARD FOR 40 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM, MA'AM. MS. JACKSON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND YOU MA'AM, CHANDLEY FOR COMING IN. I'M REALLY EXCITED AND HONORED TO, UM, VOTE ON THE MARKET TOMORROW AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WILL JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THANK YOU, UM, GETTING THIS APPROVED. YOU. AND SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE, UM, THE THE JUST THE IMPACT YEAH. UM, MR. LACEY HAS MADE ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YES. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A LAST ONE? THANK YOU MR. POLL. ONE MORE MA'AM? YES MA'AM. COUNCILOR P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. NO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND THOSE REMARKS YOU MADE, UM, UH, YOUR FAMILY HAS A VERY RICH HISTORY. YES. AND IT NEEDS TO BE COMMEMORATED AND CELEBRATED AND ACKNOWLEDGED. YES. AND YOU'RE DOING THAT TODAY ON BEHALF OF YOUR FAMILY. YES. UH, AND I WANT TO GIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO NOT ONLY REVEREND LACEY, BUT THE ENTIRE FAMILY MM-HMM . FOR YOUR SACRIFICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL. YES. BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY AND A FAMILY AFFAIR. SO YES. THANK YOU AGAIN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO APPOINTING. THANK YOU. DID A GREAT JOB WHEN YOU CAME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. RANDALL BAXLEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOON TYLER, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RANDALL BAXLEY. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H AND, UH, I HAVE MAILED A STATEMENT TO RENEE THAT, UH, IS PAYING ATTENTION TO ANOTHER CONSTITUENT AT THE MOMENT. BUT RE RENEE, IF, IF HE COULD, UH, SEND THE STATEMENT OVER, IT'S PROBABLY A LOT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE HERE, WHETHER I HAVE ONE. I I'M ON THE SECOND, ON THE SECOND LIST THERE. I HAVE THREE MINUTES. WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME THEN, SO I CAN SAY A LITTLE BIT. BUT THE, I'M SLOW AND THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT I'VE PREPARED THAT IS IN AN EMAIL HE CAN SEND TO THE REST OF Y'ALL. UM, AND THE, UH, THIS LAST WEEK, WHITE OAK AND BUFFALO BIOS, AS WELL AS LITTLE WHITE OAK BIO ALL CAME VERY CLOSE TO, THEY CAME TO A LEVEL THAT THEY DID, UH, DAMAGE SOME PROPERTIES AND WERE MOVING TOWARDS GETTING TO OTHERS. THE, UH, STREET FLOODING IN THE HEIGHTS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON WAS TERRIBLE. UH, ITEM FIVE IS ONE THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART IS IT'S, I MEAN, THESE WELLS HAVE TO BE CLEANED DOWN, DOWN INSIDE THE DRAINS, THE DRAIN GOES ALONG, AND AS THE TRASH GOES BY, THERE ARE WELLS DOWN IN THERE AND THOSE, THE TRASH GOES IN THOSE WELLS. WHEN THOSE WELLS GET FULL, THE TRASH JUST GOES AND BLOCKS SOMETHING UP. AND THEN THAT'S WHAT WE GET IS THOSE KINDS OF FLOODING THAT WE HAD IN THE STREET AND HEIGHTS WITH THIS WEEKEND. UH, IF THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS OF ITEM FIVE ARE PRODUCED QUICKLY AND [01:00:01] AND DONE RIGHT, THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED LARGE PIPES IN THE PARTS OF THE CITY. UH, OTHER THAN THAT, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CIVIC CLUBS AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AS BEING A MUCH BETTER PROCESS AS, AS GOOD AS THIS PROCESS IS OF COMING AND TALKING TO YOU. THAT PROCESS IS MUCH BETTER IN ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO MOVE UP FROM THEIR, FROM THEIR RESIDENTS WHERE THEY SEE A PROBLEM CAN TAKE THAT PROBLEM TO THEIR, TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. TAKE THAT TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD CAN TAKE THAT TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. THE MAYOR APPOINTS PEOPLE FROM THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND FROM OTHERS THAT COME TO THAT, TO THE COMMITTEES THAT PRODUCE ORDINANCES THAT THIS BODY VOTES ON. AND THAT PROCESS NEEDS TO BE KNOWN TO ALL RESIDENTS, NOT JUST TO THOSE OF US WHO TAKE CARE TO DIG IT OUT. AND SO I THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, SIR. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. RANDY, DID YOU SAY YOU, YOU HAVE A STATEMENT HERE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO US? YES. IF RENEE CAN AN EMAIL, CAN YOU FORWARD THAT EMAIL ON OKAY. TO THEM? I WANNA MAKE SURE WE WE DO GET THAT IF YOU BROUGHT IT FOR US. YEAH. I, I HAD, I PREPARED A SHORT OF TIME AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PUT TO FIND THE, UH, I HAVE THE MAYOR AND ALL OF Y'ALL. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER JOON. TYLER JOON. TYLER JOON TYLER NEXT SPEAKER, VERNON BRUSARD. VERNON BROUSSARD TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALYSSA . HELLO, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS VERNON BROUSSARD. I LIVED IN DISTRICT BEEF FOR OVER TWO DECADES. I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF NORTHEAST COLLECTIVE. WITH THE BUDGET BEING VOTED, BEING WITH THE BUDGET VOTE BEING TOMORROW, I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THEY VOTE YES AGAINST THE AMENDMENTS AND FOR REPORTING THE ABATEMENTS THE AMENDMENTS CONCERN, THE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND THE AMENDMENTS FOR GETTING MORE RESOURCES. ENSURE PUBLIC WORKS MEETS THEIR CRUCIAL KPI OF HIRING 500 EMPLOYEES. THE AMENDMENTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS ABSOLUTELY IS CRUCIAL FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD. GLENWOOD FOREST. WE HAVE FLOODED FAR TOO MANY TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE IGNORED. AND NOW MY HOME AND MANY OTHERS, FA FACE HAD ALL THE INCREASED RISK OF FLOODING WITH THE NEW FEMA MAPS AND THE DITCHES IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ONE OF OUR MAIN LINES OF DEFENSE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE STRONG INVESTMENTS FROM THIS FOR, FOR THIS COUNCIL INTO RE UH, INTER DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAMS AND WHAT FLOOD PROTECTION COULD MEAN FOR GLENWOOD FORESTS. THIS PROTECTION CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITIES RECOVER, REDUCE FLOOD RISK AND PROTECT WHAT IS OFTEN A FAMILY'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET, OUR HOMES. BUT NONE OF THIS CAN BE DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION WITHOUT WORKS BEING FULLY STAFFED. PLEASE SUPPORT THE PASSING AMENDMENTS OF 4.02. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THIS CLEARLY ENOUGH. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING AND ADDITIONAL THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON. WE ARE THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON, THERE ARE DANGEROUS TREE LIMBS HANGING OVER POWER LINES AND HOMES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY TAKE A MORE PRODUCTIVE APPROACH IN ADDRESSING THESE HAZARDOUS BEFORE THEY CAUSE DAMAGE. SIMILAR TO WHAT MANY RESIDENTS AND SPEARS DURING HURRICANE BARREL. I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IDEAS AND COLLABORATE ON SITUATIONS TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONSIDERATION AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITIES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, SIR. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND, UM, SHARING YOUR, UM, STATEMENT. UM, IF, IF THERE ARE ANY POWER LINES OR TREES AROUND POWER VEGETATION, UM, REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE. UM, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. THAT'S THE DISTRICT, THE OFFICE AND CONTACT 3 1 1 SO THAT THAT CAN BE REPORTED. AND THEN WE ACTUALLY HAD A, UM, DISASTER RECOVERY WITH PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY. AND, UM, CENTER POINT WAS THERE. AND RIGHT NOW CENTER POINT IS IN THE COMMUNITY CLEARING UP VEGETATION. AND SO THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW WHERE THIS VEGETATION IS AT AND NEED TO BE CLEARED UP IS IF YOU GUYS LET US KNOW. SO PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND THEN MARY IS IN THE AUDIENCE, OR SOMEONE FROM MY STAFF WILL GET [01:05:01] WITH YOU SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT LOCATION. OKAY? MM-HMM . THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING IN. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A BLESSING. NEXT SPEAKER, ELISSA COYAR TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID ESPINOZA. AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME'S EL SECOYA. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT D. FIRST, I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR SOME AMENDMENTS. SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP, UH, INCLUDING THE INCREASED HIRING CAPACITY FOR PUBLIC WORKS, INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS FOR THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR, I HEARD DIRECTOR MACKEY SAY SOMETHING LIKE PUBLIC WORKS IS WORKING ON MAKING WATER RATES MORE EQUITABLE ACROSS THEIR CUSTOMER BASE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT WORK TURNS UP. UM, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I SEE THE CITY'S NEED FOR MORE REVENUE AND I AM GLAD ACTUALLY THAT YOU ARE WORKING TO FIND A SOLUTION. I THINK IN THIS TRASH FEE AND IN THE MOVE FROM THE CUS, UH, THE RIGHT OF WAY FEE FROM THE CUS, YOU HAVE FOUND A PATCH FOR THE BOAT THAT MAY HOLD FOR THE MOMENT. UM, BUT IN MY OPINION, I DO NOT THINK IT IS EQUITABLE. I DO NOT THINK IT IS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. AND IN FACT, I THINK, UH, AS TIME PROGRESSES, IT WILL ACTUALLY PLACE A HIGHER SHARE OF THE BURDEN ON A SMALLER NUMBER OF PEOPLE. UM, AND I'M NOT INHERENTLY OPPOSED TO A TRASH FEE. UH, I WANT SOLID WASTE TO HAVE THE FUNDING IT NEEDS. I WANT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND OUR WATER SYSTEM AND OUR LIBRARIES TO HAVE THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TOO. UH, I, I THINK LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A WORRY THAT OUR CITY IS MOVING TOWARDS A PLACE WHERE IT IS JUST A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH APARTMENT, WITH, UH, CUP HOLDERS. UH, AND, AND I CAME HERE FOR THREE REASONS, REALLY. ONE, SOMEBODY TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE FREE FOOD. TWO, I LOVE THIS CITY AND I, I WANTED TO BE AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. AND THREE, A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, I WATCHED AS SOMETHING THAT HUNDREDS OF HOUSTONIANS HAD ADVOCATED FOR, FOR MONTHS, CAME UP FOR A VOTE. AND THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERED WAS NOT THE LAW. IT WAS NOT THEIR WORDS. IT WAS NOT THEIR STORIES. IT WASN'T THEIR FEAR OR THEIR GRIEF OR, OR THEIR OPINION OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GOVERN, BUT THE OPINION OF THE GOVERNOR. AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. IT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. AND I THINK IT IS A SIGN THAT SOMETHING IS BROKEN HERE. SO I, I KNOW YOU HAVE HARD DECISIONS AND I URGE YOU TO REALLY LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY AND TONIGHT. REALLY CONSIDER WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY WHO HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF POWER, UM, AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS. UH, AND I SUPPOSE THAT'S ALL I REALLY WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A NICE DAY. THANK YOU. NEXT DAVID ESPINOZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY KARINA BLESSED. HELLO MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS DAVID VALENTI ESPINOZA. I AM A CO-DIRECTOR AT WEST STREET RECOVERY AND A RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD. UM, SO FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN, UH, DOING VOLUNTEER WORK, WORKING AT WEST STREET, UM, ME AND MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND JUST FIGURING OUT THE WAYS THAT, THE REASONS AS TO WHY FLOODING HAPPENS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND ULTIMATELY WHAT MY NEIGHBOR IS GONNA SAY OR HAVE SAID OVER RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, UM, THE BIG THING IS INVESTMENT, RIGHT? UH, WE NEED INVESTMENT IN THE RESOURCES THAT WE, THAT WE NEED, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, THAT WILL ACTUALLY KEEP FLOOD WATERS OFF OF OUR HOMES. THAT ACTUALLY TO INVEST IN OUR SAFETY AND OUR WELLBEING, OUR STATE OF MIND THAT ALLOWS US TO LIVE THERE LONG TERM ALLOWS US TO RUN OUR BUSINESSES AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES FEEL SAFE. ALTHOUGH, FIRST, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME FUNDING ALREADY SET ASIDE FOR LDP AND THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT, AND THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THESE, UH, THE PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH FLOODING. SO I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A START. BUT LET'S GET TO THE POINT. UM, BUT I'M ASKING HERE, UH, THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THREE AMENDMENTS, AND THAT'S A MEANT 4.01 THAT WILL ALLOCATE 3 MILLION FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, THERE'S PROBLEM WITH BIG, BIG, UH, UH, OPEN LOTS OR, UH, STREETS WITH NO, NO, UH, FRONT FACING HOUSES OR JUST TRASH IS DUMPED OFF SOMETIMES BY CONTRACTORS. THERE'S A LOT OF BUILDING MATERIAL OUT THERE THAT WE PICKED UP DURING OUR CLEANUP DAY. UM, AND THESE ARE LIKE STREETS, LIKE WAYSIDE, LIBERTY ROAD, GREEN RIVER ROAD STREETS THAT Y'ALL PROBABLY HAVE DRIVEN DOWN. [01:10:01] PROBABLY WANNA AVOID DRIVING DOWN BECAUSE HOW IT LOOKS. UM, I'VE BEEN 4.02, THAT'S INVESTING 500 K AND FIVE, UM, HIRING PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES. UM, AND THAT'S, IT'S SIMPLE. WE NEED TO INVEST IN, IN HANDS, WORKING HANDS THAT WILL, UM, BUILD THAT DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND AMENDMENT 1.05. AND THAT'S THE IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR THE $93 MILLION THAT WE GIVE IN TAX ABATEMENTS TO CORPORATIONS. AND THIS IS TO KEEP TABS OF OUR INDUSTRIES, UH, THAT RECEIVE TAX ABATEMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING UP ON THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN, UH, AS FAR AS JOB CREATION GOES. AND THESE AMENDMENTS ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT CONSIDERING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND WHAT WE'VE READ IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, I FEEL LIKE IT, WE DO FEEL LIKE IT DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD. SO I'M ASKING ALL OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON THAT BUDGET TO OPPOSE AN, AN INEQUITABLE TRASH FEE, THE TION OF OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, AND CONTINUE TO OVERINVESTMENT IN POLICING. OVERALL, THE BUDGET DID NOT SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTED IN THIS ROOM IS. SO WHAT WE WANT IS A PEOPLE'S BUDGET. SO I WANT YOU TO KEEP LOOKING AT THAT OVER THERE, WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY NEED YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT CORINA, BLESSED TO BE FOLLOWED BY MURTALA. TRISTAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEN AND WOMEN MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FROM FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE TO SPEAK PRIMARILY ABOUT THE TRASH FEE. I AM ABSOLUTELY OKAY WITH PAYING FOR TRASH. I DEEPLY APPRECIATE OUR PUBLIC WORKERS, AND I THINK THEY DESERVE A BETTER PAY. IT, IT, IT IS THANKS TO, UH, CHRIS HOLLINS AND EDWARD POLLER THAT I'M HERE TO WHAT I HAVE CALLED THE GREAT SWITCHEROO, TAKEN FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND PUT IT INTO PUBLIC UTILITY FUND. UH, COUNCILMAN JOKI MARTINEZ HAS BEEN, UH, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME WITH MY 3 1 1 REQUESTS. AND AS I DON'T KNOW, I HOPE YOU DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I HAVE CALLED TWICE BECAUSE OF MY SEWAGE BEING BACKED UP AND OVERFLOWING INTO MY HOME. THE SEWAGE FUND NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED. THE WATER FUND NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED. PLEASE, COUNCILMAN AND WOMEN DO NOT APPROVE THIS TRASH FEE. WE NEED EQUITABLE TRASH FEE. I GUARANTEE YOU, SOMEBODY WITH A HOME THAT IS ONE TO $3 MILLION HAVE A LOT MORE TRASH THAN I PRODUCE IN MY HOME. THAT IS NOT OF THAT AMOUNT, AND THEY WOULD NOT BE BOTHERED TO PAY A GREATER AMOUNT THAN IT'S WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED. SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS OUR LANDFILL SITUATION. AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE LANDFILL IS NOT BEING ACCOUNTED INTO OUR $43, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE COST OF OUR TRASH FEE. IT IS NOT $25 AND IT'S NOT $5. SO I AM HAPPY TO PAY FOR THE ACTUAL COST OF OUR TRASH FEE. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT OUR LANDFILL SITUATION BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUTTA SPACE AND OUR COST IS GOING TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE THOSE TRASH, THE TRASH THEY PICK UP, THEY'RE GONNA BE TRANSPORTED MUCH FARTHER AWAY. AND THE COST OF ACTUALLY CREATING NEW LANDFILL WILL BE, I'M SURE, VERY HIGH. SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WANNA SHARE WITH Y'ALL, LAST SATURDAY MORNING, A MAN CARRYING A MACHETE RAN DOWN MY DRIVEWAY INTO MY BACKYARD, AND I THOUGHT I WAS BEING DELUSIONAL, BUT THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. UH, I'M, I'M NOT HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD M INTO THE GREASY HOOD NEWS WHERE YOU CAN CHECK OUT FOOTAGE OF THIS INCIDENT. WHY AM I BRINGING THIS UP? DID I CALL HPD? NO, SIR, I DID NOT BECAUSE I NEEDED HELP. SO I KNEW TO CALL OUR CONSTABLES BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED THE CONSTABLES, THEY'RE AT MY DOOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES. AND WHY IS THAT? THEY HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY, SOMETHING THAT HPD, WHOM I DEEPLY RESPECT DO NOT HAVE. SO INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM AN 8% INCREASE IN SALARY, USE THAT MONEY TO PROVIDE GPS TRACKERS SO THAT WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS HPD, THEY RESPOND IN AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME. I HAVE CALLED HPD BEFORE, IT'S TWO PLUS HOURS. WAIT, IF THEY SHOW UP, WE HAVE A PROBLEM, HOUSTON, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SO PLEASE ALLOCATE FUNDS WHERE THEY NEED A BUDGET OF 40, 60% IN HPD. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NICK TALA TRISTAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANITA GUEVARA. UM, SHE NEEDS A TRANSLATOR, SO SHE'LL GO FIRST AND THEN [01:17:40] GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM STAN, AND I LIVE IN LAKEWOOD AREA OF DISTRICT B, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY FREQUENTLY FLOODS FROM, UH, SUFFERS FROM FLOODING BECAUSE A C SITS AT THE JUNCTION OF LOCAL BIAS DUE TO HIGH POVERTY LEVELS. MANY OF MY NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORS LACK ADEQUATE INSURANCE COVERAGE AND FACE IMMER DIFFICULTY RECOVERING AFTER A DISASTER. FOR INSTANCE, THE DRAINAGE DITCHES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SHALLOW, AND THERE ARE NO DITCHES AT ALL ALONG LAS CRUCES AVENUE. FURTHERMORE, DURING A CLEANUP DAY, THIS PAST MARCH, ORGANIZED BY NAC, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, MY NEIGHBORS AND I COLLECTED FURNITURE, DEBRIS, AND TRASH FROM THE ROADSIDES AND OUT OF THE DITCHES. THIS SITUATION CAUSES SEVERE WATER ACCUMULATION AT THE INTERSECTION ALONG LAS CRUCES AS THE WATER CANNOT REACH THE BAYOU DURING RAINY DAYS LIKE THE ONES WE'VE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY. THERE ARE TOO MANY PROBLEMS. AND TO ME, THE LOGICAL STEP IS TO INVEST MORE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DON'T YOU ALL AGREE? SO WHY ARE WE FINDING OUT THAT YOU WANT TO CUT THE FUNDING NEEDED TO HIRE THE WORKERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO FULFILL YOUR PROMISES TO PROTECT US? THIS IS WHY I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT AMENDMENT 4 0 2, WHICH WOULD HIRE THE NECESSARY WORKERS TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECTS EMPLOYING PEOPLE FROM OUR OWN COMMUNITY. I ALSO SUPPORT AMENDMENT 4.01 TO HELP MANAGE THE CLEANUP OF EXISTING TRASH AND PREVENT FUTURE ACCUMULATION THAT COULD CLOG WATERWAYS AND CAUSE FLOODING. I ASK YOU TODAY TO VOTE YES ON THESE AMENDMENTS SO THAT TOMORROW PEOPLE LIKE ME DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN TERROR EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THANK YOU. I WANT TO TELL THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCILS THAT, UH, FOR ANA TO FORGET ABOUT US THE NORTHEAST. WE LIVE IN HIGH POVERTY RATES, AND YOU ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THE PROMISES YOU MADE US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ANITA GUEVARA TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE CHUCK HONE. [01:20:05] GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. MY NAME IS ANITA GAMARA, A RESIDENT OF LAKE LAKEWOOD AND A LONG TIME MEMBER OF NAC. WE LIVED, WE LIVED WELL FROM MANY YEARS UNTIL HURRICANE HARVEY, AND UNTIL HURRICANE HARVEY'S HIT. SINCE THEN, THE DRAINAGE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS NOT BEEN KEPT UP. DURING HARVEY, THE WATER WAS SO HIGH, WE WERE TRAPPED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAITING FOR HELP, AND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO EXCEPT WAIT UNTIL THE WATER CLEAR UP. BUT EVEN TO THIS DAY, IT TAKES DAYS FOR WATER TO EVAPORATE BECAUSE IT HAS NOWHERE TO DRINK. IN THE INTERSECTION OF MY STREET, COLETTE AND LAS CRUCES HAS HAPPENED. EVERY RAIN THIS PAST WEEK, IT RAINED FOR DAYS, AND THE INTERSECTION WERE FULL OF WATER PREVENTABLE FLOODING LIKE THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE FOR ELDERS LIKE MYSELF AND MY SON WHO IS BLIND. THIS IS NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE, IT IS A THREAT TO OUR HEALTH BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE, IT CAN MAKE GETTING TO DIALYSIS AND TO THE DOCTORS VERY DIFFICULT. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? THIS STREET'S NEAR ME HAVE NO DRAINAGE SYSTEM AT ALL BLOCKS AWAY. THERE IS INLETS, BUT THEY'RE FULL OF TRASH AND MUD. THE DITCHES EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN THE COMMUNITY ARE TOO SHALLOW AND TOO OVERGROWN WITH GRASS. SOME OF THEM DO NOT EVEN LEAD WATER INTO THE BIO. THERE ARE DITCHES TO NOWHERE. WE NEED INVESTMENT IN DRAINAGE SYSTEM, BUT ILLEGAL DUMPING MAKES IT WAY WORSE. THERE'S HEAVY TRASH ALONG LAS CRUCES AVENUE AND EVEN MORE, AND GREEN RIVER ROAD THAT ENDS UP IN DITCHES. CONTRACTORS WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD KNOW WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING. NO ONE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. MY NEIGHBORS IN NAC DO THEIR BEST TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEM, BUT WE CANNOT KEEP UP WHAT I AM ASKING FOR. I AM ASKING FOR SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL. WE NEED DEDICATED FUNDS TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING. WE NEED YOU TO END THE HIRING FREEZE AND INVESTING WORKERS TO FINISH THE JOB. I HAVE SEEN GOOD WORK YOU HAVE DONE ON HOMEWOOD AND WOODLAND TO LET THE WATER FLOW EASILY, BUT WE NEED YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SAY YES TO VOTE. VOTE YES FOR AMENDMENT 4 0 1 AND 4 0 2. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. ANITA. THANK YOU MS. ANITA. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND, UM, SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY, MS. ANITA. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY. SO WHAT I NEED FOR YOU TO DO, IF YOU SEE SOME ILLEGAL DUMPING OVER IN YOUR AREA, CAN YOU CONTACT 3 1 1 PLEASE AND THEN CONTACT OUR OFFICE. YOU CAN EVEN TEXT US AND LET US KNOW. WE HAVE A HOT TEAM THAT'S RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT FIVE DAYS OUTTA THE WEEK, PICKING UP TIRES, PICKING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING. THEY HELPING SENIORS CUT THEIR GRASS. THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN THE DISTRICT. AND SO I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. UM, AND JUST KNOW THAT THE FLOODING WE, I KNOW LAKEWOOD HAS SOME SERIOUS DRAINAGE ISSUES. UM, AND SO I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA AND WHEN THEY'RE GONNA HAPPEN. SO JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON IT. IT DIDN'T GET THAT WAY OVERNIGHT, BUT WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF AND, AND THE, THE, THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ISSUES. OKAY? BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING IN. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY. OKAY, THANK YOU. BYE. DOMINIQUE. CHUCK HOME, ELIZABETH LUMIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE VALDEZ. HELLO, EVERYONE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR. MY NAME IS BETH LUMIA. I'M [01:25:01] THE CO-DIRECTOR OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AT WEST STREET RECOVERY, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. AND I'M A RESIDENT DISTRICT C AND A COUNCIL MEMBER OF HANZA. REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU. UM, CONGRATULATIONS. UM, I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE WORKING CLASS HOUSTONIANS CANNOT AFFORD A NEW $5 MONTHLY TRASH FEE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROMISE THAT THE FEE WILL ONLY INCREASE. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED, I DUNNO IF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN LISTENING. LIFE IS NOT EASY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOUSTON. SNAP BENEFITS HAVE BEEN SLASHED AND OR ELIMINATED ENTIRELY. UM, WHILE THE COST OF GAS, GROCERIES AND HOUSING CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET, WE'RE STILL THINKING ABOUT ADDING ON A $5 MONTHLY TRASH FEE. YOU CANNOT ASK HOUSTON FAMILIES TO PAY A BUDGET GAP. THEY DID NOT CREATE BEFORE MOVING TO HOUSTON. I LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE AS A NEW YORKER. SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE. JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE NYPD ANNOUNCED RECORD LOWS IN MAJOR CRIME, TRANSIT, CRIME, HOUSING AUTHORITY CRIMES, AMONG OTHER THINGS AS WELL, FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY INCREASED AN ALREADY INFLATED POLICE BUDGET OR BECAUSE THEY PUT THOUSANDS MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS. THAT HAPPENED BY FUNDING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS. WHEN YOU FUND PARKS, WHEN YOU FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHEN YOU FUND THE RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO THRIVE, THEY DO. OKAY, WELL ENOUGH ABOUT NEW YORK. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ASKING EACH OF YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE FOLLOWING THREE EVENT, FOLLOWING THREE AMENDMENTS, AMENDMENT 4.01 TO ALLOCATE 3 MILLION TO TACKLE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS ALL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS AMENDMENT 4.02 TO INVEST 500,000, UM, TO HIRING PUBLIC WORK, PROJECT MANAGERS AND INSPECTORS SO WE CAN FINALLY FIX THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM PROBLEMS THAT ARE TEARING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND LASTLY, AMENDMENT 1.5 TO IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR THE 93 MILLION, THE $93 MILLION IN THIS CITY'S BUDGET THAT IS SPENT ON CORPORATE TAX ABATEMENTS INSTEAD OF SOCIAL SERVICES. FINALLY, I URGE YOU ALL, ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON THE BUDGET. WE MUST OPPOSE THIS INEQUITABLE TRASH FEE, STOP THE DEPLETION OF OUR, OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS AND STOP CONTINUED OVERINVESTMENT IN POLICING. THIS CURRENT BUDGET WILL MAKE LIFE HARDER FOR EVERYDAY HOUSTONIANS BY PASSING OUR REGRESSIVE FEE AND DRAINING MONEY FROM THE VERY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KEEPS HOUSTON HEALTHY AND SAFE. THANK YOU. NEXT, STEPHANIE VALDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC GONZALEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. MY NAME'S STEPHANIE VALEZ AND I LEAD THE WATER JUSTICE PROGRAM WITH THE COALITION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT'S EQUITY AND RESILIENCE. AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. FOR YEARS, HOUSTONIANS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DIFFICULT DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, THAT THERE'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND THE SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED. YET SOMEHOW, YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE CONTINUE TO FIND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR POLICING. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING OUR CITY FUNCTIONING ARE ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS. FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT THE LIBRARY. THIS BUDGET CONTINUES THAT PATTERN. IT IS A BUDGET THAT'S BALANCED ON THE BACKS OF WORKING PEOPLE. IT ASKS RESIDENTS TO PAY MORE WHILE RECEIVING LESS. IT SHIFTS, COSTS, DELAYS, INVESTMENTS, AND RELIES ON ACCOUNTING MANEUVERS. INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE ROOT OF CAUSES OF HOUSTON'S FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING EXAMPLES IS THE DIVERSION OF WATER UTILITY FUNDS TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF A NEW TRASH FEE. WATER UTILITY DOLLARS SHOULD NOT, SHOULD BE USED FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ONLY. HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE A SURPLUS WATER SYSTEM. HOUSTON HAS A WATER CRISIS. OUR CITY IS DEALING WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER MAIN BREAKS, SEWAGE OVERFLOWS, FLOODING, AND DECADES OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. RESIDENTS ACROSS HOUSTON HAVE REPEATEDLY RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT WATER QUALITY, RELIABILITY, AND AFFORDABILITY. HISD SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH LEAD CONTAMINATION CONCERNS AND FAMILIES DESERVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE WATER COMING OUT OF THEIR TABS IS SAFE. AT A TIME WHERE WE SHOULD BE MAKING HISTORIC IN INVEST INVESTMENTS IN OUR WATER SYSTEM. THIS BUDGET MOVES US IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HOUSTON CONTINUES TO FLOOD. EVERY MAJOR STORM EXPOSES THE VULNERABILITIES IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE FLOODED MULTIPLE TIMES, ARE STILL WAITING FOR SOLUTIONS. YOU ALL HAVE HEARD THEIR STORIES. THEY'RE HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK, TAKING TIME OFF WORK, AND THEY'RE ALL URGING YOU TO LISTEN TO OUR NEEDS. YET PUBLIC WORK REMAINS UNDERSTAFFED, UNDER RESOURCED, AND NO NOT PRIORITIZED. THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING OUR ROADS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, WATER LINES, WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WITH FEWER RESOURCES. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DEMAND FIRST CLASS [01:30:01] SERVICES FROM DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE OPERATING WITH A STAFF SHORTAGE. THE REALITY IS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT POLITICS. WATER LINES WILL BREAK WHETHER WE FUND THEM OR NOT. DRAINAGE SYSTEMS WILL FILL WHETHER WE INVEST THEM IN OR NOT. FLOOD WATERS WILL CONTINUE TO RISE WHETHER WE PREPARE FOR THEM OR NOT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN'T SHOOT A FLOOD. AT THE SAME TIME, LARGE CORPORATIONS CONTINUE RECEIVING TAX ABATEMENTS AND INCENTIVES WHILE RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS ARE TOLD TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS. THIS IS NOT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OR A BALANCED BUDGET. THIS IS NOT PUTTING HOUSTONIANS FIRST. THE TRUTH IS THAT EVERY BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. IT REFLECTS OUR VALUES. IT TELLS US WHO MATTERS AND WHAT MATTERS. AND THIS BUDGET TELLS US THAT WE CONTINUE FINDING MONEY FOR POLICING WHILE UNDER INVESTING IN WATER, DRAINAGE, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES THAT IMPORT, THAT IMPROVE PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE. MAYOR WHITMEYER, THIS WILL BECOME A PART OF YOUR LEGACY. FOR THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE NEARING THE END OF YOUR TERM, THIS BUDGET WILL ALSO BECOME A PART OF YOUR LEGACY. AND FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WILL BE HERE LONG AFTER THIS VOTE, YOU WILL BE LEFT TO MANAGE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE DECISIONS. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND HOUSTON DESERVES BETTER. NEXT, ERIC GONZALEZ. TRACY HAMLIN. SIRI VIC TO BE FOLLOWED BY LARISSA JACOBS. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. I'M SIRI VIC. I'M RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C AND I'M HERE AS ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOUSTON PEOPLE'S BUDGET. I'M A PROFESSIONAL URBAN PLANNER AND I HAVE A DEGREE IN URBAN STUDIES AND URBAN PLANNING. AS AN URBAN PLANNER, I'M DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH HOW DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPLICATED IN THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS US ALL, WHETHER THROUGH THE DIRTY WATER THAT COMES THROUGH MY TAP, OR EVEN MORE DANGEROUSLY, THE OVERFLOWING DITCHES THAT ENTER YARDS AND HOMES IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. FOR YEARS, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE TRYING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR CHILDREN FROM TOXIC WATER DUE TO DRAINAGE ISSUES, UH, IN HOUSTON. AND AS YOU KNOW, FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE IS A KEY WAY TO ENSURE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IN TURN SUPPORTS A SAFE AND CONNECTED CITY. IT IS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE INSTEAD OF REACTIONARY. AND EVERYONE DESERVES A BASELINE OF A SAFE, FUNCTIONING AND CLEAN CITY. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE YES ON AMENDMENTS 1.05, 4.01 AND 4.02. FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ AND SALINAS. THE MAYOR IS URGING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REMOVE THESE AMENDMENTS AND IMPEDE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, WE URGE YOU TO STAND STRONG ON OUR BEHALF AND NOT WITHDRAW THESE AMENDMENTS. FIRST, WE NEED TO REINVEST IN HIRING IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND KEEP THAT DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS PROMISES THROUGH THESE MEASURES. SECOND, IT IS PARAMOUNT. WE IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR THE $93 MILLION SPENT ON CORPORATE INTERESTS INSTEAD OF SOCIAL SERVICES. YET ALL OF THIS COMES AT THE COST OF A BUDGET THAT TURNS US BACK ON ITS CITIZENS. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE NOW ON THIS BUDGET. OPPOSE THE INEQUITABLE AND BURDENING TRASH FEE, THE DEPLETION OF INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS AND THE CONTINUED OVERINVESTMENT IN POLICING. A CITY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITS PEOPLE FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND A CITY'S BUDGET IS A REFLECTION OF ITS COMMITMENT TO DOING SO. I'VE HEARD THAT THIS CITY PRIDES ITSELF ON AFFORDABILITY. AND YES, THAT IS, UH, PART OF THE REASON WHY I MOVED HERE. YET THE APPROVALS OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SHOWS THAT AFFORDABILITY IS NO LONGER A PRIORITY, WHICH MANY IN THIS COUNCIL RAN THEIR CAMPAIGNS ON. AND THIS IS A CHANGE DEMONSTRATED IN MY OWN LIVED EXPERIENCE. THIS BUDGET PORTRAYS YOUR PRIORITIES AND THE MOST VULNERABLE POP POPULATIONS YOU REPRESENT. AND THE PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS BUDGET STANDS FOR THEM. SO YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE READY TO TAKE A STAND TO DO SO. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MA'AM. JUST A SECOND. COUNCILOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING. YOU SAID THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT OPPOSED TO MY AMENDMENTS AND HAS ACTUALLY BEEN QUITE SUPPORTIVE OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TOWARDS ILLEGAL DUMPING, UM, AND COMBATING IT. SO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT PUSHING FORWARD ON THAT AMENDMENT. OKAY, THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, LARISSA JACOBS TO BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY SMITH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. [01:35:01] UM, I'M LARISSA JACOBS. MY NICKNAME IS LJ. UM, I'M WITH FIT HOUSTON. WE'RE A NONPROFIT SERVING THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES. WE NOW HAVE ABOUT 20 WALKING GROUPS, ACTUALLY A FEW MORE. UM, OUR GROUPS, UH, COMBAT CHRONIC DISEASES AND LONELINESS, SOCIAL ISOLATION BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WALK AND ACTIVATE PUBLIC SPACES, COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY OF YOU HAVE WALKED WITH US AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. UM, WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS THAT WALKING IS THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF CHOICE TO REDUCE OR PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE. UM, IT'S ALSO A WAY TO, UH, BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. MANY TIMES, UM, THE DOCTORS ARE SENDING PEOPLE TO WALK WITH US. WE EVEN TAKE REFERRALS FROM MEMORIAL HERMANN THROUGH WALK PRESCRIPTION. NOW, UM, MANY OF OUR WALKERS ARE SENIORS. THEY NEED TO GET OUTSIDE AND INCREASE THEIR VITAMIN D, WHICH IS AN EPIDEMIC AMONG THAT POPULATION. AND MANY OF US ACTUALLY, UM, WE ALL NEED TO GET OUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY HARD WITH THE STRAY DOGS AND THE LOOSE DOGS THAT I SEE EVERY TIME I VISIT ONE OF OUR WALKING GROUPS. IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY TERRIFYING. UM, I HAVE HAD TO TURN AROUND. WE HAVE ABOUT 92, UH, REGISTERED WALKERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT DENVER HARBOR. UM, THEY LOVE OUR GROUPS. YOU HAVE BRAND NEW SIDEWALKS THERE WHERE WE WALK. BUT, UM, THEY'VE BEEN TELLING ME THEY DON'T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE OFTEN BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS, BUT THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY'VE BEEN BITTEN. UM, WHICH THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D, I'D HEARD THAT THEY'D ACTUALLY BEEN BITTEN BY BY LOOSE DOGS. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THIS IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT JUST IN THE EAST PART OF HOUSTON. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. WE'RE SEEING IT ALL OVER. SO WE REALLY SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT IN BARK. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME KIND OF SOLUTION, UM, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE IN, I CALL IT CROUCHING DEFENSIVE POSE WHEN YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET HEALTHY. SO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INVESTMENT HAPPENS, UM, WE WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF IT. WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND BE HEALTHY. WALKING IS FREE AND IT'S A LOT CHEAPER THAN INSULIN, UM, OR OTHER TREATMENT FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND, UH, METABOLIC SYNDROME. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, RAMIREZ. YEAH, THANK YOU, UH, LARISSA, ALWAYS GOOD, GOOD TO SEE YOU DOWN HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AT FIT HOUSTON. AS YOU MAY KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAS OFFERED A, A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ADD SOME FUNDING TO BARK. AND, AND, UH, I'M GRATEFUL THAT HE'S DONE THAT AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT BECAUSE THE ISSUE YOU BRING UP IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY ABOUT, UH, DANGEROUS AND SCARY ENCOUNTERS WITH DOGS. AND, UM, YOUR WALKERS DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO, TO ENJOY THAT, UH, FREE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE FEAR OF BEING BITTEN BY BY A DOG. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, AND NOT TO DETRACT FROM YOUR MESSAGE WAS, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. I DO WANNA NOTE THAT YOU ARE ALSO HERE AS A PROUD MOM. , YOUR DAUGHTER TRUDY, WHO'S IN THE BACK THERE. TRUDY, WOULD YOU STAND UP? , THANK YOU. YES, IS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF MY STAFF. SO PROUD TO HAVE HER ON STAFF. SHE WAS AN INTERN LAST SUMMER, DID A GREAT JOB AND RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. HOOK 'EM HORNS, AND WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER. THANK YOU. SHE LOVES WORKING HERE AND SHE BELIEVES IN THE CITY AND I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR HER, BUT WE BOTH DO. WE LOVE OUR CITY. UM, I SHOULD ALSO SAY WE HAVE DONE YOGA OUTSIDE AND HAVE PIT BULLS WEAVING THROUGH OUR YOGA MATS. VERY TERRIFYING. UH, SO WE'RE JUST FORTUNATE NOTHING'S HAPPENED YET, BUT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT. ALRIGHT. TERRY SMITH, KENDRA LONDON TO BE FOLLOWED BY E SOSA, SIR. IDO SAMON. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AS WELL AS YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, MS. MARY MORENO, FOR YOUR SWIFT AND YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE AND PROFESSIONALISM TO THE RESIDENTS OF CLEMENTA. BUT I WANTED TO KNOW, DID YOU ALL KNOW I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESIDENTS. THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE SPEAKING MINUTES FOR TODAY. WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT? YEAH, SHE'S, THEY'RE, SHE'S HERE, BUT HER NAME WAS REMOVED WHEN I VISITED HER APARTMENT YESTERDAY. SHE SIGNED UP ON MY PHONE TO SPEAK AND HER NAME IS NOT ON HERE, SO I SHOULDN'T BE SPEAKING FOR HER. SHE SHOULD HAVE TIME TO SPEAK FOR HERSELF. BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ IS WHO I WAS COMING TO SPEAK TO THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. HE ASKED ME ABOUT CLEM MANOR RESIDENCE. I SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT [01:40:01] THE HARSH CONDITIONS THAT NHPF, UM, NHP FOUNDATION HAS THE RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE RESIDENT NHPL FOUNDATION HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE SINCE 2020 FOR SEWER DAMAGE. THE SAME CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER SIX CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOR THE SAME BUILDING. NOT DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, THE SAME EXACT BUILDING. THE YOUNG LADY WHO IS HERE TO SPEAK FOR HERSELF HAS, UM, BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS SINCE 2019. SHE'S NAVIGATED THROUGH THE HARDSHIPS. SHE'S BEEN INSULT. I SAY SHE'S BEEN INSULTED BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED TO HER. I USED TO HAVE MY NONPROFIT INSIDE OF CLEMEN MANOR APARTMENT COMPLEX, SO I UNDERSTAND THE INSIDE OF THE OFFICE. I USED TO BE ON HOUSING MYSELF. I USED TO BE ON SECTION EIGHT. AND THEN I, I, UM, GAINED STABILITY TO GET OFF. SO NOW I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES. THE NHPF GAVE ME $300 AND TWO $50 GIFT CARDS TO ISSUE TO FOUR DIFFERENT UNITS AS A, AS A, UM, A FIX. SINCE THIS YOUNG LADY HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS, NOT ONE THING HAS BEEN RESOLVED. SHE'S BOUGHT HER OWN EQUIPMENT TO FIX THE SEWER DAMAGE. NO ONE WOULD WOULD WANT TO LIVE TWO HOURS IN WHAT SHE'S NAVIGATING THROUGH WITH DISABLED CHILDREN. THERE WAS FECES COMING UP THROUGH HER BATHROOM SINK ON YESTERDAY. I HAVE IT IN MY PHONE. I VIDEOED IT. THERE WAS WATER COMING FROM THE WALL GOING THROUGH THE HALLWAY. EVER SINCE SHE PUT THAT CONCERN IN, NOT ONE MAINTENANCE ORDER HAS BEEN DONE. I WANT TO KNOW THIS NEW PROGRAM THAT THE CITY CREATED THAT IS GOING FOR THE SLUMLORDS. WHY ARE WE STILL ALLOWING PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO COME IN WITH THEIR OWN NONPROFIT? THAT NONPROFIT DOES NOT DO A QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR THE RESIDENT. IT ONLY COMES, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED OF THE DEVELOPER, AND NOBODY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL OF THE HARSH FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. SHE CAN'T EVEN TURN HER LIGHTS OFF HER, HER AIR OFF BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF MOLD THAT WILL, THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH FOR HER CHILDREN. THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONSUME THIS. AND NOBODY'S PUTTING THERE, PUTTING ANY PRESSURE ON NHP. AND IT'S NOT LIKE I'M AGAINST DEVELOPERS. I'M AGAINST THE INJUSTICE THAT GOES ON FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO TAKES UP FOR THE PEOPLE. MM-HMM . NOBODY MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU KENDRA, FOR JUST YOUR ADVOCACY. YOU ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR THE FOLKS IN DISTRICT B, UM, IN, IN PARTICULARLY CLEMEN MANOR APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN THEIR AREA. UM, I WAS UNDER THIS IMPRESSION THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, HAD WENT OUT FROM THE PREVIOUS REQUEST. I KNOW IT WAS A REQUEST TWO WEEKS AGO. YES. UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY WENT OUT. BUT I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION, UM, OF, YOU KNOW, THE AREA. OKAY. THE, THE, I GUESS IT'S THE BUILDING THAT SHE LIVES IN. YES. UM, BUT OF THE OTHER, AND IT'S NOT JUST HER, IT'S ALL FOUR UNITS, RIGHT? MM-HMM . MM-HMM . SO ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THE RESIDENTS WILL COME TO ME AND TELL ME THE HARASSMENT THAT THEY EXPERIENCED AFTER THEY SAY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR APARTMENT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE LETTERS OF BACK PAY THAT THEY OWE COME UP. ALL OF THESE LETTERS OF 24 HOUR INSPECTION IS, IS NOW DUE. THIS IS HARASSMENT. AFTER THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY SIMPLY WANT STANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS, WHO IS GOING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? AND THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING MR. MAR, UH, RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, HE ASKED ME EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON WITH NHPF. THEY HAD PEOPLE COMING IN THERE AND I ASKED THEM NOT TO COME IN THERE WITH CITY OF HOUSTON CHURCH ON SO THEY COULD BUILD TRUE RAPPORT WITH THE RESIDENTS. AND I SAT THERE FOR FREE AND CONSULTANT. AND THEN IT'S STILL THE SAME THING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE. AND I WATCHED THE FRONT OFFICE, WHO IS OWNED BY THE DEVELOPERS. THAT COMPANY IS HIRED BY THE DEVELOPERS ALSO TO SAY, ALWAYS INCOME TEXTILE. WATCH 'EM BY ALL THIS NEW FURNITURE. THEY'RE NOT BUYING NEW FURNITURE 'CAUSE THEY WANT TO, THEY'RE BUYING NEW FURNITURE BECAUSE IT'S BED, IT'S, UM, BED BUGS. IT'S IN IT'S INFESTED WITH BED BUGS AND ROACHES, MA'AM. SO THEY DON'T WANNA SPEND THEIR MONEY LIKE THAT. MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WILL YOU TALK TO REBECCA WILLIAMS AND LET HER, OKAY. THANK YOU. WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU, REBECCA. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. OSA IAM [01:45:02] TO BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY BLANTON OF MISSOURI CITY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMORE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. ONE IN 10 WOMEN HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS. ONE IN 10 HAVE PCOS AND EIGHT OUTTA 10 BLACK WOMEN WILL HAVE FIBROIDS BY THE AGE OF 50. AND WHEN WOMEN ARE DEALING WITH THESE DEBILITATED, HORMONAL AND HORRIBLE PERIOD PROBLEMS, THEY GO TO THEIR MEDICAL DOCTORS AND THEY'RE OFTEN OFFERED BIRTH CONTROL OR SURGERY, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE AND OFTEN LEADS TO REPEAT PROCEDURES AND IN SOME CASES, DELAYED FERTILITY. MY NAME IS ASOA, A DOSO ONE. I'M A CERTIFIED NUTRITION SPECIALIST, BOARD CERTIFIED COACH, AND THE FOUNDER OF STAYING AGELESS COACHING. AND FOR THE PAST SIX, GOING ON SEVEN YEARS, I'VE BEEN HELPING WOMEN REVERSE SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE, NATURALLY USING SIMPLE DIET SUPPLEMENTS AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE VIRTUAL, WE SERVICE WOMEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE HAVE AN 83% SUCCESS RATE. SOME EXAMPLES, MY CLIENT CHANEL, WHO WAS BLEEDING FOR OVER A YEAR STRAIGHT, SHE WENT TO MULTIPLE OBGYNS, COULD NOT FIND RELIEF. SHE JOINED OUR PROGRAM AND HER PERIOD NORMALIZED IN THREE WEEKS. OR MY CLIENT, CHEATY, WHO WAS SENT BY HER OB, GYN, SHE HAD A OVARIAN CYST, FIBROIDS, 40 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT. UM, SHE HAD HORRIBLE ACNE AND SHE WAS ON 15 MEDICATIONS AT THE END OF OUR PROGRAM. SHE HAD GONE DOWN TO ONE MEDICATION, HER SKIN HAD CLEARED, AND HER FINAL ULTRASOUND SHOWED THAT SHE HAD NO, UM, CYSTS ON HER OVARIES, ONE REMAINING FIBROID. AND SHE ALSO LOST 40 POUNDS, UM, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. UH, WE'RE HOSTING OUR WOMB WELLNESS WORKSHOP AT THE SAID INSTITUTE IN HOUSTON. AND, UM, I'M DOING THIS IN TANDEM WITH TWO OTHER WOMEN LED BUSINESSES. UH, UM, SAGE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WHICH IS LED BY A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, FULL CIRCLE FAMILY SERVICES, WHICH IS A MIDWIFERY PRACTICE. AND WE'RE BASICALLY GOING TO BE TEACHING WOMEN THE HISTORY BEHIND HORMONAL HEALTHCARE, UM, THINGS ABOUT THEIR HORMONES, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND HOW TO DEAL WITH THINGS HOLISTICALLY, AND OFFERING A Q AND A FOR THEM TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. UH, SO WE WOULD LOVE AND WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOU ALL THERE. UM, WHETHER YOU CAN JOIN OR SEND A REPRESENTATIVE OR JUST GET THE WORD OUT TO YOUR DISTRICTS WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATIVE, UM, BECAUSE YOUR PRESENCE WOULD REALLY TELL US THAT WOMEN'S HEALTH REALLY DOES MATTER. AND I'M ALSO CURRENTLY BUILDING THE TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD, TO BRING THIS KIND OF HORMONAL HEALTHCARE TO WOMEN AT SCALE, ESPECIALLY HOLISTIC. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY INITIATIVES IN THE CITY THAT CONNECTS TO WORK HAPPENING, I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. JUST A SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KASICK STADIUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UM, WHAT YOU SAID DEFINITELY RESONATES WITH ME. UM, I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, UM, SO MANY WOMEN SUFFER THROUGH THEIR HORMONAL CHALLENGES IN SILENCE, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY AMPLIFY THAT MESSAGE. UM, YOU BEING HERE DOES THAT. UH, IF YOU COULD, UH, SHARE THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, IN HOPES THAT WE CAN REACH, UH, ANY OTHER WOMEN THAT MAY BE SUFFERING AND, AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP, UM, TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THESE CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. EMAIL. ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU CAN EMAIL OUR OFFICES, THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. OKAY. IF YOU SEND IT TO ME, I'LL SEND IT OUT TO THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR EMAILS, BUT IT, IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S, IF IT'S EASIER THAT WAY, I HAVE, I HAVE A CARD COPY OF A FLYER SO I CAN OKAY. YOU CAN GIVE IT TO RENEE. HE, HE CAN GIVE IT TO US, BUT, AND I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL AS WELL TOO. PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, TERRY BLANTON, A MISSOURI CITY TO BE FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL PATIN. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR BEING HERE. LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, I WAS IN ICU, I HAD A HEART ATTACK. MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT OVER 240. BUT I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M HERE FOR A CAUSE. I AM THE CEO, I HAVE A PRODUCTION COMPANY. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEAM SCENE. AS YOU CAN SEE OUR T-SHIRTS, THESE ARE NOT JUST T-SHIRTS, GUYS, I HAD ALL OF THIS MEMORIZED, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL OF THIS. SO I'M GONNA JUST GO, WHAT I KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AROUND AND I SEE THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY, I THINK ABOUT OUR KIDS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT OUR TEENAGERS ARE OUR FUTURE. RIGHT NOW, THE TEENAGERS ARE GETTING A BAD RAP IN THE MEDIA. BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW YOU THAT THERE ARE GREAT KIDS OUT HERE. I BROUGHT HER HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU ALL THIS WHILE [01:50:01] WE WERE SITTING HERE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY, THIS IS WHAT SHE DID. BUT SHE ALSO DID THIS. NOT RIGHT NOW, YOU GUYS, YOU DIDN'T DO THIS RIGHT NOW, , BUT SHE ALSO DID THIS. SO WHAT I'M TRYING, WHAT WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH TEAM SCENE, WHAT I AM ASKING THE CITY TO DO IS TO INVEST IN OUR TEAMS. THERE ARE POSITIVE TEAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. I STEPPED UP TO THE, UH, TO THE PLATE TO SAY THAT I AM WILLING TO MENTOR. I HAVE TEACHERS OUT HERE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY WENT TO PUT MONEY IN THE METER. I THINK THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD TO PUT MONEY IN THE METER. SO SOME OF THEM ARE GONE. BUT WE HAVE MENTORS OUT THERE, BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE STEPPED UP. WE NEED TO COME BACK AND INVEST IN OUR, IN OUR KIDS. NOT ALL OF OUR TEENAGERS ARE NEGATIVE. THERE ARE POSITIVE TEENAGERS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT'S DOING POSITIVE THINGS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN. WHAT WE PLAN TO DO IS TO, UH, SHOW THEM JUST LIKE HER ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AND, AND AS TEENAGERS, IT'S SUMMERTIME. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO GET INTO. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAMS ARE GETTING INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE. BACK IN THE DAY, I WENT TO BOROUGH AND WATER WORLD. THEY DON'T HAVE BOROUGH AND WATER WORLD ANYMORE. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE OUT HERE THAT ARE JUST SITTING IDLE. WHAT I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY TO ASK YOU IS THAT IF YOU GIVE ME THE CHANCE AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WILL FILL THOSE BUILDINGS WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE, I WILL FIELD IT WITH KIDS. AND I'M SORRY YOU GUYS, I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL. I WILL FILL IT WITH KIDS AND TEENAGERS THAT ARE DOING SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIVES. I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND I ALSO WORK AT THE AIRPORT. UM, I ALSO DID A, UM, ME AND SYLVESTER TURNER WAS FRIENDS AS WELL. I DID A, A COMMERCIAL WITH HIM. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WITH HIM, WITH HIM, WITH HIM AS WITH HIM AS WELL. UM, SO WHERE I WAS AT WORK ONE DAY, I ASKED ONE OF THE KIDS THAT WAS FLYING OUT TO PUERTO RICO, I ASKED HIM, I SAID, WHY ARE THESE KIDS DOING THIS, THIS TAKEOVER THING? WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? HE SAID, MS. TERRY, THIS JUST LIKE THE ADULTS ARE LISTENING WITH NO EARS. AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT UNTIL I WALKED AWAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UM, WE ARE LISTENING. UM, AND I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW, UM, MANY OF OUR OFFICES SUPPORT THE CASE FOR KIDS PROGRAM THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. UM, THOSE ARE GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT. UM, I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST MAYBE THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR OUR TEENS. AND YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE. THEY DO A COUPLE OF CYCLES OF GRANT FUNDING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER FUNDING. SO, UM, PLEASE, UH, LOOK AT THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING, UM, HER, HER CRAFT WITH US. UM, I TOO WENT TO ASTROWORLD AND WATER WORLD . UM, MY FIRST JOB WAS AT ASTROWORLD. SO I, THE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ARE DEFINITELY MISSING OUT ON THE FUN THAT WE DID HAVE GROWING UP. SO THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT OUR YOUTH AND OUR TEENS AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME. GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE. AND WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RAISING, UM, GREAT, GREAT, UM, BOYS AND GIRLS TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN OUR GREAT CITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. GOD BLESS YOU. NEXT, GABRIEL PATIN. DORIS ELLIS ROBINSON. OKAY. TO BE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW RANKIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND ALL THE GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. UM, I STAND HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM A PROUD HOUSTONIAN AND I'M ALWAYS COMING UP WITH THINGS THAT I THINK [01:55:01] CAN MAKE HOUSTON A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND TO APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR SERVICE. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHI MEYER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, DISTINGUISHED GUEST AND FELLOW CITIZENS. I AM DORIS ELLIS ROBINSON. I'M PUBLISHER OF THE HOUSTON SUN NEWSPAPER AND PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON SUN FOUNDATION. WE ARE A NEWSPAPER WHO HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1983 AND WE ARE STILL HERE AND EXCITED ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THAT FIRST AMENDMENT THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN THIS SETTING TODAY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER 161 YEARS AFTER FREEDOM FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MOMENTS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT 2026 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AND ASKING YOU TO HELP AMPLIFY WHAT FREEDOM MEANS BECAUSE OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT SAYS THAT WE DON'T NEED JUNETEENTH. AND SO WE NEED AMPLIFICATION FROM THOSE WHO ARE ELECTED. PLEASE, PLEASE AMPLIFY IT. AMPLIFY IT. AND WE NEED TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF FREEDOM, UNITY, AND PROGRESS. JUNETEENTH MARKS TODAY WHEN ENSLAVED AFRICANS IN TEXAS FINALLY LEARNED OF THEIR FREEDOM. IT IS A CELEBRATION OF LIBERATION, RESILIENCE, AND HOPE. AND A REMINDER THAT FREEDOM MUST BE PROTECTED BY ALL OF US AND PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE HOUSTON SUN FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN ITS JUNETEENTH ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE CROWNED OUR MISS JUNETEENTH QUEENS AND WE HOPE TO BRING THEM HERE NEXT WEEK. WE HAVE AWARDED OUR ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS WHO TALKED ABOUT IS JUNETEENTH REALLY NECESSARY. AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE VITAL IN AND VIVID IN THEIR DISCUSSION. AND WE SUCCESSFULLY HOSTED THE LIONEL X ROBINSON TALENT SHOW. WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER, MR. MR. RASHAD WILLIAMS, WHO WILL REFLECT WHAT HE SAID DURING THE TIME. HELLO EVERYBODY. UM, HELLO. GO AHEAD. HELLO EVERYBODY. HELLO PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. MY NAME IS RASHAD WILLIAMS AND TODAY I'LL BE RECITING FOR YOU A POEM BY I'LL BE RECITING FOR YOU, THE BLACK FAMILY PLEDGE BY MAYA ANGEL. BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR ANCESTORS, OUR CHILDREN WILL NO LONGER GIVE US HONOR BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST THE PATH OUR ANCESTORS CLEARED, KNEELING AND PERES UNDERGROWTH. OUR CHILDREN CANNOT FIND THEIR WAY BECAUSE WE HAVE BANISHED THE GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS. OUR CHILDREN CANNOT PRAY BECAUSE THE OLD WHALES OF OUR ANCESTORS HAVE FADED BEYOND OUR HEARING. OUR CHILDREN CANNOT KIRA'S CRYING BECAUSE WE HAVE ABANDONED OUR WISDOM OF MOTHERING AND FATHERING OUR BE OUR BE CHILDREN. GIVE BIRTH TO CHILDREN THEY NEITHER WANT NOR UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO LOVE THE ADV. THE ADVERSARY IS WITHIN OUR GATES AND HOLDS US UP IN THE MIRROR OF THE WORLD SHOUTING REGARD THE LOVELESS. THEREFORE, WE PLEDGE TO BIND OURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER, TO EMBRACE OUR LOWIES, TO KEEP COMPANY TO OUR LOWIES, TO EDUCATE OUR ILLITERATE TO TO CLOTHE OUR RAGE, TO FEED OUR STARVING, KNOWING THAT WE ARE MORE THAN JUST BROTHERS AND SISTERS. WE ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO TOILED AND IMPLORED GOD WITH THEIR GOLDEN TONGUES AND GRATITUDE OF THE SAME GOD WHO BROUGHT US OUT OF HOPELESSNESS AND DESOLATION. WE MAKE THIS PLEDGE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU RASHAD. THE BEFORE BEING SPOKE ABOUT YOUTH THAT WE START OUR JUNETEENTH WITH YOUTH PROGRAMS. AND WE WANT THE YOUTH OF THIS CITY TO BE READY TO TAKE YOUR SEATS AND OTHER SEATS IN THIS NATION. SO THANK YOU. WE HAVE THINGS GOING ON PARADE. JOIN THE PARADE ON SATURDAY, IT'S FREE. VERY GOOD. OKAY, COME. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU MAYOR. MS. ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND AMPLIFYING, UH, JUNETEENTH. AND, UM, DO WANT TO SAY, UM, WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS YOUNG MAN, UM, TO READ HIS POEM. UH, AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS [02:00:01] IN THE EFFORTS OF AMPLIFYING THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH AND, AND SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR TALENTS WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE. WE HAVE A SCHEDULE. GET ON IT. MAY I PASS OUT THIS CAN TAKE? SURE. GIVE THAT GENTLEMEN COUNCILOR EVAN SHAVA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MR. WILLIAMS, YOU DID THAT. I'M SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. YOU'RE STANDING THERE WITH A LEGEND RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE NEXT TO YOU. AND SO CERTAINLY I WILL, UH, BE HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE AND CERTAINLY TO, UH, SPONSOR THE, THE, UH, ENTOURAGE OF ROYALTY THAT WILL BLESS US ON NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. UH, PEOPLE SPEAK OF YOU SO FONDLY AND I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE POURED INTO ME AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MS. ROBINSON. I JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP. NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT IN ALL YEARS. UH, THE INFORMATION AND THE NEWS THAT YOU PUT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES IS VITAL. UH, THE FRIENDSHIP YOU HAD WITH MY MOTHER, UM, ALL OF IT IS VERY MEANINGFUL. ALL OF IT IS VERY NECESSARY. AND SO FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP OF THE YOUTH AND YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO AMPLIFY OUR COMMUNITY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. THANK YOU. I'LL BE OUTTA TOWN THIS WEEKEND, BUT UH, I'LL BE THERE IN SPIRIT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, WE LIVE ON THE SIGN. IT SAYS THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY AND I'M JUST ONE OF THE PEOPLE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. YOU OKAY, NEXT ONE. NEXT. MATTHEW RANKIN OF CORP CORPUS CHRISTI TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROCKY JACKSON. HEY, MATTHEW RANKIN, BLATANTLY ARMED MEDIA. AND TODAY, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I'M THE FIRST CITIZEN TO OPEN CARRY TO A COUNCIL MEETING HERE, UH, UNTIL HALF AN HOUR AGO. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HAPPENED. UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A NEW LAW. NORMALLY OPEN MEETINGS ARE A PROHIBITED PLACE, BUT THEY ADDED, ADDED AN EXCEPTION. ANYBODY WITH A CARRY LICENSE CAN CARRY THEIR HANDGUN INTO THE MEETINGS. THAT APPLIES STATEWIDE TO EVERY MEETING HELD UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. UM, YOU GUYS HAVE COMPLIED. IT'S A LITTLE FOUR YEARS LATE, BUT A COUPLE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THE SAME THING FOUR YEARS LATE. SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE AN OKAY COMPANY NOW AND IT DIDN'T TAKE GIVING YOU AN AG LETTER TO GET IT DONE. UH, WHAT'LL BE HANDED OUT TO YOU GUYS, BUT YOU DON'T NEED THAT ANYMORE 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ONE. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, WE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT TO WORK ON BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE KNIVES BANNED FOR THE BUILDING AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT. SO PENAL CODE 2 29 0.001 IS THE STATE PREEMPTION LAW. IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO MAKE ANY, UM, ORDINANCE RULE POLICY MORE STRICT THAN THE STATE LAW INVOLVING ANY KIND OF FIREARMS OR ANY KIND OF KNIVES. AND THE ONLY THING IN STATE LAW IS THAT KNIVES OVER FIVE AND A HALF INCHES ARE BANNED IN THE PORT PROHIBITED PLACES LIST. SO FOR THIS BUILDING, YOU CAN'T BIN, YOU CAN'T BAN, UH, KNIVES, CAN'T DO SWORDS, SPEARS, WHATEVER ANYBODY WANTS TO BRING IN FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING, YOU CAN STILL BAN LARGE KNIVES 'CAUSE THAT THE ONLY EXCEPTION ON THE PROHIBITED PLACE IS HANDGUNS WHEN YOU'VE GOT A CARRY LICENSE. BUT FOR EVERY OTHER CITY BUILDING, UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE CITY JAIL OR UH, A STANDALONE CITY COURTHOUSE, YOU CAN'T BAN WEAPONS OF PRETTY MUCH ANY TYPE. BUT I'LL GIVE YOU GUYS A CHANCE TO FIGURE THAT OUT, THAT ONE OUT TOO. 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AND HAD TO GET THEIR LAW, THEIR, UH, POLICIES CHANGED. YOU GUYS DID THIS IN TWO HOURS. SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT, UH, MORE GRACE FOR TAKING CARE OF POCKET KNIVES. UM, I THANKS. AND LETTING, UH, EVERYBODY KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU'VE GOTTA CARRY LICENSE, YOU CAN CARRY NOW. UM, PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN'T CARRY IN THIS ROOM NOW IS YOUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE YOU'VE PROBABLY GOT A CITY POLICY SAYING THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY ON THE JOB. UM, I GO AHEAD AND WORK ON CHANGING THAT NOW TOO. UH, I JUST THINK IT'D BE FAIR IF YOU GUYS GET TO CARRY IN HERE. THEY SHOULD GET TO CARRY IN HERE TOO, OR WHEN THEY'RE AT WORK DOWNSTAIRS. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. NICE MEET YOU NEXT. ROCKY JACKSON. JEREMY PEEL. FELIX KAPO TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ. [02:05:04] GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. UM, I'M FELIX AND I WANTED TO SAY ONE, THANK YOU FOR THE INCREASED INVESTMENT IN THE DRE ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE, UM, LDP PROGRAM. I WANTED TO COME UP TO READ A TESTIMONY OF A RESIDENT THAT LIVES ON DLE ROAD, UM, AND HOW SHE WAS A RENTER THAT WAS FLOODED OUT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN EARLIER THIS YEAR. UM, I COULD EMAIL THAT OUT TO YOUR OFFICES INSTEAD. UM, AND REALLY, I REALLY WANNA USE THIS TIME RIGHT NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS TRASH FEE IS INEQUITABLE AND THE WATER FUND THAT WE DO HAVE TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THERE'S TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS. UM, IT CREATES A LOT OF ELIGIBILITY PROBLEMS AS WELL. AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING BEFORE AUGUST WHEN THIS FEE GETS PASSED. ALSO, IT'S REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE GET RESOURCES TO PUBLIC WORKS TO FIX AND, UM, FILL IN THE 900 VACANCIES THAT THEY DO HAVE RIGHT NOW. UH, IF THAT WAS AN HPD PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A BILLION DOLLARS TO FILL THAT AWARD UP. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE RESOURCES ARE ARE PUT TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK. THANKS. NEXT. ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ, RUBEN GARZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC SANCHEZ. THANK YOU, MARION CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RUBEN GARZA WITH STRONG TOWNS HOUSTON. I FIRST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, JULIAN RAMIREZ AND ALEJANDRO SALINAS FOR PROPOSING TWO IMPORTANT, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENTS REGARDING, UH, TRANSPARENCY ON, ON TAX ABATEMENTS AND FOR COMBATING ILLEGAL DUMPING. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THE ILLEGAL DUMPING PROPOSAL AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A MOTION REGARDING, UM, THE TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE OR TAX ABATEMENT, UH, PROPOSAL. WE'LL BE HAPPILY TRACKING THAT AND, UH, THROWING OUR SUPPORT. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICTS. UH, SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE THREE IN HOUSTON, AND WITH A LOT OF THE AVAILABLE STREET PARKING IN THE CITY, WE ARE LEAVING A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO A FUND TO SUPPORT LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS. UH, AGAIN, THE THREE IN HOUSTON HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK AND IT ON FIXING OUR STREETS, INSTALLING LIGHTS AND, UH, TRIMMING TREES, PARTICULARLY THE MUSEUM DISTRICT. WE'RE LEAVING A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE IN DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN. AND EVEN IN MY GROWING AREA IN FIFTH WARD, UH, PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO SUPPORT A LOT OF LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. UH, A LITTLE TO NO COST TO THE THE CITY. HAPPY TO SPEAK MORE ON THAT IF NEEDED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, ROMERO. YES, YOU CAN, YOU CAN HAVE SOME OF MY TIME RUBEN, IF YOU NEED. OH, I MEAN, THAT WAS IT. I WAS JUST SPECIFICALLY GOING TO, WELL, IF I HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME, I WAS JUST GONNA ELABORATE MORE ON WHY WE WOULD NEED A DOWNTOWN PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICT. UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DEDICATED 25% OF ITS LAND IN DOWNTOWN TO PARKING. UM, THAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE, UH, LAND IN THE CITY. AND A LOT OF THAT ON THE STREETS IN PARTICULAR IS FREE REAL ESTATE AS WE TEND TO DON'T CHARGE METERS PAST OR BEFORE CERTAIN HOURS AND AFTER CERTAIN HOURS. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME SPECIAL RULES THAT CAN BE IN PLACE, BUT THE DOWNTOWN PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICT, WE COULD HAVE EXTRA FUNDS FROM, UH, EXCESS FROM ADDITIONAL METER REVENUE DEDICATED TO A FUND THAT WOULD IMPROVE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE FUNDED THE MAIN STREET PROMENADE WITH, UH, OUT OF TOWN VISITORS AND METER MONEY. WHO KNOWS? BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER CITIES HAVE INSTITUTED DOWNTOWN, UH, INSTITUTED PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICTS TO GREAT EFFECT FOR LOCAL PROJECTS. THANK YOU NICK. ERIC SANCHEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEAGE. UH, MY NAME IS ERIC SANCHEZ. THE THREE CASES I HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU ARE ALL CLOSED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO KEEP WITHHOLDING THE FOOTAGE UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING TO COVER UP. THIS IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN. I ASK THAT YOU DEEPLY CONSIDER THIS AND PUT YOURSELVES IN MY SHOES. IMAGINING SUBTLY BEING WOKEN UP BY A DOZEN HPD MAJOR OFFENDERS OFFICERS, THEY BREAK DOWN YOUR DOOR, HOLD YOU AT GUNPOINT, ORDER YOU TO COMPLY OR DIE IN FRONT OF YOUR FAMILY AND IN FRONT OF CHILDREN. IMAGINE IT BEING TAKEN BY FORCE, HALF DRESSED INTO AN INTERROGATION ROOM AND THE DETECTIVE SPENDS MOST OF THE TIME DISCUSSING A FRAUDULENT POLICE REPORT FILED BY GRIZZLY HOOD NEWS AND FACEBOOK POST REGARDING ATTORNEY'S RUSTY HARDING AND ESCOBEDO INSTEAD OF THE ALLEGED ASSAULT CHARGE. IMAGINE SEEING THE FOOTAGE OF HOW THESE OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS LIED TO SET YOU UP AND THEY ARE NOT PROSECUTED AND SAID THEY ARE PROTECTED BY COUNTY LAWYERS. IMAGINE BEING TOLD TO JUST BE HAPPY YOU DIDN'T DIE [02:10:01] OR GO TO PRISON AND MOVE ON. THIS IS NOT JUSTICE, THIS IS NOT RIGHT, AND THE RECORDS MUST BE RELEASED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENT BE FOLLOWED BY EDUARDO DURAN. MOST OF THIS MORNING STUFF I GET IS FREE AND WELL, I GOT THE SHIP FOR FREE AND THE ROCKETS WERE HAVING A PROMOTION ONE DAY AT THE JOEL JOHN BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, AND RUDY TOLD JOHN IT WAS THERE. DOC HAD AN OUT ADDRESS CHURCH FROM HIM WITH NBA CHAMPION ON IT. SO YEEHAW AND UM, WELL ON MY CAP, I HAVE, UH, JET BAG GOES AUTOGRAPH AND ON THE BAG I HAVE JET BAG GOES AUTOGRAPH AND I GIVE TO MY MEYER, UH, A SPORTS BASEBALL, UM, FOR PRACTICE BY SIGNED BY JEFF BOGLE WOLF, HOF 17 HALL OF FAME 17. AND UH, WELL, TW CARTER IS A REAL STAR TO ME, SO WHILE I GOT A A ACTUAL QUILT OR HER AUTOGRAPH AND, UM, WHAT ELSE? UM, UH, YEAH, MOST OF THE STUFF THAT I GET FOR SPORTS IS FREE AND SO WELL I PAY ATTENTION TO LIKE ACADEMY HAD THAT PROMO AND I GOT THAT. AND CAN I HAVE SOME MORE TIME TO TELL A UT JOKE? GO AHEAD JACOB. THANKS. OKAY. WHY DO IYE TO HAVE A PREFERENCE TO RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL WAR AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER? I DON'T KNOW WHY, BECAUSE THE FIRST LETTERS GOING AND BEGIN WITH AG. AG NO. CULTURE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL AND ONE THEY RUN WITH THE OFFICES AND WILL I AGGRAVATION TO UT LONGHORNS, BUT PUMP. THANK YOU JACOB. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, EDUARDO DURAN BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH AMARI. I GOT A COUPLE OF, UH, CLIPS. I, UM, I WON'T, WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO THE SECOND ONE BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE SCIENCE MEDICAL LITERATURE THAT THE VERY SOLID, UH, NEWS, NEWS ALTERNATIVE NEWS, UH, REPORTER IS ACTUALLY STATING, BUT I CAN AT LEAST, AT LEAST I FOUND THIS ONE. IT STARTS AT 1630. SO IT'S, UH, MICHAEL HOLSCHER A EPIDEMIOLOGIST, YOU KNOW, STUDIES, UH, EPIDEMICS OVER AT THE MECCA OAK FOUNDATION. AND THIS IS NOT SOME KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, RIDICULOUS CONSPIRATORIAL NONSENSE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE JUST FINDING ITSELF TO BE MORE TRUE ALL THE TIME. SO MAY, WELL IT MAY SUPPRESS THOSE MOSQUITOES. UM, THEY TESTED THIS OUT, GOOGLE DID IN FRESNO IN 2018. IT SUPPRESSED THE MOSQUITOES, BUT AS SOON AS THEY WERE DONE DUMPING THE MOSQUITOES, THEY ALL CAME BACK. AND SO WHAT THEY REQUIRE IS A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. GOOGLE WANTS YOU, TIME HAS EXPIRED, WANTS THESE STATES, WANTS THESE CORTO, THEY ALL CAME BACK. AND SO WHAT THEY REQUIRE IS A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. GOOGLE WANTS YOU, WANTS THESE STATES, WANTS THESE CORPORATIONS, THESE, THESE, THESE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBSCRIBE TO. GOOGLE'S SUB, MR. DUR MOSQUITO CAN GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS, MR. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. I WAS TRYING, TRYING TO SHOW YOU THAT, THAT ONE CLIP. BUT THE THING IS THAT SHE KEEPS ON RINGING THE BELL. SO I I RIGHT, BECAUSE YOUR TIME EXPIRED. BUT GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS, RIGHT, BECAUSE ALL I'M TRYING TO SHOW YOU IS THIS ONE LITTLE CLIP AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DEBATE OR DISCUSS IT, RIGHT. I'M JUST TRYING TO SHOW IT TO YOU AND THEN WALK OUT THE DOOR. THAT'S IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS, BY ALL MEANS, WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO GO AHEAD AND BRING IT TO? I KNOW. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. SO PLEASE. THEY ALL CAME BACK AND SO WHAT THEY REQUIRE IS A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE GOOGLE WANTS YOU, WANTS THESE STATES, WANTS THESE CORPORATIONS, THESE, THESE, THESE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBSCRIBE TO GOOGLE'S SUB MOSQUITO RELEASING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT EVEN WORKS. [02:15:02] UM, WHY W IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND SEND US A WOULDN'T WANNA BE IN THE BUSINESS OF A SUBSCRIPTION TRANSCRIBED RELEASING MOSQUITOES AND STATES VERSION OF THAT, WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT IT. SO THAT'S, THAT, THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. UH, WE THANK YOU. GOOGLE IS RELEASING A SUBSCRIPTION BASED ON MOSQUITOES STATEWIDE TO EVERY STATE. I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING, UH, TO HUMOROUS OR SOME KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, FUNNY LITTLE CONSPIRACY THING, RIGHT? AND, UH, AND, UM, I CAN SEND YOU, AND PRETTY MUCH THE OTHER THING IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GETTING LGAL SYNDROME WHEN, UM, HOW DO YOU CALL IT, UH, ALLERGIES TO MEAT BECAUSE APPARENTLY, UH, TICKS ARE BEING RELEASED AS, UM, AS A WAY, UH, FOR, AS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO, UH, ALLOW FOR, FOR MORAL BIO ENHANCEMENT OF PEOPLE. SO PRETTY MUCH YOU'RE SAYING THAT, UH, MAKING PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO MEAT IS MORAL. UM, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. YEAH. AND I CAN GO AHEAD AND ACTUALLY BRING YOU, NEXT TIME I'LL BE UP ABLE TO BRING YOU THE ACTUAL SCIENCE MEDICAL LITERATURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON GOV WEBSITES. BUT BY ALL MEANS, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT SOME KIND OF A PRIDE, EGO, EGOTISTICAL THING HERE. THANK YOU MR. DURAN. WE APPRECIATE, I UNDERSTAND I DID THIS FOR YOU, BUT CERTAINLY, I MEAN EVERY TIME I COME HERE I ALWAYS BRING YOU THE BEST INFORMATION YOU DO AND WE APPRECIATE IT A YEAR BEFORE IT HAPPENS. THANK YOU, SIR. JOSEPH, JOSEPH AMARI. HELLO, MR. O OMARI. HOW YOU DOING TODAY? I'M WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SIR. ALRIGHT. UH, LAST TIME HERE WAS SPOKE BEFORE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I SPOKE ABOUT THE LEGAL OF JURISDICTION. I HOPE ALLS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE THE POSITION THAT THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE BY THE CONSTITUTIONALITY JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM, COURT PROCEEDING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTION BEFORE AND AFTER MILITARY MARTIAL LAW. REGRETTABLY, CONGRESS DID NOT OPPOSE OR DEBATE BEFORE THE MEDIA OF AMERICA PEOPLE PRESIDENT OF OBAMA MILITARY MARTIAL LAW DIRECTED. HOWEVER, JUDICIAL BRANCH GOVERNMENT HAVE CONSTITUTED OF ALL LEGAL MATTERS OF CIVIL COURT CRIMINAL PROCEEDING NOT SINCE MARI LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OFFICERS HAVE JURISDICTION THAT INCLUDES TOWNSHIP, CITY, COUNTIES, PARISH AND STATE NATIONAL FEDERAL LAW ENFORCE JURISDICTION. THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATE CRIMES, CHARGED ARREST, TRY CONVICT EQUIPPED SUSPECT DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL CASES. JUDICIAL BRADLEY GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO THE POLICY TO INVESTIGATE CHARGES, ARREST, INDICT, AND EVEN IMPEACH. PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESSMAN, CONGRESSMAN GOVERNOR'S MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. JUDGE YOUR TIME JUDGE HAS EXPIRED AND FEDERAL AND FEDERAL LAW, LAW, LAW WRAP IT UP. DISTRICT BRADLEY GOVERNMENT HAVE THE POLICY INTERPRETED THOSE LAWS STAND BY EXECUTIVE . RESIDENT GOVERNMENT DETERMINE WHETHER THE LAWS ARE QUESTIONABLE. CONSTITUTIONALITY HAVE THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ONLY HAVE LEGAL OR MILITARY BASE OVER OVER MILITARY COURTS AND OVER AT LEAST SOLDIERS OFFICERS UNITED STATES MILITARY DO NOT HAVE CONSTITU OF PRIVATE CITIZEN BUSINESS, PRIVATE PROPERTY, PRIVATE SECTOR, PUBLIC NAME, OR ONLY HAVE JUDICIAL OF LOCAL NOR HAVE A LOCAL JURISDICTION OF STATE NATIONAL LAW. ENFORCE AGENCY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, STATE DEPARTMENT, ALL OFFICER MR. DOMAR, WE GOT IT. STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, US ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE FBI US MARSHAL ALL JURISDICTION OF MR. MAR GOVERNMENT AND EXECUTIVE, NOT THE EXECUTIVE VENTURE GOVERNMENT OR EXECUTIVE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. MR. OMAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I THINK SOMEBODY, CHIEF CIVICS AGAIN IN AMERICAN HISTORY. I KNOW EVERYBODY, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU. I AGREE. WE NEED TO KEEP CIVICS IN OUR CLASSROOM, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND AMERICAN HISTORY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. THAT TASK TEST DID NOT TEACH OUR KIDS. I I AGREE. THANK YOU MR. DELMAR. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NATHANIEL LEONARD. NATHANIEL LEONARD. MR. WOODMORE, WHERE'D HE GO? GO AHEAD. DID HE STEP IT'S YOUR TIME. YES SIR. OKAY. I WAS HOPING TO SEE, OH, GO AHEAD. WE'RE HERE. ALRIGHT. YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE HIM. . NO . ANYWAY. UH, YEAH. NATHAN LEONARD, BARACK OBAMA SAID THAT, UH, HE SAID TO EXPOSE BIGOTRY AND TO BASICALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF IT WHENEVER YOU DO EXPOSE IT. AND SO THAT'S ALL IT IS IS I'VE JUST EXPOSED SOME THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE AND STUFF AND YOU PROBABLY TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN FOR 20 YEARS? WELL, PROBABLY BY KNOCKING YOU OUT, KIDNAPPING YOU AND BRAINWASHING YOU AND TO AFFECT YOUR SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM MEMORY [02:20:01] AND DO THINGS TO YOU. SO I CAME TO COUNCIL OF JUSTICE AFTER SEEING PEOPLE LIKE JOEL OSTEEN, UH, UH, GALLERY, UH, FURNITURE, UH, MR. UH, GALLERY AND, UH, JIM, WHAT IS IT, JIM? UH, VALE. VALE , THANK YOU. AND UH, ALSO NAACP AND ALSO THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN AND NOW THIS JU UH, JUSTICE COUNCIL. SO I'M TRYING TO GET SOME HELP AND STUFF WITH THE SITUATION OF SOMETHING THAT LIKE, THAT HAPPENED TO ME AS FAR AS MY WORKING RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS THAT WERE, UH, TARGETED AND, UH, TARGETED AND WHAT'S OTHER WORD TARGET. AND ANYWAY, UH, CAUSED ME SOME PROBLEMS AND STUFF AND I'M TRYING TO JUST GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF AND GET MAYBE, UH, BEN CRUMP TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT. AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM Y'ALL. SO YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, WELL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST. OKAY? I DON'T WANT THE BEST. I WANT SOME HELP . OKAY. SEE RENEE. RENEE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. MAYBE WE CAN, UM, GET IN TOUCH WITH MR. CRUMP. OH, OKAY. WHO? RENEE WILL HELP YOU. RENEE HERE IN THE BLACK JACKET. SIR. WHICH ONE? RIGHT HERE IN THE BLACK JACKET. I DON'T HAVE . ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. YES SIR. COUNSEL, [RECESS] WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM 6 9 2 [READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA] ACRE OF CHIMNEY ROCK PARK. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LAKE HOUSTON DREDGING AND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO DESIGNATE AN HONORARY STREET MARKER TO REVEREND BYRD LACEY JR. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS FOR THE DESIGNATION OF A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT AREA IN THE 2100 BLOCK BLOCK OF QUI STREET, 3000 BLOCK OF REBA AND THE 2300 TO 2,400 BLOCKS OF BELLMEAD. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AIMS COMPANIES. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH SPRINT SAND AND CLAY LLC. ITEM SEVEN APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PRESSURE WASHING AND PAINT RES STRIPING SERVICES AWARDED TO COY CLEANING AND RESTORATION SERVICE. ITEM EIGHT APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR MEDICAL PHYSICAL EVALUATIONS FOR CANCER PREVENTION AWARDED TO DESIREE BITNER LLC DOING BUSINESS AS FIRST RESPONSE FAMILY CLINIC ITEM NINE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR VEHICLE LEASE SERVICES AWARDED TO ENTERPRISE FM TRUST. ITEM 10 APPROVEMENT AND AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF REGENTS CONSUMABLES AND 12 MONTH MAINTENANCE FOR THE BIORAD QX 600 AUTO DG DROPLETS DIGITAL PCR SYSTEM AWARDED TO BIORAD LABORATORIES INC. ITEM 11, LD SYSTEMS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF AUDIO LIGHTING, VIDEO AND RIGGING FOR FREEDOM OVER TEXAS. ITEM 12 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT AWARDED TO ARC US INC. ITEM 13 ER SYSTEMS INC. FOR SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF THE UPGRADE AND CONTINUED MAINTENANCE AND LICENSING OF A WELL-BASED SOFTWARE APPLICATION AND PLATFORM FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $18,650,000 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH VOER INC. ITEM 15, AMEND MOTION 2025 DASH FIVE 13 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM $114,045,419 60 CENTS TO $130,545,419 60 CENTS FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITY AND SYSTEM REPAIR, SYSTEM REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AWARDED TO BORE YOUR INK. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 14. ITEM 16, FORT LINE INK DOING BUSINESS AS FORLINE WATERWORKS FOR PURCHASE OF MANHOLE FRAME RING AND INLAND DRAINAGE GR ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $18,450,358 90 CENTS RELATED [02:25:01] TO CONTRACT WITH IN SITU FORM TECHNOLOGIES LLC ITEM 18 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITY AND SYSTEM REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AWARDED TO IN SITU FORM TECHNOLOGIES LLC. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 17. ITEM 19 AMEND MOTION 2025 DASH 56 TO EXTEND THE TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 AND TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM 5 MILLION TO $18,950,358 50 CENTS AWARDED TO VIKING CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 20. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 5,630,000 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH VORTEX SERVICES LLC ITEM 21 OR APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITY AND SYSTEM REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AWARDED TO VORTEX SERVICES LLC. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 20 ABOVE ITEM 22 EX ASYLUM DEWATERING SOLUTIONS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF THREE TRAILER MOUNTED PUMPS. ITEM 23 ZONE INDUSTRIES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS. ITEM 24 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF PROJECT APPLICATIONS TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL FOR THE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PARK AND LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TS 2311 TEXAS LLC ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO PARK AND LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS LANDLORD AND WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATES CORPORATE CENTER SHEPHERD LIMITED AS TENANT. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,486,000 FOR HURRICANE HARVEY RESTORATION AND MITIGATION PROJECTS. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $1,526,000, $13,000 AND $13,000 AND $461,000 FOR TASK ORDER AND JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $925,000 FOR CAPITAL RENEWAL FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,284,000 AND $269,000 FOR BALLFIELD AND PARK LIGHTING UPGRADES. PROJECT ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,549,000 AND $402,000 FOR TIGER TRAIL PROJECT FOUR IMPROVEMENTS. ITEM 32. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $700,000 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH SPA GLASS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE D APPROPRIATING $119,500 PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED UNDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH 7 33 APPROPRIATING $119,500 FOR THE HOLCOMB LAB EXPANSION. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3 MILLION FOR DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURES DESIGNATED AS DANGEROUS AND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STORMWATER FUNDING. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPROVED IN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH FORD AUDIO VIDEO SYSTEMS LLC ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH RED, RED, WHITE AND BLUE FUELS LLC ITEM 37 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH ONE 40 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH MEK INTERIORS AND FLOORS LLC ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS WITH THE SIEGEL GROUP INC. AND EVERGREEN SOLUTIONS LLC ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH HLP INC. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH FULL SPECTRUM GROUP LLC ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT CONTRACT WITH FASTENER LLC ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY ITEM 44 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021 DASH 6 0 1 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH SEARCY CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS AS EY NICS. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH 10 10 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH ECON LIGHT SYSTEM INC. ITEM 46 ORDINANCE AMENDING CON AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH 1 61 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH INNOVATION PAINTING AND RESTORATION LLC ITEM 47 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH THREE 80 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH ROTH TILLIS FINANCIAL INC. ITEM 48 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS A [02:30:01] AND M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE. ITEM 49 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH 5 49 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH CROW LLP ITEM 50. ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE OFFICE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR FY 27 GENERAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 51 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $220,485,966 15 CENTS FOR REINVESTMENT ZONES ONE LAMAR TERRA ZONE TWO MIDTOWN ZONE THREE MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE FIVE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS, ZONE SIX EAST SIDE ZONE SEVEN, OLD SPANISH TRAIL ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE EIGHT GULF GATE ZONE NINE, SOUTH POST OAK ZONE 10, LAKE HOUSTON ZONE 11TH GRADER GREENSPOINT ZONE 12, CITY PARK ZONE 1306 WARD ZONE 14 FOURTH WARD ZONE 15 EAST DOWNTOWN ZONE 16 UPTOWN ZONE 17. MEMORIAL CITY ZONE 18 FIFTH WARD ZONE 19. UPPER KIRBY ZONE 20 SOUTHWEST HOUSTON ZONE 21 HARDY NEAR NORTH SIDE ZONE 22. LELAND WOOD ZONE 23 HARRISBURG ZONE 24 GREATER HOUSTON ZONE 25 M CLARK FORT BEND ZONE 26 SUNNYSIDE ZONE 27 MONTROSE ZONE AND 28 MEDICAL CENTER AREA ZONE ITEM 52 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $60,138,296 44 CENTS FOR REINVESTMENT ZONES. ONE LAMAR TERRA ZONE TWO, MIDTOWN ZONE THREE. MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE SIX, EAST SIDE ZONE SEVEN, OLD SPANISH TRAIL ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE EIGHT GULF GATE ZONE 10, LAKE HOUSTON ZONE 11 GREATER GREENSPOINT ZONE 12 CITY PARK ZONE 1306 WARD ZONE 14 FOURTH WARD ZONE 15 EACH DOWNTOWN ZONE 16 UPTOWN ZONE AND 18 FIFTH WARD. ZONE ITEM 53 ORDINANCE DESIGNATING 20 ADDITIONAL SITES TO EXISTING TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AS A SPECIAL PARKING AREA WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM 54, ORDINANCE APPROVING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BAYBROOK MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM 55 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE AND $10,500 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY. ITEM 56, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $87,000 TO CONTRACT WITH INDUSTRIAL TEXAS CORPORATION. ITEM 57 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,115,621 PROVEN IN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH LOPEZ UTILITIES CONTRACTOR LLC ITEM 58. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021 DASH 4 54 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH IMS ENGINEERS INC. ITEM 59, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023 DASH FIVE 11 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH INDUSTRIAL TEXAS CORPORATION. ITEM 60 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,358,882 88 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP INC. ITEM 61 ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE CITY APPROVING THE ANNUAL BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR FUTURE ADJUSTMENT TO CERTAIN FUND BALANCES PROVIDING FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AS A DIVISION WITHIN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AMENDING CHAPTER 39 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATED TO RELATING TO THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AMENDING CHAPTER TWO OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS JACKSON, ELLA, THOMAS, CASTEX, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND WAS A ITEM 14 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 62 ORDINANCE ARE PROVIDING FOR THE CONTINUATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE SIX, A SECTION ONE OF THE CITY CHARTER AUTHORIZING CERTAIN TRANSFERS AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 8 65 RELATING TO THE CONTAINER LEASE FUND AND CLOSING OUT THE CONTAINER LEASE FUND AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 2008 DASH 7 92 RELATING TO THE RECYCLING REVENUE FUND AND CLOSING OUT THE RECYCLING REVENUE FUND. CLOSING OUT THE BIO GREENWAY 2020 FUND. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS JACKSON PANZA, THOMAS CASTEX, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND WAS ITEM 15 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 63, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON FORENSIC CENTER, INC. FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE FIRST INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, [02:35:01] INC. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, JACKSON PANZA, THOMAS CASTEX, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND WAS ITEM 16 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 64, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER LGC FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2027, OPERATING EXPENSES PURSUANT TO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, LGC. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, JACKSON PANZA, THOMAS CASTEX, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND WAS ITEM 17 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 65, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO ETHAN HEALTH LGC FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2027, OPERATING EXPENSES PURSUANT TO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ETHAN HEALTH. LGC. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, JACKSON, ELLA, THOMAS, CASTEX, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND WAS ITEM 18 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 66, ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MASTER ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 2004 DASH 2 99 RELATING TO THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM AND THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, JACKSON PAMELLA, THOMAS CASTEX, TATUM, AND DAVIS, AND WAS ITEM 19 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 67, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $1,200,000 FOR JAMEL SKATE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND WAS ITEM 25 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. ITEM 68, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2019 DASH 1 41 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH CIGNA HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND WAS ITEM 33 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 3RD. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS OF THE AGENDA. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH, 2026. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL. SESSION TWO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE. MEMBERS, WE HAVE A BUSY [RECONVENE ] DAY, BUT I WILL HAVE A SHORT MAYOR'S [MAYOR'S REPORT] REPORT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I'M EXCITED ABOUT A LOT OF THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES AND SUCCESS. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE FAN FEST, WHICH DID A SOFT OPENING YESTERDAY AND WE'LL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW, RUNNING FROM JUNE 11TH TO JUNE 19TH, PLEASE VISIT, ENCOURAGE YOUR FAMILIES OR YOUR CONSTITUENTS OUR HOST COMMITTEE, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. THE CITY HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB, OUTSTANDING JOB AS A VENUE FOR YOU TO WATCH THE SOCCER GAMES, LARGE SCREENS, ENTERTAINMENT, COOLING CENTERS, REFRESHMENTS. I JUST CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH. IT'S GOTTA BE. AND TO ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE AND CERTAINLY THE MEDIA, GO LOOK FOR YOURSELF. IT JUST DEMONSTRATES HOUSTON'S CAN DO ATTITUDE, THE LEADERSHIP, THE RANK AND FILE. OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, A LOT OF VENDORS, MINORITY VENDORS, PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THERE WITH THEIR OPERATIONS. AND IT IS A FREE VENUE, A FREE VENUE WARM, BUT THEY'VE ACCOMMODATED WITH COOLING CENTERS. I COULD START NAMING THE ARDS THAT HAVE SUCH UNIQUE IMAGES OF HOUSTON, BUT MAKE IT COULD ONE OF YOUR STOPS IN THE NEXT MONTH. UH, EMANCIPATION IS THAT JUST LAST NIGHT, 177 RESIDENTS WORKING EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. SOME OF THE RESIDENTS IN PREVIOUS DAYS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED OR RELEASED TO OTHER BETTER LOCATIONS THAT SUIT THEIR ADDICTIONS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. I THINK WE'LL HIT 200 BY THE END OF THE WEEK. SO THAT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU TO HARRIS HEALTH FOR PROVIDING THE HEALTHCARE, THE HOUSTON CENTER WITH MENTAL HEALTH. CERTAINLY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. HPD NOW HAS NINE FULL-TIME HOT TEAM MEMBERS WORKING OUT OF THE EMANCIPATION CENTER AND IT'S TRULY A BLESSING. WE HAVE A BUSY DAY TODAY, BUT THERE ARE FOUR COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT WANTING TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. I KNOW WE'VE ALL SPENT MANY HOURS WORKING [02:40:01] ON THE BUDGET THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, BUT OUTTA RESPECT FOR THESE GENTLEMEN, I'M GONNA ALLOW THEM TO HAVE SHORT SWEET PRESENTATIONS. UH, REVEREND JOHNSON, ELMO JOHNSON ICONIC FIGURE IN FOURTH WARD FM WILLIAMS, ANOTHER ICONIC FAMILY AND FM LEADING THE MINISTRY ADVISORY GROUP. REVEREND CASTANO SERVES A VERY IMPORTANT SPANISH SPEAKING CONGREGATION. AND THEN OUR ONE AND ONLY PASTOR PRESTON, THE YALE STREET BAPTIST THAT I'VE WORKED WITH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PASTOR, UH, JOHNSON. THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. I AM FOR $5 FEE BECAUSE I HAVE 12 GRANDCHILDREN AND ONE GREAT-GRANDCHILD. AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THE BUDGET AND BUDGET HAVE BEEN KICKED DOWN THE, LIKE A CAN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD. I THANK GOD FOR THIS MAYOR. HE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THE BUDGET. I KNOW MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BENEFIT CLEANER NEIGHBORHOODS. THE REASON WHY I STARTED UPLIFT FOURTH WARD IN FREEDMAN TOWN IN THE EARLY NINETIES WAS TO BRING UP THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE IN FOURTH WARD IN ALLEN PARKWAY AND VICTORY PLACE. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THIS FIELD WILL DO. I KNOW DOWN THE ROAD WE'LL HAVE TO GO OVER IT AGAIN, BUT I THINK THIS WILL HELP US. NOW. WE ARE HOUSTONIANS AND HOUSTONIANS, DON'T MIND HELPING THOSE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE. IF I HAVE TO PAY $6 TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S LESS FORTUNATE, I'LL DO IT. AMEN. I, I KNOW I'M NOT PREACHING, BUT I'M GONNA LET THESE OTHER PREACHERS COME ON. WILLIAMS, GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL OF PASTOR JOHNSON AS REALLY PRETTY MUCH ECHOED THE SENTIMENTS. WHAT I DID WANT TO, UH, JUST REEMPHASIZE IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS PARTICULAR ACTION IS PROACTIVE IN THE SENSE THAT IT ANTICIPATES ANY PARTICULAR DEFICITS OR DOWNFALLS THAT WE MAY SEE IN THE FUTURE IF WE CAN BY MERGING THOSE DEPARTMENTS, MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. AND IF WE CAN MOVE FROM THAT TO EVEN BE SURE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ALREADY NOW, UH, PRETTY MUCH TAKE FOR GRANTED AND EXPECT. AND I THINK BY RIGHT, SHOULD BE, UH, THE HOUSTONIANS AS CITIZENS. DO I THINK WE NEED DO THAT. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE BY THIS FACT AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE THIS MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CONSIDER THAT YOU HAVE TO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR REPORT, A TWO YEAR WINDOW TO EVALUATE. SO AS WE LOOK AT IT, IT CAN BE TWEAKED, IT CAN BE LOOKED AT IT AGAIN, REEVALUATE IT TO SEE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED, WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE BETTER. AND I DO THINK IS THIS, AS I YIELD TO OTHERS WHO ARE COMING BEHIND ME, UH, $5 IS A NICE START COMPARING TO WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THE SAME SERVICES. SO I THINK WE ALL START THERE ON ENCOURAGE THIS MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, REVEREND CASTRO. THANK YOU, UM, HONOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD MORNING. UM, AS A HISPANIC LEADER WORKING WITH MANY OF THE CHURCHES, UH, FOR OVER 25 YEARS NOW, AND AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AREAS PASTORS COUNCIL AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MINISTERS AND ENTREPRENEURS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY, UH, A REPRESENTATION OF MANY OF THE PASTORS I TALK TO, THE LEADERS AND ABOVE ALL THE FAMILIES THAT ATTEND OUR CHURCHES. NO PLAN IS PERFECT. NOTHING IN LIFE REALLY IS ACHIEVED BY THE SILENCE OR INACTIVITY OF LEADERSHIP IN A CITY LIKE HOUSTON. IT TAKES BOLD, WISE LEADERSHIP WITH A CLEAR VISION AND A WELL DEVELOPED STRATEGIC PLAN AND HOW TO BUILD A MORE STABLE BUDGET. OUR MAJOR JOHN WHITMEYER HAS DELIVERED A PLAN THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER LEADERS AND PASTORS, INCLUDING MYSELF. WE NEED TO KEEP HOUSTON MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS SAFER COMMUNITY CLEANER [02:45:01] ENVIRONMENTS AND ABOVE ALL, UH, BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THINK ABOUT THAT. THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF OUR CITY, YES, IT WILL REQUIRE A MONTHLY FEE OF $5 AND YES, IT WILL REQUIRE A SMALL SACRIFICE, BUT WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, THIS IS WHAT MAKES HOUSTON THE CITY THAT IT HAS BEEN IN IN THE YEARS BEFORE US. BUT BETTER YET, THE YEARS TO COME WITH THIS PLAN, OUR STREETS AND COMMUNITIES COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN BE SAFER AND SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT, THAT, THAT ANY LIFE WILL VALUE. JUST BEING SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES WITH THEIR CHILDREN BEING SAFE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL PROVIDE, WILL PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WE CAN ALL LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF HEALTH ISSUES. A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT. IT'S A SAFER HEALTH ISSUE, AND WE ALL WANNA LIVE HEALTHY AND NOT BE AFRAID OF ANY SICKNESS BECAUSE OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S CONTAMINATED. OUR PARKS AND LIBRARIES DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED AS WELL. THEY'RE THE PLACES WHERE OUR CHILDREN GROW, WHERE FAMILIES COME TOGETHER WHEN WE ENJOYED THE NATURE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. IN CONCLUSION, I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR CHURCHES, PASTORS AND LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED BADGE OF PLAN OF MAYOR JOHN WOOD MEYER, AND WILL YOU AND WILL ASK EACH ONE OF YOU TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY WE LIVE IN. IT MAY BE A SMALL SACRIFICE, BUT I THINK OF THE SMALL STONE THAT DAVID THE KING TOOK TO BRING DOWN A GIANT THAT WAS OPPOSING HIM AND HIS KINGDOM. AND SO IT TAKES A SMALL FEE, BUT WE BRING DOWN THE GIANT THAT SPACING OUR CITY AND CAN STOP OUR CITY FROM BEING THE HOUSTON OF THE FUTURE. SO I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AS A NEITHER OF THIS CITY AND AS A PASTOR AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, TO OUR MAYOR AND TO OUR MAYOR PRO TIMM AND TO THIS ESTEEMED COUNCIL THAT WE'RE SENDING HERE, UH, BEFORE TODAY. I'M T LEON PRESTON OF THE YALE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, AND I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT OF THIS, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET. UH, OF COURSE THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE US IS, IT'S NOT ABOUT CREATING NEW BURDENS ON TAXPAYERS, BUT IT'S ABOUT MODERNIZING HOW WE FUND ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS DEPEND UPON EVERY DAY. WE ARE LIVING IN A GROWING CITY, THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN OUR NATION. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS CONTINUOUSLY AGING, AND THERE ARE OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE AL WHO HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED, UH, THIS TYPE OF PLAN. SO WE'RE SAYING TO YOU TODAY, WE SUPPORT OUR MAYOR, WE SUPPORT THIS BUDGET, AND IT ALSO GIVES COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY THAT AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS YOU CAN COME BACK, REVISIT IT, TWEAK IT, MAKE IT TO BE WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE. AND YES, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE OVERBURDENED, BUT I BELIEVE WITH THE WISDOM THAT'S AROUND THIS DIAZ, THAT YOU'RE CAPABLE OF PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON IS A BETTER CITY IN DAYS TO COME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. UH, JUST A MOMENT. WE HAVE COUNCILMAN PANZER FIRST. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU PASTOR JOHNSON FOR BEING HERE, FOR ALL PASTORS, FOR BEING HERE AND SPEAKING. UH, I WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO ELMO JOHNSON WHEN I REACTIVATED THE FREEMAN SOUND. SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. PASTOR JOHNSON NEVER ONCE HESITATED TO OFFER UP THE ROSA CHAIR AND BAPTIST CHURCH FOR OUR MEETING PLACES. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, PASTORS, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH BECAUSE, UH, QUIET AS HAS KEPT MANY AROUND THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THAT WE MEET EVERY MONTH AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR TWO YEARS AND WE'VE HEARD EVERY ASPECT OF THIS CITY. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHAT WE DO, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER, IT, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING BECAUSE WE, YOU ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, ALL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, AND YOU PASTOR PEOPLE, UH, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT IT COULD READILY AFFECT. SO YOUR VOICE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR STEPPING UP THIS MORNING. PASTOR CASTANO, PASTOR PRESTON, PASTOR JOHNSON, PASTOR WILLIAM FOR HELPING US, UH, TO GET TO THIS POINT AND SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT MEMBERS WILL MOVE [PUBLIC HEARINGS ] ON TO ITEM NUMBER ONE. PUBLIC HEARING PRESENTERS WILL BE PUBLIC WORKS DESIGNEE. [02:50:07] YEAH, WE GOT MR. KHALIL. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. OH YES. UH, GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS COUNCIL, UH, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTING TO USE A PORTION OF CHIMNEY ROCK PARK FOR A 20 FOOT WIDE SANITARY SEWER UTILITY CORRIDOR. NEEDED TO INSTALL A NEW 42 INCH GRAVITY, UH, SANITARY SEWER LINE AND TWO ASSOCIATED MANHOLES. UH, THIS, THIS IMPROVEMENT IS PART OF THE WEST PRAIRIE DRAINAGE AND PAVING IMPROVEMENT SUB PROJECT. ONE, UH, WHICH ADDRESSES LONG STANDING FLOODING AND WASTEWATER CAPACITY ISSUES IN THE WESTBURY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE PROPOSED SANITARY SEWER MUST CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE EXISTING SEWER LEFT THE STATION LOCATED WITH CHIMNEY ROCK PARK WITHIN THE CHIMNEY, UH, ROCK PARK, UH, WHICH CURRENTLY RECEIVES WASTEWATER FROM SEVERAL LARGE DIAMETER SENATOR SEWER SERVING SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON. UH, THE NEW 42 INCH LINE WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING 36 SANITARY SEWER INSTALLED IN 1958, WHICH HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE AND WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE SERVICE LOAD OF THE CURRENT PARK FACILITIES. NOW, SECTION 26.001 OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE PROVIDE THAT A CITY MAY NOT APPROVE ANY PROGRAM OR PROJECT THAT REQUIRES THE USE OF OR TAKING OF LAND DESIGNATED AND USED AS PARKLAND. UNLESS AFTER NOTICE AND PUBLIC HEARING IT'S GOVERNING PUBLIC DETERMINES THAT ONE, THERE'S NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF TAKING OFF THE PARK LAND. AND TWO, THE PROGRAM OR PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARK LAND. HERE'S THE PUBLIC WORKS CONDUCTED A FULL ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AND DETERMINED THAT THE SELECTED ALIGNMENT IS THE ONLY FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT OPTION. UH, THREE ALTERNATIVE WERE EVALUATED, UH, NUMBER ONE, WE THE EXISTING SANITARY SEWER IN PLACE, BUT, UH, THIS WOULD LEAVE SEVERAL THOUSANDS RESIDENTS WITHOUT SANITARY SERVICE FOR TWO TO THREE MONTHS MAKING THIS ALTERNATIVE INFEASIBLE. THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE IS TO ROUTE THE NEW LINE SOUTH OF THE EXISTING SANITARY SEW, BUT THIS ALIGNMENT WOULD PLACE THE NEW LINE UNDER CENTER POINT HIVE VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE AND ENCROACH INTO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RIGHT AWAY, CREATING SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONFLICTS. UH, THE OPTION NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, IS TO ROUTE THE NEW LINE NORTH OF THE EXISTING SANITARY SEWER. THIS ALIGNMENT USED TRENCHLESS CONSTRUCTION BENEATH THE EXISTING TENNIS COURT TO CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE LIFT STATION. IT AVOID SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS, AVOID CONFLICTS WITH CENTER POINT AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND PRESERVE EXISTING PARK FACILITIES. SO HOUSTON PARKS PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT HAS MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE PARK. THE NEW SANITARY SEW WILL BE INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 16 FEET BELOW A GRADE USING TRENCHLESS CONSTRUCTION BENEATH THE TENNIS COURT. ONLY TWO NEW MANHOLES WILL BE LOCATED ON THE SURFACE OUTSIDE THE TENNIS COURT AREA. THREE IMPACTS WILL BE AVOIDED AND ALL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONFINED TO A DEFINED TEMPORARY WORK ZONE. WITH FENCING CONTROLLED ACCESS AND SAFETY MEASURES. [02:55:05] UH, ANY DISTURBED SURFACE WITHIN THE PARK WILL BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION OR BETTER, INCLUDING TURF GRADING DRAINAGE AND ANY IMPACTED FACILITIES. HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL RECEIVE MONETARY COMPENSATION TO RESURFACE THE DILIGENCE. TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS USING ITS OWN CONTRACTOR SITE RESTORATION MUST BE INSPECTED AND APPROVED BY HARRIS COUNTY, UH, HARRIS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THE SANITARY SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT IMPAIR THE FUNCTION OF CHIMI ROCK PARK AS A WHOLE AND WILL HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE CONTINUED USE OF THE SURFACE FOR PARK PURPOSES. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE 1958 CENTURY SEWER LINE WILL PROVIDE LONG-TERM RELIABILITY, REDUCE THE RISK OF FUTURE FAILURE, THE BENEFIT BOTH PARTS, UH, AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, AT A LATER DATE, CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE MAKING FINDINGS NECESSARY FOR HOUSTON PARK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS TO USE THE PORTION OF THE PARK FOR THE PROJECT. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS PROJECT. UM, ALLOW ME TO INVITE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, OR HOUSTON PARK. AGREE? YES, SIR. UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM HAS QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE GONNA BUILD THE NEW, UM, SEWER LINE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT OLD LINE? I KNOW IT'S A 1950 LINE. 58 LINE. DOES THAT JUST STAY UNDERNEATH THE GROUND AND WE JUST BUILD AROUND IT? THAT WILL BE ABANDONED IN PLACE? YES MA'AM. I'M SORRY. IT'LL BE ABANDONED IN PLACE SO IT STAYS UNDERNEATH IT. YEAH. YEAH, THAT WILL BE, UH, BLOCKED AND GROUTED. YOU'LL CAP IT? YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN WHEN DO WE EXPECT THE ORDINANCE TO COME TO COUNCIL? UH, ONCE WE GET NEXT WEEK. YEAH. ONCE WE GET THIS ONE, UM, APPROVED. UH, IT'LL PROBABLY BE LIKE, UH, UH, THREE MONTHS? NO, THREE TO SIX MONTHS. WE SHOULD, WE WE, WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE IT IN NEXT WEEK OR SO. OKAY. WE'LL WORK. OKAY. WE'LL WORK WITH YOU SIR TO DO IT SOONER. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ERIC SPURGEON. I'M A DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. CHIMNEY ROCK PARK IS A 4.63 ACRE PARK LOCATED AT 11 655 CHIMNEY ROCK ROAD. THE PARK CONSISTS OF GREEN SPACE, TENNIS COURTS, BASKETBALL COURTS, A PLAYGROUND, AND THE PLATO COMMUNITY CENTER. THE PARK ALSO CONTAINS A LARGE SEWAGE LIFT STATION THAT HAS SERVED THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY SINCE THE FORMER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ON THIS SITE WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN 1965. THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO DETERMINE THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF A PORTION OF THE PARK FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SANITARY SEWER LINE AND TO MINIMIZE THE PROJECT'S IMPACTS TO THE PARK. THE TRENCHLESS CONSTRUCTION METHOD AVOIDS IMPACTS TO THE TENNIS COURTS AND O AND THE OTHER PARK FACILITIES AND ALL DISTURBED AREAS WILL BE RESTORED TO PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONDITION OR BETTER. THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS USING A PORTION OF CHIMNEY ROCK PARK FOR THE PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. LEGAL. HAVE ANYONE MR. HERE FOR QUESTIONS? JUST FOR QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. ANYONE ELSE? UH, WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? NO ONE SIGNED UP, BUT IS ANYONE PRESENT? WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TATUM. MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. I SECOND. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. I KNOW. CONSENT NOW, MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL MOVE [CONSENT AGENDA] [03:00:01] TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE YOU READY? YOU NEED A COUPLE OF MINUTES? NO, HE'S GOOD. ALRIGHT, LET'S BLAST OFF UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM TWO HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS THREE AND FOUR? CAST ITEM MOVED. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM SIX HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM FIVE? CASTEX. STATE A. MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MADE MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEM NINE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 14, 17, AND 20 OR ORDINANCES JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 7, 8 10 THROUGH 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, AND 23. CAST. MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. IN ALL FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. ITEM 24 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CON SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED. LEMME START OVER. LEMME START OVER. UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. 31, 38, 42, 47, 48. 51, 52, 57 AND 60. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 31, 38, 42, 47, 48, 51, 52, 57 AND 60. ITEM 36. ITEM 36 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 34 AND 35 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. DID THAT MAKE SENSE? EVERYBODY GOT IT? . ONE MORE TIME. ONE MORE TIME? YEAH. THE WHOLE THING. YEAH. OKAY. ITEM 36 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS NOT RECEIVED. 31 36. I'M SORRY. 31, 38, 42, 47, 48, 51, 52, 57 AND 60 ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 34 AND 35. 34 AND 45. OKAY. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? . ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. GOOD JOB ITEMS [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM TWO? CAST TATUM. MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN FOR MAYOR I'D, UH, LIKE A CHANCE JUST TO RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS. UH, DEREK ST. JOHN IS HERE. SARAH BURKEY, WILLIAM SIMPSON. AND, UH, KATHLEEN JORDAN, WHO HAS CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS, IF YOU CAN STAND UP AS WELL. UM, THIS IS A HUGE THING FOR THE ENTIRE LAKE HOUSTON AREA. UM, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO IN MAY WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE, MAYOR, AND WE HAD THAT BIG RAIN EVENT, THE RIVER AND THE LAKE WERE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO CREST TWO FEET HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY DID. AND THE REASON THEY DID NOT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DREDGING THAT HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY. THAT THAT DATA HAD NOT BEEN PUT INTO THE MODELS. AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THAT, WE WOULD'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL FLOODING ALL AROUND LAKE HOUSTON. SO THE DREDGING PLAYS A HUGE, HUGE PIECE IN THE FLOOD MITIGATION. UH, IT'S ALSO A GOOD THING FOR OUR DRINKING WATER AS EVERY CUBIC YARD OF SEDIMENT WE REMOVE MEANS A CUBIC YARD, MORE OF WATER THAT'S OUT. UH, AND THE THE LAST DREDGING THAT WE DID, I THINK THEY REMOVED 800,000 CUBIC YARDS OF, OF, UH, MATERIAL. SO IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR US. AND, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS, UH, LEGISLATION WAS WORKED ON FOR THREE SESSIONS. UH, REPRESENTATIVE CUNNINGHAM WAS JUST ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THE PREVIOUS [03:05:01] ONE. AND, UH, WE'VE GOT OUR BOARD AND LOOKING TO GET TO WORK. GOOD. YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE HARD WORK PLANNING AND EXECUTION THAT GOES ON IN HOUSTON EACH AND EVERY DAY, KIND OF QUIETLY DOING OUR JOBS AND MAKING SUCH A DIFFERENCE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, KINGWOOD HAS CHALLENGES AND THAT WATER, IF NOT PROPERLY HANDLED, DOES END UP SOUTH OF KINGWOOD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AND THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE NEED PEOPLE, UH, TO SERVE ON THESE TYPES OF BOARD. UM, DERRICK ST. JOHN HAS DONE SO MUCH TO HELP WITH FLOOD MITIGATION AND DISTRICT G AND ALL THE PROJECTS YOU WORK ON. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY TO, TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. UM, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ON THIS BOARD. ITEM ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION. TATUM MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MAYOR PER YOU BE SPEAKING AFTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, COLLEAGUES. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS. THIS IS THE, UM, FINAL ALLOCATION TO PAY FOR THE SPELMAN DETENTION BASIN AND FOR, UM, THE COLLEAGUES THAT WERE HERE BACK IN 2020 WHEN WE VOTED ON THIS. UM, IT HAS FINALLY COME TO PASS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SEE THIS DETENTION BASIN. UM, IT WHERE THE OLD RED FRANK, UH, MARS FRANK LIBRARY WAS ON WEST BELFORT, JUST EAST OF FOND. AND THIS ACTUAL BASIN, UM, IS GOING TO HELP US PREVENT, UM, FLOODING TO OVER 900 BUSINESSES AND HOMES. UM, IT IS 400 FEET WIDE, 1600 FEET LONG AND 19 FEET DEEP. AND THIS WILL, THIS BASIN ACTUALLY STORES ALMOST 200 ACRE FEET OF STORM WATER. UM, THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY 64.5 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER DURING A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW THAT WESTBURY WILLOW WATER HOLE AREA, THERE WAS LOTS OF REPETITIVE FLOODING THERE. THIS SPELMAN DETENTION BASIN IS REALLY GOING TO IMPACT, UM, THAT AREA AND KEEP WATER OUT OF THOSE HOMES AND THOSE, UM, BUSINESSES IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. THIS WAS A BIG PROJECT FOR US, UM, AND WE'VE GOTTEN IT DONE. AND THIS IS THE, UM, VOTE TO ACTUALLY PAY, UH, THE CONTRACTORS THAT, THAT PUT THAT BASIN ON THE GROUND FOR US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CELEBRATING THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME BIG IMPACT IN AN AREA THAT HAS EXPERIENCED REPETITIVE FLOODING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I KNOW HOW MUCH A COMMUNITY HAS WATCHED THE DEVELOPMENT AND HUGE IMPROVEMENT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. JUST NEED VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION. VICE MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM IS TO EXTEND THE LEASE VEHICLE PROGRAM FOR HFD FOR 105 VEHICLES. UM, THIS WAS A BUDGET AMENDMENT I HAD A FEW YEARS AGO, UM, IN ORDER TO TRY TO SAVE MONEY AND GET MORE RELIABLE VEHICLES. AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THIS PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN EXPAND IT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHERE IT MAKES SENSE AND COULD ALSO SAVE MONEY. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I AGREE. NEED A MOTION? MOTION? WE NEED A MOTION. FIRST. MOTION CAST TO MOVE. NEXT. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 24 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. MEMBER ELLA. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA. YEAH, I JUST WANNA GIVE A QUICK COMMENT ON THIS. UM, THIS IS BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS. IT'S A, AN APPLICATION THROUGH HK TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET ASIDE PROGRAM. I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT CONNECTIVITY AND SAFETY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS IS, UH, I THINK SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE ASKING FOR. AND THIS APPLICATION IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR DOING THAT. SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS ONE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. ALCORN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO OVER AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL. SO, UM, THERE ARE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION [03:10:01] PROJECTS BEING DONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THESE ARE TWO GOOD EXAMPLES. WE ALSO GOT SOME DONE WITH SOME CARRYOVER FUNDS. SO, UH, THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND I, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. AND WHO'S THE OTHER ALTERNATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THIS IS, THIS IS THE STUFF WE WORK ON, UM, OVER THERE AT TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL. THESE ARE ALL, ALL THESE FEDERAL AND STATE PASS THROUGH FUNDS THAT COME THROUGH. THEY'RE CATEGORIZED, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, ADDED CAPACITY, SO ALL THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. ANYWAY, I'D LIKE TO SEE US MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS, THESE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE QUICK TO GET DONE QUICKER, OBVIOUSLY, THAN A ROAD OR BRIDGE PROJECT, SO OFTEN GETS THE BENEFIT OF LEFTOVER FUNDS OR FUNDS THAT AREN'T SPENT AT AT THE RIGHT TIME. NOT THESE, THESE ARE ACTUAL PROGRAM TASA FUNDS, BUT, UM, MAYOR, WE ARE DOING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IN THIS CITY, . SO THAT'S A GOOD THING. VERY GOOD. I AGREE. AND THANKS FOR SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY. YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAN. THANKS FOR YOUR REPORT. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILLOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. AND FOR THE DISTRICT H PORTION, THIS IS IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE DISTRICT, AND THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMING TO AREAS NEAR SCHOOLS, NEAR PARKS, AND THEY'RE ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK AND WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE PROJECTS LIKE THIS TO, TO CONTINUE TO COME FORWARD USING THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO HAS SHARED. UM, NOW, UH, BOTH ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER SERVE AS THE HGAC REPS, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE SPENT LAST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT A BOARD RETREAT. UM, AND A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS, OF COURSE RELY ON TRANSPORTATION, WATER, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE 13 COUNTY REGION. AND, AND SO IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, AS A COUNCIL THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UH, STAY FOCUSED ON HOW WE CAN, UH, BENEFIT FROM THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND STATE DOLLARS. BUT ALSO, UM, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK, UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE MORE RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH HJAC, HJAC AND TPC, UM, TO REALLY BUILD A STRONGER COALITION WITH OUR 13 COUNTY REGION. UM, AND, AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND OVER THE LAST, THOSE, THOSE TWO DAYS, WAS THAT REALLY THE SUCCESS OF THOSE SMALLER CITIES AND COUNTIES, UH, DEPEND ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WE ALSO DEPEND ON THEM AS WELL. AND, AND WITH THAT SAID, UH, THAT RELATIONSHIP, JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ON REALLY, UH, REESTABLISHING IT, UH, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON EVERYBODY'S SUCCESS IN THE, IN THE REGION, MAYOR. SO THE PROJECT LIKE THESE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. AND THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVE FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND THOSE OF YOU SERVING IN THOSE CAPACITIES THAT THEY'RE TREATING HOUSTON A LOT, LOT BETTER. IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING AT THE TABLE. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. JUST NEW VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS CONTRACT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN DISTRICT G RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ALL WORKING PERFECTLY, BUT WE HAVE THESE PROBLEM SIGNALS THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, UM, JUST START BLINKING. AND SO I ACTUALLY, THE, UM, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE FOR CONOCO PHILLIPS REACHED OUT TO ME YESTERDAY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE LIGHT AT, UM, I 10 AND ELDRIDGE. THAT THAT'S ONE THAT CONSISTENTLY BLINKS. CONOCO IS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, BUT I ASSURE THEM THAT THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY AND THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. JUSTIN, DO YOU HAVE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY MOTION, SHE PASSES. ITEM 61 [MATTERS HELD] IS AN ORDINANCE MEMBERS FOR COUNCIL. UM, ITEM 61, WE'RE GOING TO USE THE MATRIX, THE BUDGET MATRIX AND CONSIDER ALL THE AMENDMENTS IN ORDER, BEGINNING WITH RAMIREZ WITH 1.01. ONCE WE GO THROUGH, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LAST WEEK I OFFERED FIVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS. [03:15:01] I AM MOVING TO AMEND THE FIRST TWO THAT I'D OFFERED. THAT WOULD BE AMENDMENT 1.01 AND 1.02. UH, COPIES OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED ONE. THE DIFFERENCE IN BOTH OF THEM IS THAT THE FUNDING SOURCE IS CHANGING, UM, IN CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, THE MAYOR'S STAFF, I UNDERSTAND THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT AND WHAT THESE TWO AMENDMENTS ARE TRYING TO DO, UH, BUT WOULD LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE WHERE THOSE FUNDS WILL COME FROM. AND TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY HERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE CASE OF AMENDMENT 1.01, $216,000 AND 1.02, $115,000, WHICH IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS IS, IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY. BUT THESE TWO AMENDMENTS CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT. SO, SO I WOULD MOVE TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT AND, AND THEN TAKE UP, UH, THE MERITS OF EACH AMENDMENT. SECOND, YES. AMENDMENT IS ACCEPTED. SO JUST GO DOWN IT AS SUBSTITUTE. SO WE'LL BE, WE VOTE. WE'LL NOW TAKE THE VOTE ON ONE ZERO. DOES EVERYONE HAVE A COPY OF THE AMENDMENT? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE SUBSTITUTE, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAME. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, IF I CAN ADDRESS AMENDMENT 1.01, THIS WOULD FULLY FUND THE CRISIS CALL DIVERSION CENTER AT THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS HECK. THAT'S WHERE OUR 9 1 1 CALLS GO. THE CRISIS CALL DIVERSION CENTER IS STAFFED BY TRAINED CALL TAKERS WHO WILL TAKE CALLS FROM HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE IN, IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR SUFFERING FROM, UH, SOME SITUATION OR CONDITION THAT THEY, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH. OFTENTIMES THESE CALLS DO NOT INVOLVE A CRIME NECESSARILY, OR, UM, A HEALTH EMERGENCY. MANY PEOPLE CALL BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO CALL OR THEY'RE AT THE END OF THEIR ROPE. AND WHAT THEY REALLY NEED IS TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THEIR PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF CALLS WE DON'T NEED OFFICERS GOING OUT ON. WE DON'T NEED, UH, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS PERSONNEL GOING OUT ON THESE. THIS CENTER WAS FULLY FUNDED WHEN THE CITY HAD AMPLE ARPA DOLLARS, BUT THEN WHEN THOSE FUNDS RAN OUT, WE LOST SEVERAL POSITIONS OVER THERE. THIS FUNDING WOULD RESTORE THEM. IT WOULD RESTORE SPECIFICALLY THREE CRISIS CALL TAKERS, WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO GET A FOURTH CRISIS CALL TAKER USING STATE MATCHING GRANTS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE THE HARRIS CENTER, WHICH DOES WONDERFUL WORK. IN FACT, WE JUST APPROVED THEM TO MANAGE THE EMANCIPATION, UH, HOMELESSNESS FACILITY, AND WE THINK VERY HIGHLY OF THEM. THIS IS A, A SMART THING TO DO, UH, COLLEAGUES, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO INCREASE, UH, CALL VOLUMES THAT THE, THE CALL TAKERS WOULD TAKE BY 4,800, ENABLE THEM TO EXTEND THEIR HOURS A LITTLE BIT AND ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY. UH, ACCORDING TO THE HARRIS CENTER, THEY, THEY EXPECT THAT, UH, THESE POSITIONS WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE CITY SAVE $1.3 MILLION, UM, IN, UH, CALLS AVOIDED WHERE THE POLICE HAVE TO GO OUT OR FIRE AND EMS HAVE TO GO OUT, WHICH CAN BE, UH, QUITE TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE. SO I WOULD ASK FOR THE CO YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT COLLEAGUES IN, UH, APPROVING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. AS I SAY, MAYOR, I KNOW THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOU FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, WHICH IS HELPING FOLKS IN CRISIS, BUT ALSO DIVERTING FOLKS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT DON'T NEED TO BE THERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. UM, THE FIRE, UH, FIGHTERS UNION SUPPORTS IT. THE POLICE UNION IS, IS NOT OPPOSED TO IT. AND THE DIRECTOR OF A HEC CENTER SUPPORTS IT AS WELL AS, UH, NAMI, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS, THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THAT AND WOULD ASK FOR SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP. UH, MEMBERS, UH, [03:20:01] ITEM 1.01 AS SUBSTITUTED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. IF I MAY ADDRESS 1.02. THIS, THIS INVOLVES A SUBSTITUTE AS WELL, UH, SIMILAR TO THE FIRST ONE WHERE ALL WE'RE DOING IS CHANGING THE FUNDING SOURCE. UH, AND THIS IS AT THE ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST. THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THIS ONE AS WELL. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATION TO DETERMINE WHERE THE $115,000 FOR THIS ITEM WOULD COME FROM OUT OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT THIS SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED BY, BY THE COUNCIL HUFFMAN SECOND VOTE ON 1.02. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY MOTION PASSES. AND IF I COULD ADDRESS THE, THE MERITS OF IT RIGHT NOW. SO THIS IS ANOTHER, UH, MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, IF YOU WILL. IT WOULD FUND ONE ADDITIONAL LICENSED THERAPIST POSITION AS PART OF A CRISIS INTERVENTION AND RESPONSE TEAM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS A CERT TEAM THAT WOULD COST $115,000 AND WILL COME OUT OF THE HEALTH, HEALTH BUDGET. HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET AS THE PRIOR AMENDMENT DOES NOT, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. WHAT THE CERT UNITS ARE IS A, UM, IS A TWO PERSON TEAM THAT PAIRS A MASTER'S LEVEL THERAPIST ALONG WITH A CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINED POLICE OFFICER. AND, AND I'LL POINT OUT ALL OF OUR OFFICERS RECEIVE CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY. AND SO THEY ALL RECEIVE, UH, A MINIMUM LEVEL OF TRAINING. SOME RECEIVE MORE THAN THAT. SO THIS WOULD PAIR A THERAPIST ALONG WITH A POLICE OFFICER AND RIDING AROUND THE CITY IN A PATROL CAR. THIS IS A, A SLIGHT EXPANSION OF A PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN 2008. THE CITY STARTED THIS IN 2008 AND MADE IT PERMANENT THEN. AND IT HAS CONTINUED EVER SINCE. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE, I THINK ABOUT 12 FULL-TIME UNITS. THEY REPRESENT THE CITY'S HIGHEST LEVEL RESPONSE TO INDIVIDUALS IN SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. AND WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM. THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS A PROSECUTOR. AND I THINK THAT'S THE SAME EXPERIENCE TODAY. WHEN, UM, CHIEF HARDIN WAS HERE IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, HE, HE, HE AGREED WITH ME THAT WE CANNOT HAVE ENOUGH SPENDING ON, ON THESE TYPES OF, UH, PROGRAMS. UM, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF UNITS, UM, THAT WILL GO OUT. UH, WHEN SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH, UH, CRISIS, THEY SOMETIMES ASSIST, UH, THE SWAT UNITS, UH, IN DEESCALATING VOTE VOLATILE, UH, SITUATIONS. AND, UM, SOME OF THESE CALLS ACTUALLY COME THROUGH THE CRISIS CALL DIVERSION, UH, STAFF THAT I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER. UM, AS, AS THEY DETERMINE THAT, UH, UM, A GREATER RESPONSE IS NECESSARY. SO I WOULD, UH, ASK FOR COLLEAGUE SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL, THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. NEED A VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE FOR 1.0 2.02. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. MAYOR AMENDMENT 1.03 IS A TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE, UM, THAT WOULD REQUIRE FOR THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET. EACH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REPORT QUARTERLY TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ON PROJECTED OVERAGES ABOVE COUNCIL APPROVED EXPENDITURE AMOUNTS FOR OVERTIME, TRAVEL OFF SUPPLIES AND FOOD. CURRENTLY, REPORTS ARE BEING MADE, I BELIEVE QUARTERLY TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE OR FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, UM, REPORTING ON, UH, OVER OVERTIME OVERAGES. AND SO THIS, THIS WOULD MAKE THIS, UH, MORE FORMAL REQUIREMENT AND EXTEND TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. I UNDERSTAND THE ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTING WITHDRAWAL. AND WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, MAYOR, IS THAT THIS ITEM, UH, INSTEAD OF BEING CALLED FOR A VOTE AT THIS TIME OR, OR STRICTLY SPEAKING, WITHDRAWN, UH, BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, BE REFERRED TO THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION THERE. HUFFIN SECONDS. THANK YOU. GOOD MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE. WE HAVE PANZER IN THE QUEUE AS WELL. [03:25:01] COUNCILMAN RELL, DO YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED? YES, PLEASE. AT THIS TIME? YEAH, EXACTLY. YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, WHILE THIS, UH, AMENDMENT DOES CORRESPOND TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, I DO WANNA MAKE A COUPLE CALLOUTS HERE. UM, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE SPENT CLOSE TO DOUBLE WHAT WE INITIALLY BUDGETED FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS OVERTIMES. UM, HOUSTONIANS DESERVE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOME FIGURES HERE. FY 25, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGETED 45 MILLION. THEY ACTUALLY SPENT 87.9 MILLION FY 26, 40 3 MILLION. AGAIN, AGAIN SPENT 82 MILLION. UM, AND IT'S A SIMILAR TREND. WHILE I MAY BE NEW TO CITY COUNCIL, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM, UH, FOR THESE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS. SO, UM, WITH THIS AMENDMENT, I RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, NOT ONLY WILL WE BE HAVING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR COME SPEAK QUARTERLY, BUT ALSO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HEADS, WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT. UH, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I GREATLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ADDRESSING. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THIS UP AT COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE BEEN GETTING REGULAR REPORTS ON OVER TIME. I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED THAT SOME YEAR OVER YEAR, AT LEAST IN POLICE, WE'RE UNDER, WE'RE STILL UNDER BUDGETING. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT. I THINK WHEN WE COME, WHEN THE, WHEN THEY COME FOR THE QUARTERLY REPORTS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO BE MORE AWARE ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOOD WITH THE SPEND. WE NEED TO BE DOING THE SPEND. I'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM WHERE THEY'RE PULLING THE MONEY. UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE USED TO GET THAT OVERTIME MONEY FROM VACANCIES, AND I THINK WE'RE STILL DOING THAT TO, TO SOME EXTENT. BUT IF THERE'S OTHER LINE ITEMS, UM, THAT ARE BEING, THAT WE'RE USING, I I'D LIKE THAT, THAT TO BE PART OF THE REPORT TO THE EXTENT, UM, MELISSA, Y'ALL CAN DO THAT. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL RAMIREZ, COUNCIL RAMIREZ, APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS AND, AND I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS IMPORTANT. WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN COMMITTEE BEFORE AND, AND I THINK THERE'S A LARGER DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HELD. UM, OVER TIME. I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE APPEARS TO BE EXCESSIVE, BUT THE, THE REAL QUESTIONS ARE WHY DOES IT APPEAR THAT WAY? I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS, UH, SOME THOUGHTS ON IT AND, AND EVEN IF YOU WILL, UH, A STRATEGY, UH, ON THE WAY WE BUDGET FOR OVERTIME. AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS MADE PLAYING TO THE PUBLIC. UH, I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE PRIVY AS, AS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO, UH, PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON, ON WHY IT IS DONE THIS WAY. UH, BUT I'M, I'M NOT ALWAYS SURE THIS IS, UH, CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE PUBLIC. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE JUST WAY OVERSPENDING. BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION WE HAD IN THE WORKSHOPS, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI POINTED OUT THAT YES, WHILE THIS LINE ITEM, UH, IS EXCEEDED, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE POLICE BUDGET, FOR INSTANCE, UH, THE OVERALL BUDGET STILL STAYS WITHIN OR VERY CLOSE TO, UH, THE NUMBER THAT COUNCIL APPROVED. AND SO REFERRING IT TO COUNTS, UH, COMMITTEE AND HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT WOULD, I THINK, UH, BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE PUBLIC AND HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. SO, I APPRECIATE IT. I THINK YOU'RE ONTO SOMETHING. ALSO, WE NEED, UH, TESTIMONY AND COMMITTEE AS TO THE IMPACT THAT THE 800 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, HPD HAS SWORN IN SINCE YOU AND I WERE ELECTED. UH, AND THEY GOT A FULL CADET CLASS THERE, AND WE'LL PROBABLY GO OVER A THOUSAND. IT'S THE LARGEST NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN HOUSTON'S HISTORY. AND THEN YOU GO OVER TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF 600 FIREFIGHTERS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN SWORN IN AND THEIR CADET CLASSES ARE FR. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY RELEVANT, UH, TO EXAMINE THE PLACEMENT OF THOSE ADDITIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OVERTIME. UH, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY OUGHT TO ASK. I'M, I'M TOLD, UH, AND SOMEDAY WE WILL DISCUSS THE FAMILY LEAVE. THERE'S ANY GIVEN DAY 400 OFFICERS ON FAMILY LEAVE, WHICH WE SUPPORT. UH, BOY, I HATE TO STIR IT UP THIS MORNING, BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY TAKE FAMILY LEAVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT, BUT STILL ARE DOING THEIR EXTRA JOBS. SO WE MIGHT WANT TO, UH, DRILL DOWN ON THAT, UH, USE OF PERSONNEL, OR SOME ARE ACTUALLY TAKING A WEEK, A MONTH FOR A YEAR. SO AS GOOD A PROGRAM THAT IS, I THINK WE NEED TO MEASURE, UH, THE IMPACT IT HAS ON [03:30:01] OVERTIME AND PROPER UTILIZATION. SO ANYWAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO, BUT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OVERTIME. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR MOTION. MOTION. A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO REFER TO COMMITTEE. I NEED A VOTE. REFER TO THE COMMITTEE AND ASK FOR QUARTERLY REPORTS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY MOTION PASSES. IT IS GONNA SEEM THAT WAY FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, AT LEAST. AMENDMENT 1 0 4. YEAH. UH, IS AGAIN, A TRANSPARENCY MEASURE THAT WOULD REQUIRE IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, OUR HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT TO COUNCIL AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW T'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS OUT OF FUND 24 0 9 HAVE BEEN SPENT IN THE PRIOR YEAR. UM, MUCH OF THEIR FUNDING COMES FROM THE, UH, UH, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, UH, FUNDS. SO THE REPORT WOULD INCLUDE DATES, VENDORS AMOUNTS, AND THE PURPOSE OF EACH EXPENDITURE. UM, IT HAS BEEN, UH, SUGGESTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, UH, IT BE WITHDRAWN, THAT IT DOESN'T CONSTITUTE A, A PROPER BUDGET AMENDMENT 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T MOVE MONEY. UM, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THIS ONE MAYOR, UH, IS ALSO REFER IT TO OUR, OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION. I THINK LARGELY, UH, THAT, THAT OUR LEADERSHIP AND HOUSING COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN HOW THIS LARGE SUM OF MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE TS IS BEING SPENT AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF THE CITY. SO I WOULD MOVE TO REFER THIS ITEM AS WELL TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE. HUFFMAN SECONDS. MOTION MADE AND SECOND, REFER TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE. ALL IN FAVOR? SOMEBODY WHO CUED. WAS THAT ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AQUAN CUED IN AND I CLEARED THE, OKAY, NOW THE VOTE MEMBERS ARE ON THE ITEM AS SUBSTITUTED. YEAH, WE DID THE MOTION TO REFER TO COMMITTEE. SO WE'RE GOOD ON, OKAY, FINE. WE'RE WHERE WE NEED TO BE. MM-HMM . NEXT 1 0 5. 1 0 5 IS, UH, ANOTHER TRANSPARENCY MEASURE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A REPORT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT HANDLES, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEASURES, INCLUDING TAX ABATEMENTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THE REPORTING WOULD, UH, INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THREE 80 AGREEMENTS, IDAS THREE THIRTEENS AND TAX ABATEMENTS, AND WOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT BENEFITS ARE ACTUALLY BEING REALIZED BY THE CITY. THE AMOUNT OF THE ABATEMENT, THE AMOUNT OF THE REVENUE FOREGONE, IF ANY, BY THE AGREEMENT AND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF EACH AGREEMENT. IT'S BEEN, UH, SUGGESTED THAT THIS IS ALREADY BEING DONE, AND I WILL, UH, I WILL SAY THAT WITH REGARD TO NEW TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS, THOSE ARE BROUGHT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. BUT REGARDING, UM, THE ONES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE AND, UH, OTHERS SUCH AS THE THREE EIGHTIES, THE IDAS AND THE THREE THIRTEENS, UH, INFORMATION IS NOT PRESENTED REGULARLY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON WHETHER OR NOT THESE ARE, UM, A WISE, UM, CONCESSION TO MAKE. UM, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT IN THE CASE OF TAX ABATEMENTS, UM, A NUMBER OF THEM ARE, ARE UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE COMPANIES WOULD'VE LOCATED HERE OR WOULD'VE EXPANDED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ABATEMENT HAD BEEN GIVEN. WHEN I SAY RESEARCH, I'M TALKING ABOUT OUT OF OUR UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOLS. SO IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S GOOD RESEARCH. AND SO WE SHOULD SCRUTINIZE THESE AGREEMENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE, I BELIEVE, AND, UH, REQUIRE THAT THIS INFORMATION COME TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND WOULD REQUEST THAT THIS ITEM ALSO BE REFERRED, UH, TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. VERY WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, OHMAN SECOND. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I DO SUPPORT [03:35:01] THIS ITEM, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE MOVING, IT'S, IT'S NOT AN AMENDMENT THAT YOU'RE GONNA WITHDRAW IT. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT, UM, COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS AND TAX ABATEMENTS REGULARLY. UM, JUST RECENTLY I SAT DOWN WITH THE EAST RIVER, UM, PROJECT THAT HAS A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO FIND JOBS, YOU KNOW, MY MAIN THING IS WHERE ARE THESE JOBS? AND SO, REGULAR UPDATES CAN HELP US, UM, RECOGNIZE WHETHER OR NOT THAT, UM, DEVELOPER OR WHOEVER RECEIVED THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT IS COMPLIANT AND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THEIR AGREEMENT. SO, UM, I SUPPORT THIS, UM, BUT I KNOW IT'LL BE MOVED TO COMMITTEE, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MAYOR PROAM, THANK YOU. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR AMPLIFYING THIS. UM, THIS INFORMATION DOES COME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. WE HAVE, UM, DISCUSSED THIS, UH, ITEM WITH THE, UM, DIRECTOR TILLSON. UM, SO WE DEFINITELY CAN LOOK AT WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FOR. BUT WHEN WE HAVE TAX ABATEMENTS OR ANY OF THESE ITEMS COME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE ITEMS. UH, IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. I KNOW THE BIG ISSUE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX ABATEMENT IS. UM, AFTER SPEAKING WITH DIRECTOR TILLERSON, WE CAN DEFINITELY, UM, MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ABOUT THESE ABATEMENTS, UM, CAN BE ANSWERED. BUT WE DO DISCUSS THESE IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS. COUNCIL RAMIREZ, VERY GOOD. COUNCIL RAMIREZ, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS, UH, IN INCLUDING OUR MAYOR PRO TEMS COMMENTS. UM, THE, THESE ARE, THIS IS AN INTERESTING TOPIC, AND, UH, I THINK, UH, SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC DOESN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW THESE AGREEMENTS WORK AND HOW THEY AFFECT, UM, TAX BURDENS AND HOW MUCH MONEY THE CITY CAN COLLECT. A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I, I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PFCS THAT, UM, WERE DONE IN PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS. NONE, WELL, JUST THREE I THINK HAVE BEEN DONE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT, HOW THAT AFFECTS THE CITY'S TAX REVENUE. AND WAS TOLD THAT, UH, THOSE PARTICULAR AGREEMENTS DIDN'T REALLY AFFECT THE TAX REVENUE WE COLLECTED BECAUSE OF THE REVENUE CAP, RIGHT? SO SOME OF THAT CAN'T BE COLLECTED, UH, IN, IN ANY EVENT. AND SO THINGS LIKE THIS, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR, FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION IN OF THESE, UH, THESE TOPICS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. VERY WELL. MOTION MADE AND SECOND SIN ITEM 1.05 TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FROM 4.01. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM CASICK TATUM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, AS WELL AS THE MORE THAN 180 COMMUNITY LEADERS, BASE LEADERS AND RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORTED THIS ILLEGAL DUMPING BUDGET AMENDMENT, AND REPRESENT COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY CHRONIC ILLEGAL DUMPING, INCLUDING SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND CIVIC CLUBS ACROSS ACRES HOMES, THE EAST END, EAST LITTLE YORK HOMESTEAD, FIFTH WARD, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, OST, PLEASANTVILLE SET OF GAS, SOUTH UNION, SUNNYSIDE THIRD WARD, TRINITY, HOUSTON GARDENS, AND MANY MORE. WE ALL KNOW ILLEGAL DUMPING IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH DRAINAGE, SAFETY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. AND THIS AMENDMENT PUTS FORTH DEDICATED RESOURCES BEHIND A SOLUTION. LAST YEAR, RESIDENTS FILED NEAR NEARLY 9,000 3 1 1 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO ILLEGAL DUMPING. WE HAVE 92% OF THOSE CALLS COMING FROM MAJORITY BLACK AND LATINO ZIP CODES. THIS AMENDMENT INVESTS $3 MILLION IN DEDICATED FUNDING TO COMBAT ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THESE COMMUNITIES BY HIRING ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE WORKERS, EXPANDING ROLL-OFF SERVICES AND ACCESS TO LEGAL DISPOSAL SITES, INSTALLING CAMERAS AND SIGNAGE AT CHRONIC DUMP SITES, ACCELERATING CLEANUP AND OVERGROWTH REMOVAL, AND EXPANDING EDUCATION ON LEGAL DISPOSAL OPTIONS. THIS IS A COMMUNITY BACKED, DATA DRIVEN INVESTMENT IN CLEANER, SAFER, AND HEALTH, HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE AND WORKING WITH US TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. I'M GRATEFUL TO DIRECTOR MACKAY FOR WORKING WITH US TO FIND A SOURCE OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, BUT IT WOULD ALSO AVOID ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON HPW OPERATIONS, AS IS REFLECTED IN THE SUBSTITUTED LANGUAGE YOU ALL HAVE BEFORE YOU. AND LASTLY, I WANNA THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU HAVE BEEN A LONGSTANDING LEADER ON THIS ISSUE. I KNOW THIS [03:40:01] IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU RAN TO SERVE THE CITY IN THIS CAPACITY. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT AND FOR CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO TACKLE THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. COLLEAGUES, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. LET ME RESPOND THAT YOU MUST HAVE WATCHED MY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR OFFICE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I LISTED ALONG WITH HOMELESSNESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND SELF SAFETY. AS A SENATOR, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE NEGLECT ACROSS SO MUCH OF MY DISTRICT, AND IT WAS LISTED AS A PRIORITY, AND IT HAS BEEN GETTING ATTENTION, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU POINT OUT NOT ENOUGH. JOB. B ALLEN WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO. THE PRIVATE SECTOR JOINED HIM AND PICKED UP 511 TONS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING IN LIKE A SIX WEEK PERIOD. SO WE ALL KNOW THE ISSUE NOW, WORKING TOGETHER, THIS COUNCIL, THIS MAYOR IS GOING TO PRIORITIZE IT, BUT THIS IS JUST A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HPD ACTUALLY ARRESTED SOMEONE YESTERDAY FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING, HAD THE LICENSE PLATE GIVEN TO THEM BY A NEIGHBOR, AND THEY WENT TO THE HOME AND ARRESTED THE PERSON. SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE KNOW IT IMPACTS PUBLIC HEALTH DRAINAGE. I THINK THE, THE, THE MOVES OF WORKING SOLID WASTE WITH PUBLIC WORKS WILL PROVIDE US MORE EQUIPMENT RESOURCES. BUT I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO NOT PUT ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AND SEE IF WE COULD INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE LANDFILLS, MAYBE LOOKING AT THE COST. MAYBE THE CITY NEEDS TO WORK WITH OUR VENDORS. UH, THE CITY DROP OFF LOCATIONS HAVE VERY LIMITED HOURS. SO THROUGH YOUR EFFORT, RESOURCES WILL BE DIRECTED THERE. AND THEN I THINK THAT'S JUST A NEW BEGINNING OF ALL OF US WITH HOUSTONIANS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO DRAW ATTENTION AND REALLY ONCE AND DRAW. 'CAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN HOUSTON, I'M SURE THE MAYOR PRO TE CAN SPEAK TO THIS OR ANY OF US. SADLY, ALL OF US THAT WERE HOUSTONIANS. IT JUST WASN'T PRESENT. BUT IT'S JUST BECOME KIND OF ACCEPTED, CERTAINLY IN PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH EVEN MAKES IT MORE PROFOUND. AND, UH, LET ME JUST APPLAUD YOU AND, AND MY LIGHTING UP WITH, WITH COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE, UM, JOINED YOU, JOINED US IN AN EFFORT TO ONCE AND FOR ALL AND LET EVERYONE KNOW IT, IT IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THIS BUDGET TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER ZA FRESH OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT I BET FOR A FACT YOU HEARD ABOUT IT. OH, I, I HEARD ABOUT IT. . THANK YOU, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I WANNA ADD VOICE, MY SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT. AND I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR LEADING ON THIS AND WORKING WITH COUNTLESS COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS A CHRONIC CHALLENGE THAT MANY NEIGHBORHOODS FACE. SO HUGE KUDOS. CONGRATS ON THIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON IT. JACKSON, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS. UM, AS YOU KNOW, DISTRICT B HAS MORE ILLEGAL DUMPING THAN ANY, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IN FACT, UM, IN FY 26, WE SPENT OVER $300,000 OF OUR DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS ON ILLEGAL DUMPING. WE HAVE TWO HOT TEAMS. WE CONTRACTED WITH A COMPANY, HAVE A GRAPPLE TRUCK. UM, SO WE'RE JUST LIKE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. AS SOON AS WE PICK IT UP, IT'S BACK DOWN. AND SO WE DO NEED THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM. AND SO THIS AMENDMENT WILL ACTUALLY ADD THAT, THOSE RESOURCES THAT'S NEEDED. SO THANK YOU, UM, FOR LEADING IT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. OUR COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS GREAT AMENDMENT, PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING FOR A LONG TIME. AND MY FIRST TERM, WHEN I CHAIRED REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS, I THINK IT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING, JORDAN, WE HAD ON ILLEGAL DUMPING, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM ASHA JACKSON. MANY AROUND THE TABLE HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE. UH, I I, I NOTICED TOO, WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, THERE WAS NOT LIKE A LINE ITEM, LIKE THERE USED TO BE ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING, BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS NO MONEY PUT INTO THE ORIGINAL BUN BUDGET FOR ILLEGAL BUMPING, FOR DUMPING . UM, CAN WE QUANTIFY WHAT THE POLICE ARE SPENDING AND WHAT SOLID WASTE TO SPENDING? I KNOW COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS ARE OFTEN SPENT ON IT. I MEAN, I WONDER, UM, AND I DON'T HAVE TO GET THAT ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW [03:45:01] WHAT OUR FULL INVESTMENT IS IN, IN COMBATING ILLEGAL DUMPING. $3 MILLION EXTRA IS AWESOME, BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY HAD IN THE BUDGET. I, I COULDN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS IS A FRESH START FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND SOLID WASTE TO DOCUMENT THE BENEFITS OF THEIR CONSOLIDATION IN A NEW APPROACH. BUT, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE WERE MONIES IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET. IT JUST WASN'T QUANTIFIED NEARLY AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS'S PROPOSAL. OF COURSE, THERE WAS MONEY, SIGNIFICANT MONEY BEING SPENT BY SOLID WASTE, BUT THAT DEPARTMENT, AS WE WELL KNOW, UH, NEEDS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. I JUST MADE MYSELF A NOTE. NONE OF THIS WILL, THE NEW MONIES WILL TAKE ANYTHING OR NEGLECT ANYTHING FROM HEAVY TRASH. ANOTHER MAJOR, UH, PRIORITY TO EDUCATE FOLKS THAT SOME OF THE STUFF THEY'RE PUTTING OUT CALLED HEAVY TRASH IS NOT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE SIGNIFICANT, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA SEE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WITH SOLID WASTE, HAVING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM PUBLIC WORKS IN TERMS OF EQUIPMENT, NEW ROUTES, NEW ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING AND WHERE IT'S GOING. AND OBVIOUSLY, YOUR COMMITTEE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT ONE TO, TO HANDLE THAT. HPD IS, UH, DOING IT. I I, I'VE WORKED WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS TAKING IT UPON THEMSELF. UH, FELONY FORFEITURE MONEY OUTTA THE DA'S OFFICE HAS BEEN USED TO INSTALL VIDEO CAMERAS TO TRY TO DETER PEOPLE OR CATCH THEM. SO IT, THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT GOING IN THIS DIRECTION, BUT I THINK WITH THE SALINAS AMENDMENT, IT IS JUST GONNA MOVE, MOVE IT SO MUCH FURTHER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE. GREAT. I, I SAW STEVEN DAVID SCRIBBLING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE IN FRONT OF YOU ABOUT , ABOUT AN INVESTMENT THAT WOULD BOTHER ME. HE, HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE MILLIONS THAT ARE BEING SPENT ALREADY. OKAY. , I WAS, THANK YOU STEVEN . WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU HAVE IT AS A LINE ITEM? IS ONLY THING WE ALL WANT TO KNOW. OKAY. NO. ONE H HPDS GOT 1.6 MILLION BUDGETED FOR ENFORCEMENT AND SOLID WASTE, 1.5 MILLION. SO I KNOW THERE'S MILLIONS. OKAY, SO ALREADY 3 MILLION. THIS WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION, BUT I THINK IT'S A MULTIFACETED OPERATION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS. UH, JUST DON'T MESS WITH HOUSTON. SURE. YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT TO TAMPER WITH THE STATE STUDENT. DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS. SUCCESSFUL EFFORT. BUT WE NEED A, DON'T MESS WITH HOUSTON WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGAL DUMPING, HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT ALSO A PREVENTION AND DETERRENT OF IT AT THE OUTSET. SO, THANK YOU. GOOD MAYOR, PRO MAYOR, PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND YOUR TIRES. YOUR TIRES. I SAW HOW MANY, HOW MANY DID YOU PULL OUT OF A LOT? A THOUSAND, UM, TIRES AND ILLEGAL DUMPING. DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT, UM, KEEPS, KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT. UM, JUST WANTED TO AMPLIFY THIS, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, FOR THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT. BUT I THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO REALLY TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, UM, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE ENFORCEMENT, THEN, UM, PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO DUMP BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE CLEAN UP AN AREA AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK THAT AREA HAS BEEN DUMPED IN AGAIN. UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT, WE CAN HAVE SOME VIOLATOR FUNDING FOR, UM, PICKING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND FROM OUR WORKS, WE HAVE FOUND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PEOPLE DUMP ONE TO THREE MILES FROM THEIR HOUSE. MM-HMM . SO A LOT OF TIMES IT'S FOLKS, IT'S THE NEIGHBORS, IT'S FOLKS THAT HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITIES. AND IT'S AN UNPOPULAR THING TO SAY, BUT WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, UM, THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO TOLERATE THEM DUMPING IN THE ACTUAL COMMUNITIES. YOU DRIVE DOWN HOLMES ROAD, BLUE RIDGE ROAD, I MEAN, WE PICKED UP A DEAD HORSE BOATS, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF STUFF ON HOLMES ROAD AND BLUE RIDGE ROAD. THOSE ARE THE TWO NOTORIOUSLY DUMPED ON ROADS IN DISTRICT K. UM, BUT WE HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING CAMERAS ON THOSE ROADS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ELECTRICITY IN THE PLACES WHERE WE'VE PUT PUT CAMERAS AND CAUGHT PEOPLE, WE NOTICE, UH, THE DUMPING HAS STOPPED BECAUSE WE FOLLOW THE ENFORCEMENT, MAKE SURE THEY GET THE CITATIONS. I MEAN, HPD HAS GONE TO KNOCK ON PEOPLE'S DOORS THAT WE HAVE CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, ONE TO THREE MILES FROM THEIR HOUSE. MM-HMM. UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE HAVE CAUGHT DUMPING IT. IT'S THE CONTRACTOR THAT, UM, IS DOING WORK, UH, IN THE, IN THE CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE HIS TRUCK ON THE CAMERA, AND THEN WE SEE HIS TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY, UM, AND THEY PUT IT TOGETHER. SO WE HAVE GOT TO BE VIGILANT ON THE ENFORCEMENT. UM, AND THEY'RE NOT ONLY WILL WE, [03:50:01] UM, YOU KNOW, DETER FOLKS FROM DUMPING WHEN THEY SEE THAT THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING CAUGHT, BUT WE WILL ALSO, UM, HAVE SOME VIOLATOR FUNDING TO, UM, HELP WITH THE ISSUE. AND WE, WE'VE GOT TO ALSO FOLLOW THIS THROUGH OUR CITATION PROCESS. I KNOW, UM, A COUPLE OF THEM THAT WE FOLLOWED WHEN THEY WENT TO COURT MM-HMM . THE PERPETRATORS COULD SAY, UH, WELL, THEY DIDN'T PICK UP MY ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, THEY DIDN'T PICK UP MY, UM, HEAVY TRASH. AND THEN THEIR, THEIR TICKET WOULD GET DISMISSED. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YES, WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH GETTING OUR TRASH PICKED UP ON TIME THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO ILLEGALLY DUMP IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME, UM, PROCESSES THAT WE NEED TO FINE TUNE, BUT WE DO WANNA SEND A MESSAGE TO HOUSTONIANS THAT WE, WE WANT YOU TO DISPOSE OF YOUR DEBRIS PROPERLY. AMEN. CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT ON THIS AMENDMENT. YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. MAYOR, THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IMPACTS SO MANY DISTRICT H NEIGHBORHOODS. MY SERVICE FUND SUPPORTS A HOTSPOT TEAM THAT WORKS 40 HOURS A WEEK PICKING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING THROUGHOUT DISTRICT H. AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT. IT'S ALSO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FROM NOT JUST PICKING UP THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, BUT THE SIGNAGE, THE CAMERAS, THE ENFORCEMENT. UH, WE KNOW THAT CAMERAS ARE A GREAT TOOL AT PREVENTING, UH, DUMPING FROM EVEN TAKING PLACE. AND, UH, THIS IS GONNA HELP SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT. IT'S, IT'S A CITYWIDE PROBLEM, BUT IT'S ALSO FOCUSED ON SOME NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS. INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF ILLEGAL DUMPING FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS. IT'S AMAZING ALSO THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR DRAINAGE. HUGE IMPACT NEGATIVE. SO, THANK YOU CARTER. REMEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. UM, YOU KNOW, I, HAVING GROWN UP IN DISTRICT I, DISTRICT H AND DISTRICT B, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, MAYOR, THE LOOK AROUND OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, FROM 50 YEARS AGO IS, IS JUST INCREDIBLE. AS WE PROGRESSED THAT, THAT THE, THE, THE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF DUMPING, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM KESS TATUM, PERHAPS THOSE, UH, CITATIONS SHOULD TURN INTO COMMUNITY SERVICE TO HELP CLEAN THAT UP INSTEAD OF THE FINES. AND MAYBE THAT WOULD GET MORE ATTENTION. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS ONCE THIS IS UP AND GOING IS, UM, NOT TO BURDEN PUBLIC WORKS, BUT A, A REPORTING ON SORT OF THE, UH, DISTRICT-WIDE PROGRESS, OR AT LEAST FOCUS. BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT OF WAIT A BIT, WHAT ABOUT MY DISTRICT? AND NO, WE NEED MORE IN MY DISTRICT. SO JUST TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AND SEE HOW THAT, UH, I GUESS THE PLAN OF ATTACK WILL, WILL GO, BECAUSE CERTAINLY, UM, I SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME IN DISTRICT B AND IT'S, IT'S A SHAME, BUT ALL AROUND. SO JUST MAYBE SOME REPORTING BACK TO, TO SHOW WHAT PROGRESS IS MADE. COLLECTIVE PROGRESS WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M, I'M SITTING HERE THINKING THAT, THAT THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY, THE SELF-ESTEEM OF STUDENTS, WHEN WE WERE REOPENING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER COVID, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS AND ACRES HOME, YOU CAME OUT OF THE NEW SCHOOL, THE OPENING, AND THERE IS ALL THE PILES OF ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND YOU JUST, IT, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THAT IT BECOMES A NORM THAT IT'S, WELL, IT'S NOT ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. AND OF COURSE, THIS'LL CHANGE THAT. COLONEL, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, I TRAVEL TO ALL THE DISTRICTS AND, UH, IT'S JUST A SHAME TO SEE, UM, STUFF, ANYTHING DUMPED IN ESPLANADES, IN DITCHES, ALONG ROADSIDES IN ALL TOO MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS, HOUSTONIANS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THAT IS TAKING PLACE. AND SO I APPLAUD COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN PROPOSING THIS, AND ALSO FOR YOUR COLLABORATING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON AN AGREEMENT WHERE THIS, THIS WOULD PASS AND BECOME PART OF THE BUDGET. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HOUSTON, WHERE WE, WE DON'T SEE ALL THIS, UH, TRASH DUMPED, [03:55:02] UH, IN ALL THESE PLACES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN REFLECTED HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS. UM, AND TO THE MAYOR, PRO TEMPS POINT, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALL GOTTA BE WORKING ON. UH, A COUPLE THINGS MY OFFICE IS DOING. UH, WE HAD AN INCIDENT HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHERE SOMEBODY CAUGHT SOMEBODY ELSE DUMPING WHILE THEY WERE IN THE ACT. IT WAS A CITIZEN GOT POSTED TO GRIZZLY HOOD, UH, THEY CALLED HPD. APPARENTLY HPD DIDN'T GET OUT THERE BY THE TIME THEY'D LEFT. WHAT WE DID IS WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE CALL, AND THERE'S NOTHING TO DIFFERENTIATE DUMPING, WHICH IS A VERY LOW PRIORITIZATION WITH A DUMPING IN PROGRESS. SO, IN FACT, WE'VE GOT A MEETING WITH HPD TODAY TO SEE IF WE CAN DIFFERENTIATE THOSE TWO THINGS, GET A LITTLE HIGHER PRIORITIZATION TO WHERE MAYBE GET OUT THERE AND GET THAT CALL. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE, THE SCRAP TIRE ORDINANCE. UH, THAT ORDINANCE REQUIRES TIRE DEALERS TO RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF TIRES WHEN THEY SELL THE TIRES. THE PROBLEM IS, THAT ISN'T WHEN WE WANT TO TRACK 'EM. WE WANT TO TRACK 'EM WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY SCRAPPED AND THE CUSTOMER BUYS NEW TIRES. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE WHEN WE COLLECT THAT DATA TO WHEN THEY BUY NEW TIRES, NOT GETTING THE NEW TIRE, BUT THE OLD TIRE. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO BACK AND TRACK WHO'S DUMPING THOSE OLD TIRES AND BE ABLE TO GO AND HOLD THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. UH, THANK YOU ALL COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT, AND AGAIN, FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS ISSUE OVER THE YEARS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, ACTUALLY IN RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT REPORTING, IF YOU READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH, THE AMENDMENT THAT IS INCLUDED IN WHAT WE WILL BE PASSING TODAY. SO WE WILL HAVE QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT'LL PROVIDE UPDATED KPIS TO US AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING INTO EFFECT. UM, BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU, ALL THAT ENFORCEMENT IS KEY. AND OUR OFFICE, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND OTHERS, ARE LOOKING INTO HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR ORDINANCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL OF YOU TO DO THAT. BUT LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS AMENDMENT NOW. VERY WELL MEMBERS, A MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THIS LANGUAGE IN THE PLACE OF 4.01 HUFFMAN. SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. NOW THE VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY, CONGRATULATIONS. AND THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS HERE AROUND THE HORSESHOE, THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA, DID, DID YOUR RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THE AMOUNT YOU WANTED TO PUT IN THE BUDGET. AND THEN YOU WORKED THE COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY WORKED CLOSELY WITH ME. SO THANK YOU. AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS BUDGET'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OKAY, NEXT, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS 4.0 0.02. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SO WITH REGARDS TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT, RELATED TO, UH, TRANSFERRING FUNDS TO A HIGHER ADDITIONAL FOLKS TO ASSIST HPW WITH FILLING VACANCIES, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR MACKAY FOR OUR VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION, UM, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT HPW IS COMMITTED TO FILLING ALL 95 VACANT INSPECTOR POSITIONS BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS GONNA MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, INCLUDING ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, AND I'M ALSO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT HPW IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC IN COUNCIL ON HOW THAT HIRING IS GOING. AND SO GIVEN THOSE EXCELLENT, UH, COMMITMENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR, I WILL BE WITHDRAWING THIS AMENDMENT FOR NOW. BUT AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE DIRECTOR AND THE, THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO FILLING THESE VACANT POSITIONS. UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF HIRING THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT I APPRECIATE THE PRIORITIZATION ON INSPECTORS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. SO, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, COUNCIL MEMBER PANZURA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA, AGAIN, I WANNA, AGAIN, COMMEND CUSTOMER SALINAS FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS, UM, A GREAT AMENDMENT THAT IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY PUSH FORWARD A LOT MORE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE GET DONE ACROSS THE CITY. UM, I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH DIRECTOR, UH, MACKEY AS WELL. UM, AND HE LET US KNOW THAT WHILE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW VACANCIES, NOT EVERY VACANCY EQUALS A, YOU KNOW, AN IMMEDIATE JOB OPENING BECAUSE THEY ARE KIND OF GOING THROUGH A RECLASSIFYING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE HIRING THE RIGHT POSITIONS TO GET THE RIGHT WORK DONE. SO, AGAIN, UH, I SUPPORT, UM, PUSHING THE AMENDMENT DOWN AND, UM, FOLLOWING UP ON THESE KPIS IN A COUPLE MONTHS. SO THANKS SO MUCH, COUNCIL. MAYOR ALCOR. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, I REALLY LIKED THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE'VE OFTEN HAD TROUBLE AROUND GETTING PEOPLE HIRED AND ONBOARDED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. UM, WE USED TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT USED TO TAKE FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS TO GET SOMEBODY ONBOARDED. UM, SO ADDITIONAL HELP IN IN THAT IS GOOD. UH, UM, RANDY, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA [04:00:01] DO THAT AND GET PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HR DOES THEIR PART, THEN IT GOES TO THE DIRECTOR, THEN IT, IT'S JUST LIKE A WHOLE PROCESS AND IT, IT TAKES LONGER THAN IT SHOULD. AND, AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AS MANY COMPLAINTS LATELY, SO THAT MUST BE GETTING BETTER. SO, GOOD JOB. AND, AND ALSO BRIEFING WITH, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER PENZA AND I MET WITH RANDY. SOME OF THE POSITIONS ARE BEING, UH, REDIRECTED INSTEAD OF ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS TO GET 'EM OUT IN THE FIELD. THAT'S PART OF THE REORGANIZATION AND WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, PUBLIC WORKS IS DONE, THE HIRING. NOW IT'S GOTTA BE PROCESSED, AND I WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE HUMAN RESOURCES TO EXPEDITE THESE, BUT THE PROCESS IS WORKING, BUT THE, THE NUMBER IS SOMETIME NOT INDICATIVE OF THE, UH, THE NEED AND NECESSITY OF THESE POSITIONS. A LOT OF 'EM ARE BEING RE REDIRECTED AND, UH, GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. UH, THANK YOU. UH, MOTION IS WITHDRAWN. THE ITEM'S WITHDRAWN. UH, NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER A POWERCO 5.01. THANK YOU MAYOR. RARE FOR ME TO JUST HAVE ONE BUDGET AMENDMENT, BUT, UM, THE BIG STORY OF THIS BUDGET IS, IS THE SOLID WASTE AND, AND PERHAPS THE RIGHT OF WAY FEE TOO. BUT, UH, SO BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING SOLID WASTE INTO THE UTILITY, I JUST THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE SEGREGATE IT INTO, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS. WE KNOW EXACTLY, I KNOW THERE WAS KIND OF, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF IT, SO THE BUD PREP SYSTEM BEEN MATCHED WITH SAP AND ALL OF THIS. BUT MELISSA DEBOSKY SAT DOWN WITH ME. SHE HAS ASSURED ME THAT BY THE TIME WE GET THE APPROVED BUDGET BOOK, THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE. SOLID WASTE WILL BE ITS OWN PAGE IN THE BOOK. UM, YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL WHICH EMPLOYEE, WHICH FTES WORK IN REGULAR TRASH, BULK WAYS, YARD WASTE, THAT'LL ALL BE SEGREGATED OUT. UM, I'M INTERESTED IN THE REVENUES, UH, THE CONTAINER LEASE REVENUES, THE TRASH ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, THE, UH, ANY RECYCLING REVENUE WE MAY GENERATE THAT WE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT EXACT, THOSE EXACT NUMBERS COMING IN. I JUST DON'T WANT, UM, I DON'T WANT THE SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS TO GET MIXED IN WITH THE WATER WASTEWATER. SO I THINK WHEN WE STARTED REBUILD HOUSTON, A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT METRO MONEY BEING MIXED WITH THE DRAINAGE FEE MONEY, AND THAT WAS A BIG MESS. I, I THINK IF WE CATCH THIS REALLY EARLY ON, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S LAID OUT. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHO'S WORKING FOR WHO. PLUS I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN, WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE AT, AT SOLID WASTE. SO THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE EXPENDITURES. IT'LL BE REFLECTED IN THE FTES. AND, UM, I'M CONFIDENT, I'M HAPPY TO WITHDRAW THIS BECAUSE I'M CONFIDENT BY THE TIME WE GET THE PRINTED BUDGET BOOK, UM, THAT WILL ALL BE, UH, LAID OUT. SO THANK YOU. JULY, JULY ONE IS, IS THE SCHEDULE, UH, REPORTING MECHANISM THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING. GREAT. AND THAT WILL BE VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE FOR ALL OF US. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO 6.01 IS, UM, PRIOR TO ANY KIND OF INCREASE OVER THE $5 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, THAT THERE WILL BE A WRITTEN ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE WHETHER THERE'S SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO, UM, OFFSET OR ELIMINATE THE FEE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISABLED QUALIFIED VETERANS OR SENIOR CITIZENS. I KNOW THAT MANY HOUSTONIANS HAVE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FEE GOES UP OVER $5. AND THIS WILL REQUIRE A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS IF THAT FEE INCREASES. UM, I WANNA THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CASTILLO AND MARTINEZ FOR CO-AUTHORING THIS AMENDMENT. I KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MANY HOUSTONIANS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY THAT YOU'RE CALLING FOR. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SHARE, DEFINITELY SHOUT OUT, UH, COUNCILMAN PECK AND CASTILLO FOR, UH, WORKING ON THIS AMENDMENT. UM, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A TRASH FEE AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR YEARS EVEN, I WOULD EVEN SAY EVEN PRIOR TO ME BEING IN OFFICE. UM, AND WITH IT, WITH THAT CONVERSATION, WE'VE NEVER LEFT OUT WHAT WOULD EXEMPTIONS LOOK LIKE? AND I, I KNOW SEVERAL FOLKS CAME IN, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH RED FLAGS AND ALARM, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA HIT $41. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WILL BE, HONESTLY. UH, THERE IS A BURNS MCDONALD STUDY, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S A STUDY. IT DOESN'T TELL US THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT. UM, UH, WORKING THROUGH OPERATIONAL, UH, EFFICIENCIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RIGHT SIZING THAT DEPARTMENT. UH, MY HOPE IS THAT, UH, WHEN WE COME BACK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT, UH, WE'RE SEEING, UH, BETTER SERVICES. AND WITH THAT, ALLOWING, ALLOWING, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT A, A WHOLE BUNCH MORE BURDEN ON, ON FAMILIES. AND I'VE SAID THIS PLENTY OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN A FAMILY OF 12, [04:05:01] YOU KNOW, THOSE DOLLARS GET STRETCHED. UH, BUT PRIORITIES ARE PRIORITIES EVEN WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD. AND I THINK AS A, UM, UH, WHEN I THINK OF EVEN DISTRICT I RESIDENTS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE, WE ALL, UH, IDENTIFY WHAT, WHAT IS THE BEST PATHWAY TO SUPPORT, UH, THESE LARGER CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD AT THE CITY. AND SO, UM, I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT EVERY DISTRICT, UH, I CIVIC CLUB AND, UH, AGAIN, REASSURING FOLKS THAT ANY, ANYTHING THAT COMES, UH, FORWARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT THESE EXEMPTIONS LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU. AND, AND YOU'RE CORRECT. THE STUDY WAS MISREPRESENTED. IT WAS NEVER, IF, IF YOU READ THE STUDY, IT SAYS, IF NOTHING CHANGES AND EVERYTHING'S CHANGES WITH THE MOVES THAT WE'RE MAKING TODAY, AND ALSO THERE IS A COMMITMENT BEFORE WE EVER MOVE TO A GARBAGE FEE. IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, THERE WILL BE CONSIDERATION FOR LOWER INCOME VETERANS AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT OTHER CITIES USE. UH, THE $5 ADMINISTRATION FEE IS LOWER THAN ANY OTHER CITY'S, UH, CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT, OR SENIORS, VETERANS AND OTHERS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'LL BE CARRIED OUT FORWARD. AND IF YOU TALK TO PUBLIC WORKS IN SOLID WASTE TODAY, THEY THINK THERE COULD BE SOME INCOME RECEIVED BY THE, UH, DEPARTMENT IF WE OPEN OUR TRANSFER STATIONS. AND ALSO, UH, AS RECENTLY AS THIS MORNING, WE WANNA REVIEW OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR RECYCLING VENDOR AND SEE IF, UH, THERE COULD BE SOME RECONSIDERATION OF THE TERMS OF THAT CONTRACT, WHICH IS A 30 YEAR CONTRACT. AND THERE ARE SOME MAJOR, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR OPERATION AND COST. SO A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE. THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMENDMENT, VICE MAYOR PECK, WHICH WILL CERTAINLY MAKE IT ALL VERY, VERY TRANSPARENT. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND TO VICE MAYOR, PRO TEMP AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, IT WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH Y'ALL ON THIS AMENDMENT. THE THE REASON THAT I, I LIKE THIS AMENDMENT IS BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A ANALYSIS PRIOR TO ANY INCREASE. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ONE, BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE TIME TO ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS. IT'S NOT JUST BORROWING WHAT A CITY DOES OR, OR PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER AT THE LAST MINUTE, BUT WE'VE GOT THE TIME TO REALLY DO A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND DETERMINE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND THAT THAT IS IN PLACE BEFORE ANY INCREASE GOES INTO EFFECT. AND, AND THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO REASSURE FOLKS THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THAT COST WOULD DO TO THEIR BUDGETS AND HOW THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT TO PAY FOR IT. SO, UH, I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON WHAT THAT STUDY LOOKS LIKE AND, AND HOW THAT PLAN COMES TOGETHER. AND IT ALSO GIVES US TIME BEFORE ANY ACTIONS TAKEN TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS. AND, UH, WE ALL KNOW REPEATEDLY, PEOPLE WILL SAY, IT'S FINE TO HAVE THIS ADMINISTRATION FEE AND REVIEW IT IN TWO YEARS, BUT WE EXPECT RESULTS. AND THAT'S, UH, EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE, UH, ENDORSING TODAY. THIS AMENDMENT WILL LOOK TO RESULTS AND LOOK AT ALL MATTERS FINANCIALLY AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES. THANK YOU. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT ITEM. UM, 6.02 AND 6.03, UM, ARE BOTH ABOUT THE CONTAINER LEASE FEE. AND I GAVE COUNSEL TWO OPTIONS ON THIS FEE. UM, LIKE THE FIRST ONE BETTER, BUT EITHER ONE OF THEM, I THINK, UM, WILL MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE CONTAINER LEASE FEE. UM, FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT HERE WHEN THIS PASSED, IT STARTED OFF AS A DOLLAR 14, UM, A MONTH IN ORDER TO BASICALLY LEASE YOUR, YOUR, UM, RECYCLING AND GARBAGE CONTAINERS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S NOW A DOLLAR 29 A MONTH. AND THE GOAL OF THIS FEE BASICALLY IS TO MAINTAIN OUR CARTS AS PEOPLE NEED REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS ON THE CARTS, AND ALSO TO DELIVER THE CARTS TO HOUSTONIANS WHO NEED NEW CARTS. UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, UM, DELIVERY OF CANS HAS BEEN LACKING, UM, SOMETIMES TAKING UP TO THREE MONTHS OR MORE, UM, TO DELIVER A CAN. AND WE CURRENTLY ARE TAKING IN, UM, A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION A YEAR IN THIS FUND. BUT WE HAVE A FUND, A PLANNED ENDING [04:10:01] FUND BALANCE OF OVER $8 MILLION. AND THIS HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN THE CASE WHERE WE HAVE A HUGE ENDING FUND BALANCE IN THIS ACCOUNT. WHEN THIS ITEM FIRST PASSED, I VOTED AGAINST IT, BUT HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS SPECIAL REVENUE FUND SO THAT WE CAN REALLY TRACK HOW THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT. AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS, UM, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WE CAN SEE THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN SPENDING ANYWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE COLLECTING EVERY YEAR. SO IT BEGS THE QUESTION, DO WE EVEN NEED TO CHARGE HOUSTONIANS THIS FEE IF WE'RE NOT SPENDING THE MONEY? SO, UM, 6.02 JUST COMPLETELY REMOVES THIS CONTAINER LEASE FEE. UM, BUT IT DOESN'T CAUSE A FREE FOR ALL IF EVERYONE GETS NEW CANS WHENEVER THEY WANT AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO PAY FOR IT. THERE ARE MEASURES IN PLACE, UM, WHERE RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE NEW CAN PLUS DELIVERY, UM, FOR ANY NEW CAN. SO IF SOMEONE IS MOVING AND THEY NEED TO GET A NEW CAN, THAT IS WHEN THEY ARE CHARGED, RATHER THAN A MONTHLY FEE THAT WHERE THEY MAY NEVER NEED TO GET A NEW CAN IN THE LIFESPAN THAT THEY LIVE AT A HOUSE, BUT IT JUST CHARGES THEM FOR A NEW CAN AT THE TIME THAT IT'S NEEDED. IT ALSO CHARGES RESIDENTS, UM, FOR REPLACEMENT CANS WHEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR A REPLACEMENT MORE THAN EVERY FIVE YEARS. SO, BUT UNLESS THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OR ITS CONTRACTORS BREAK THE CAN, THEN THE CITY SHOULD PAY FOR THE CAN IF THEY'RE THE ONES BREAKING IT. SO, UM, THIS, UM, THIS ONE COMPLETELY REMOVES THE CONTAINER LEASE FEE, UM, 6.03. I KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT BE A LITTLE SKEPTICAL TO JUST COMPLETELY REMOVE THE FEE RIGHT OFF THE BAT. SO 6.03, INSTEAD OF REMOVING THE FEE ALTOGETHER, IT SUNSETS IT AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR UNLESS COUNCIL VOTES TO CONTINUE IT. I'VE HEARD THAT THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SUCH A BIG ENDING FUND BALANCE IS THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN MANAGED PROPERLY IN THE PAST. AND THAT'S FINE, BUT THEN PROVE IT TO US IN A YEAR THAT WE CAN MANAGE IT BETTER AND THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED THAT MONEY. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A $5 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IS ACTUALLY $6 AND 29 CENTS BECAUSE OF THIS CONTAINER LEASE FEE ON TOP OF IT. SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE EACH ITEM UP FOR A VOTE AND, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER COUNCIL DECIDES ON WHICH, WHICH ONE THEY'D LIKE TO GO WITH, HOPEFULLY ONE OF THE TWO. UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS THIS CONTAINER LEASE FEE. I APPRECIATE DIALOGUE. I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA WITHDRAW IT AND GIVE THE NEW OPERATION THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL COST IS AND USE THIS TO, UH, IMPROVE SERVICES. UH, I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW AT THIS TIME, MS. MARINO GOT HER HER RECYCLING BIN YES. AFTERNOON WHEN SHE GOT HOME, SO THAT THAT SYSTEM WORKED. AND MAYOR, IF YOU PREFER SIX, SO I, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO WITHDRAW IT NOW, THE CONSOLIDATION LEADERSHIP AND THE BETTER DELIVERY OF SERVICES, REVIEW THAT AND SEE, UH, WHAT THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD BE. AND MAYOR, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO WITHDRAW 6.02, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO SO, BUT I'D LIKE TO KEEP 6.03, WHICH BASICALLY IS DOING WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. WE'RE SUN SETTING IT AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR UNLESS COUNCIL VOTES TO CONTINUE IT. SO I THINK IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO SHOW US IN A YEAR, YOU KNOW, AS THE OPERATIONS CHANGE HOW THAT MONEY IS ACTUALLY BEING USED AND NEEDED. UM, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULDN'T LIKE TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT AND COME BACK WITH A PHYSICAL REPORT AND, AND WHETHER IT SHOULD CONTINUE OR NOT. I THINK WE'RE BOTH SAYING THE SAME THING. I THINK WE NEED TO LET THE EXPERTS AND THE DIRECTORS AND THE, THE OPERATIONS OF OUR NEW PROPOSAL WORK. YEAH. AND, AND I AGREE. THAT'S WHY I OFFERED 6.03 AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO JUST COMPLETELY GETTING RID OF THE FEE. UM, BUT I WOULD DEFER TO COUNCIL ON ON THAT. OKAY. DO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE KEY COUNCIL MEMBER? COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. I I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR WE HADN'T SPENT THAT MONEY. UM, YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THAT VICE MAYOR PRO TEM AND, AND I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND YOU DO MAKE A GOOD POINT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEVER, NEVER NEED THAT. UM, WHAT DOES SUNSET MEAN REALLY? DOES THAT MEAN LIKE IT'S AN OFFICIAL THING THAT IT'S OFF THE BOOKS? I MEAN, OR, OR ARE WE SAYING THE SAME THING MAYOR ARE THEY COME BACK, THEY TELL US WE'RE HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THE MONEY, IT'S WORKING, AND THEN WE'RE, WE CONTINUE WITH THE FEE. I DON'T LIKE TO LET GO OF ANY MONEY AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M NOT LETTING GO OF THIS MONEY. I, I THINK WE NEEDED SOLID WASTE. DEFINITELY NEEDS IT, BUT LIKE, I GUESS IT, I GUESS WE HAD TO JUSTIFY THE FEE WHEN WE PASSED IT WITH THE FEE ANALYSIS, IF THAT'S WHAT IT COST TO RE OR WE WERE STILL SUBSIDIZING. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING'S A DOLLAR. BUT I GUESS OVER, OVER TIME, THAT WAS THE AMOUNT. I, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF HOW WE GET TO WHERE WE ALL WANT TO BE, RIGHT? ACCOUNTABILITY, I THINK THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, NEW DIRECTOR, I MEAN, NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WEREN'T USING THE MONEY ARE CERTAINLY BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. MM-HMM . BUT [04:15:01] THERE'S A HECK OF A LOT ABOUT SOLID WASTE BEFORE THE NEW LEADERSHIP THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WEDNESDAY WAS AN OFFICIAL DAY OFF, BUT PEOPLE WERE WORKING SO THEY COULD USE OVERTIME MONEY. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFLICTS. NEW DIRECTOR IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON LATER WILL, UH, REALLY STREAMLINE THINGS. WE'VE ALREADY PASSED VOTES TO HOLD ACCOUNTABILITY. SO YEAH, I THINK, I JUST THINK A GOOD FISCAL POLICY WOULD BE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES. IT MIGHT BE ABSOLUTELY PART OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, UH, RESOURCES. SO I'VE GOT CONFIDENCE IN THE DIRECTORS AND, UM, I JUST THINK, RIGHT. AND I'M SURE THERE WE, TO A CHANCE TO WORK'S. I'M SURE THERE'S DATA ON HOW MANY NEW CANS WE'VE GOTTEN OUT THERE, HOW MUCH MONEY'S BEEN COLLECTED. WELL, WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY'S BEEN COLLECTED, HOW MANY NEW CANS ARE OUT THERE, WHAT WE'RE SPENDING. I THINK ALL THAT WE JUST NEED TO DIVE INTO AND, AND MAKE SURE WE'RE THIS FUNDS WORKING RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF THE $5. THAT'S A DOLLAR 29. YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT IS, UH, I THINK RESIDENTS WILL WANNA KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING FOR WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO. I'M JUST LOOKING FOR DATA BEFORE WE, WE TAKE A VOTE. AND THEN I THINK YOU JUST POINTED OUT, WE, WE, WE NEED THE INFORMATION, UH, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN IT IN THE PAST. WE'LL GET IT GOING FORWARD. SO, MARTINEZ, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCILOR PECK LOOKING INTO THIS. 'CAUSE AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE ALL, UH, I THINK THE, IT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A HALF-BAKED TRASH FEE ULTIMATELY IS WHAT I WANT TO CALL IT. UH, WHEN, WHEN THE REFUSE CAN, UH, UH, FEE WAS BEING PUT ON, WE SHOULD HAVE AT THAT TIME BEEN TALKING ABOUT A TRASH FEE BACK THEN, A FULL TRASH FEE. UH, UM, AND SO I'M, I'M UP FOR WANTING TO SEE WHAT, WHAT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS IN SOLID WASTE WILL BE ABLE TO DO. SO I WANT TO SEE THIS REPORT PRIOR TO ELIMINATING ANY FUNDS, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S, UH, POINT, UM, WE'RE FINALLY GIVING SOLID WASTE, UH, FUNDING WHERE IT SHOULD BE. AND ACTUALLY THIS WAS CONVERSATIONS EVEN FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO. UM, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT COST REALLY WILL BE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT SOLID WASTE WAS, UH, REALLY MISSING, MISSING THE, UH, MISSING THE POINT. UM, BECAUSE WE, WE DID NOT HAVE THE, THE, UM, EQUIPMENT, THE FACILITIES, THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF STAFFING WORKING OUR STAFF, UH, THE SOLID WASTE STAFF, UH, 24 7, IT FELT LIKE, UH, SOME MONTHS. UM, SO I, I'M OF THE, THE MINDSET OF WE CAN'T PULL MONEY AWAY FROM THIS DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW. LET'S, UH, MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH, UH, A REPORT PRIOR TO MAKING, UH, ANY REAL DECISIONS. I KNOW I HAVE, I HAVE A FEW, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ALL OF WASTE THAT I'LL SPEAK ON AS WELL, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I, THESE, THESE REFUSE CANS, UH, THAT WE F WE FOUND AS WELL RECENTLY. UH, AND I KNOW YOU HAD THE, THE REFUSE CAN BLITZ AS WELL, WHERE FOLKS HAVE BEEN NEEDING TRASH CANS. SO WE, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THAT TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE WE REALLY START PULLING AWAY ANY KIND OF FUNDING FROM SOLID WASTE. SO I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, ASK MY COLLEAGUE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S KEEP WORKING THROUGH THIS DEPARTMENT TO START RIGHT SIZING IT TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. UH, AND REALLY FINALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE A REAL EXPECTATION OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. I JUST GOT A CALL FROM DIRECTOR HASSAN, WHO WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHEN HE TOOK OVER, THEY WERE OUT OF BINS AND HAD BEEN OUT OF BINS FOR A LONG TIME. SO THE MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT ON BINS WE'RE JUST ALLOWED TO ACCUMULATE. SO WE'RE STILL PLAYING CATCH UP PURCHASING ITEMS. AND, UH, AGAIN, IT JUST POINTS OUT WHY WE CHANGED DIRECTORS THAT THEY JUST WEREN'T DOING THEIR JOB. AND SO INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT AND REPLACING BEN'S, THEY JUST ACCUMULATED IT. AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO GIVE THE NEW LEADERSHIP A CHANCE TO SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO. COUNCIL RAM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK, I THINK, UH, 6 0 3 DOES HAVE, UM, APPEAL IN THE SENSE THAT, UM, ACCORDING TO THE FISCAL NOTE ATTACHED TO IT, THERE'S A PROJECTED FUND BALANCE OF $8 MILLION. SO THIS SEEMS TO BE, UH, MONEY THAT'S BEING COLLECTED FROM HOUSTONIANS THAT'S NOT GOING TOWARDS, UH, PAYMENT FOR CONTAINERS. UM, AND POINT OF ORDER, IF ANYBODY HAS THE INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS, THIS IS, UH, STILL ACCURATE, A PROJECTED FUND BALANCE OF MORE THAN $8 MILLION, STILL ACCURATE? YEAH. WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD SUNSET THE FEE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH WOULD GIVE, [04:20:01] UM, AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WOULD GIVE PUBLIC WORKS PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL. AND WE COULD CERTAINLY VOTE TO CONTINUE THE FEE OR AT THAT LEVEL OR WHATEVER LEVEL WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO, UH, TO COVER THE COST. BUT, UM, I, I THINK THERE IS APPEAL FOR 6 0 3 AND IT KIND OF PUTS THE IMPETUS ON SOLID WASTE AND THE COUNCIL TO GET IT FIGURED OUT IN, IN, YOU KNOW, IN SHORT ORDER. THANK YOU. 6 0 2 IS WITHDRAWN. I UNDERSTAND. AND YOU WANNA VOTE ON 6 0 3? I'LL, I'LL WITHDRAW 6.02. I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS THE WILL OF COUNSEL TO JUST AUTOMATICALLY GET RID OF IT. I HAD TO TRY. RIGHT. BUT , UM, BUT I DO WANT TO KEEP 6.03 MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT WE'VE HAD TO PLAY CATCH UP. YES, ABSOLUTELY. I AGREE. BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE PROJECTED TO HAVE AN $8 MILLION FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. WELL, IT WON'T FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO DELIVER FROM THE DIRECTOR THAT HE NEEDS TO REPLACE THE BINS AND IT WON'T BE A SURPLUS, OR AT LEAST WE'LL GET AN ACCURATE REPORT AFTER HE YEAH. AND MAYOR, I THINK THAT WE'RE SAYING, SO, I MEAN, EVERYBODY JUST VOTE, VOTE THEIR CONVICTIONS. BUT I, I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THE NEW MODEL, THE NEW LEADERSHIP AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO ABOUT RENEWAL AND DELIVERY BINS. 'CAUSE APPARENTLY IT'S BEEN A VERY, UH, DISMAL OPERATION. YEAH. AND MAYOR, I, I THINK THAT YOU AND I ARE SAYING ROUGHLY THE SAME THING. WE BOTH WANT IN A YEAR FROM NOW, YOU KNOW, TO COME TO COUNCIL AND SHOW A REPORT AND SAY, HERE'S HOW THINGS HAVE IMPROVED OR NOT IMPROVED, AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. OKAY. UM, WITH DATA, BUT UNDER 6.03, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT IT REQUIRES COUNSEL TO ACTUALLY TAKE A VOTE AT THAT TIME AND SAY, YES, WE'RE CONFIDENT IN THE DIRECTION THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING, OR NO, WE'RE NOT. SO JUST OFFERS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY THAN JUST A REPORT TO A COMMITTEE. SO I'D LIKE TO VOTE ON 6.03. OKAY. THE VOTE IS ON 6.03, MS. SECRETARY, AND THE VOTE WOULD BE TO, UH, ADOPT 6.03 OR NOT. UH, IF YOU WANNA CALL THE ROAD, MS. SECRETARY MAYOR WHITMEYER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER PEG? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER INGER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ACORN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. . MOTION PASSES. TEN SIX. GOOD JOB. NEXT. THANK YOU. UM, 6.04 IS, UM, TO EVALUATE IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS WHETHER A NEW OR SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE QUALIFIES FOR CITY OF HOUSTON TRASH. AND THEN TO RELAY THAT INFORMATION TO THE CITY'S GYMS OR INTERNAL SYSTEM FOR THREE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS. WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS, UM, NEW HOMES ARE BEING BUILT THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR CITY TRASH, AND THE PERSON WHO PURCHASES THE HOME MAYBE DOESN'T KNOW THAT. AND THEY'RE, THEY CALL 3 1 1 AND REQUEST A TRASH CAN. AND THAT TRASH CAN IS DELIVERED BECAUSE THE THREE ONE CALL TAKER HAS NO DATA TO SHOW THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR TRASH. UM, SO WE JUST NEED SOME MORE INTERNAL MECHANISMS TO SHOW, UM, WHETHER WHEN THEY'RE REQUESTING A TRASH CAN, IF THEY ACTUALLY QUALIFY OR NOT. UM, SOMETIMES THEY ARE IN TOWN HOMES THAT ARE GATED, UH, AND SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT SUFFICIENT RIGHT OF WAY THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR CITY TRASH CANS PER OUR ORDINANCE. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SUPPORTS THIS CONCEPT AND THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. UM, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. SO I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM. VERY GOOD. 6.04 IS WITHDRAWN. 6.05 IS, UM, TO PILOT THE ONE BIN COLLECTION PROGRAM WHERE, UM, SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIALS ARE ALL PLACED INTO ONE CAN AND SEPARATED THROUGH ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PROCESSING METHODS. UM, [04:25:01] THIS IS TO CUT DOWN ON CONTAMINATION, WHICH WE, WE'VE ALL HEARD THE STUDIES ABOUT CONTAMINATION AND RECYCLING. AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE EITHER ARE PUTTING THINGS INTO THE RECYCLING BIN THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ISN'T RECYCLABLE OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS. UM, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT RECYCLING. UM, THIS WOULD ALSO CUT DOWN ON LANDFILL USE AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER, UM, POSITIVE, UM, IDEAS IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS. SO I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UM, LOOK AT THIS FURTHER, TAKE IT TO COMMITTEE, REALLY EVALUATE THIS PROCESS. AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UM, FOR WORKING ON THIS, UM, AMENDMENT AS WELL. THANK YOU. 6.05, WITHDRAWN. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND, AND WE, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, UH, GOODWOOD WITHDRAWING, BUT I ALSO WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN CARTER WHO HAD A COMMITTEE HEARING WITH FTC AS WELL. AND REALLY FOR ME, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO FIND, UH, PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS, UH, OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING. UM, YOU DID MENTION IT A BIT A BIT AGO, MAYOR, THAT WE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE NOT MAKING THE MONEY THAT WE SHOULD BE MAKING FC C'S NOT MAKING THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING. SO RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, YOU KNOW, UH, LOOKING AT, UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE, THE CHALLENGES? AND I THINK ONE OF THEM, IT'S EDUCATION. WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO IT A LOT, UH, WITH RESIDENTS. UM, WHAT IS BEING RECYCLED, UM, AND WHAT'S BEING THROWN IN, IN FOLKS, UH, GREEN CANS. BUT THEN THE OTHER ONE, WHICH WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS AS WELL, IS, UH, THE NEW REFUSE OR THE NEW, NEW, NEW TRUCKS THAT ARE, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR RECYCLING. 'CAUSE THOSE WERE THE TRUCKS THAT WE'RE USING, WERE BASICALLY, UH, USING FOR BOTH, UH, RECYCLING AND TRASH AND CONTAMINATING A LOT OF OUR RECYCLING, UH, MATERIAL. AND SO, UM, FOR, FOR ME, UH, AS WE PUT THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD, I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING EVERY ASPECT OF, OF, UH, OR EVERY PATHWAY TO, TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY, UM, ARE WE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN, UH, TO REDUCE THE LANDFILL, BUT THEN WITH THIS SPECIFIC CONTRACT WITH FCC, THAT WE'RE ALSO, UM, ENSURING THAT THAT CONTRACT IS BEING FULFILLED ON BOTH ENDS, UH, FOR US, UH, IDENTIFYING WAYS THAT WE CAN BRING IN MORE REVENUE, BUT ALSO, UH, STAYING TRUE TO THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE AT FCC AS WELL, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT, UH, LOSING, UH, FUNDING AS WELL. SO, UM, WE'LL, UH, GLADLY WITHDRAW AS WELL, BUT WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION. VERY GOOD. HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I REALLY, I REALLY LIKE THIS IDEA AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BOTH OF YOU TO, UH, EXPLORE THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT, COMING TO THE SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT MORE. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER, POR, I MEAN, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE, THE RECYCLING CONTAMINATION RATE IS OUTTA CONTROL. AND WE GOT A, WHEN, WHEN PAR MAYOR PARKER WAS HERE, WE GOT A MILLION DOLLAR BLOOMBERG GRANT TO LOOK INTO THIS ONE BOON FOR ALL SITUATION, TONS OF OPPOSITION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY. AND THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW, IN THE 10 YEARS OR 10 PLUS YEARS IF THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER. UM, I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HEAR MORE AT COMMITTEE ABOUT THAT TECHNOLOGY, BUT IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN WE GOT THE GRANT AND THEN A BIG DEAL WHEN WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE SAID ABOUT THIS. COUNCILMAN CARTER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I WAS OUT AT EXXON, UH, THIS PAST FRIDAY LOOKING AT THE RECYCLING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE MOU AND I THINK THE ENTIRE RECYCLING PROGRAM FROM FCCS CONTRACT AND ADDRESSING THE CONTAMINATION, THE ONE BIN, THE EXXON, MOU. AND IT IS A BIG PICTURE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE CERTAINLY I THINK THE PROCESSES OUT AT EXXON ARE ON HOLD, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S, IT DESERVES A, A, A DEEP DIVE. I THINK AT LEAST WE NEED TO EXPOSE THE FCC CONTRACT, WHICH WAS VOTED ON SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IS JUST NOT PERFORMING. AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY IT TIED THE CITY'S HANDS FOR 30 YEARS. BUT, UH, UNDERSTAND THEY'RE MAKING REQUESTS OF US AND THAT'LL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE AND NOT ONLY LOOK AT NEW CONCEPTS TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO WE'VE GOTTA HAVE BETTER PERFORMANCE FROM THEM. COUNCILMAN DAVIS? COUNCILMAN DAVIS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, ON THE 6.05 COUNCILMAN PEC, UH, THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING OF GREAT CONCERN AND I THINK IT ADDRESSES A DEATHLY SERIOUS ISSUE. BUT WHAT, HOW [04:30:01] DO YOU PUT IN THE, WHAT WOULD BE THE PIECE TO PUT IN, IN TERMS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTAMINATION ON HOW WE, HOW WE APPROACH THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATING THEM ON, UH, WHAT THEY THROW IN AND WHATEVER. UH, LOOKING AT THE PREVIOUS, UH, UH, AMENDMENT THAT YOU PRESENTED, SO DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GUYS WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS OR HOW WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THAT, THAT SEEMS TO BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. YEAH, YEAH. ADDRESS THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, I, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. BUT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE NOT SORTING OUT THEIR MATERIALS. WE'VE SEEN THAT. RIGHT? AND SO IN A ONE BIN SYSTEM, YOU CAN PUT EVERYTHING IN THE SAME BIN. YEAH. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT EDUCATION PIECE BECAUSE IT'S BEING SORTED, UM, AT THE PROCESSING PLACE. SO IT, IT CUTS DOWN ON HAVING TO DO THAT EDUCATION PIECE A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN REAL FAST TOO, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO ALCORN'S POINT ABOUT THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S WHY WE SPECIFICALLY WROTE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PROCESSING METHODS, BECAUSE THAT PROCESS HAS CHANGED, I THINK, OVER 10 YEARS. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE, OBVIOUSLY, THAT IT'S, UM, GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS, AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. AND IT, AND IT DOES SEEM TO BE WITH THIS NEW YEAH. PLAN. SO, SO COST SAVINGS IS, IS, IS THE THING. AND I, I, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, COST SAVINGS IS SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, BUT HOW DO WE GET THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ANOTHER THING THAT I LIKE TO WORK ON AS WELL, HOW WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? 6.05 IS WITHDRAWN, SENT TO COMMITTEE. 6.6, 6.06. UM, SO THE SUMMER MEYER NEIGHBORHOOD DEPOSITORY AND TRANSFER STATION IS GOING TO, UM, BE CLOSED FOR TWO YEARS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS. MUCH NEEDED, VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT PROJECT, BUT IN THAT TIME FOR AT LEAST A PORTION OF IT, THE, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEPOSITORY IS GOING TO BE CLOSED, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON, UM, WHAT THAT WILL DO FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING. YOU KNOW, WE JUST PASSED ALL OF THIS MONEY FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING MEASURES, AND I'M CONCERNED THAT, UM, PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO START ILLEGALLY DUMPING IN DISTRICT A IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON BECAUSE THIS IS CLOSED. I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT, UM, THAT IS GOING TO BE LOOKED AT TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS, ALTERNATIVES DURING THAT TIME WHILE IT'S CLOSED. SO I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT. UM, KNOWING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT THIS VERY CLOSELY, VERY WELL. POINT SIX, 6.06 IS WITHDRAWN. SIX 6.07 IS, UM, TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CONTINGENCY STAFFING AND CONTRACTOR PLAN FOR OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER COLLECTION PERIODS, UM, FOR RESIDENTIAL TRASH COLLECTION AND HEAVY TRASH COLLECTION. UM, DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE SEE THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT WE START, YOU KNOW, FROM OCTOBER WE START GETTING BEHIND AND BEHIND AND BEHIND. AND THEN BY THE TIME THE HOLIDAYS HIT, WE'RE SO MANY MONTHS BEHIND THAT WHEN WE START HIRING CONTRACTORS AT THAT POINT. IT TAKES MONTHS SOMETIMES TO COLLECT ALL OF THE TRASH AND HEAVY TRASH AT THAT POINT. IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE YEAR OR SO. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UM, NOT BE REACTIVE THIS TIME TO IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MEASURES IN PLACE GOING FORWARD DURING THAT TIME. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING FOR IT TO BE WITHDRAWN, THAT IT DOESN'T AMEND THE BUDGET. I BELIEVE THAT IT DOES AMEND THE BUDGET AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FINANCES AND HIRING CONTRACTORS, WHICH TAKES MONEY TO DO. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? UH, I, I MEAN, IF YOU SAY, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, THEN IT'S FINE. WE ARE HITTING A COMPLETE RESTART BUTTON WITH SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC WORKS. SO THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE. AND SO CERTAINLY WITH THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. SO, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT. WE DON'T WANT TO BE ALWAYS PLAYING CATCH UP, AND THAT'S THE REASON THE BUDGET IS WRITTEN AS IT IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. UM, IN LIGHT OF THAT, MAYOR, IF YOU CAN ASSURE US THAT YOU'RE GONNA START LOOKING AT THIS MANY MONTHS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE, UM, BEFORE WE GET THERE, I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE. SO I'LL, WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. OKAY, THEN I WILL WITHDRAW 6.07. THANK YOU. 6.08. 6.08 IS, UM, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IN SOME OF THE OVERTIME FUNDING, YOU KNOW, WE GET REPORTS AT, UM, BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OF OVERTIME, UM, SPENDING FROM POLICE AND FIRE WHEN A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE [04:35:01] ACTUALLY GETTING REIMBURSED FOR THAT OVERTIME. NOT ALL OF IT. I MEAN, WE'RE STILL SPENDING A LOT IN OVERTIME, BUT WE ARE GETTING REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF BACK OUT OF THAT OVERTIME NUMBER. UM, SO THIS AMENDMENT WAS JUST TO GIVE SOME TRANSPARENCY TOWARDS THAT, TO ADD, UM, LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET TO ACTUALLY SHOW MONEY COMING, UM, BACK AND BEING REIMBURSED TO THE CITY FOR SOME OF THAT OVERTIME. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS HAPPENING NOW AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD, UM, IN THE FUTURE. PRESENTATIONS FOR THAT, THOSE NUMBERS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERTIME FUNDING. SO SINCE IT'S HAPPENING NOW, I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT. 6.09. UM, THIS IS FOR, UM, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER TO EVALUATE, UM, THE IMPACT OF UTILIZING OFF-DUTY FIREFIGHTERS TO BE NINE ONE ONE. DISPATCH CALL TAKERS. UM, WE HAVE VACANCY CONCERNS AT THE, UM, HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER, AND WHO BETTER TO ANSWER THOSE CALLS THAN FIREFIGHTERS. A LOT OF TIMES FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING SECOND JOBS AND INSTEAD OF GOING TO ANOTHER CITY OR WORKING SOMEWHERE ELSE, WHY NOT HAVE THEM WORK IN OUR CALL CENTERS WHERE IT IS VERY NEEDED. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S, UM, SOME LEGAL CONCERNS WITH DOING SO, BUT WOULD LIKE TO WORK MAYOR WITH YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION ON A PATH FORWARD ON THIS, UM, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD, UM, REALLY HELP WITH THE VACANCY, UM, IN THAT DEPARTMENT VERY WELL. SO I'LL WITHDRAW THAT AND LOOK FORWARD WORKING WITH 0.9 IS WITHDRAW, UM, SIX POINT 10. UM, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE BUDGET AMENDMENT I HAD LAST YEAR. THAT BASICALLY SAYS THAT IF THE FUND BALANCE ENDS UP BEING HIGHER THAN, UM, THAN WHAT WE EXPECT IT TO BE, THAT WE WILL USE 1% OF THE DIFFERENCE TOWARDS THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. UM, AND IT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT IF, IF IT DOES AND IT COULD, UM, THEN WE COULD GO FORWARD, UM, WITH PUTTING 1% BACK INTO THAT VERY NECESSARY FUND. SO TAKE A VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF 6.10, SAY YES, THOSE OPPOSED NAY MOTION PASSES. OKAY, NEXT. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THAT. UM, SIX POINT 11. UM, I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ON THIS ONE. UM, I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW IT BECAUSE, UM, I'D LIKE TO WORK FURTHER ON, UM, PROVIDING SOME MORE CLARITY ON THIS ONE. BUT BASICALLY, UM, THE GOAL OF THIS IS SOMETIMES WE'RE PASSING, UM, A, A CONTRACT THAT SPANS THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS, AND THEN THERE'S OPTION PERIODS AFTER THOSE YEARS. AND SOMETIMES WE SEE IN THOSE OPTION PERIODS THAT THE PRICE HAS BALLOONED. AND SO WE'RE STILL SPENDING WITHIN THE AMOUNT THAT WE ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED, BUT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING IN THOSE OPTION YEARS THAT WE'RE EXECUTING THAT CAUSES THE MONEY, UM, TO GO THE SPENDING TO GO WAY UP. AND SO THIS WOULD JUST PROVIDE SOME TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH REQUIRING IT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL BEFORE THOSE OPTION YEARS ARE EXECUTED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN MAYBE SOME CONFUSION ON HOW I WROTE THIS ONE, SO I'LL WITHDRAW IT AND WORK, UM, MAYOR WITH YOUR OFFICE TO PROVIDE SOME MORE CLARITY ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU. SIX POINT 11 IS WITHDRAWN. NEXT, UM, SIX POINT 12. UM, THIS IS TO ALLOW FOR, UM, ALL OF THE INSPECTION RELATED ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT THE CITY BRINGS IN REVENUE FOR, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, CITATIONS OR, UM, LIENS ON PROPERTIES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO GO BACK INTO THAT FUND. UM, IN ORDER TO DO MORE INSPECTIONS, THIS IS SOMETHING EVERY YEAR, I THINK SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I'VE HAD SOME KIND OF BUDGET AMENDMENT ABOUT MONEY BEING SPENT AND REVENUE BEING COLLECTED, GOING BACK TO THAT DEPARTMENT WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE ARE DOING THAT NOW, UM, IN, UM, IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR THIS FUND. AND SO BECAUSE WE ARE ARE FINALLY DOING THAT, UM, WITH INSPECTIONS, I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT. 6.12, WITHDRAWN, SIX, UM, 6.13 IS, UM, TO EVALUATE IF WE CAN AUTHORIZE QUALIFIED AND CERTIFIED, UM, PRIVATE ENGINEERS TO CONDUCT SOME OF THE INSPECTIONS PERFORMED BY THE CITY. WE ALL KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, TO GET PERMITS OR TO CLOSE OUT PROJECTS, IT OFTENTIMES REQUIRES PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND, AND DO CERTAIN INSPECTIONS, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES IN THAT DEPARTMENT TO DO THOSE INSPECTIONS. SO THIS WOULD ALLOW, UM, PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO GET THIS DONE A LITTLE FASTER TO BASICALLY OUTSOURCE IT TO SOMEONE WHO'S A QUALIFIED ENGINEER TO PERFORM THAT WORK. I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, PUBLIC WORKS IS EVALUATING THIS. I DID HAVE THIS AMENDMENT LAST YEAR AS WELL AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE EVALUATED. SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE EVALUATED THIS TIME AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, UM, [04:40:01] WITH THIS IDEA. YES, MA'AM. WILL DO. OKAY. SO I WILL WITHDRAW A 6.53 6.13 IS WITHDRAWN, 6.14. UM, 6.14 IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE FEE IN LIEU OF SIDEWALK PAYMENTS COLLECTED BY THE CITY GOES BACK INTO A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. AT THE TIME WHEN THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED, THAT, UM, I, I THINK MANY OF US BELIEVED THAT IT WAS GOING INTO A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND NOT TO THE GENERAL FUND WHERE WE CAN'T TRACK IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT, UM, IT IS GOING INTO FUND 2309, WHICH ALTHOUGH IT IS A CIP FUND AND NOT A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, UM, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT, UM, CANNOT BE USED ON ANY OTHER ITEM OTHER THAN SIDEWALKS. AND SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN UM, I THINK IT, IT BASICALLY SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE AS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. SO, UM, I WILL WITHDRAW THAT AMENDMENT WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE NOT USING THAT MONEY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. COUNCILMAN ALCORN, THANKS FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS VICE MAYOR PROAM. AND, AND YEAH, THE, UM, I WAS EXCITED MAYOR TO SEE IN THE CIPA BIG BUMP IN SIDEWALK FUNDING THIS YEAR. SO WE'RE GONNA BE BUILDING AND IMPROVING A LOT OF SIDEWALKS THIS YEAR. SO, UM, THIS MONEY WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. UH, 6.15, UM, 6.15. UM, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND I HAD THE SAME, BASICALLY THE SAME AMENDMENT. AND SO, UM, I WILL WITHDRAW MINE. AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WILL, UM, LAY THIS OUT WHEN HE GOES THROUGH HIS AMENDMENTS. OKAY, 6.15 WITHDRAWN. LOOK FORWARD TO WITHDRAWN DISCUSSING THAT ONE 6.16. UM, 6.16 IS, UM, KIND OF SIMILAR TO 6.15, BUT IT IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING PRIVATE COMPANIES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UM, TO ADOPT CITY PARKS IN PART OR IN WHOLE. AND SO, UM, IN 6.15 THAT COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ WILL LAY OUT LATER, IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. THIS IS THE PARKS IN GENERAL. WE'RE A PRIVATE COMPANY. IF THEY ARE NEXT TO A PARK, FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY WANT TO, UM, SPONSOR A NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OR OTHER PARTS IN THE PARK OR THE WHOLE PARK IN TOTAL, UM, THAT THEY BASICALLY HAVE A MENU THAT THEY CAN DO THAT KIND OF THING. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE WORK THAT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS WORKING ON NOW, BUT THIS JUST ALLOWS, UM, COMPANIES WHO WANT TO DO PIECES OF IT RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE PARK, UM, TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING IT TO BE WITHDRAWN AND IT DOESN'T AMEND THE BUDGET. I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS AMENDING THE BUDGET SINCE, UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINANCES ON THIS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO WORK, UM, FURTHER WITH YOU AND, UM, USING PARKS AND RECREATION ON MOVING THIS FORWARD. OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. UM, 6.17. THIS IS TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS TO CONTRACT WITH THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES, UM, RELATING TO CODE ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER HABITABILITY UM, ISSUES. SO AT APARTMENTS OR BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, UM, OFTEN TIMES THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT ULTIMATELY FOR BUILDINGS INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, IT, IT'S GOING BACK TO THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO WORK ON. THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS ARE VERY FOCUSED, UM, AT LEAST IN MY COUNCIL DISTRICT, IN, UM, GETTING RID OF SOME OF THESE, UM, SLUMLORDS, SOME OF THESE, UM, OTHER NUISANCE BUILDINGS. AND IT JUST GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO, UM, WORK ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES WITHIN, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE, SO THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO WORK ON EVERYTHING. SO THIS JUST WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, TO, TO PAY EXTRA TO WORK ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT, SO I WILL WITHDRAW THIS, UM, BUT WOULD LIKE TO WORK FURTHER WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT THIS VERY WELL. 6.17 AND 6.16 WAS WITHDRAWN. UH, NEXT, UM, 6.18. I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND THIS TO COMMITTEE, UM, TO BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS. THIS IS TO REQUIRE, UM, THE, UH, A COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT THE PROGRESS AND FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THIS IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO YOUR AMENDMENT ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S, UM, DELINEATED IN THE BUDGET. THIS IS JUST TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, REALLY LOOKING AT THIS, UM, COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM REGULARLY. DO WE NEED A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO REFER? YOU WANNA MOVE TO, UH, YES, I MOVE TO REFER THIS TO BUDGET AND FISCAL AGREEMENT. MOTION. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. SEND 6.18 TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. ALL IN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. I'M SORRY. NO, THAT'S WAS THAT, THAT'S OKAY. UH, I JUST, UH, I WANNA THANK, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. UM, I'VE TALKED A LOT SINCE THIS BUDGET HAS COME UP ABOUT THE [04:45:01] HEALTH OF OUR COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, THE HEALTH OF THE RESERVES. WE ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WE KNOW THAT OUR WATER WASTE WATER SYSTEM IS, YOU KNOW, MUST BE OPERATIONAL AND MUST HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING. I WAS VERY GRATEFUL, UH, MAYOR TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SOME MODELING. THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SEE ON. AND I THINK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THAT, UH, THREE YEARS OUT ON THE RESERVES. YOU KNOW, THE FEAR THAT THE, THOSE RESERVES ARE GONNA DWINDLE DOWN TO BIG FAT, NOTHING, UM, OR, OR WITH THE DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW, CASH LEVELS. UM, I SEE FROM THE MODELING WITH THE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT GROWTH IN OUR CITY, NOT JUST GROWTH OF NEW RESIDENTS, BUT GROWTH OF, OF THE CPI THAT WE GET EVERY YEAR, ANY RATE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, PLUS EFFICIENCIES GAINED THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE OPERATIONS OF THE SYSTEM, UM, ARE ALL ASSUMED IN THIS MODELING. SO I'M COMFORTABLE NOW THAT, THAT, THAT RESERVE FUND, IT'S REALLY NOT BEING, IT'S STAYING WELL WITHIN, I THINK, UH, IN THREE YEARS YOU'RE STILL HAVE 414 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND. SO APPRECIATE, I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE, UM, BUT APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO KIND OF VERIFY THAT THE, THE CUS RESERVES ARE GOING TO REMAIN HEALTHY. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN PENZA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF REALLOCATING WATER AND SEWAGE FUNDS AS SOLID WASTE. I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF DISTRICTS, E RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT AS WELL. UM, I APPRECIATE SEEING THAT WE'LL BE REVIEWING THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THE FORECAST PUT FORWARD BY THE ADMINISTRATION ARE ACTUALLY TRUE AND THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY DRAWING DOWN ON THOSE FUNDS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. VERY GOOD MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. SENATE ITEM 6.18 TO FINANCE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES, THOSE OPPOSED NAME. SO ORDERED 6.19, UM, 6.19. THIS IS RELATED TO THE D-D-S-R-F. UM, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING FOR DRAINAGE AND STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND I TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR, EITHER IN THE BUDGET OR THE CIP, THAT WE HAVE A HUGE FUND BALANCE, UM, IN THE D-D-S-R-F, UM, IN JUST THE DRAINAGE CHARGE. IN A VALOREM ALONE, WE HAVE OVER $377 MILLION AS THE ENDING FUND BALANCE, UM, BETWEEN THE TWO ACCOUNTS FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, SOME OF THAT MONEY IS BEING USED FOR OBLIGATIONS OF PROJECTS, UM, CONTRACTS, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DEFINITELY SAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY. BUT MY CONCERN IS ALWAYS LEAVING THAT MONEY TO SIT IDLE WHEN, UM, IT, WE DON'T HAVE A PLANNED, UM, PROJECT FOR THAT MONEY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES IF A PROJECT IS, YOU KNOW, $10 MILLION TOTAL, AND WE KNOW IN THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR IT'S GOING TO COST A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO PRE-ENGINEERING, AND THEN IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IT COSTS A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO THE ENGINEERING, AND THEN THE REST OF THE MONEY IS FOR, UM, CONSTRUCTION. IN YEAR THREE, WE ARE PROGRAMMING ALL OF THAT $10 MILLION IN THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR AND BASICALLY SAVING THAT MONEY AS WE GO DOWN THE LINE. AND SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS WE HAVE MONEY SITTING THERE AND THERE'S NO PROJECT MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THAT, THAT PROJECT IS HOLDING THE MONEY. I'D RATHER SEE US GO DOWN THE LINE AND SAY, OKAY, IT'S GONNA COST $10 MILLION. WE'LL ALLOCATE THE NEXT MILLION THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WE'LL JUST DO SHOVEL READY PROJECTS, UM, YOU KNOW, DO THE ENGINEERING FOR THE NEXT PROJECT DOWN THE LIST AND JUST KEEP OUR PROJECTS MOVING RATHER THAN HAVING OVER $300 MILLION JUST SITTING IN THIS ACCOUNT. WE ARE DOING BASICALLY THE SAME THING WITH THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE MONEY IN THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCOUNT JUST SITTING THERE AND WE'RE SAYING, HEY, LET'S USE IT FOR SOMETHING RATHER THAN IT JUST SITTING THERE. AND YOU NEVER HEAR ME SAY, LET'S SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON ANYTHING. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY HOW WE GET THESE PROJECTS DONE, IS SPENDING THAT MONEY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE TO US. SO UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT, UM, THE EXCESS MONEY BASICALLY NEEDS TO BE, UM, ALLOCATED TOWARDS PROJECTS. AND THAT'S, IT'S A LONG, UM, ORDINANCE, BUT THAT IS BASICALLY THE GIST OF THIS, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO START USING THIS MONEY AND NOT LETTING IT SIT IDLE. WELL, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S COMMITTED, AND I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE TO CALL RANDY UP TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT MAKES SENSE HE'S TAKEN OVER THE DEPARTMENT AND SO THE MONEY'S NOT SITTING IDLE, IT'S COMMITTED AND MOVING OUT ABOUT AS FAST AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. RANDY, WOULD YOU ADDRESS IF IN FACT, IT'S REALLY SITTING THERE? THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, [04:50:01] PRO TEM. UM, FUNDAMENTALLY, I AGREE WITH YOU, WE SHOULDN'T BE JUST TAKING HUGE CHUNKS OF MONEY AND PARKING THEM FOREVER, INDEFINITELY. IN FACT, I TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, HOW THE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO APPROPRIATIONS MOVING FORWARD SO THAT WE WOULD AVOID IN FACT, THESE VARIOUS SITUATIONS. NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GONNA, UH, BE THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A RAMP UP PERIOD WHERE YOU'VE GOTTA FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GOT THESE PROJECTS NOW THAT WE HAVE PARKED THAT MONEY FOR, AND THERE IS NOT AN ALLOCATION MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE'VE GOT FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR. SO IN THE FUTURE, I THINK THAT IN, UH, IN ESSENCE, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS ONE, YOU'LL SEE LESS OF THOSE THINGS STICKING AROUND LONGER BECAUSE WE WILL START APPROPRIATING AT MILESTONES RATHER THAN EVERYTHING UPFRONT. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THE MONEY THAT'S THERE IS ALLOCATED TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT. WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB OF, ADMITTEDLY, AND, AND MELISSA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT DEPTH, I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH OUR FINANCE TEAM. WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB OF IS PROVIDING YOU THE ACCOUNTING OF HOW EVERY DOLLAR TIES TO A PARTICULAR PROJECT AT THIS POINT. NOW, I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CUS FUND BALANCE AND THE IDEA OF A FUND BALANCE IN D-D-S-R-F. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE CUS FUND BALANCE DOES CONTEMPLATE BOTH, UH, DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS FOR HUGE AMOUNTS OF DEBT BECAUSE THERE IS DEBT THERE. AND D-D-S-R-F HAS NONE EXCEPT FOR WHAT WAS PRE-EXISTING THAT WE'RE PAYING OFF, WHICH I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WE'RE DOWN TO LIKE, ALMOST 130 SOMETHING MILLION THAT'S ALMOST COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AT THIS POINT. SO WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IS A FUND BALANCE THAT'S THERE FOR CASH RESERVES. YOU DON'T SEE A FUND BALANCE THAT'S THERE FOR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS. YOU SEE A FUND BALANCE THAT EXISTS REALLY TO PAY FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL. AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOK AT WHAT THE MECHANISM IS MOVING FORWARD. I, I'M JUST VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO DE APPROPRIATE PORTIONS OF THOSE PROJECTS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BE DONE IN FUTURE YEARS. UM, BUT IT'S A LONG, IT'S A LONG PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME DISCUSSION WE HAVE MANY TIMES WHEN THE CIP COMES UP, WHY DOES MY PROJECT GET DELAYED YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR? WELL, THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS MONEY. IT'S ALWAYS MONEY. AND WHETHER THAT'S MONEY BECAUSE WE CAN'T FULLY FUND THE DESIGN SERVICES OR WE FUNDED THE DESIGN AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE PROJECT ACTUALLY COSTS THREE TIMES AS MUCH. I MEAN, A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS, AND WE MADE GOOD PROJECT, UH, PROGRESS ON THIS, BUT THE ALAMEDA PLAZA DITCH, UM, WE COMMITTED LAST YEAR THAT WE WOULD GET THE DESIGN CONCEPT REPORT OUT. WE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SCOPE OF IT WAS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD AN IDEA THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY ABOUT A $35 MILLION PROJECT. AND ONCE WE WERE FINISHED, WE REALIZED THE PROJECT'S NORTH OF A HUNDRED MILLION. WE NOW HAVE TO EVALUATE, WELL, HOW DO WE APPROACH THOSE IN THE APPROPRIATE CHUNKS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE THE WORK FORWARD? AND WHAT DO THOSE PHASES LOOK LIKE? SO MAYOR, UH, THAT'S THE BEST EXPLANATION I CAN GIVE YOU AT THIS POINT, UH, IS I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT THE SAME KIND OF FUND BALANCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE CUS, BUT I ALSO ADMIT, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT DELIVERED TO YOU VERY SHORTLY, WHAT THE FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT'S IN THAT FUND STANDS FOR, WHAT PROJECTS IT'S TIED TO. AND IF AT ANY POINT WE DECIDE THAT WE WANTED TO SHIFT MONEY THAT WAS THERE, THAT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT WOULD BE. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE IF WE START SHIFTING THOSE DOLLARS, UH, THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED FOR PROJECTS. UM, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT JUST TO GET MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR PROJECTS. AND IF YOU START TO SHIFT AFTER THE FACT OR, OR ANTICIPATE THAT MONEY WILL BE THERE IN THE FUTURE FOR A PROJECT, MANY TIMES IT IS NOT. I THINK THE, THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE THOUGH IS WE HAVE MONEY THAT IS ALLOCATED FOUR PROJECTS AND THEN THE TIMELINES ARE NOT BEING MET. SO THE HARDEST THING IN GOVERNMENT IS JUST TO GET MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE. ONCE WE ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS FOR A PROJECT, THERE NEEDS TO BE MOVEMENT, TIMELINES HAVE TO STAY, UH, ON SCHEDULE. EVEN WITH OUR OWN CDSF DOLLARS, WE'LL HAVE MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO THE QUEUE FOR PROJECTS ALL OVER THE DISTRICT, UM, FROM TWO, THREE FISCAL YEARS AGO THAT STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. SO THE BIG ISSUE IS WE NEED TO SEE PROGRESS ON THESE PROJECTS. WHEN MONEY IS ALLOCATED FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT, THERE NEEDS TO BE MOTION AT ALL TIMES. AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION THAT RESIDENTS GET IS BECAUSE WE GO OUT AND TELL THEM, HEY, WE GOT THE DOLLARS FOR X, Y, Z PROJECT AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO START NEXT FALL. AND THEN WHEN NEXT FALL COMES AROUND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CONTRACTORS OR THERE'S THIS OR THAT, THEN THINGS [04:55:01] DON'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN. THAT'S MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO REALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS 'CAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET THOSE DOLLARS IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I AGREE WITH YOU PARTICULARLY ON THAT POINT. UH, YOU KNOW, WE SAY TIME IS MONEY IN, IN THE TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION WORLD TIME LITERALLY IS MONEY. THE LONGER IT TAKES, THE MORE MONEY IT'S GOING TO COST. THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, AND WE NEED TO DO THAT. I WILL NOTE PARTICULARLY, AND YOU, YOU POINT THIS OUT, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN YESTERDAY IN PARTICULAR, WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S A HUGE BACKLOG OF A LOT OF PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY CDSF RELATED. THIS BUDGET CONTEMPLATES THE CONTRACTING CAPACITY TO WIPE OUT THAT ENTIRE BACKLOG OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS. SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS, I WILL SAY GO BACK 10 YEARS OR MORE, RIGHT? SO, SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, THE CANS BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD LONG ENOUGH, AND I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY. MY INTEREST IS IN MOVING ALL OF THESE THINGS FORWARD, AND I WANT US TO SHOW GOOD PROGRESS. A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND THE HORSESHOE TODAY HAS BEEN ABOUT, UH, REPORTING MECHANISMS AND SO FORTH. UH, WE WILL, WE WILL PRESENT AS OFTEN, UH, AS NECESSARY TO SHOW PROGRESS ON THESE THINGS. THAT'S THE COMMITMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK IF YOU ALL DO THAT, THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW THE VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, AND OTHERS THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THESE DOLLARS. LIKE, LIKE WE'RE, WE HAVE REAL MOVEMENT, SO WE DON'T WANT TO SHIFT THESE DOLLARS. BUT WHEN WE DON'T SEE MOVEMENT, THEN THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE ISSUE REALLY, UH, IS, IS BLATANT. AMEN. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH RANDY'S EXPLANATION ? UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR DIRECTOR MACKAY, WHAT HE IS SAYING. I I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. BUT WE DO GO THROUGH THIS EVERY FISCAL YEAR, EVEN BEFORE DIRECTOR MACKEY WAS HERE, EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE YOUR MAYOR, THAT EVERY YEAR I'M POINTING OUT THAT THERE IS MONEY IN THE FUND BALANCE AND IT'S UNDER RESTRICTED, NOT COMMITTED IN ALL THREE OF THESE D-D-S-R-F ACCOUNTS. UM, I DO THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF IS IF A PROJECT DOES GET SHIFTED, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S POINT, UM, THE TIMELINE CHANGES TO A DIFFERENT FISCAL YEAR. THERE IS THAT MONEY STILL THAT WAS GOING TO BE ALLOCATED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND YOU COULD MAYBE TAKE THE PROJECT THAT WAS IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND SWITCH THEM AROUND IF WE KNOW THAT THE TIMELINE IS SHIFTED TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO IT WOULD ALLOW FOR PROJECTS TO CONTINUOUSLY MOVE RATHER THAN PROJECTS JUST SITTING THERE BECAUSE A TIMELINE MOVED. AND SO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FUND AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING PROJECTS FORWARD AND THAT THEY'RE NOT SITTING THERE, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. SO MAYOR, I'M GOING TO WITH RELUCTANTLY WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S THE WILL OF COUNCIL IS NOT FOR THIS TO GO FORWARD, BUT I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS AGAIN AND I DO, UM, DIRECTOR MACK. I WANNA HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS FUNDING GOING FORWARD. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA, CATCH SOME COUNCIL MEMBER PELLA. UH, WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS ONE EARLIER. I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR BRINGING THIS ONE FORWARD, AND I WILL ALSO WITHDRAW THAT ONE 8.02. SAME THING. UH, HUGE KUDOS TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WE TAKE A HARD LOOK AT, UM, EVERYONE'S OVERTIME, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE POLICE AND FIRES OVERTIME. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT IN OUR QUARTERLY REPORTS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WITHDRAW. WITHDRAW. I WILL WITHDRAW. ADAM WITHDRAWN. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO 13.01. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. 13.01 IS AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOCATE $75,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND ENDING BALANCE TO CONTINUE THE L-G-B-T-Q ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT COORDINATOR POSITION WITHIN THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. I WANNA, UH, THANK MY CO-SPONSORS ON THIS AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, SALINAS, PANZA, AND MARTINEZ. UM, THIS POSITION WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY CONNECTING LGBTQ PLUS HOUSTONIANS, UH, FOCUSING ON YOUTH AND SENIORS TO WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES, CITY SERVICES, AND ALSO WORK, UH, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LGBTQ PLUS DESIGNATED BUSINESSES THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND RECEIVING THE DESIGNATION, UH, IN SIX MONTHS WITH A PART-TIME ROLE. THIS POSITION HAS MADE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING IN APRIL, [05:00:01] UM, IN TERMS OF NEW 10 NEW, UH, L-G-B-T-Q BUSINESSES CERTIFIED AND CONNECTED TO CITY RESOURCES, UM, RESUME WORKSHOPS, HELD JOB SEEKING ASSISTANCE, UH, PROVIDED AND MORE DATA AND METRICS TO COME, UH, WITH ONLY SIX MONTHS OF, OF WORK DONE ON THIS. SO I APPRECIATE, UH, MAYOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL, AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND, UH, THE IMPACT AND THE ABILITY FOR, FOR THIS ROLE IN A FULL-TIME POSITION TO SUPPORT HOUSTONIANS ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU, ELLA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M REALLY PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR THIS ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HUGE KUDOS FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. UH, IT'S REALLY EASY TO CO-SPONSOR A GREAT AMENDMENT WHEN ALL THE WORK IS DONE FOR YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING DISTRICT C, THE MONTROSE CENTER IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DISTRICT, UH, SUPPORTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS WITHIN THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY. I ACTUALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE CURRENT COORDINATOR, UM, AT THE LAST LGBTQ PLUS HOUSTON POLITICAL CAUCUS MEETING. SO IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THE ROLE ALREADY IN EFFECT, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO, UH, TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS MOVEMENT MOVING FORWARD. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I ALSO, UH, WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING SINCE EARLY LAST, WELL, ACTUALLY SINCE WE TOOK OFFICE, IS HOW DO WE, UH, SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY? AND SO THE WORK THAT, UH, DIRECTOR, UH, HOARD HAS BEEN DOING, UH, TO SUPPORT ALL COMMUNITIES IS IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, UH, AGAIN, TO ENSURE THAT EVEN THE LGBTQ UH, IA PLUS COMMUNITY HAS, HAS RESOURCES AS WELL. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE SAW SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE SHARED WITH US, IT'S A, IT'S A POSITIVE, UH, MOVEMENT FORWARD. AND SO, UH, JUST TO SEE WHAT, WHAT IS GONNA, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THIS INVESTMENT, I'M EXCITED TO, TO SEE THE, THE PATHWAY THAT'S MOVING AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR MARK CASTILLO. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT. I WANNA THANK ALL THOSE IN COMMUNITY, INCLUDING, UH, TAMMY WALLACE AND THE CHAMBER FOR ALL OF THEIR GREAT WORK JUST PUSHED US FORWARD. UM, THIS IS EXCELLENT WORK. WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PUSH IT FORWARD. UM, AND I HOPE WE WILL LOOK AT IN THE YEAR TO COME OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NEED SIMILAR EMPOWERMENT POSITIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ELEVATING ALL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. VERY GOOD. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. HUFFMAN. NO. MOTION. NAY. MOTION PASSES. HUFFMAN, NO SHOW HUFFMAN VOTING NO. OH TWO NEXT 13 0 2, 13 0.02 ALLOCATES 500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND ENDING BALANCE TO SUPPORT CRITICAL OPERATIONS NEEDS AT BARK. THE BULK OF THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS THE KENNEL CLEANING SERVICES CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN RENEWED THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS. UH, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BARK'S OPERATIONS, THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THE RATE OF ADOPTABLE PETS THAT DON'T GET RETURNED. UH, WHEN YOU HAVE PROFESSIONALS CLEANING THE KENNELS, YOU'RE NOT RELYING ON BARK STAFF TO DO THAT. UH, IT'S DONE IN A, IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY THAT ENSURES THEY'RE CLEANED. YOU'RE SEEING RATES OF ILLNESS DROP, AND YOU'RE ALSO ALLOWING THE EMPLOYEES TO FOCUS ON THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS, GETTING THEM OUTSIDE, SOCIALIZING THEM. AND YOU SEE LOWER RETURN RATES ON THE ADOPTIONS BECAUSE THE PETS GET THE ATTENTION THEY NEED WHILE THEY'RE THERE. UM, BARK TOOK IN 2,500 MORE ANIMALS LAST YEAR COMPARED TO 2024. UM, SO THE ABILITY FOR THE STAFF TO PROPERLY, UH, WORK WITH THE FOLKS BRINGING 'EM IN AND, AND THE PETS THEMSELVES IS IMPORTANT. AND THEY ALSO OFFERED ADDITIONAL OPEN INTAKE DAYS TO HELP MEET THAT NEED. AND SO WHEN YOU SEE, UM, THE SHELTERS FULL AND ANIMALS NOT BEING ABLE TO COME IN OR, OR NO OPEN INTAKE DAYS, THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP ADDRESS THAT. THIS ALLOCATION WILL SUPPORT THE CONTRACT FOR THE KENNEL CLEANING, AS WELL AS OTHER OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. UM, WE KNOW THEY NEED A LOT MORE THAN THIS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE. AND WE HEARD FROM FOLKS THE PAST FEW WEEKS AT PUBLIC SESSION, UM, CALLING FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN BARK. WE'VE SEEN SOME PIECES WRITTEN IN THE PAPER AS WELL ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE TO GET READY FOR THE WORLD CUP WITH OUR, OUR STRAY ANIMAL POPULATION. AND SO THIS IS A, A CONTINUED STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, BUT WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FURTHER CITY COUNTY COLLABORATION ON OUR ANIMAL CONTROL EFFORTS, UH, TO REALLY TACKLE THIS IN A LONG TERM WAY. THANK YOU. [05:05:09] VOTE ON 1302. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION, NO MOTION PASSES. NO. NEXT 1303 ALLOCATES $135,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO RESTORE TWO PARK RANGER POSITIONS WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAM. THESE POSITIONS, UH, WERE REMOVED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, AND I CAN TELL YOU THEY, THEY DO PLAY, THE RANGERS DO PLAY, UH, A KEY ROLE IN SAFETY AND, AND SECURITY AT OUR PARKS. WE DON'T HAVE MANY, WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RANGERS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ENCOUNTER ISSUES WHILE TRYING TO UTILIZE THE PARKS OR TAKE THEIR FAMILY TO THE PARKS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THIS AND WILL REPURPOSE EXISTING VACANCIES TO RESTORE THOSE TWO POSITIONS. AND SO WITH THAT COMMITMENT, I WILL WITHDRAW 13 0 3. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN ALN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THIS DID COME UP DURING THE PARKS, UM, BUDGET WORKSHOP, UH, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY AT PARKS. I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO SAY THEY, THEY HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT WANNA CLOSE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO DANGEROUS. UM, SO I'M GLAD THAT, THAT THEY'RE GONNA WORK IN SOME ADDITIONAL PARK RANGERS. UM, SOMETHING ELSE IN THE PARK. AND I, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, ON GETTING MORE FUNDING FOR PARKS. WE RANK LOW IN OUR FUNDING FOR PARKS. ANOTHER THING THAT'S COME UP, MAYOR, THAT I'D LIKE, UM, AS, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS, UM, NOT TRYING TO STRETCH THEM ANYMORE THIN, BUT PARKS SPENDS A LOT OF OUR MOWING TIME PICKING UP TRASH. AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO MOW BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AFTER A WEEKEND, BIG WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY BECAUSE THEY'RE PICKING UP TRASH. SO THEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK, OR THEY DO THAT LIKE DURING THE O THE WEEKEND FOR OVERTIME FUNDS, THEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND DOING THE MOWING AND, AND IF THERE IS A WAY SOLID WASTE COULD HELP OUT, UM, WITH PICKING UP TRASH AT THE PARKS, IT'S A BIG DRAIN ON THEIR RESOURCES. I WAS KIND OF ASKING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY MIGHT NEED IF THEY WERE TO HIRE SOME ADDITIONAL, LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT JUST DID THE EARLY RETIREMENT COME BACK ON A PART-TIME BASIS. UM, IT'D BE AROUND $700,000 TO REALLY LET OUR GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PEOPLE PICK. I KNOW WE'RE FAR IN A FIELD FROM THE , I'M SEGUEING THIS FROM THE URBAN PARK RANGERS, BUT I DON'T WANT THE URBAN PARK RANGERS PICKING UP THE TRASH, BUT I'D RATHER, UM, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY LOOK STRATEGICALLY IF, IF THERE IS A WAY FOR SOLID WASTE TO HELP OUT WITH SOME OF THAT AND NOT TIE UP OUR GREEN, GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PEOPLE PICKING UP THE TRASH. VERY GOOD. COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA LET YOU KNOW IN JAY CITY, WE HAVE OUR OWN, UH, BEAUTIFICATION TEAM SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS CREWS WITH DEDICATED, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO SPECIALIZE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DISTRICT. SO THEY DO NOT ONLY PARKS, THEY DO EXPLAN, THEY DO OPEN DITCHES RIGHT OF WAYS, BUT IT'S ON CALL FOR WHATEVER IS NEEDED AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME. AND I THINK IF EVERY DISTRICT HAD THEIR OWN SPECIALIZED CREWS THAT CAN DO SOME OF THIS, UH, MORE TEDIOUS KIND OF ROUTINE WORK, THEN WE WOULD FREE UP OUR DEPARTMENTS FOR THE MORE HEAVY LIFTING. AND SO WE PAY FOR THAT OUT OF MY CDSF UH, DOLLARS, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REPLICATED CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. 13.04. 13.04 ALLOCATES 120,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND ENDING BALANCE TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED GRANTS PARK PARKS GRANTS MANAGER. THIS IS A STAFF ANALYST POSITION THAT SUPPORTS THE EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE NOW IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH OUR GRANTS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY DISTRICT HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY WITH, UH, THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF SOME GRANT FUNDS FOR A PARK. AND I KNOW OTHER PARKS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE HAD SIMILAR INSTANCES WHERE, UM, GRANT MONEY WAS AWARDED AND THEN FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, WASN'T ABLE TO BE REALIZED. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ONE, ENSURE THAT WHEN WE GET GRANT MONEY, WE'RE PUTTING IT TO USE, THOSE ARE VERY VALUABLE DOLLARS. OUR PARKS DESPERATELY NEED THEM, AND WE CAN ALSO BE USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROACTIVELY SEEK OTHER GRANTS, FEDERAL, STATE, ET CETERA, FOR OUR PARKS. UH, TO ME THIS INVESTMENT [05:10:01] PAYS FOR ITSELF AND THE RETURN IN GRANT MONEY THAT OUR PARKS, UH, CAN BE USED FOR. I UNDERSTAND THE, THAT THE REQUEST IS FOR A WITHDRAWAL. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND MORE WHY, AND IF THERE IS A WAY WE CAN FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD ON SUPPORTING OUR PARKS FOR, UH, OBTAINING AND UTILIZING MORE GRANT DOLLARS. COUNCILLOR HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I THINK A LOT OF YOUR AMENDMENTS ARE, ARE REALLY GOOD AND I LIKE THE IDEAS. UM, BUT I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS FOR THE SAME REASON I VOTED NO ON 1301 AND 1302 BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING SOURCE, BECAUSE HE'S PULLED FROM THE FUND BALANCE. UM, RESPECTFULLY. THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING HIM, QUITE FRANKLY, I WANT ANSWERS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I BELIEVE THAT YOUR QUESTION WAS, UH, THE, THE IMPETUS BEHIND DRAWING IT DOWN. I APOLOGIZE ABOUT NOT PUTTING THE DETAIL BEHIND IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS, AND ACTUALLY THERE'S A, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS. THERE ARE, UM, A LOT OF GRANTS MANAGERS ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, IT'S, UH, I WOULD SAY NORTH OF 20 TO 25 PEOPLE. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND HER STAFF ON THIS AS WELL, IS THAT WE FIND A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS COMPETING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING AFTER THE, UH, GOING AFTER THE SAME GRANTS AND COMPETING IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH VISIBILITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION AS WE WOULD LIKE. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A POSITION RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT IS POSTED AND IT'S GONNA BE INSIDE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND IT IS SORT OF A, A HIGH LEVEL GRANTS MANAGER POSITION THAT WILL FOCUS ON STRATEGY AS WELL AS ORGANIZATION. WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE GRANTS MANAGERS. WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE ORGANIZATION AROUND THE GRANTS. AND SO THE REASON WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS IS NOT THAT IT'S NOT NEEDED. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GO AFTER MORE GRANT DOLLARS FOR OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT WE THINK THAT WE CAN, GIVEN A LITTLE TIME WITH STRATEGY, WE CAN ACTUALLY BE DO MORE WITH LESS WITH THE FOLKS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. I HEAR YOU ON THAT. UM, THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS GI OBTAINING THE GRANT DOLLARS AND THEN BE AT RISK OF SPENDING THEM LOSING THE GRANT DOLLARS. YES. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SPENDING THEM WITHIN THE TIMELINE WE'RE GIVEN. AND AGAIN, THIS IS GRANT MONEY TO PARKS THAT DESPERATELY NEED THEM. ABSOLUTELY. SO WHERE WOULD THE SUPPORT COME FROM TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY WE RECEIVE IS SPENT AND UTILIZED ON THE PARKS AND WE'RE NOT AT RISK OF LOSING THAT? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT POSITION INSIDE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WOULD DO, IS TO CREATE THAT IMPETUS AND THAT PUSH INTO EXECUTING. AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THE MAYOR'S, UH, TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT AS WELL. WE GET A TON OF MONEY FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, NOT JUST GRANTS THAT WE APPLY FOR, BUT ALSO, UM, ALLOCATIONS FROM THE STATE, UH, STATE OF TEXAS DURING BUDGET CYCLES FOR GRANTS. I THINK WE HAD MONEY FOR TIDWELL PARK, WE HAD MONEY FOR, UH, DENVER HARBOR. WE HAD MONEY FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WASN'T SPENT IN TIME. AND WE, WE HAD A LOT OF GRIEF AROUND IT. AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS JOB IS GONNA DO, UM, IS TO BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE, PUT SOME DATA AROUND IT. WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A SOFTWARE, A UNIFIED SOFTWARE SYSTEM WHERE ALL OF OUR GRANTS LIVE DEPARTMENTS HAVE COBBLED TOGETHER IT OVER THE DECADES. AND SO YOU'LL FIND SOME PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, YOU'LL FIND SOME, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANTS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, BUT NONE OF IT SITS IN A SINGLE REPOSITORY. AND IN SOME CASES, DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY KEEP UP WITH THEIR GRANTS THROUGH PEN AND PAPER. AND SO THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES AROUND THIS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS, UH, THE REQUEST FOR WITHDRAW IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE, BUT THE, THE REQUEST IS WE WANT, WE, WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN PROCESS AND HAPPY TO COME AND PRESENT TO COMMITTEE. HAPPY TO KEEP YOU BRIEFED ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WOULD LOVE SUGGESTIONS FROM YOUR, FROM YOUR PART ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK THE BIGGEST PAIN POINTS ARE. BOTTOM LINE IS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN UTILIZING GRANTS NEAR ENOUGH, WHETHER IT'S HOMELESS PARKS, HEALTH LIBRARIES. AND SO I THINK WHEN THIS WAS REVIEWED, WE THOUGHT WE HAD IT COVERED WITH THE NEW GRANT OFFICER THAT IS REVIEWING. I MEAN, I CAN, WE HAVE SOME GREAT GRANT WRITERS IN CITY HALL, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT BEING UTILIZED. CERTAINLY OUR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SHE IS SELF SUPPORTIVE ON HER GRANT WRITING. AND, UH, IT'S JUST AMAZING IF YOU, DR. TRAN WILL COULD GIVE YOU A BRIEFING ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE JUST HAVE NOT AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED GRANTS. AND I THINK THE LOGIC WAS THAT THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY THAT. AND, UH, CERTAINLY YOU'LL BE AT THE TABLE. MELISSA, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO GRANTS? YEAH, YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THE POSITION THAT STEVEN AND THE MAYOR ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NET NEW IN THIS BUDGET IN FISCAL YEAR 27 THAT WE PROPOSED. SO IT'S NOT AN EXISTING POSITION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL. IT'S NEW THAT WE WANTED TO ADD. SO, UM, CAN HELP WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR AMENDMENT, [05:15:01] UM, WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. SO THIS POSITION WILL BE FILLED IN THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, CORRECT? YES. IT IT'S ALREADY POSTED. IT'S ALREADY POSTED, YEAH, IT'S ALREADY POSTED. OKAY. AND YOU, YOU MENTIONED, UH, DENVER HARBOR PARK, THAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS AMENDMENT MM-HMM . UH, TO ENSURE THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I HEARD ABOUT TIDWELL, I'VE HEARD ABOUT OTHERS. UM, AND SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THAT'S ALREADY IN THE WORKS. THERE'S A POSITION POSTED. UM, I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH Y'ALL ON THAT. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL WITHDRAW 13.04 COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND THE DENVER HARBOR PARK IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU DON'T DO THINGS. AND IT WAS IN THE STARTED YEARS BEFORE YOU AND I GOT HERE, BUT, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY UNHAPPY. BUT WE'RE GETTING WEEKLY REPORTS AND I UNDERSTAND THE GROUND DIRT, THE DIRT'S MOVING AND THE FRAMING FOR THE CONCESSION STAND AND OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN MISHANDLED. AND, UH, IT'S THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS AND OTHERS, IT'S, UH, IT'S MOVING FORWARD. SO I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WANT TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION WITH A GRANT THAT THE STATE GAVE US AND IT WAS NEVER UTILIZED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, UH, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU IN THE ADMINISTRATION AGAIN FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE ON PUTTING TOGETHER AND HIRING THIS GRANT COORDINATOR ACROSS THE CITY. UM, IT WAS ONE OF MY MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS COMING INTO COUNCIL AND WE'RE SO EXCITED. THE APPLICATION IS LIVE. I TALK ABOUT IT AT EVERY PUBLIC EVENT I GO TO. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES, YOU ALL KNOW SO MANY GREAT NONPROFIT LEADERS, PLEASE ENCOURAGE 'EM TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. IT'S A VERY WELL PAID POSITION. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT POSITION. I KNOW WE KNOW A LOT OF GREAT FOLKS. I WOULD DO SERVE THE CITY QUITE WELL IN IT. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR NEWSLETTERS AND YOUR OUTREACH TO ENCOURAGE AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN TO APPLY. SO THE CITY HAS THE BEST APPLICANTS FORWARD TO MANAGE WHAT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A LARGE AMOUNT OF GRANTS ACROSS THE CITY. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. IT'S JUST WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING, WHICH IS WHY MOST OF US RAN FOR OUR POSITIONS, IS, IS JUST SO MANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO SUCH A BETTER JOB OF GRANT WRITING THAN WE DO. AND IT'S THERE, IT'S JUST YOU HAVE TO APPLY AND, UH, JUSTIFY. SO THANK YOU. 13 13 0 4 IS DRAWN WITHDRAWN. 13.0, 13.05 IS AN AMENDMENT FOR $500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND ENDING BALANCE TO EXPAND THE CITY'S CAPACITY FOR DEAD AND HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL IN OUR PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES. CURRENTLY, WE SPEND ABOUT 1.8 MILLION ANNUALLY ON THIS, UH, THROUGH CITY SERVICES AND, AND CONTRACTED SERVICES. IT'S NOT MEETING THE FULL NEED. AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON PLANTING TREES AND GETTING NEW TREES IN OUR PARKS AND, AND IN OUR, OUR GREEN SPACES. I KNOW ME AND MY TEAM HAVE PLANTED A LOT OURSELVES. A NUMBER OF FOLKS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAVE PLANTED A LOT OF TREES, BUT THE DEAD TREE REMOVAL DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION, BUT IT IS A, A IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT OF OUR PARKS. WHEN WE HAD OUR DROUGHT A FEW YEARS AGO, A LOT OF TREES WERE REMOVED FROM DISTRICT H PARKS USING MY SERVICE FUNDS THAT WERE DEAD AND DANGEROUS AND THEY CAN CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. UH, THEY CAN CAUSE UH, FIRE HAZARDS. SO I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS GONNA UTILIZE EXISTING FUNDS TO PRIORITIZE IT. I DO APPRECIATE IT. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM ON IT. UM, I WOULD LIKE AT SOME POINT TO GET, UM, AN UPDATE AT POTENTIALLY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE ON THEIR EFFORTS FOR DEAD TREE REMOVAL SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE UPDATED ON THAT CITYWIDE, UH, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, IS FORGOTTEN ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TREES, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU. YOU. SO, UH, WITH THAT I'LL WITHDRAW 13.05. THANK YOU, SIR. 13 0 6, 13 0.06 IS A SOLID WASTE FEE AFFORDABILITY BRIDGE PROGRAM. SO THIS AMENDMENT PROPOSES ALLOCATING $500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND ENDING BALANCE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S WATER FUND TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE, SPECIFICALLY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, SENIORS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF THE PROPOSED SOLID WASTE ADMINISTRATION FEE. UM, THIS REALLY CAME FROM CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED $5 [05:20:01] FEE AND THEIR ANXIETY ABOUT THAT ON TOP OF THEIR OTHER EXPENSES ON FIXED INCOMES. I SEE DANA JONES IN THE AUDIENCE, AND SHE WAS ONE THAT I SPOKE WITH WHO IS A CONSTITUENT, UH, ROLAND PEREZ AS WELL. AND THEY HAD GENUINE CONCERNS AND ANXIETIES ABOUT EVEN THE $5 FEE. I UNDERSTAND $5 IS LOWER THAN WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE CHARGING EVEN WITH ASSISTANCE, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW WITH COST OF EVERYTHING GOING UP. UM, FIXED INCOME FOLKS THAT ARE ON DISABILITY, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD STORMS THIS PAST WEEKEND. SOME FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT GOT WATER IN THEIR HOMES FROM THOSE STORMS. AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, A NEW, A NEW FEE. I AM AWARE, UH, AFTER PROPOSING THIS AMENDMENT THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A CHARITABLE, THE WATER FUND IS A CHARITABLE ENDEAVOR, WE CANNOT GIFT TAXPAYER MONEY IN THAT WAY, UH, WHERE WE TRANSFER $500,000 TO THE WATER FUND THAT IS A DONATION BASED FUND. BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FIGURE OUT SOME PROGRAM THAT GOES INTO EFFECT, UM, THAT HELPS FOLKS WITH THIS $5 FEE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED CURRENTLY. I THINK IT'S A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US THAT'LL BE SUPPORTING THE BUDGET OR VOTING HERE IN A MINUTE. UH, BUT IT IS THE ILLEGAL USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE HEARING AND, AND, UH, DETERMINE THE BEST ROUTE TO TAKE TO ESTABLISH THAT CRITERIA AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE TO THE WATER FUND, WHICH THE SALINAS AMENDMENT DID EARLIER. SO, UM, LIST, IF YOU WOULD LET US SEND IT TO A COMMITTEE AND WITH A COMMITMENT THAT WE ALL WANT TO, UH, WORK WITH LEGAL AND THE ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH THE MEASURES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND CERTAINLY THE PUBLIC. ABSOLUTELY. UM, IT'S A PRIORITY FOR ME. I KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY FOR, FOR OTHERS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS HAD A REALLY GREAT PROPOSAL AROUND THIS, UM, AS WELL. AND SO IT IT, KNOWING THAT WE CAN'T TRANSFER GENERAL FUND DOLLARS INTO THE CITY'S WATER FUND, I DO WANT TO SEND THIS SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROPER MECHANISM SURE. TO PROVIDE THAT AFFORDABILITY BRIDGE PROGRAM, UM, IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR FOR THIS NEW FEE. AND IF THAT IS THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, THEN THAT'S WHERE I WILL MOVE TO SEND THIS ITEM FOR THE THE NEXT MEETING. VERY WELL. COUPLE SECONDS. MOTION IS TO MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO SEND ITEM 13.06 TO THE RAMIREZ IN THE, TO THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS YOU WANT SPEAK TO. I I WAS JUST GONNA, UH, SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF REFERRING IT TO A COMMITTEE. I'VE GOT, UH, QUESTIONS ON, ON WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT WHEN DISCOUNTS CAN BE GIVEN WHEN CREDITS. THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO THE COMMITTEE. YEAH. CAN BE GIVEN. ALL IN ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, SO I FIRST WANNA START OFF THAT, UH, MY FIRST 14 POINT, UH, ZERO ONE, UH, IT'S A, IT'S IN, IT'S ALSO A PART, YOU KNOW, PART OF A SOLID WASTE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE. SO I WILL BE WITHDRAWING IT SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. UH, I ANTICIPATE WITHIN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS AND WE'LL HAVE, UM, SOMETHING LAID OUT ON, ON HOW WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. I WILL SAY THAT, UM, IN LIEU OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, I WILL NOT BE SUBMITTING A TRASH FEE THIS YEAR, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS A PATHWAY NOW TO FINALLY RIGHT SIZE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. FOR A LONG TIME WE AVERAGE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 90 MILLION TO ABOUT 104 HUNDRED AND $5 MILLION FOR SOLID WASTE, KNOWING THAT IT WAS, UH, UNDERFUNDED. AND WHAT WE ULTIMATELY, UH, STARTED SEEING WAS, UH, THE TRUCKS WERE, WERE BREAKING DOWN, CATCHING ON FIRE ON SIX 10. UH, WE'RE WE'RE SEEING, UM, FACILITIES THAT WERE NOT BEING UPDATED, TRANSFER FACILITIES THAT COULD, UH, HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE, THE DRIVING FOR TRUCKS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BACK TO NEIGHBORHOODS AFTER THEY'RE PICKING UP. UM, AND THIS, UH, 14.01 I I SUBMITTED IT LAST YEAR, UH, ESTABLISHES AND ASSESSES A ONE-TIME FEE ON NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT REQUIRES WASTE SERVICE, UH, TO BE PROVIDED BY PUBLIC WORKS, UH, SOLID WASTE. NOW, THE ONE-TIME FEE, UH, WOULD BE CALCULATED BY MULTIPLYING THE NUMBER OF NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS IN THE DEVELOPMENT BY THE COST INCURRED, UH, BY THE CITY TO DELIVER A NEW REFUSE CONTAINER, WHICH IS ABOUT $28. UH, THE FEE SHOULD [05:25:01] NOT BE APPLIED TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH PRIVATE TRASH SERVICE, AND OF COURSE, THE REVENUE THAT WOULD BE GENERATED. UM, AGAIN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS THAT WE BUILD REVENUE INTO SOLID WASTE. UM, KNOWING THAT WE'VE INCREASED, UH, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT BY ABOUT 25, 20 $6 MILLION NOW AT ABOUT 130 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS, UM, I FEEL CONFIDENT IN IDENTIFYING OTHER RE REVENUE GENERATING, UH, SOLUTIONS LIKE THE TRANSFER STATIONS. I THINK WE ANTICIPATE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10, 15, $20 MILLION THAT WE COULD BRING IN THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY, UH, HELP ADDRESS, UH, WHAT A, A UH, TRASH FEE WOULD ULTIMATELY LOOK LIKE. UH, BUT AGAIN, I, I WILL WITHDRAW THIS. I WANNA SPEAK TO 1406 AND 1408 JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME, UH, TOPIC. UH, WE SPOKE ABOUT 1406 ALREADY. UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT RECYCLING LOOKS LIKE HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, WE REALLY NEED TO REALLY, UH, TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO, UH, WHAT, WHAT THOSE OPERATIONS LOOK LIKE, WHERE THE INEFFICIENCIES ARE AS WELL. UH, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT'S NOT ONLY, UH, CREATING A, A BACKLOG ON, ON THE SERVICE, BUT IT'S ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATING MORE, UH, WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I WILL BE WITHDRAWING THAT AS WELL. 14.08. WE SPOKE TO THIS ALREADY. I'M GLAD THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUES ARE SUPPORTING, UH, THAT ONE IN THE, IN THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL. UH, A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WAS SAYING, UH, WHEN TALKING ABOUT A TRASH FEE, UH, FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN AS A STAFFER, I WOULD GO OUT TO CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS. UH, WE KNEW THAT HOUSTON WAS THE REALLY THE ONLY LARGEST CITY WITHOUT A TRASH FEE. AND IN CONVERSATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WE TALK ABOUT DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, UM, I CARE MORE ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE RIGHT AROUND US, LIKE PASADENA, WHERE IT'S $31 NOW, UM, WHERE FRIENDS WOULD, IT'S OVER $30 AS WELL. UH, EVERYBODY HAS A TRASH FEE. AND, AND I GET IT, AND I'VE HAD THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IN EVERY CIVIC CLUB MEETING, UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVERYBODY WHO'S ON BOARD, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME, UH, CONVERSATIONS THIS BUDGET CYCLE NOW ABOUT, UH, WHERE THAT BURDEN IS. BUT ULTIMATELY, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THIS, UH, CITY AND BASIC CORE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN MEETING EXPECTATIONS, AND WE NEED TO HAVE THESE REAL SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH HOWEVER DIFFICULT IT MIGHT BE. AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK AROUND THE HORSE HERE, EVERYBODY'S IN SUPPORT OF IT. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS NOW PROPOSING A, WHETHER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REVENUE CAP OR TALKING ABOUT A FEE, UH, IT GETS, UH, UH, PEOPLE GET A LITTLE BIT, UM, HESITANT, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR GAPS ARE IN SOLID WASTE. WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU DON'T PICK UP FOLKS HEAVY TRASH, IT BECOMES ILLEGAL DUMPING. WHEN YOU DON'T PROVIDE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF STAFFING FOR INSPECTORS TO GO OUT AND CITE FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING OUT WAY MORE THAN WHAT THEY SHOULD BE, OR I IDENTIFY WHERE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING IS, THEN THAT CREATES ANOTHER HEALTH, HEALTH CHALLENGE AS WELL. AND SO, UH, FOR 14.01, 14.06, AND 14.08, I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW THEM. I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, DIRECTOR MACKAY AND DIRECTOR, UH, UH, LARRYS, UH, TO SEE HOW WE CONTINUE TO RIGHTSIZE THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY ONE OF THE CORE SERVICES THAT TOUCHES EVERYBODY ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, WE COURSE CORRECT ON THAT END. UH, 14.02, UM, 14.07 AND 14.09. THEY'RE ALL IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. UM, SO THE FIRST ONE, UH, IS, IS TO ESTABLISH AND ADOPT A GATE PROGRAM UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 125 PARKS IN DISTRICT. I, UM, THERE'S SEVERAL PARKS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY. WE HAVE, UH, I WAS TALKING TO DIRECTOR, UH, UH, KENNETH ALLEN IN DISTRICT. I, WE HAVE 60 PARKS, SO I KNOW IN SOME DISTRICTS YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A DEDICATED, UH, TEAM, BUT IN DISTRICT IOWA, WE'RE SPREAD OUT FROM HIGHWAY 90 AND, AND, UH, GREENS BAY DOWN TO 45 IN THE BELTWAY, IT REALLY BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT. AND SO, UM, MY CONVERSATION MOVING INTO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? AND FOR ME, WHEN I LOOK AT FAMILIES WANTING TO, UH, GO TO A PARK, A CITY PARK, IT SHOULD BE DE LITTERED, MOWED AND MAINTAINED. AND MAINTAIN MEANS THE LIGHTING MAINTAIN MEANS THAT YOU PUT OUT THOSE, UH, TRASH BINS THAT SHOULD BE OUT THERE, THE BENCHES. AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT A BIT MORE. UH, MAYOR, I, I HAVE HAVE A MEETING SET UP WITH DIRECTOR ALAN SOON, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOUR TEAM ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GONNA BE REPURPOSING, UH, SOME OF THEIR VACANCIES. UM, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADOPT A GATE. UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY AS WELL, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND OUT A PARK RANGER. WHAT I'VE HEARD IS PARK RANGERS, THEY START THEIR SHIFTS OPENING UP GATES, AND BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE, IT'S [05:30:01] ALREADY TOO LATE TO GO AND CLOSE THEM. AND SO WE GET, UH, CALLS OUT IN MY OFFICE ABOUT WHY ARE THE GATES OPEN. IT, IT BRINGS OTHER, UH, ACTIVITY THAT WE DON'T WANT WHEN IT'S ALREADY GETTING LAID. AND SO, UH, THIS, THIS, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENT IS REALLY TO START FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN START RIGHT SIZING, UH, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND ENSURING THAT CORE SERVICES IS A PRIORITY. UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY AT THE PARKS. UM, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WORKING ALONGSIDE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, IDENTIFYING FUNDING AS WELL. UH, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY, THESE GREEN SPACES ARE A PROACTIVE WAY OF, OF CREATING, UH, A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I WILL WITHDRAW 14.02, 14.07. UM, AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT, UH, BOTH ME AND COUNCILLOR PECK CO-SPONSORED. IT WAS FOR, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM IN DISTRICT A AND I TO EVALUATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH QUALIFIED NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES AT CITY OWNED COMMUNITY CENTERS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. THE PROGRAM SHALL REVIEW OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SPONSORSHIP, FACILITY ENHANCEMENT, NONPROFIT LED PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS. UH, ANY PROGRAMMING PROVIDED THROUGH SUCH PARTNERSHIPS MUST REMAIN OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND MAY NOT BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NONPROFIT. UH, ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, UH, AGAIN, THE PRIORITY IS DE LITTERING, MOWING, AND MAINTAINING THE, THE FACILITIES. UH, 14.09 HAS TO DO WITH TENNIS OPERATIONS. UH, WE, I SAW AN INCREASE IN, IN THE, UH, THE BUDGET FOR TENNIS OPERATIONS. WE ARE GONNA, AGAIN, GO BACK AND SPEAK TO, UH, DIRECTOR ALAN ON THIS AS WELL. BUT WE HAVE, UM, PARKS THAT ARE NOT BEING MOWED AND MAINTAINED AT A LEVEL WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. WALTER JONES PARKS. IT USED TO BE IN DISTRICT D, NOW IT'S IN DISTRICT. I, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT FAMILIES WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THAT PARK SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT TENNIS OPERATIONS AND INCREASING THEIR BUDGET. I KNOW IT'S A REVENUE GENERATING, UM, PROGRAM, AND I DON'T WANNA ELIMINATE THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO GO TO A PARK RATHER THAN TENNIS. UH, WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF ALLEVIATING THE CITY FROM GOLF COURSES THAT WAS ALSO DRAINING THE BUDGET, AND WE NEED US TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS WHERE WE'RE OFFSETTING SOME OF THESE ANCILLARY ITEMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. QUITE FRANKLY, SOMEBODY THAT, THAT USED TO MANAGE AND RUN YOUTH PROGRAMS, SUMMER PROGRAMMING, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR IT, BUT IS THE CITY, SHOULD THEY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT WHEN NONPROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE HOUSED, YOU KNOW, CUT THEIR FACILITY COSTS AND WORRY ABOUT AN OPERATIONAL COST, UH, ON THOSE NONPROFITS? AND SO, I WILL BE WITHDRAWING 14.02, 14.07, AND 14.09 BECAUSE, UH, I, I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH DIRECTOR ALLEN AND, AND ALSO PRENTICE AS WELL. AND THERE'S MOVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALLEVIATING SOME OF THESE, UH, EXTRA COSTS FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, AND FOCUSING ON, UH, FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED THE HELP. UM, 14.03. UH, IT WAS TO AMEND ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION TWO, CODE OF ORDINANCE, AND THIS IS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE WITHIN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, WHAT, WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING, MAYOR, IS THAT THERE'S A DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. SO, UH, WE HAVE, UH, OIG UNDER LEGAL. WE HAVE, UH, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT UNDER GSD, AND THEN HR FOR ME, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO, UH, AMENDING OF THE BUDGET, THIS IS REALLY CONSOLIDATING THIS, UH, UH, THIS OIG OFFICE UNDER LEGAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING, UH, UH, WE'RE UTILIZING OUR CITY DOLLARS A LOT MORE EFFICIENTLY, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BECOMING MORE TRANS, NOT JUST TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT HO WE'RE HOLDING, UH, NOT JUST OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND EMPLOYEES, BUT JUST IN GENERAL, FOLKS, UH, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE. WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN, UM, CONTRACTS LIKE THE WATER, THE WATER, UH, LINE CONTRACT. UM, RECENTLY WE, THERE WAS AN, UH, AN ITEM WHERE A PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE WAS BUYING EQUIPMENT. UH, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CATCHING THAT STUFF AND THEN ADDRESSING IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SO, UH, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THIS, UH, UH, FORWARD IN A COMMITTEE. I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YET, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE BRING THIS UP. CONTINUE TO RAISE THIS UP, MAYOR, BECAUSE, UH, I THINK LIKE YOU AND EVERYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WE WANNA ADDRESS ANY ABUSE, ANY WAYS, UH, UM, AND OF COURSE, DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. SO, UM, HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. UM, 14.04, IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, HPD, AND ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT, IT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BUDGET LINE ITEM. I WANNA RAISE THE FACT THAT, UM, THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PROGRAM, [05:35:01] HOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR WORK. I, UH, WE HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, ASSISTANT CHIEF HARDIN HERE DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I HAD TO RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT EVERY HPD OFFICER IS DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH. IT'S A TOUGH JOB THAT THESE OFFICERS ARE DOING ALREADY. UM, AND TO, TO, TO, TO SAY THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE, UH, THAT FORWARD FACING, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, THAT THEY'RE BUILDING TRUST, UH, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS JUST GONNA BE DIFFICULT, MAYOR. AND SO, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE CHIEF GUZMAN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING THAT BRIDGE WITH OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER? UM, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THE AS TRUST CONTINUES TO BREAK DOWN, IT DOES MAKE IT LESS SAFE IN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO I WOULD DRAW THIS, UH, 14.04 AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND CHIEF, UH, CHIEF HARDIN, CHIEF DIAZ, AND EXECUTIVE CHIEF GUZMAN, UM, 14.05. UH, THIS WAS, UM, SOMETHING THAT WAS SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT. I, UH, WE FOUND OURSELF, UH, POSSIBLY LOSING THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL. AND SO, UH, THIS, THIS, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENT WAS WITHIN 45 DAYS OF ADOPTING THE AMEN. THIS AMENDMENT, HOUSTON AIRPORTS WOULD DEVELOP A PLAN TO FUND AND MAINTENANCE, UH, FUND, MAINTAIN, AND PRESERVE THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY'S HISTORIC AIR TERMINAL BUILDING IN HOBBY AIRPORT. UM, I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH, UH, WITH, UH, DIRECTOR JIM, UM, AND HIS TEAM, AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOODS OUT THE HOBBY AIRPORT. UH, THERE IS A PLAN MOVING FORWARD THAT WE HOPE TO HEAR, UH, GOOD NEWS, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS CITY ASSET, UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THERE, UH, SPEAKING TO MY COLLEAGUES, PLEASE VISIT IT. UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT ASSET FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE SHOULD BE, UH, UH, IDENTIFYING WAYS WHERE WE COULD, UH, DIS DISPLAY, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIES, UM, EVEN BRINGING IN SOME REVENUE TO WHATEVER EXTENT AS WELL. SO, I WOULD DRAW THAT AS WE'RE, I'VE ALREADY STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. UM, SPOKE TO 1406, SPOKE TO 1407. WITHDRAWING THOSE, SPOKE TO 1408. SPOKE TO 1409 AND 1410. UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PASS THAT ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S LEADERSHIP. SO, VERY WELL. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THE MARTINEZ ITEMS ARE TAKE CARE, WITHDRAWN AND TAKEN CARE OF. AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR POINTS ON THE, UH, A PROPOSED GARBAGE FEE. SINCE I FIRST MET YOU, YOU'VE BEEN ADVOCATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SOLID WASTE. IN FACT, ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, THERE WAS YOU LEADING THE CHARGE FOR A PROP A WITH SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES. AND I SAID, THEN MY POSITION TODAY IS WE HAVE TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN CONTINUE TO THROW MONIES AT A BROKEN SYSTEM. AND ANYONE THAT LOOKED AT SOLID WASTE SIX MONTHS A YEAR AGO COULD NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE OPERATION AND, UM, CONFLICTS. AND SO THE CONCEPT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY, I BELIEVE, IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. THE STUDY SAID THAT COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF SOLID WASTE WAS SIX AND A HALF DOLLARS. UH, SO WE LEARNED FROM THAT. WE LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THE EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND VETERANS WERE. SO WE ARRIVED AT A $5, UH, FEE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. WE'LL REVIEW IT IN TWO YEARS. I NOT ONLY EXPECT, I KNOW WE'LL SEE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL DECIDE THE PATH THEY WANT TO TAKE, BUT, UH, I JUST THINK TO, TO COME IN AND CONTINUE THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD THAT MANY DEPARTMENTS WERE BEING OPERATED UNDER. WE'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, LEGITIMATE CRITICISM OF PARKS TODAY. UM, BUT WE'RE HEADED THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IMPROVING SOLID WASTE, PARTICULARLY EMPHASIS ON HEAVY TRASH IN YOUR DISTRICT, WHICH IS A CONCERN ACROSS HOUSTON. THESE ARE ALL BEING ADDRESSED. I I MONITOR VERY CAREFULLY THE CAUSE AS YOU PROBABLY DO IN YOUR DIS IN YOUR OFFICE. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY BEING DEMONSTRATED ACROSS HOUSTON. UH, VERONICA COMES IN AND SHOWS ME WHAT THE VOLUME OF THE CALLS ARE AND WHAT THE SUBJECTS ARE. THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DROP. MM-HMM . IN CONCERNS. WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT [05:40:01] TO BE. THAT'S THE REASON THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE, UH, PRIORITIES. BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON MAKING THE POINT ALONG WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT SOLID WASTE WAS, UH, NOT OPERATING AS, AS SHOULD BE. AND I APPLAUD THOSE THAT TOOK THEIR DISTRICT FUNDS AND, UH, SUPPLEMENTED IT. BUT, UH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A GOOD DAY WITH THE PRIORITIES AND THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE PROPOSING. UH, LET'S GO NEXT TO THE MAYOR PRO TEMP 1601. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 16.01 COLLEAGUES IS THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE 11 CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS. UM, THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED YEAR AFTER YEAR. I THINK ONE YEAR IT DID PASS, AND WE STILL DIDN'T GET 'EM. UM, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH DIRECTOR MACKEY. HE HAS ASSURED ME THAT WITH HIS HIRING, THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UM, RESTAFF AND REDIRECT THE WAY THAT THESE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICES. THE TROUBLE THAT I HAVE IN, UM, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT K IS WHEN THESE PLACARDS ARE PLACED OUT, UM, AND THEN THERE'S A CHECK BACK AND 14 DAYS OR 21 DAYS, WE HAVE TO TRACK DOWN WHO, WHO PUT THE PLACARD OUT, WHO, WHO'S ACTUALLY GOING BACK FOR THE CHECK BACK, AND THEN FIND OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. IT, WAS THERE A CITATION? DID ANYTHING HAPPEN? DID ANYBODY GO BACK? UM, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME FROM OUR DISTRICT STAFF TO FOLLOW THESE ISSUES. UM, IT WOULD BE MUCH SIMPLER IF WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON ASSIGNED TO US THAT KNEW OUR DISTRICT, WORKED IN OUR DISTRICT, AND KINDA WORKED ALONGSIDE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS SO WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION BACK TO RESIDENTS. UM, FROM A DISTRICT THAT HAD, THAT IS REALLY A BEDROOM COMMUNITY. WE'VE GOT 95 CIVIC CLUBS, HOAS AND DISTRICT K. IT'S A DISTRICT MADE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE ARE JUST REALLY WORKING TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE NEED ASSISTANCE WITH A CONTACT PERSON THAT WOULD SIMPLIFY THE CONSTITUENT WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IN THE DISTRICT. WE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UM, WORK WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. UM, DIRECTOR MEKA HAS ASSURED US THAT WITH HIS HIRING OF THE NEW 95 INSPECTORS, THAT WE'LL HAVE A, A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UM, TO WORK ALONGSIDE US, UM, IN OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS. VICE, VICE MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK MAYOR PROTE CASTEX STADIUM FOR REALLY PUSHING THIS ISSUE. I THINK, UM, MANY OF US DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR MACKAY FOR, FOR WORKING ON THIS. WE'VE, EVEN OVER THE YEARS, UM, HAVE OFFERED TO USE SERVICE FUNDS TO HIRE SOMEONE WHEN THIS WAS IN DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, BUT REALLY HAVING AN INSPECTOR UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT AND THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT AND, UM, ALL THE ISSUES ALSO IN THE DISTRICT IS SO HELPFUL. SO THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM FOR PUSHING THIS AND, UM, GETTING THAT DONE. SAY THE WORDS THAT, I'M GONNA WITHDRAW IT. I'M JUST GONNA POSTPONE IT. I'M JUST, I'M JUST GONNA PUT FAITH IN DIRECTOR MACKEY THAT HE IS GOING TO, UM, MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR US. UH, ITEM 1602 IS, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOCATE $250,000 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING, AUDITING, AND DOING OUTREACH FOR, UM, SOLID WASTE. UM, MANY OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION IN OUR RECYCLING. UM, AT SOME POINT, THE RE UH, CONTAMINATION RATES HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS 48%. UM, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS ONLY 15 TO 25%. SO THAT CLEARLY STATES THAT WE HAVE AN EDUCATION PROBLEM ON OUR RECYCLING, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES TO OUR RECYCLING. SO WE JUST NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LETTING RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED, WHAT CAN'T BE RECYCLED. UM, MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO RECYCLE WANT TO DO IT THE CORRECT WAY. SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, UM, WITH THESE DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT. I JUST VERY WELL VOTE ON 1602. THIS VOTE ON, UM, 1602. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. GOOD JOB. [05:45:01] OKAY, SO THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENTS. NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE MAIN ITEM ITEM, AND WE DO HAVE THE TABLE AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. THIS IS THE ONE WHERE SHE'S DOING CHAPTER 30. OKAY. SHE PRESENTED THAT LAST WEEK. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS LAST AMENDMENT IS, UH, THE FLOOR AMENDMENT I PROPOSED LAST WEEK TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE CREATING THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. UM, AT, AS WE HAVE HEARD FOR WEEKS NOW, THERE IS A BIG AFFORDABILITY CONCERN RELATED TO THIS ADMINISTRATIVE FEE AND HOW HOUSTONIANS ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO COVER IT. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE TODAY THAT THANKS TO THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT, THERE IS A TANGIBLE SOLUTION THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO OFFER HOUSTONIANS. AND THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL BE INCORPORATING THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE INTO THE CITY'S EXISTING WATER FUND, WHICH IS AN ENTIRELY DONATION BASED FEE, BUT WILL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO HOUSTONIANS THAT NEED IT. AS FOLKS MAY KNOW, THE WATER FUND WAS CREATED MANY YEARS AGO AS A WAY TO PROVIDE RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO NOT ONLY SENIORS, UH, BUT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND DISABLED VETERANS. BUT I'M GRATEFUL TO, TO YOU MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT THAT WITHIN TWO WEEKS, UH, WE WILL BRING THE ITEM BACK TO COUNCIL, TO FORMALLY VOTE, TO AMEND THE CODE, TO ADD THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO THE WATER FUND, ENSURING THAT THE FIRST DAY THEY SEE THAT FEE ON THEIR BILL, THEY WILL IN FACT BE ABLE TO SEEK RELIEF FROM THIS. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. IT WAS, I REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION ON THIS. UM, AND I THANK YOU ALL TO ALL COLLEAGUES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US. UM, BUT I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO SAY THAT TODAY WHEN WE PASS THE BUDGET, WE CAN ALSO ENSURE TO HOUSTONIANS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AFFORDABILITY PROTECTION THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS, AND EXCITED TO FORMALLY VOTE ON IT IN TWO WEEKS AND WITHDRAWING AND, AND, AND, AND YOU'RE WITHDRAWING IT FOR THAT TWO WEEK PERIOD. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU AND I HAVE SPENT TOGETHER WORKING. OUR TEAMS HAVE SUCH GOOD, UH, COOPERATION, AND WE'VE SHARED IT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES, AND, UH, IT'S A GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST THOSE AND RESPOND TO MUCH OF THE TESTIMONY WE'VE HEARD SINCE WE ROLLED OUT THE BUDGET. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND IN THE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU AND I HAVE REINFORCED. UH, SO THAT ITEM'S WITHDRAWN, IT GETS US BACK. ITEM 61 AS AMENDED. MM-HMM . UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. UH, I'M JUST AS CONFIDENT TODAY AS I WAS A MONTH AGO WHEN WE ROLLED IT OUT. UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO 90 COMMUNITY MEETINGS, 30 LETTERS OF SUPPORT, VERY BROAD BASED SUPPORT. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR THE CITY BUDGET TO GO FORWARD. CITY SERVICES. WE'RE DOING THIS WITHOUT RAISING PROPERTY TAXES. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SLOW DOWN IN OUR EFFORT TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM THE STATE, THE COUNTY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SENDING THE SECRETARY OF HUD HERE NEXT WEEK TO LOOK AT THE EMANCIPATION MODEL. SO JUST A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM. UM, RANDY, UH, YOUR DEMONSTRATION AT PUBLIC WORKS IS, UH, SERIOUS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUTTING THE MONEY WHERE IT BELONGS. AND CERTAINLY, MR. LASUS IN SOLID WASTE IS A, IS A PARTNER THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW, BUT HE'S WORKING HARD, PICKING UP HEAVY TRASH, HEAVY TRASH, AND DELIVERING THAT SET RECYCLING BIN. YES, EVEN FOR MS. MARINO GOT HOME. SO HE'S A CAN-DO PERSON. UH, JUST A REALLY, A STRONG BUDGET, NO BUDGET. AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN STATE LEVEL ON FINANCE FOR MANY YEARS, CERTAINLY WHEN I GOT HERE. THERE IS NO PERFECT BUDGET. THE BUDGET IS A CONTINUATION OF REVIEWING STATE, CITY, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS. UH, WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WHEN IT, WE REVIEW OVERTIME IN OUR DEPARTMENTS AND BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE AS WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OF SERVICES, IT OUGHT TO IMPACT THE OVERTIME, CERTAINLY AS IT REGARDS TO POLICE AND FIRE. BUT LET ME THANK EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE. WE HAVEN'T PLAYED POLITICS. WE CAME TOGETHER. I THINK ONE OF THE REAL OUTCOMES OF THIS BUDGET IS TO SHOW HOUSTONIANS THAT WE KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER AND, UH, REACH, REACH [05:50:01] A, UM, STATEMENT THAT CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE US CAN WORK. I HAVE OTHER MAYORS FROM OTHER MAJOR CITIES CALLING SAYING, HOW ARE YOU DOING IT? AND SO I'M NOT DOING IT. IT'S THE TEAM DOING IT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAD, A LOT OF THE MISINFORMATION, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO IGNORE IT AND GO FORWARD. SO WITH THAT, UH, MELISSA, THANK YOU. UH, YOU BECAME THE, UH, I GUESS THE FIRST APPOINTMENT. UH, I WAS SWORN IN ON A MONDAY, MEMBERS AND MR. JONES CHOSE TO GO TO CONTROLLER'S OFFICE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SO WHEN I WAS SWORN IN SUNDAY OR 12 O'CLOCK ON MONDAY MORNING, UH, THE FIRST THING I HAD TO DO IS REVIEW THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR. AND I COULD NOT HAVE PICKED A BETTER ONE. YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. AS YOU, AS YOU TRANSITION INTO A NEW ADMINISTRATION, YOU CAN FIND SUCH OUTSTANDING LEADERS IN THE NUMBER TWO, NUMBER THREE POSITIONS, AND I COULD, UH, MENTION THAT TO HELP RANDY AS WELL. UH, JUST GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD. AND MELISSA, YOU'VE DONE REALLY AN OUTSTANDING JOB. YOU'RE SO SMART. WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU. SO THANK YOU. AND YOUR TEAM WHO WORKED LITERALLY TO PUT THE BUDGET TO PRINT SOME FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WORK AROUND THE CLOCK, UM, WE NEED TO CERTAINLY BE MINDFUL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. THEIR CONTRACT COMES UP IN, UH, SEPTEMBER. I KNOW OUR SOLID WORK, SOLID WASTE WORKERS HAVE BEEN OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID FOR MANY YEARS. THE EMERGENCY CENTER FOLKS, UH, TAKING THEIR SLEEPING BAGS AND PLANNING ON NOT GOING HOME DURING, UH, EMERGENCY EMERGENCIES. SO JUST A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT TODAY. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. I THINK IT'S A BUDGET THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF. UH, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'LL BUILD ON THIS TO GET OTHER RESOURCES. AND, UH, NEXT YEAR WE'LL EVEN HAVE A BETTER BUDGET. THANK YOU, FINANCE DIRECTOR ALCORN, FOR THE HEARINGS. AND IT'S, YOU, YOU'RE REALLY A, A REAL ASSET TO THIS BODY WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF FINANCES AND COMMITMENT TO PARKS, WHICH I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE BEFORE US, BUT I COULD GO AROUND THE HORSESHOE. EVERYONE HAS CONTRIBUTED. AND, UH, WITH THAT SAID, UH, I WANT TO YIELD TO VICE MAYOR PECK, WHO GETS THE WORLD'S RECORD FOR, UH, . I ONLY HAD 19 AMENDMENTS THIS YEAR. YEAH. I, I'M AFRAID TO RECOGNIZE YOU, . WELL, I, YOU FORGET ONE . NO, BUT I DO HAVE A LOT TO SAY, UM, ABOUT THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT, IT IS A DIFFICULT VOTE FOR ME, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW. UM, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A DECISION THAT I HAVE TAKEN LIGHTLY. OVER THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS REVIEWING INFORMATION, EXAMINING ALTERNATIVES, AND CAREFULLY WEIGHING THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF THIS BUDGET. IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE ITEM IN THIS BUDGET, BUT DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE PATH FORWARD. ULTIMATELY, THE MAYOR INCORPORATED SEVERAL SAFEGUARDS THAT I REQUESTED INTO THE BUDGET ORDINANCE. THE GARBAGE FEE WILL REMAIN AT $5 FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR ON THE NEXT, AND THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES A CAP OF $25. THOSE PROVISIONS PROVIDE IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND HELP ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE INCREASES ARE NOT MADE WITHOUT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO PASS WITH OR WITHOUT MY VOTE. AND FACED WITHOUT THAT, FACED WITH THAT REALITY, I'M CHOOSING TO FOCUS ON SECURING THOSE PROTECTIONS AND SAFEGUARDS FOR THE RESIDENTS RATHER THAN SIMPLY CASTING A SYMBOLIC NO VOTE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME. I AM VOTING YES BECAUSE OF THOSE SAFEGUARDS. I'M VOTING YES, BECAUSE THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. I'M VOTING YES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR WILL WORK TO GET ALL OF THIS RIGHT, AND I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THAT. AND I'M VOTING YES WITH THE HOPE THAT THIS WILL MEAN BETTER SERVICES FOR MY DISTRICT. BUT THE SUPPORT DOES NOT COME WITHOUT RESERVATIONS, AND IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT COME WITHOUT SCRUTINY. I WILL BE WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY AND HOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECTS FOR THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN THE PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR GARBAGE. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT A FEE UNLESS, UM, CERTAIN CONDITIONS WERE MET. TO THE MAYOR'S CREDIT, ONE OF THOSE CONDITIONS WAS ADDRESSED FOR YEARS. I HAVE ARGUED THAT WE SHOULD CONDUCT EFFICIENCY STUDIES BEFORE ASKING RESIDENTS TO PAY MORE. IN FACT, I OFFERED THAT BUDGET, THAT PROPOSAL AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEN MAY THE ADMINISTRATION ULTIMATELY UNDERTOOK THAT EFFORT, AND I COMMEND THE MAYOR FOR DOING SO. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE MAYOR HAS IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL OTHER IDEAS THAT I [05:55:01] HAVE PROPOSED OVER THE YEARS AS AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING THE EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM. WHAT HAS GIVEN ME PAUSE THOUGH, ARE THE SECOND AND THIRD CONDITIONS THAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID BEFORE SUPPORTING A FEE. THE SECOND CONDITION WAS A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING PRIVATIZATION, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, HUFFMAN, FLICKINGER, DAVIS RAMIREZ, AND CARTER. I SUBMITTED A PROP, A ORDINANCE THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED THE CITY TO FULLY EVALUATE THIS OPTION UNDER OUR PROPOSAL. NO CITY EMPLOYEE WOULD'VE LOST THEIR JOB, AND MANY EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE LIKELY SEEN AN IMPROVED WORKING CONDITION AND HIGHER PAY. RATHER THAN FORCE THE ISSUE, WE CHOSE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS REVIEWED ALTERNATIVES AND DETERMINED THEY ARE NOT FEASIBLE AT THIS TIME, AND I RESPECT THAT CONCLUSION. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE UNDERLYING DATA NECESSARY TO INDEPENDENTLY REACH THE SAME CONCLUSION OR TO EXPLAIN IT TO MY CONSTITUENTS. THE PUBLIC DESERVES TRANSPARENCY ON THIS ISSUE, AND I WILL CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL. I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT THE CITY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER GETTING OUT OF THE TRASH BUSINESS BECAUSE FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN INABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY THIRD CONDITION, ENSURING THAT A FEE WILL RESULT IN MEASURABLE OUTCOMES OF IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE OPERATIONAL CHANGES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BEFORE ASKING RESIDENTS TO PAY MORE. YET THE SAME SYSTEMIC ISSUES CONTINUE TO EXIST TODAY. I'M NOT FULLY CONVINCED THAT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I AM WILLING TO GIVE THEM MAYOR'S NEW APPROACH AND OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE STATUS QUO CLEARLY IS NOT WORKING. AND I TRUST THAT THE MAYOR WILL GET THIS RIGHT. BUT LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS. IF RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO PAY MORE, THEY DESERVE BETTER SERVICE IN RETURN. IF I DO NOT SEE A MEASURABLE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW SOLID WASTE DIVISION, I WILL PERSONALLY AUTHOR A PROP, A ORDINANCE TO REPEAL THIS FEE. I ALSO SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME CONSIDERING THE PROPOSAL TO USE FUNDS FROM THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMBERS, I'M CONVINCED THAT USING A PORTION OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE UTILITY SYSTEM. THEREFORE, THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD TO DO IT. IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SHOULD. I VOTED AGAINST THE WATER RATE INCREASE FOR A REASON. WATER IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL SERVICE OUR CITY PROVIDES, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THAT SYSTEM AND INVEST IN ITS LONG-TERM SUCCESS. AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED USING AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE SERVICES RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE FUNDS TO SIT IDLE. IN FACT, I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TODAY REFLECTING THAT VERY PHILOSOPHY. THE REALITY IS THAT THESE FUNDS ARE NOT PROGRAMMED FOR WATER OR WASTEWATER PROJECTS AT THIS TIME. GIVEN THAT FACT, I AM WILLING TO SUPPORT THE TEMPORARY USE OF A PORTION OF THOSE RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN ANOTHER CORE CITY SERVICE. I WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS BUDGET CLOSELY, AND I WILL CONTINUE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND MEASURABLE RESULTS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS BUDGET IS ABOUT PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS AND ENSURING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. SO AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET MOVES OUR CITY FORWARD, AND I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO THANK, UM, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, ESPECIALLY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR, YOUR TEAM, UM, THE BUDGET AND FISCAL, FISCAL AFFAIRS CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND ALL THOSE WHO PUT IN WORK, UH, FOR THIS BUDGET. A BUDGET COMES DOWN TO ONE WORD, AND THAT IS DISCIPLINE. SAME AS YOUR OWN PERSONAL BUDGET FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR YOUR BUSINESS. AND THERE'S NO DENYING THAT WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OVER THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, OUR CITY HAS FACED THE LARGEST BUDGET DEFICITS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. WHEN ASKED TO THE MAYOR AFTER THE FIRST BUDGET ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO CORRECT THE OVERSPENDING PROBLEM, HIS RESPONSE WAS, TRUST ME, SOME OF YOU ALL DID. AND HE FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH OVERSPENDING ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BY OVER $180 MILLION. SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A BUDGET? WHAT'S THE POINT OF GOING THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IF WE OVERSPEND BY SO MUCH? AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THIS OVERSPENDING? ARE WE GETTING BETTER STREETS? ARE WE GETTING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? ARE WE GETTING LESS HOMELESSNESS? ARE WE GETTING BETTER TRASH COLLECTION, STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE? THE ANSWER IS NO. I DRIVE THROUGH MY DISTRICT AND I SEE THE STREETS AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED BETTER STREETS. BUT THEN I DRIVE THROUGH SOME OF YOU ALL'S DISTRICTS, I SEE THE STREETS ARE EVEN WORSE. SO WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THE OVERSPENDING? NOW, THIS BUDGET PROPOSES TO IMPACT THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT BY ADDING A $5 [06:00:01] ADMIN FEE, BUT AT THE MOMENT, THERE ARE NO REAL SPECIFICS ON WHAT THAT ADMIN FEE IS ACTUALLY GONNA DO. AND WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GETTING FOR THE $5? WILL WE GET ON TIME TRASH PICKUP? BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT, THEN I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IT. BUT THAT $5 IS A PATCHWORK JOB. THE QUESTION IS, ARE PEOPLE GONNA GET RELIABLE? BLACK CAN SERVICE RECYCLE SERVICE HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE BECAUSE OF THIS. I'M NOT CONFIDENT IN THAT. TO ADD SOLID WASTE INTO THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM SEEMS TO JUST FIND A FUND WITH MONEY IN IT TO NOW PAY FOR A CORE SERVICE. THE CU S IS FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. NOTHING ABOUT TRASH RELATES TO THE WATER SYSTEM. JUST LIKE NOTHING ABOUT ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN BLIGHT HAS TO DO WITH OUR STORM WATER SYSTEM. SO WE ARE DRAWING DOWN ON THE CUS FOR TRASH, AND THEN WE ARE CHARGING THE CUS FOR RIGHT OF WAY FEES. SO THE CUS IS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, BUT THE MAYOR SAYS THAT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS ARE BEING HELD TOGETHER BY DUCT TAPE. IT'S ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE FOR REPAIR REPAIRS TO WATER MAIN LEAKS, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO SEE IN ABUNDANCE ALL OVER THE CITY. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SEWER SYSTEM, BUT WEEKLY WE HAVE HOUSTONIANS WHO COME BEFORE US TELLING US THAT THEY EXPERIENCE ROUTINE SEWER OVERFLOWS. SO IF WE HAVE ALL THESE RESERVES IN OUR CUS, WHY AREN'T WE FOCUSING ON ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES? IN THE KINDER INSTITUTE SURVEY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HOUSTONIAN SAID THAT ANY CUT TO INFRASTRUCTURE IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE CUS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS LEVEL OF RESERVES IN A DEDICATED ACCOUNT WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT BEING FUNDED. NOW, THERE WILL BE EVEN LESS MONEY TO ADDRESS WATER NEEDS BECAUSE WE'RE USING SOME OF THIS MONEY TO PAY FOR TRASH. SO THIS IS LIKE ROBBING PETER TO PAY FOR PAUL. NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOOK AT EACH BUDGET CYCLE IS THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST. THIS IS GIVEN BY OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. WE ARE FACING THE LARGEST DEFICIT EVER AT OVER 180 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE NEW FIVE-YEAR FORECAST. IT SHOWS A DEFICIT TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, THAT IN FIVE YEARS WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, AROUND $180 MILLION IN DEBT. SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF HISTORIC DEFICIT SPENDING. NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA RECENTLY, I PUT OUT A VIDEO WHERE I USE THESE WATER GLASSES TO SHOW THAT WE'RE JUST SHIFTING WATER FROM GLASS TO GLASS, WHICH ILLUSTRATES THAT WE ARE NOT SOLVING THE UNDERLYING SPENDING PROBLEM. WE ARE JUST USING DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEDICATED TO PAY FOR CORE SERVICES. IF WE DO NOT CORRECT THE OVERSPENDING AND WE STAY ON, AND IF WE DO NOT STAY ON BUDGET, WE WILL DRAIN ALL OF OUR FUNDS OF THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES TO THE DETRIMENT OF HOUSTONIANS. THE OVERSPENDING HAS BEEN DRASTIC. JUST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE, WE HAD MORE MONEY THAN EVER IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND OUR FUND BALANCE. WE HAD $567 MILLION, WHICH SAVE, WHICH SERVES AS OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT. AS OF TODAY, IN JUST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE, WE NOW ONLY HAVE 274 MILLION. WE HAVE SPENT MORE THAN HALF OF OUR RESERVES. WE ARE NOW USING OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR OUR DAILY EXPENSES THAT ARE BEYOND THE ORIGINAL BUDGET. YOU CANNOT HAVE A STRONG FINANCIAL STRATEGY WHEN YOU CONTINUOUSLY OVERSPEND WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET WITHOUT ANY FAIR REVENUE REPLACEMENT, NO COMPANY WOULD DO THIS, AND NO HOUSEHOLD WOULD DO THIS. SO THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE SO WHAT IS MY PLAN? MY PLAN IS JUST STICK TO THE BUDGET, BUILD IN CONTINGENCIES, BUILD IN FOR EMERGENCIES, AND BE DISCIPLINED WITH THE MONEY THAT IS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. IF THIS IS THE BUDGET STICK TO IT. BUT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO DISCIPLINE. SPENDING OVER 180 MILLION THIS YEAR ALONE IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE DUE TO SHOWN TRENDS. THERE'S NO PROOF THAT THIS YEAR WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT. SO WILL BE VOTING NO UNTIL THE OVERSPENDING IS CORRECTED. THANK YOU. THANKS MR. SALINAS. [06:05:01] THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, DIRECTOR DKI, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP FOR A FEW QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RIGHT OF WAY FEE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT LESS DISCUSSION ABOUT, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD APPRECIATE IS A BIT MORE OF AN EXPLANATION OF THE FINANCIAL INTRICACIES AND STEPS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN, PARTICULARLY THE TRANSACTIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN AND WHAT KIND OF APPROVALS WE'LL NEED TO GET FROM OUR BOND HOLDERS IN ORDER TO UNDERTAKE THIS BUDGET. WOULD YOU MIND SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT TO THAT, WHAT YOU ESTIMATE THE TRANSACTION FEES WILL BE, UM, AND HOW THAT'S CURRENTLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BUDGET? MM-HMM . SURE. SO, UM, FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY FEE AND FOR THE, UM, ADDING THE SOLID WASTE, UM, TO THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, SO WE HAD A FEW SLIDES IN THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT THE ADDING THE SOLID WASTE TO THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM IS CONTEMPLATED UNDER CHAPTER 1502 OF THE STATE CODE. UM, THAT ALLOWS US TO BRING IN THE SOLID WASTE, UM, THAT IS ALREADY CONTEMPLATED FOR IN OUR MASTER BOND ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE, UH, OUR MASTER BOND ORDINANCE ACTUALLY, UH, SPECIFICALLY REFERENCES CHAPTER 1502 AND ATTORNEY MICHELLE CAN STEP IN IF I GET TOO FAR INTO THE LEGAL WEEDS. UM, SO THAT'S ON THE SOLID WAYSIDE. SO THAT'S ALREADY CONTEMPLATED FOR IN OUR MASTER BOND ORDINANCE AND BOND HOLDERS HAVE ALREADY CONSENTED TO THAT PIECE. ON THE RIGHT OF WAY SIDE, UM, THE MASTER BOND ORDINANCE TALKS ABOUT THE FLOW OF FUNDS AND FUNDS, HOW THEY FLOW IN THE FLOW OF FUNDS WHERE DEBT SERVICE GETS PAID IN THE FLOW OF FUNDS. AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE CALL THE BOTTOM BUCKET OR THE GENERAL PURPOSE FUND. SO THE RIGHT OF WAY, UH, THAT IS CONTEMPLATED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS CONTEMPLATED TO COME FROM THAT BOTTOM BUCKET GENERAL PURPOSE FUND. SO THAT COMES AFTER THE BOND HOLDERS RECEIVE THEIR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS. SO BOND HOLDERS, UH, WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY THE RIGHT OF WAY TRANSFER. UM, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CITY LEGAL LOOKED AT OUTSIDE BOND COUNSEL LOOKED AT AND AGREE. AND AGAIN, THEY'RE GONNA CORRECT ME IF I SAY ANYTHING WRONG, UH, AGREE THAT BOND HOLDER CONSENT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ANY OF THESE ITEMS. THAT BEING SAID, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED IN HIS, UM, REMARKS THAT LAST WEEK'S, UM, MONTHLY, UH, FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH HIS OFFICE ON A BOND TRANSACTION COMING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, DO SOME THINGS THAT WILL, UM, I KNOW THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE HAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST. WE HAVE THESE, UM, SWAPS, UH, THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR VARIABLE RATE DEMAND BONDS WITH THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER ON. UM, WHILE WE LOOK AT UNDERTAKING REFUNDING THOSE SWAPS, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO LOOK AT EXISTING DEBT OF THE UTILITY AS WE ALWAYS DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AND SEE WHAT CAN BE REFUNDED FOR SAVINGS. UM, SO BASED ON THAT TOTAL TRANSACTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WHICH AGAIN, IS, IS SEPARATE FROM THESE BUDGET ITEMS, UM, BASED ON THE PROJECTIONS THAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS HAVE RUN AND WORKING WITH THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE AS WELL, SHOWS THAT IN TOTALITY THAT TRANSACTION WILL HAVE ABOUT AN $8 MILLION SAVINGS OVER THE LIFE OF THE BONDS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND JUST ON THE POINT OF THE TRANSACTION FEE, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADVISORS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAWYERS MM-HMM . DO YOU ALL HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THOSE FEES WILL BE TO UNDERTAKE THE NECESSARY TRANSACTIONS TO FACILITATE THIS BUDGET? SURE. SO THE, THE FEES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, ARE INCLUDED IN THAT NET SAVINGS OF $8 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT DO YOU, DO YOU KNOW THE AMOUNT? UM, I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS FEES ASSOCIATED WITH BOND TRANSACTIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, WE CAN GET SOME OF THOSE EXACT DETAILS TO YOU, BUT THE, THE TOTAL FEES AND THE TOTAL SAVINGS NETTED TOGETHER IS ABOUT 8 MILLION, UH, IN NET SAVINGS. AND I ASSUME THE NEW BONDS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE OUT WILL HAVE HIGHER INTEREST RATES THAN OUR PREVIOUS BONDS? NO. OR WILL THEY BE? NO. SO THAT $8 MILLION OF NET SAVINGS, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SAVINGS, UM, WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE REFUNDING OF THOSE BONDS. AND THEN WHEN YOU CONTEMPLATE THE FEES YOU'RE DISCUSSING, IT'S STILL A NET BOTTOM LINE SAVINGS OF 8 MILLION. BUT THE, THE INTEREST RATE NOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN A HIGHER INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT THAN WE HAVE IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THE BONDS WE WERE FUNDING WERE ACTUALLY ISSUED BACK IN 2004. AND SO WE'RE IN A LOWER INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT NOW THAN WE WERE AT THAT TIME. SO IT'LL BE A SAVINGS. SO WE ANTICIPATE A LOWER INTEREST RATE FOR THESE BONDS. CORRECT. OKAY, THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR AND WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THE TRANSACTION FEES, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU AND, AND YOUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WORK ON THIS BUDGET. UM, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AND I'VE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR TEAM, I, I DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT PULLING FUNDS OUT OF WATER [06:10:01] AND WATER WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. AS MANY AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAVE SAID THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR HOUSTONIANS. UM, BUT I, I TAKE THE DIRECTORS AND YOUR, UM, COMMITMENTS TO HEART AND, AND TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD THAT DESPITE THESE TRANSFERS THAT WE WILL BE MAKING OUTTA THESE FUNDS, PARTICULARLY OUT OF THE PAY AS YOU GO FUND, THAT WE WILL NOT SEE A CHANGE IN OPERATIONS. WE WILL NOT SEE A CHANGE IN INVESTMENT IN WASTEWATER AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY AROUND, WE SEE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LEAKY PIPES, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AREAS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SERVICING, PARTICULARLY AREAS THAT HAVE LONG BEEN IGNORED. AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT ALL OF THOSE COMMITMENTS WE STAND TODAY AND EVERY DAY WILL BE MINDFUL TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA LEAVE ANY OF THOSE HOUSTONIANS BEHIND WITH THIS BUDGET. COUNCILOR PANZA, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU TO THE BFA COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP, TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYONE AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR REALLY PUTTING IN A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT INTO THIS BUDGET. I ALSO WANNA THANK THE HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE SHOWED UP AND ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THIS PUBLIC PROCESS. UM, SINCE I WAS SWORN IN TWO WEEKS AGO, I'VE LEARNED A HECK OF A LOT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, FROM THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, BUT I LEARNED A LOT FROM EVERYDAY HOUSTONIANS, SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND EXPRESSING YOUR VOICE. THE AMENDMENTS THAT I VOTED FOR, UH, ALIGN WITH MY CAMPAIGN PROMISES, ESPECIALLY SAFER STREETS AND TRANSPARENCY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THESE AMENDMENTS, UH, AS THE MONTHS UNFOLD TODAY, I'LL BE VOTING YES BECAUSE DISTRICT C RESIDENTS HAVE DEMANDED BETTER SOLID WASTE SERVICES AND THIS BUDGET AIMS TO DELIVER THEM. THIS YEAR ALONE, 4,922 EMAILS IN MORE THAN 20,000 3 0 1 CASES WERE FILED ABOUT SOLID WASTE FROM DISTRICT C RESIDENTS. AND THE FFY 26 BUDGET SOLID WASTE HAD $107 MILLION BUDGETED FOR FY 27. THEY'LL HAVE $117 MILLION ALSO, INCLUDING THE $24 MILLION RAISED WITH THE, UH, FEE, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY GO TOWARDS, UH, OPERATIONAL MATTERS AND MORE TRUCKS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKES SOLID WASTE RUN. BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, MY YES VOTE IS NOT A BLANKET ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BUDGET. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS AND I'LL WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THEM. STARTING WITH THE $5 FEE, A FLAT $5 FEE APPLIED UNIFORMLY TO HOUSTONIANS IS A REGRESSIVE TAX. IT HITS LOWER INCOME HOUSTONIANS HARDEST, AND THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN VERY LITTLE NOTICE TO BUDGET FOR THIS AS IT GOES FORWARD. FOR THAT REASON, I'M BACKING COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS'S TABLE AMENDMENT FOR BILL ASSISTANCE, BUT ASSISTANCE ALONE DOES NOT FIX A FLAWED STRUCTURE. I'LL WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND MY COLLEAGUES TO MOVE FORWARD A PROPORTIONAL OR TIERED RATE. A FAIR FEE MODEL IS NECESSARY WITH THE COST OF LIVING RISING. MY SECOND ISSUE WITH THIS BUDGET IS THE FIRE AND POLICE OVERTIME. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR HEADS TO COME ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO ADDRESS THE OVERTIME OVERSPENDING FFY 26. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD $43.5 MILLION BUDGETED, AND THEY SPENT 82.6 MILLION, NEARLY DOUBLE THEIR BUDGET AND FY 26 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAD 14.7 MILLION BUDGET FOR OVERTIME, AND THEY SPENT 44.6 MILLION MORE THAN TRIPLE THEIR BUDGET. STAFFING AND ATTRITION ARE IMPROVING, YET THESE OVERRUNS PERSIST AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INSIGHT AS TO HOW THE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED IN CASES OF OVERTIME. I ALSO WANNA COMMENT THAT POLICE AND FIRE CONSUME 60% OF THE GENERAL FUND WHILE PARKS AND LIBRARIES GET 5% PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS. IT IS A HARD JOB, BUT THESE OVERTIME OVERRUNS ARE UNSUSTAINABLE AND OUR RESIDENTS NEED INVESTMENT ACROSS EVERY PUBLIC SERVICE. WE MUST BUDGET FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WITH DISCIPLINE AND STOP TREATING AVOIDABLE OVERTIME AS A ROU, AS A ROUTINE LINE ITEM. SO AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL HERE IN THOSE QUARTERLY MEETINGS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE REALLOCATION OF WATER AND SEWAGE FUNDS IS SOLID WASTE. I'M CONCERNED FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF REALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS. TAKING FROM ONE UTILITY TO PROP UP ANOTHER IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. AND CUSTOMER PEC, I APPRECIATE AMENDMENT 6.18. I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ATTENDING THOSE QUARTERLY MEETINGS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT FULLY FUND, UH, DRAWING DOWN ON THOSE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COVER THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. IN CLOSING, MY VOTES ON THE AMENDMENTS REFLECT THE PROMISES THAT I RAN ON, BUT MY VOTE COMES WITH EXPECTATIONS. I WILL HOLD THIS BUDGET ACCOUNTABLE, TRACKING WHETHER THE $5 FEE DELIVERS VERIFIABLE IMPROVEMENT CITYWIDE WHILE LISTENING TO HOUSTONIANS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS FEE IMPACTS THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. I'LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR DISCIPLINED ACCURATE BUDGETING ON FIRE AND POLICE OVERTIME, AND I'LL WORK RELENTLESSLY TO IDENTIFY THE NEW REVENUE THE CITY NEEDS TO FUND TOP TIER UTILITIES AND THE LIBRARIES, PARKS AND SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS HAVE GONE WITHOUT FOR TOO LONG. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO SENT ME AN ARTICLE DETAILING [06:15:01] A CITY HALL STORY FROM TEXAS MONTHLY, DATED FEBRUARY, 1985. IT DESCRIBED A FIGHT BETWEEN THEN COUNCIL MEMBER GEORGE EU AND ANOTHER MAYOR WHITMEYER, KATHY WHITMEYER. GRANIA WANTED A SLIGHT TAX RA, SLIGHT RAISE TO THE PROPERTY TAX IN THE BUDGET, AND WHITMEYER DID NOT WANT A TAX RAISE. SOUNDS FAMILIAR. I'VE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUES. HERE'S A QUOTE I LOVE FROM THIS STORY. IN THESE BUDGET CONSCIOUS TIMES THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ANYWHERE WOULD TRY TO RAISE TAXES, MUCH LESS TAKE ON THE MAYOR TO DO SO, SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN ONLY ON OUR PARTICULARLY COLD DAY IN HELL. THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN HOUSTON. HOUSTON'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN RULED SINCE PRACTICALLY THE BEGINNING OF TIME BY THE ETHIC OF LOW TAXES, LOW SERVICES. HOUSTONIANS HAVE LONG BEEN LOATHED TO TRUST THEIR CIVIL SERVANTS WITH MORE THAN THE MINIMUM TO KEEP CITY HALL OPEN. WELL, IT'S 40 YEARS LATER AND HERE WE ARE, LOW TAXES, LOW SERVICES. IT'S KIND OF THE HOUSTON WAY. HOWEVER, I SEE THIS BUDGET AS A POSITIVE STEP TOWARD BETTER SERVICES, ESPECIALLY TOWARD A MORE EFFICIENT AND BETTER FUNDED TRASH SERVICE. AND CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES ARE STRONG AND GETTING STRONGER. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE CITY, LEARN THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET HEARINGS, THE QUESTIONS, THE TOWN HALLS, THE SURVEY, THE PUBLIC INPUT, IT'S ALL REALLY IMPORTANT. THE BUDGET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE DO ALL YEAR. AND MAYOR, WHILE THERE'S NOT A NOT A TAX INCREASE I MIGHT FAVOR IN THIS BUDGET, THIS BUDGET IS SMART. IT DOES PROVIDE NEW REVENUE IN THE FORM OF A FEE, AND IT MAKES THE MOST OUT OF REVENUES AND RESOURCES WE ALREADY HAVE. YOU WERE FACED WITH A $200 MILLION DEFICIT AND THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, A BRILLIANT FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THAT BRAINIAC STEPHEN DAVID, WHO I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR AND WHO HAS GIVEN THIS BUDGET SPEECH, I THINK A HUNDRED TIMES NOW AND LOTS OF OTHERS ON YOUR TEAM. YOU WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT GAP BY IMPLEMENTING SMART STRUCTURAL REFORMS. LOOKING TO EXCESS RESERVES IN THE WATER WASTEWATER SYSTEM WAS THE RIGHT MOVE AND CERTAINLY BETTER THAN HAVING TO LAY OFF EMPLOYEES FURTHER JEOPARDIZING CITY SERVICES. CHARGING THE CUS AN ADDITIONAL 200 MILLION OF COURSE CAUSES US ALL CONCERN. THE HEALTH OF OUR WATER WASTEWATER SYSTEM IS PARAMOUNT. SO WE ASK THE QUESTIONS, WILL THIS DELAY OR CANCEL PROJECTS? NO. ARE WE COMPLYING WITH BOND COVENANTS AND OBLIGATIONS? YES. DOES MODELING SHOW A VERY HEALTHY, NOT DEPLETED CUS RESERVE FUND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS? YES. IS THIS COMMON PRACTICE IN OTHER CITIES? YES. WILL THIS CAUSE WATER RATES TO SKYROCKET? NO. RATES MAY POTENTIALLY GO UP. WE ARE IN A GREAT STUDY NOW, BUT NOT BECAUSE WE ARE CHARGING THE SYSTEM FOR RIGHT OF WAY OR SUBSIDIZING TRASH PICKUP. I HAVE BEEN STUDYING CITY BUDGETS SINCE 2010. EVERY ADMINISTRATION GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE NUMBERS WORK, KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, THE FIRE TRUCKS ROLLING, THE PENSIONS PAID, THE WATER RUNNING, THE GRASS MODE REFORMS ARE PUT IN PLACE, DEPARTMENTS ARE RESTRUCTURED, EFFICIENCIES ARE PROPOSED, CUTS ARE MADE, CONTRACTS ARE HONORED. IT'S NEVER EASY, AND IT'S NEVER, CERTAINLY NEVER. PERFECT. MAYOR, THANKS FOR PUTTING YOUR STAMP ON THIS ONE. IT'S A LIEN AND MEAN BUDGET AND ONE THAT SETS US ON A GOOD COURSE FORWARD. IT TIDE US OVER UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT WE MIGHT NEED ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO SEE THE KIND OF CITY WE ALL WANNA LIVE IN. THIS BUDGET MAKES SENSE TO ME. I NEVER JUST HAVE ONE AMENDMENT. AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU DID NOT LEAVE ME WITH MUCH TO CORRECT. I WANT TO THANK MY WONDERFUL STAFF WHO HELPED OUT WITH ALL THE WORKSHOPS AND TOWN HALLS AND QUESTIONS AND SURVEYS AND SNACKS. JORDAN IS THE QUEEN OF THE PIVOT TABLES. AND KATIE AND HELEN, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID TO HELP ME OUT. I WANNA THANK EVERY SINGLE HOUSTONIAN, EVEN ALL YOU GUYS OUT THERE WITH THE RED CARDS. THANKS FOR COMING. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. IT MATTERS. EVERY 900 PEOPLE THAT FILLED OUT MY SURVEY AND I'VE SENT AROUND ALL THE COMMENTS, THOSE COMMENTS MATTER. WE'RE ALL UP HERE TO MAKE INCREMENTAL SUCCESS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. I WANNA THANK MY CO-CHAIR, UM, BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS. HE'S THE TOWN HALL MASTER. HE RUNS A GREAT TOWN HALL AND HELPED ME, UM, CHAIR MANY OF THE COMMITTEE ME MEETINGS AND REALLY APPRECIATE HIS INPUT. AND THANKS TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, YOUR IDEAS, YOUR INPUT, YOUR AMENDMENTS. I'M HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND I'M PROUD TO VOTE YES ON THIS BUDGET. COUNCILOR FLICKER, THANK YOU. AND I [06:20:01] APPRECIATE YOU AND YOU, AND I'VE SERVED WITH HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS. YOU'RE OUTSTANDING AND A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT AND HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN WHY WE CAME DOWN HERE. AND YOUR CANDID APPROACH TO YOUR DISCUSSIONS IS, IS JUST WHAT WE NEED IN GOVERNMENT MORE OF. SO THANK YOU. UH, YOU'RE YOU'RE GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT. UM, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DID. YOUR STAFF OBVIOUSLY FINANCE, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER OR YOU DESCRIBED THE BUDGET IS, IS NOT PERFECT. AND I'VE USED THOSE SAME WORDS AND I THINK ACTUALLY A MORE ACCURATE STATEMENT IS IT DOESN'T SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS. IT CERTAINLY GETS US FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. UH, GIVES US SOME ROOM TO, TO TRY AND, AND MAKE THINGS BETTER. UH, I HAD A BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CONTROLLER HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND HE BEMOANED THE FACT THAT, UH, OUR FUND BALANCE WAS GREATLY REDUCED. AND ALTHOUGH THAT WAS TRUE, HE LEFT OUT A COUPLE ITEMS. UH, ONE OF THEM IS THAT WASHINGTON DC WAS THROWING OUT MONEY LIKE CANDY DURING COI AND OBVIOUSLY THE CITY WAS ABLE TO BANK QUITE A BIT OF THAT. THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE METER WAS RUNNING ON THAT BILL THE ENTIRE TIME DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. AND WE CAME IN HERE AND HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. UH, OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. WE ARE A HIGH RISE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE A INCREDIBLY VALUABLE ASSET. AND THE TRUTH IS, IT'S A LIABILITY BECAUSE OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. IT WOULD BE MORE VALUABLE IF THAT THAT BUILDING DIDN'T EXIST AND WE JUST HAD THE LAND, IT'LL END UP BEING DEMOLISHED BECAUSE OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON THAT. SO YES, OUR FUND BALANCE HAS DECREASED, BUT THERE WAS REASONS WHY IT INCREASED THE PREVIOUS YEARS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH GOOD FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. I LOVE COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN'S QUOTE. I MEAN, I CAN REMEMBER FOR 50 YEARS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON. YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET SINCE MAYOR BROWN AND THE CHANGES HE MADE TO THE PENSION ENDED UP COSTING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT THEY WERE TOLD. AND WE ENDED UP EVEN SUING THE ACTUARIALS OVER THAT. SO IT, IT'S ALMOST AS IF, YOU KNOW, IT KINDA REMINDS ME OF CASABLANCA, THEY WALK INTO THE CASINO AND SAY, OH MY GOD, THERE'S GAMBLING GOING ON HERE. , WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT THIS BUDGET AT LEAST GETS US BY FOR A FEW YEARS AND GETS US TO WHERE WE CAN DEAL WITH MORE OF THOSE PROBLEMS. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD WORK. IT CREATES A FOUNDATION THAT WE CAN BUILD UPON. AND YOU LEFT OFF THAT WE HAD TO RESOLVE THE JONES WATSON LAWSUIT THAT YOU AND I INHERITED AND COST US ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT HAD BEEN USED IN THE GENERAL FUND. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT. NO ONE SAYS THIS CURES ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES. ALL MAJOR CITIES ARE FACING CHALLENGES, YEARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEGLECT. WE WILL ADDRESS THE OVERTIME, BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE MINDFUL THAT MORE IS EXPECTED OF POLICE THAN IN PAST YEARS. CERTAINLY WITH THE PROTESTS, THE EVENTS WE'RE HAVING, THE GUESTS WE'RE HAVING TO CITY, BUT THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND I KNOW THEY INTEND TO REDUCE THAT OVER TIME OR AT LEAST THE PROJECTIONS WILL BE MORE ACCURATE. CERTAINLY FIRE, SAME REGARD. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, AND RECOGNITION THAT, UH, WORDS MATTER AND, UH, IT JUST DID TAKE A POLITICAL TONE, UNFORTUNATELY MORE OFTEN THAN IT SHOULD. BUT THAT'S JUST THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE WORK IN. I'M SO PROUD OF THE HORSESHOE, OUR COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER AND BEEN VERY, UH, OPEN ABOUT THEIR POSITION AND THEIR CONCERNS, EVEN THEIR, UH, THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT GOING FORWARD. BUT WE WE'RE DEMONSTRATING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AROUND AMERICA TODAY, I CAN NAME CHICAGO OR NEW YORK OR CERTAINLY LA THEY'RE JUST NOT FUNCTIONING WELL FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR [06:25:01] HORSESHOE, WHICH WAS NOT REPRESENTED WHEN I STARTED AS A YOUNG STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, LONG TIME AGO, IT WAS, IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. AND IT'S JUST, THIS IS JUST SO SYMBOLIC OF HOUSTON AND HOW WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND, UH, THIS COUNCIL IS A REFLECTION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS. WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON GETTING THE COLUMBIA CAP COMPLETED. THAT IS A MILESTONE AND IT'S HAPPENED ON YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR TERM, SO BE PROUD OF THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I WANNA FIRST SAY, AND, AND I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SPEAKS ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT WEIGHS HEAVILY FOR ME, AND HER SUPPORT OF IT WEIGHS HEAVILY FOR ME. YOU KNOW, AND EVERYBODY KINDA KNOWS THAT. YOU AND I, WE KINDA STARTED OUT A LITTLE SIDEWAYS, BUT I'M GONNA SAY HONESTLY, THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN UP FOR DISTRICT D. YOU'VE LISTENED, YOU'VE ENGAGED, AND YOU'VE BROUGHT YOUR TEAM TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOLLOWED THROUGH ON PRIORITIES THAT I RAISED ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS. THAT MATTERS TO ME. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME, IS MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I BELIEVE THAT DISTRICT D HAS WAITED TOO LONG FOR BASIC SERVICES, FAIR INVESTMENT, AND REAL DELIVERY. THIS BUDGET IS NOT PERFECT, BUT PERFECT. CANNOT BECOME THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS FOR TOO LONG. COMMUNITIES LIKE SUNNYSIDE, SOUTH PARK, SOUTH UNION, THIRD WARD, MCGREGOR, MIDTOWN MUSEUM PARK, SAGEMONT AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS DISTRICT D HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BE PATIENT WHILE PROBLEMS AROUND THEM GOT WORSE. THIS VOTE IS ABOUT MOVING FROM DELAY TO DELIVERY. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD AMENDMENTS AND CONCERNS AROUND ILLEGAL DUMPING, CODE ENFORCEMENT, SOLID WASTE AND PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS. THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY STRENGTHEN THE PRO THE PROCESS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO MOVE HOUSTON FORWARD WITH A RESPONSIBLE PATH GROUNDED IN FACTS, OR WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW FEAR OF A HARD DECISION TO KEEP US IN THE SAME PLACE. Y'ALL GET READY? I AM VOTING YES BECAUSE THE CONCERNS ARE REAL, BUT SO ARE THE NEEDS. I'M VOTING YES BECAUSE DISTRICT D DESERVES BASIC SERVICES, FAIR INVESTMENT, AND THE DIGNITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE THAT THEY HAVE EARNED. I'M VOTING YES BECAUSE THIS BUDGET GIVES HOUSTON A RESPONSIBLE PATH FORWARD. YES, THIS IS A DIFFICULT VOTE, BUT IT IS A NECESSARY VOTE. THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE VOTE. AND FOR DISTRICT D, THIS IS A VOTE FOR PROGRESS. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA START BY THANKING CHAIR ALCORN FOR SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE PROCESS, THE WORKSHOP PROCESS, HER AND HER TEAM. UH, THEY ENSURE WE HAVE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS, GREAT INFORMATION. SHE ALSO MAKES SURE WHEN PUBLIC SPEAKERS COME AND ASK QUESTIONS THAT THEY GET THEIR ANSWERS AS WELL. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF WORKSHOPS, WHAT 23 WORKSHOPS THAT HAPPEN AND, UH, THEY PUT IN A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS BUDGET. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS AND SHE TAKES IT SERIOUSLY. SO THANK YOU FOR LEADING US AGAIN, AND ALSO TO MY TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BEING PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET AND THERE SOLID WASTE BECOMING A UTILITY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. CITIES THAT RUN SOLID WASTE DON'T TYPICALLY USE THEIR PROPERTY TAX GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THAT ENTIRELY. AND WE ARE CORRECTING THAT AND WE ARE CHARGING A FEE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH THE UTILITY. BUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CONCERNS THAT WERE HEARD AROUND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT VULNERABLE HOUSTONIANS, THE AMENDMENTS, UH, THAT WERE OFFERED, THE, THE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, PECK AND MARTINEZ OFFERED AROUND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE TO PROTECT FOLKS IF THE FEE GOES ABOVE $5. THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS A PART OF THIS BUDGET. UH, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN SOON AROUND HELPING FOLKS THAT EVEN $5 A MONTH WILL IMPACT AND, AND, AND HELPING ENSURE THAT THIS IS GOING TO SUPPORT THEM, THAT'S INCREDIBLY [06:30:01] IMPORTANT. THE DOLLARS FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT IS GOING TO HELP NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE DI THE CITY WITH SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. UM, SO WHILE THERE WERE A LOT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO PROCESS, TO CONTEMPLATE THE REASSURANCES AROUND THE UTILITY FUND AND THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THE PROJECTS AND NOT DELAY THEM, UH, IS CRITICAL. AND I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUDGET TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DISCUSSION WITH YOUR PRIORITIES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR, DID YOU SAY MY NAME? I CAN GO JACKSON. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR . AND THANK YOU MAYOR. I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS BUDGET. UM, CONSIDERING THE MANY FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FACING THE CITY AND THE OBLIGATION WE MUST MEET, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM WITHIN THOSE REALITIES, I BELIEVE YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE THE BEST EFFORT FOR WITH THE VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION THIS YEAR, I DID NOT SUBMIT ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR A VERY GOOD REASON. UM, THE PRIORITIES THAT I HAVE CHAMPION CHAMPIONED OVER THE SEV LAST SEVERAL YEARS ARE NOW FULLY FUNDED IN FY 23, FY 24 AND 25. I ADVOCATED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DITCH RE ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM AND THE LOCAL DRAINAGE BECAUSE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B AND ACROSS NORTHEAST HOUSTON KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW CRITICAL THESE INVESTMENTS ARE TO REDUCING FLOODING AND IMPROVING DRAINAGE. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET INCLUDES 51 MILLION FOR DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNDING EVER DEDICATED TO THIS EFFORT. PUBLIC WORKS EXPECT EXPECTS TO REESTABLISH 500 MILES OF OPEN DITCHES IN THE FY 27 WITH 450 MILES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST. HOUSTON. FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT ALSO INCREASED FROM 37.9 MILLION IN FY 26 TO 45.5 MILLION IN FY 27. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY GOAL, NOT JUST SECURING ONE TIME FUNDING, BUT MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS A PERMANENT PART OF THE CITY BUDGET SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR. I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE INVESTMENTS AND MAKING THEM A FIXED PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS. THIS BUDGET ALSO REFLECTS THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS THAT MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES WHILE CONTINUING INVESTMENT IN PRIORITIES THAT MATTERS TO OUR RESIDENTS. LOOKING AHEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE FEE THAT IS FULLY, THAT MAKES SURE THAT IT FULLY COVERS THE COLLECTION UNDER DISPOSAL SERVICES. MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED AT A LEVEL THAT ALLOWS US TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY, INCREASE PICKUPS WHERE NEED, WHERE NEEDED, AND PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS AND ASSISTANCE FOR OUR SENIORS, RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND OTHERS WHO MAY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. AS WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, I BELIEVE WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES RESIDENTS DEPEND ON EVERY DAY ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDED AND SUSTAINED FOR THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND YOUR TEAM, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. RANDY, THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR TAKING THESE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY, I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET AND THE PROGRESS IT REPRESENTS FOR THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. I, I NEED TO GET A COPY OF YOUR NOTES, UH, BUT ABSOLUTELY YOUR PRIORITIES WERE CONSIDERED IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN WITH AN AMENDMENT FOR DITCH REESTABLISHMENT OR DRAINAGE. WE, WE HEARD YOU LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE PASSED YOUR AMENDMENTS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR YOUR PRIORITIES IN THE NEGLECTED AREAS. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, BEGIN BY ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT, UM, THERE ARE 16 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THIS BUDGET AS IT IS EACH YEAR. 16 REASONS AROUND THE HARD SHOE AS TO WHETHER PEOPLE GOING TO VOTE UP OR DOWN AGAINST THE BUDGET. UM, I LIKE TO ALSO THINK THAT IT'S, UM, 17 BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC'S OPINION, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY AND THOSE WHO PAY THE TAXES. I MUST ADDRESS THE FACT THAT I'M NEVER FOR, AND HAVE NEVER BEEN MUCH FOR RAISING TAXES AND OR FEES. BY NOTE, THE PRIOR ME BECOMING A COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I CAME PUBLICLY BEFORE CITY COUNCIL WAS TO VOTE AGAINST A DRAINAGE FEE YEARS AGO. [06:35:01] AND THEN I CONSIDERED IT MORE OF A TAX THAN A FEE. THIS, UM, IS A CHALLENGE THAT HAS TO BE MADE. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE LEARNED THREE THINGS. THAT WAS MY OBJECTIVE WHEN I CAME IN, THAT WAS THE LOOK, LISTEN, AND LEARN. UH, NO, I DIDN'T PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE I THINK THE PROCESS IS MOST PEOPLE COME IN THE OFFICE THINKING THEY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING. AND A UNDOUBTEDLY THERE DOESN'T. THIS COUNCIL HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES. THEY'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. THEY KNOW THE ENDS, THE OUTS CHAIRMAN, UH, ALCORN IS DONE, IN MY OPINION, AN EXCELLENT JOB IN INFORMING NOT ONLY THE COUNCIL, BUT THE PUBLIC AS WELL. UH, I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE ADDRESSED MANY ISSUES BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU COME ON A BUDGET, YOU NOT ONLY INHERIT NEW THINGS AND INNOVATIVE THINGS TO DO, BUT YOU ALSO INHERIT THE PROBLEMS OF THE PAST. NOW, IN ADDRESSING THAT IN 2023, THE CITY DID NOT HAVE A CONVENTIONAL IN MY, UM, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATION. UH, LOOKING BACK BEFORE THE, THE, THE, THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE A CONVENTIONAL SINGLE YEAR BUDGET DEFICIT ON PAPER. ON PAPER, BUT THE GENERAL FUND WAS LEGALLY, UH, BALANCED. BUT IT RELIED ON THE APPROXIMATELY 100 TO $200 MILLION IN RECURRING STRUCTURAL SHORTFALLS. THAT'S WHAT WAS INHERITED FROM 2023. THE GAPS WERE CLOSED USING NON-RECURRING MEASURES LIKE DELAYED MAINTENANCE, LAND SALES, AND FEDERAL PANDEMIC FUNDS. THOSE WERE THE THINGS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL HAD TO FACE. SO EVEN NOW, IF YOU ASKED MANY OF US AROUND THE SHOE, DO WE WANT TO CUT OUR INDIVIDUAL BUDGET, 10%, 15%, 20%? MOST COUNCIL SAY NO, 'CAUSE IT AFFECTS MY EMPLOYEES. IT AFFECTS WHAT I DO. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AROUND HERE IS GOING TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP ANYTHING THAT THEY HAVE AS A DISTRICT OR, OR AT LARGE. SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING CONSIDERED, I DO BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I CAME IN AS POPULAR TO MOST. I DID 10 TOWN HALL MEETINGS. I ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY. I HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER ELLI SAID, WELL, I'VE BEEN HERE TWO WEEKS AND I'VE LEARNED MUCH. I'VE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS AND I'M STILL LEARNING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO IT IN TWO WEEKS, BUT WE'LL SEE. BUT MY POINT IS, I NEED TO BE MADE AND UNDERSTAND. I SUPPORT THE BUDGET BECAUSE I THINK THAT IN DOING THIS, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHERE WE WANT OUR CITY TO GO. WHAT DO WE WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK LIKE? I'VE HEARD MANY TALK ABOUT TAX INCREASES. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FEES, AND AT SOME POINT I TELL PEOPLE I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE. I NEVER SAY NEVER ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT I WOULD BE HARD PRESSED THAT THE FACT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO BE CONVINCED THAT THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY. AND SO I COMMEND YOU, MAYOR AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR STICKING TO THAT. AND YOU HAVE DID PULL, YOU DID CLOSE SOME HOLES IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU CLOSED A LOT OF AREAS THAT YOU MAY NOT GET THE CREDIT FOR, BUT YOU DID. AND SO I THINK THAT GOING FORWARD, IF WE USE, UH, THE WISDOM THAT WE HAVE, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, I DO BELIEVE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT OUR CITY LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. LAST SPEAKERS MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER MARCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I FIRST WANNA START OFF BY, UH, SAYING THANK YOU TO OUR, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, MELISSA DEBOWSKI. UM, THE FIRST TIME I MET HER, IT, I DUNNO IF SHE REMEMBERS, BUT SHE USED TO HELP RUN THE CIP, UH, BUDGET. AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE, THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BE AROUND, UH, DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI AND, AND THEN NOW WHERE WE ARE, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I, I JUST WANNA SAY MAYOR, THAT'S PROBABLY DEFINITELY ONE OF YOUR BEST, BEST CHOICES FOR A DIRECTOR. UH, BECAUSE, UM, GOING ON ALMOST 13 YEARS AGO, WE WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION WHEN IT CAME TO THE FINANCES. UH, WE STARTED HITTING OUR REV CAP AROUND 2015. UH, WE STARTED SEEING, UH, UH, A DECREASE IN, IN, UH, YOU KNOW, CORE SERVICES. AND AT SOME POINT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A REAL HONEST CONVERSATION. UM, STRUCTURAL REFORMS, THEY ARE HARD DECISIONS. UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT QUITE FRANKLY, DEPARTMENTS NEED TO KIND OF WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY NEED TO WORK. YOU KNOW, SOLID WASTE BEING UNDER PUBLIC WORKS NOW. UM, CONSOLIDATING OR CENTRALIZING, YOU KNOW, FINANCE, UH, THE FINANCE WORK AND THE, UM, AND THE WORK TO, FOR, FOR LIKE SPD PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AS WELL. ALL OF THIS IS SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORK DONE A LONG TIME AGO. UM, QUITE FRANKLY, [06:40:01] UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THIS, THIS FUND BALANCE THAT WAS THE BEST EVER. AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, TO COUNCILOR FLICKINGER POINT, THESE WERE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME TO US. AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE RESERVES, UH, THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST FIVE YEARS AGO, OR EVEN SIX YEARS AGO, WAS LOOKING PRETTY PRETTY G CLEAN. UM, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING A LOT OF THIS STRUCTURAL REFORM. WHILE WE HAD THAT, THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID CREATE, WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING WAS CREATING MORE PROGRAMMING, UH, WHETHER IT WAS THE ONE REED HOUSTON, ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, UM, SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED. BUT QUITE FRANKLY, CREATING NEW PROGRAMMING WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A BAD FORECAST ALREADY, UH, WAS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A LOT, LOT MORE. UH, I WAS A STAFFER AT THAT TIME. YOU KNOW, YOU COULD ONLY DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BEING IN THIS POSITION NOW, THE WEIGHT, IT IS ON MY SHOULDERS NOW TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS, HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY ABOUT WHERE WE WANT THE CITY TO BE. UM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REFOCUS OUR COMMITMENT TO COURT SERVICES. UH, IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT, IN A MUNICIPALITY THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PICKING UP YOUR TRASH. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CLEAN WATER. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GREEN SPACE MOWING, ALL THE CORE SERVICES THAT FOLKS WANNA SEE HAPPEN. UM, AND WE CANNOT DO THAT UNLESS WE FIX OUR FINANCES. AND SO THE FINANCES HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, UH, WITH, WITH MY COMMUNITY. UH, QUITE, QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU, I, I SHARE WITH FOLKS YOU CANNOT FIX ON BROKEN. OUR FINANCES HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR FAR TOO LONG. I KNOW FOLKS AREN'T INTERESTED IN WANTING TO TALK ABOUT A TAX RATE INCREASE, BUT HONESTLY, WE'RE IN THESE POSITIONS TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS AND HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS. A TAX RATE HAS DECREASED FROM 63 CENTS TO NOW 51 CENTS OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS, OR ROUGHLY 13 YEARS. UM, THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE SERVICES THAT WE, WE SHOULD BE HAVING. UM, SO TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW WITH OTHER CITIES AS, AS, UH, OUR CHAIR FROM FINANCE, I WANNA DEFINITELY GIVE YOU KUDOS, SALLY. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT TO SAY WHEN, UH, SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN AROUND THE BUDGET SINCE 2010 CAN PUT A STAMP OF APPROVAL AS WELL. AND, AND ALSO LIFT UP, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UH, FOR THE WORK TO DO THE OUTREACH. UH, WE'VE KIND OF REFLECTED ON, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN BUDGETS THAT HAVE TAKEN TILL MIDNIGHT OR, YOU KNOW, BEEN DELAYED EVEN LONGER. UM, BUT BEING FORWARD FACING A LOT MORE, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THE CONVERSATION, BUT BEING FORWARD FACING TO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE SO MANY, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UH, I WAS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, STEP INTO COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ'S, UH, UH, TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE THEY DISCUSSED THE BUDGET AS WELL. UH, THOSE ARE, THAT IS THE WORK AS WELL. AND SO FOR ME, AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS FOUNDATION, EXHAUST ALL OPTIONS, UH, PRIOR TO ANY TAX RATE INCREASE, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT, TAX RATE INCREASE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO EVENTUALLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. IT'S COLD DAY IN HELL. YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE A COLD DAY IN HELL, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT. YOU'VE DEFINITELY GOT TOO MUCH TIME TO TALK TO HIM. BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, UH, WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS THAT THESE HARD DECISIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE 10 YEARS AGO. SO WE'RE HERE NOW, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE THE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE, THAT THE FINANCES, UH, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE CORE SERVICES ARE BEING MET, AND THEN START LOOKING AT WHAT WE WANT THIS CITY TO LOOK LIKE IN EVERY ASPECT. AND SO, UM, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, THIS BUDGET FOR THE MANY REASONS, RIGHT? AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL. UM, THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PICKING UP TRASH ON TIME, THAT WE'RE MOWING, DE LITTERING, MAKING SURE PARKS ARE A, A GREAT SPACE FOR FOLKS TO COME TO. UM, AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THE ONE THING THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT AS MUCH THAT WE SHOULD IS THAT THE EAST WATER PLANT THAT PROVIDES 60% OF THE WATER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS BEING ADDRESSED. THIS IS NOT A HOT, HOT WATER BOIL NOTICE, THIS IS, WE DON'T HAVE WATER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THAT ALARM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED A LONG TIME AGO. THREE FACILITIES, ONE IN THE FIFTIES, TWO IN THE EIGHTIES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD, UH, DOWN THE ROAD FOR TOO LONG. AND SO, AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT FOUNDATION TO START MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE EYEING THESE VERY CRUCIAL CORE SERVICES, UH, LIKE WATER, LIKE TRASH, GREEN SPACE, UH, ULTIMATELY CREATING THE SPACE THAT WE, I, I FEEL LIKE FAMILIES CAN WORK IN, THEY CAN THRIVE IN AND, AND LIVE IN AS WELL. SO, UH, AGAIN, I'M HERE TO SU DEFINITELY SAY THAT I'M SUPPORTING THE BUDGET AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE AS WELL. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE EAST SIDE WATER PLANT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A SLEEPING, UH, GIANT OUT THERE THAT WE'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. IT WAS BUILT IN [06:45:01] 1954 FURNISHES, 60% OF THE CITY'S WATER, ALL THE WATER FOR THE REFINERY CHEMICAL PLANTS. AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THIS LEADERSHIP AND BUDGET IS ADDRESSING THAT. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING A FOUNDATION TODAY. WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT. LOTS OF WORK TO DO. WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR, UH, COLLEAGUES AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO LET THEM KNOW HOW HOUSTON GOES, IS HOW THE STATE OF TEXAS GOES. AND, UH, AUSTIN HAS NEGLECTED THE URBAN CENTERS FOR WAY TOO LONG. WE ALSO NEED TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS. I COULD DO ALL DAY LONG SHOUT OUTS TO COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH US ON PARK OPERATIONS, DEBRIS, PICKUP STREETS, AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE. THE RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING VERY CREATIVE, UH, WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE CHARTER GIVES THE MAYOR THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESENT A BUDGET TO COUNCIL EACH YEAR. THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING OF ALL THAT I'VE SEEN, UH, IN MY THREE YEARS HERE. UH, IT, IT'S NOT EASY AND IT'S NEVER PERFECT. UM, THERE'S A LOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. MAYBE NOT A LOT, BUT THERE, THERE ARE THINGS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET. UM, BUT I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE ONE. AND, AND I'M GONNA VOTE YES ON IT, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S A REASONABLE APPROACH TO MANAGING OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION WHILE STILL PROVIDING CORE CITY SERVICES. IT ESTABLISHES A UTILITY, A GARBAGE UTILITY, AND A RIGHT OF WAY FEE. THOSE ARE NEW, BUT THEY'RE NOT OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM. UM, AND IT REMAINS FOR COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO BE DILIGENT AND DILIGENT, VIGILANT AS WE, UH, GO FORWARD. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THESE COSTS THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF, OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, WHICH IS GONNA TURN INTO A GARBAGE FEE, IS, IS A CONCERN. CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, ABOUT HOW IT'S REGRESSIVE, AND SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANNA PAY ANOTHER FEE. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND SOME WAY TO ADEQUATELY FUND THESE CORE CITY SERVICES THAT, THAT PEOPLE RELY ON. AND, AND AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL HAVING TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED AS WE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS USING OUR RESOURCES WISELY AND DEALING WITH PEOPLE FAIRLY. I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ON AMENDMENTS. THE AMENDMENT PROCESS, UH, HELPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET ACTUALLY REFLECTS, UH, THE PRIORITIES OF, OF THE CITY. AND, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD AMENDMENTS COME OUT OF THIS PROCESS THAT, THAT THE PUBLIC HAS LIKED THAT. UM, I HEAR FOLKS TALK ABOUT WE'RE NOT DISCIPLINED. UM, WE'RE ENGAGING IN DEFICIT SPENDING. AND I, I DON'T NECESSARILY VIEW IT THAT WAY. THIS IS NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHERE YEAR AFTER YEAR WE PASS A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T MATCH AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. OUR BUDGET HAS TO BALANCE. WE DON'T, CAN'T PRINT MONEY, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF ENGAGING INTO OF THOSE PRACTICES. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES IT CHALLENGING. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, MAYOR, AND, AND THAT, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ALL OF OUR CITY WORKERS, UH, DO, UH, TO, TO MAKE THIS ALL HAPPEN. UM, AND SO I'M GONNA BE VOTING YES. UM, I, I THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE PROCESS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE DON'T BEGIN THE, THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS UNTIL MAY WHEN THE BUDGET IS RELEASED. AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS MUCH EARLIER AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC MUCH EARLIER, LET'S SAY IN JANUARY, FINDING OUT WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS NEEDS TO BE IN THE BUDGET AND, AND WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE. UH, AND I HOPE WE WILL DO THAT GOING FORWARD. BUT I APPRECIATE, MAYOR, ALL THE EFFORT YOU'VE PUT IN AND, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT'S HEADS AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSE. YOU KNOWS WHAT I THINK OF YOU. I RESPECT YOU, , EVERYBODY, EVERY I, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT I THINK. AND EACH ONE OF US HAS A SPECIAL WORKING FRIENDSHIP, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. [06:50:01] YOUR COMMENTS TODAY ARE MEANINGFUL. I WANT YOU TO HOLD ME, AND I KNOW YOU WILL. TO THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. WE'RE DEMONSTRATING HOW GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AS AN ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANT, AND I CAN LOOK VERY CLOSE TO HOME AT SOME DYSFUNCTIONING GOVERNING BODIES, CERTAINLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND CHALLENGES IN AUSTIN. LET THE WORD GO OUT THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, THIS ADMINISTRATION OR SERIOUS, TRANSPARENT, AND KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS LEFT TO DO. UH, ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS I'VE DONE WAS ERNS AND YOUNG STUDY. THROUGH EFFICIENCIES, CONSOLIDATIONS, WE ACTUALLY REDUCED THE SIZE OF CITY GOVERNMENT 2% THIS YEAR. THAT'S UNHEARD OF IN PREVIOUS YEARS. YOU JUST BUILD ON WHAT YOU FOUND. BUT NO, THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP, AND IF, IF YOU ASK ME WHAT THE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF, IT'S THE TEAM THAT WE BROUGHT TO CITY HALL. NOT ONLY THE TEAM AROUND THE HORSESHOE, BUT THE DIRECTORS. IT'S JUST THE BEST TEAM THAT YOU CAN FIND. THEY'RE HONEST, THEY'RE TRANSPARENT, THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL. MIKE NICHOLS COMES OUTTA RETIREMENT TO RUN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. MARLENE'S BACK, PREVIOUS PLANNING DIRECTOR. SO THIS BUDGET IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER. AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS, I THANK Y'ALL HOUSTONIANS. AS I TRAVEL ACROSS THE CITY, RECOGNIZE OUR CHALLENGES AND HOW WE'RE MEETING THEM. AND THEY ALWAYS THANK ME FOR NOT RAISING PROPERTY TAXES. YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED, AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK HOUSTONIANS WHAT TYPE CITY THEY WANT TO LIVE IN, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T CONTINUE TO LOSE REVENUE THAT OTHER CITIES ARE RECEIVING. BECAUSE OF OUR MOST RESTRICTIVE REVENUE CAP, REVENUE CAP, WE'VE LOST 1.5 BILLION. LEMME SAY THAT AGAIN. 1.5 BILLION SINCE 2015 WHEN THE REVENUE CAP WERE KICKED IN, THAT PARTLY EXPLAINS THE BROKEN WATER MAINS, THE STREETS, THE CONDITIONS. BUT WE'RE BEING CREATIVE. WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE, AND EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE'RE COMING UP WITH NEW MODELS OF EFFICIENCY. I MEAN, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW HARD RANDY AND ERUS, KENNETH ALLEN OBVIOUSLY DOES SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE IN RUNNING THE PARTS, BUT WE'RE MAKING IT HAPPEN. WE'RE BUILDING A FOUNDATION. IT'S NOT THE CURE ALL, BUT IT'S A FOUNDATION THAT WE'RE FIXING TO VOTE ON. WITH THAT SAID, MEMBERS, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON ITEM 61 AS A AMENDED. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCC CARTER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN? YES. 15 YESES. ONE. NO, THE ADMITTED ITEM PASSES. AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL, LET'S GO FORWARD. OKAY. LET'S GO TO WORK. [06:55:03] I, ITEM 62 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 63 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. AND YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA INTERRUPT WHAT WE'RE DOING. CHRIS NEWPORT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WHEN I GOT DOWN HERE AND THE TRANSITION AND HELPING ME, UH, GET THE RIGHT DIRECTORS. THANK YOU. I JUST SEE YOU OUT THERE. YOU, YOU GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR OUR SUCCESS. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. ITEM 64 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST ME A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE NAY OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 65 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST ME TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 66 IS AN ORDINANCE JUST MADE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAMED MOTION PASSES. I REALLY DID. OH, OKAY. ITEM SIX. UH, DO YOU WANNA DO THE LAST MATTERS? NO. NO. LET'S GO. KEEP GOING. ITEM 67 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 68 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MADE MOTION PASSES. SO THAT'S IT FOR THE MATTERS HELD. THAT'S IT FOR THE GO AHEAD. DURING THE, DURING THE MEETING, UH, SEVERAL ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. UH, STARTING WITH ITEM 31. IT IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. 31. 31 RECEIVED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE POST NAY MOTION PASSES. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME MOTION PASSES. ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 51 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. I'LL RAMIREZ. YOU TAKE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. SO THIS, UH, ITEM DISTRIBUTES TAX REVENUE TO THE T. UM, AND, UH, IT'S GONNA PASS THESE ALWAYS PASS, BUT I REALLY WOULD WISH, UH, THE COUNCIL WOULD TAKE A GLOBAL VIEW OF, UM, THIS SPENDING DISTRIBUTION OF TAX REVENUE AND CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT IT'S IT'S EQUITABLE. THE UPPER KIRBY TURS IS GONNA RECEIVE 17 AND THREE QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS, UH, THROUGH THIS ITEM, WHILE THE FIFTH WARD TURS IS GONNA RECEIVE LESS THAN TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS SEVEN TIMES LESS. AND, UH, BOTH OF THESE TURS IS INTERESTINGLY WERE CREATED IN THE SAME YEAR. AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE BOTH WERE CREATED. AND, UM, I I HOPE THAT, UH, THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS, UM, WHETHER, WHETHER IT'S FAIR AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE USING OTHER CITY RESOURCES, UM, IN A WAY THAT SERVES THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT WITHIN A TURS. THANK YOU. [07:00:03] I SHARE YOUR CONCERN. ARE YOU WITHDRAWN IT AND GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU. ARE YOU SPEAKING TO THE AMENDMENTS? I'M, I'M NOT OFFERING THE AMENDMENTS MAYOR BECAUSE, UM, MY AMENDMENT 1 0 4 WAS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. OKAY, I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. VERY GOOD. NOT NOT OFFERING MY AMENDMENTS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. VOTE ON 51. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 52 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 57 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AND ITEM 60 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. CHRIS IS HAPPY SIR. [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ] FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, TOMORROW STARTING AT SIX O'CLOCK AT THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG WITH TREES FOR HOUSTON IS GOING TO BE OUT TO PRESENT THE HOUSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD PARTICIPATION WITH THIS A YEAR AGO AND GOT A, A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT, UH, DID PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY IMPROVED THE COMMUNITY. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AT ALL, PLEASE COME OUT AND LEARN HOW THE GRANTS CAN BE OBTAINED. ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO $5,000. UH, THE CLEAR LAKE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT'S GONNA BE SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH, STARTING AT NINE O'CLOCK AT THE SOUTH BELT ELLINGTON FIELD. UH, BE SURE TO GET THERE EARLY. THE TRUCKS FILL UP. UH, YESTERDAY ARTEMIS ANNOUNCED THEIR, THEIR CREW FOR, OR NASA ANNOUNCED THE CREW FOR ARTEMIS THREE. AND, UH, THAT WAS A GREAT THING OUT AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, SCHEDULED FOR 2027. UH, AGAIN, CLEAR LAKE AREA, NASA CONTINUES TO KEEP US UP AT THE FOREFRONT. AND, UH, LASTLY, TOMORROW IS MY LOVELY BRIDE'S BIRTHDAY, SO WISHING HER AN EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY . COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA. HEY EVERYBODY. I JUST WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT. TOMORROW WE'RE HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE REOPENING OF THE MKT TRAIL, UH, BRIDGE REOPENING, UH, THAT WAS OUTTA SERVICE FOR OVER 500 DAYS. THIS IS JUST A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR REOPENING THE BRIDGE, BUT ALSO ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT TO CONNECTIVITY, MULTIMODAL TRANSIT AND SAFETY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL FIVE 30 AT THE MKT TRAIL BRIDGE TOMORROW. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILOR PASS, HALF OF 'EM ARE VACANT. MAYOR, I YOU WANNA SPEAK? UH, JUST, JUST TO ANNOUNCEMENTS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT EIGHT ON TOMORROW AT 9:00 AM THE FIVE CORNERS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL UNVEIL THEIR FIFA INSPIRED BANNERS. UM, SO THEY WILL HAVE A CELEBRATION AT THE HI CLARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. UH, AND WE ARE HOSTING OUR DISTRICT K PIZZA AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE DISTRICT. HOPE THAT RESIDENTS WILL COME OUT TO DROP OF THE CREATOR ON TOMORROW, UH, JUNE THE 11TH, FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. PASS MAYOR PROTE PECK PASS. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, JUST WANT TO GIVE, UH, JAY CITY RESIDENTS, UM, NOTICE THAT TOMORROW WE WILL BE HAVING A TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30, IT'LL BE AT THE GARDEN COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, WHICH IS LOCATED BEHIND THE ST. LUKE'S GETHSEMANE METHODIST CHURCH AT 6 8 5 6 BEL AIR BOULEVARD. UH, ANYONE WHO IS A RESIDENT OF JAY CITY, OR A BUSINESS OWNER, OR A STAKEHOLDER IN THE AREA, UH, PLEASE COME OUT TO THE TOWN HALL FOR UPDATES. AND I ALSO WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO THE RICEVILLE MEMORIAL, UH, UNVEILING, UH, OF A MEMORIAL AT THE RICEVILLE CEMETERY ON FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH AT 10:00 AM IT'LL BE AT THE RICEVILLE CEMETERY 9 9 4 5 HONEYWELL ROAD. UM, THE RICEVILLE CEMETERY IS A HIDDEN GEM IN JAY CITY. NO ONE HAS, UH, REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE STORY BEHIND THE CEMETERY, BUT IT'S A, A HISTORIC SLAVE CEMETERY, UM, THAT, UH, HAS NOT GOTTEN MUCH RECOGNITION FOR, UM, ITS PLACE IN HISTORY IN OUR CITY. AND ITS STORY THAT, UH, STILL TOUCHES US TODAY. SO IN COMMEMORATION OF THE [07:05:01] JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY, WE'LL BE HAVING A MEMORIAL AND MURAL UNVEILING. SO AGAIN, FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH, 10:00 AM AT THE RICEVILLE CEMETERY, 9 9 4 5 HONEYWELL ROAD. YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE FOR LOGISTICS, UH, FOR PARKING INSTRUCTIONS AND, UH, SPECIFICS AROUND THE EVENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND, DISTRICT DE CONTINUED TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY CALLED YOUR LEGACY AND SERVICE. ON SATURDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE FREE COMMUNITY SENIOR BREAKFAST AT THE HOUSTON TEXANS, YMCA ON GRIGGS ROAD, HOSTED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR BLACK HERITAGE AND CULTURE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON TEXANS, YMCA. I WANNA THANK RICHARD ANDREWS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IS A GREAT CROWD AND EVERYBODY ENJOYED THE BREAKFAST. THIS MONTHLY GATHERING IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY CARE AND ACTION, BRINGING SENIORS TOGETHER FOR BREAKFAST, FELLOWSHIP, HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCES, ENTERTAINMENT, GIVEAWAYS, AND CONNECTION. I WAS HONORED TO PRESENT CERTIFICATES AND RECOGNIZE THE WORK BEING DONE TO UPLIFT AND SERVE OUR SENIORS. I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS, VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND EVERYONE WHO CONTINUES TO MAKE THIS BREAKFAST POSSIBLE ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH. ON SUNDAY, I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF JOINING THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER OF HOUSTON FOR IT'S 11TH ANNUAL BLACK MUSIC MONTH LEGACY PROJECT AT THE HISTORIC EL DORADO BALLROOM IN THE THIRD WARD ARTS DISTRICT. THIS POWERFUL PROGRAM HONORED GUARDIANS OF HERITAGE, WHOSE ARTISTRY EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE HAVE HELPED PRESERVE AND ADVANCE BLACK MUSIC TRADITIONS HERE IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND. I WAS PROUD TO PRESENT CERTIFICATES, RECOGNIZING THESE YEAR'S HONOREES, INCLUDING DR. ANN LUNDY, MY LONGTIME FRIEND, DR. RUTH STEWART, MRS. INA ZELLER, DR. GLORIA QUINLAN, AND WILL NEIL HERRON OF HEB, THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER OF HOUSTON, HAS BEEN DOING THIS IMPORTANT WORK SINCE 1979, PRESERVING TEACHING AND PRESENTING BLACK MUSIC TRADITIONS TO PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. AND THEY'RE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING AND THEY'RE READY AND WILLING TO TAKE ANY DONATIONS TO HELP THEM GET THERE. IN DISTRICT D, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CULTURE IS NOT JUST SOMETHING WE CELEBRATE. IT IS SOMETHING WE PROTECT, INVEST IN AND, AND PASS FORWARD. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK STEVEN DAVID FOR YOUR INPUT IN OUR MEETINGS. IT WAS VERY, VERY, UH, INFORMATIVE AND I THINK IT MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. UM, AND SO WE ARE, LET ME MOVE ON. I HAVE SOME, UH, INTERNS I WANNA RECOGNIZE. I THINK THEY LEFT AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK. THIS IS THE LONGEST MEETING THEY COULD HAVE COME TO. BUT ANYWAY, WE, WE HAVE RETURNING INTERNS, DURO DENA FROM BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, MADISON WILLIAMS FROM THE SPELMAN COLLEGE. UH, AND THEN WE HAVE NEW INTERNS, BAILEY BROWN, UH, KYLA MURPHY. MACKENZIE HENDERSON, COINCIDENTALLY ALL FROM SPELMAN COLLEGE. BUT CERTAINLY I WANT TO SAY THAT ON THIS SATURDAY, UH, WE WILL BEGIN THE, THE JUNETEENTH, UH, COMMEMORATION AND CELEBRATION WITH A PARADE THAT IS GOING TO KICK OFF FROM WHEELER AND EMANCIPATION AND GO DOWN TO THE EMANCIPATION PARK. AND CERTAINLY THAT IS AN ENDEAVOR THAT, UM, WE HEARD ABOUT FROM DORIS ELLIS ON YESTERDAY. AND, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN. AND THEN I JUST GOT SOMETHING FROM, UM, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ALSO ON THIS SAT I'M SORRY, ON THE PARADE, STARTS AT 10:00 AM AND ALSO ON THIS SATURDAY, FROM 10 TO ONE, THERE WILL BE AN EMERGENCY DISASTER RESOURCE FAIR. AND WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO COME OUT. WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE PREPARED BECAUSE THAT MAKES, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UM, WITH LIFE OR DEATH. BUT AT ANY RATE, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, TO THIS JUNCTURE, I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING THE BUDGET AND DOING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND AGAIN, I THINK EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, THE COLUMBIA TAP. I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THEN, BUT THAT IS SO EXCITING. UH, WITH THE LIGHTING, LET THERE BE LIGHT AND CERTAINLY WITH THE CAMERAS AND THE SIGNAGE, IT'S GONNA BE A MUCH SAFER PLACE TO BE. AND PLEASE COME TO DISTRICT D AND RIDE DOWN THE COLUMBIA. TAP DOWN THE COLUMBIA TAP. I'M GONNA REPEAT THAT. AND CERTAINLY YOU ALL, UH, ARE VERY MUCH INVITED TO COME, UH, AND ENGAGE IN ANY OF THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVITIES. AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK. AND SO THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. ADJOURN, NOT ME. * 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.