* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:29] WELCOME TO THE CITY PULSE. I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS. OH, WHAT? YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR THROAT? NO, IT'S YOUR TURN. OH, WE'RE ROLLING. YEAH. I WAS JUST READING THIS QUOTE RIGHT HERE IN THE ROTUNDO CITY HALL. GOVERNMENT PROTECTS THE PEOPLE. HOUSTON CITY HALL IS FULL OF HISTORY. WE ARE LITERALLY STANDING ON IT. WE WILL SHARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ON TODAY'S EPISODE, BUT FIRST, SOME CITY HIGHLIGHTS 15 YES IS ONE. NO. THE MINUTE ADAM PASSES AND I THANK HIS COUNCIL, THE BIG NEWS OUT OF CITY HALL IS THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF MAYOR WHITMORE'S BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THE $7.5 BILLION BUDGET WILL HELP ENSURE THE CITY'S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. TO ACHIEVE THAT, THE CITY IS INTRODUCING A $5 MONTHLY ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR TRASH SERVICES. STARTING IN AUGUST, CITY OF HOUSTON, RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN SEEING A $5 MONTHLY ADMINISTRATIVE FEE ON THEIR WATER BILL. FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THOSE LOOKING TO TRANSITION OFF THE STREETS AND INTO MORE PERMANENT HOUSING. THE FACILITIES OPENING COMES AS THE CITY HOST, FIFA WORLD CUP 2026. THE HARRIS CENTER IS THE MAIN OPERATOR FOR HEALTH AND TREATMENT SERVICES AND ITS CEO. WAYNE YOUNG IS HONORED BY THE CITY'S TRUST AND COMMITMENT. WE ENVISION AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES DIGNITY, SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE THE TRANSITIONS AND TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY THAT ENTER INTO RECOVERY AND LAUNCH THAT RECOVERY INTO INDEPENDENCE. AND INDEPEND LIVING HOUSTON DECLARES ITSELF A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE AS PART OF A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN TO DETER HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE BAYOU CITY. HOUSTON STADIUM WILL DISPLAY SIGNAGE AND UNDERCOVER POLICE WILL BE DEPLOYED AT WORLD CUP VENUES TO MONITOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES. WE ARE GOING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BAD ACTORS, THOSE THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THAT JUST WANT TO ATTEND A SOCCER EVENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLAN. DON'T CATCH YOURSELF SITTING AT A RESTAURANT TRYING TO ENGAGE IN SOME ILLICIT ACTIVITY. 'CAUSE THAT MAY BE AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. REBECCA, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS INSCRIPTION? OH, GREAT. CITY OF VISION. BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, AND ALERT. I THINK IT'S SAYING THAT HOUSTON IS MORE THAN JUST THE BIG CITY. IT'S SMART, IT'S VIBRANT, DIVERSE. YES. THREE THINGS THAT PERFECTLY DESCRIBE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON'S NEW MAIN STREET PROMENADE. TODAY MARK'S AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE UNVEILING A BEAUTIFUL NEW GATHERING SPACE, BUT BECAUSE THIS PROJECT REFLECTS HOW CIVIC INNOVATION CAN EMERGE FROM EVEN THE TOUGHEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES. MAIN STREET HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A VIBRANT CORRIDOR THAT REFLECTS THE VISION FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT EVERY DAY. BUT THIS IS A STATEMENT THAT HOUSTON IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. JUST LOOK AT THE EXCITEMENT ON A SATURDAY MORNING. IT'S CLEAN. IT'S SAFE. PEOPLE ARE GETTING JOBS, THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY. THIS IS A EXCITING DAY FOR DOWNTOWN. THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR HOUSTON. THIS PROMENADE IS JUST THE BEGINNING. IT'S THE VERY FIRST STEP IN A COOL AND CONNECTED CORRIDOR NETWORK FOR OUR DOWNTOWN VISITORS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT SIDEWALKS ANYMORE. THIS IS A NEW PUBLIC SPACE FOR PEOPLE. ONE THAT WE WILL CARE FOR LIKE A PARK. WE WANT PEOPLE TO NOT JUST WORK IN HOUSTON. WE WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE, TO ENJOY THE DIVERSITY OF ENTERTAINMENT. IT WILL BE A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE, AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT HOUSTONIANS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY FOR YEARS. THIS IS WHY YOU RUN FOR OFFICE. THIS IS WHY WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A HOUSTONIAN. OUR REGION IS GROWING. WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED BY THE WORLD AND LET'S KEEP ON WORKING. THANK Y'ALL. 3, 2, 1. OKAY, NOW HOW'S THIS FOR TIMING? ALRIGHT. NOT ONLY IS JULY 4TH, AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY. HOUSTON HOSTS ITS FINAL MATCH THE WORLD CUP AT NOON. ALRIGHT, AND LATER [00:05:01] FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH THE 39TH ANNUAL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION. SOUNDS LIKE A JAM PACKED DAY, BUT EXCITING. . THE LINEUP IS A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY. ALL RIGHT, A LITTLE BIT. ROCK AND ROLL. WE LIKE IT. LET'S CHECK IT OUT. FREEDOM OVER TEXAS POSTER. SO LET'S ENJOY IT. GREAT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT KEITH URBAN IS GONNA BE THE LEAD ENTERTAINMENT. SO I'M EXCITED. AND ALSO COLLECTIVE SOUL WILL BE PRESENT. AND THEN THE LOST LONELY BOYS. WHAT AN EXCITING OUR SPONSORS ARE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, FANTASTIC COURT, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPANTS. UH, WITHOUT THAT CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, WE CANNOT, CANNOT MAKE THESE EVENTS HAPPEN. WE WANTED TO REVITALIZE THE LOOK OF THE EVENT. UH, START OFF WITH THE LOOK OF THE NEW LOGO. ONE THING THAT I MUST STRESS, NO CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW. PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN. BUDWEISER'S ALREADY STEPPED UP WITH A QR CODE. IF YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK, PLEASE MAKE THE RESPONSIBLE CHOICE. LET'S GET EVERYBODY HOME SAFELY. I KNOW WE HAVE FIFA, BUT WE'RE STILL SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING AND PLANNING FOR THE 4TH OF JULY TO ENSURE A SAFE AND FUN, UH, UH, CONCERT AND HOLIDAY. AND WITH THAT SAID, OUR TEAMS ARE PREPARED. WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING READY TO GO. WHEN CITY PULSE RETURNS, HOUSTON GETS ITS HANDS DIRTY IN CASHMERE GARDENS, AND WE VISIT A HIDDEN GYM AT HERMAN PARK. SO STAY WITH IT. HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING IN MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES. CALL 8 8 8 3 7 3 7 8 8 8 AT THE FIRST SUSPICIOUS SIGN YOU SEE WATCH FOR TRAFFIC.ORG. WELCOME BACK TO CITY PULSE. IT'S TIME TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF HOUSTON HISTORICAL FIGURES. CAN YOU NAME THE MAN RESPONSIBLE OF THE SPOT WE'RE STANDING ON RIGHT NOW? THAT WOULD BE GEORGE H. HERMAN, A PHILANTHROPIST WHO MADE HIS MONEY IN CATTLE AND OIL. HIS LEGACY ENDURES THANKS TO MEMORIAL HERMAN HOSPITAL AND HERMAN PARK. SPEAKING OF PARKS, LET'S CHECK IN WITH HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATIONS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR MATT BUSSEL TO TALK ABOUT A GARDEN THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE. HELLO AGAIN. THIS IS MATT MUSSEL, ALONG WITH BRENDA C AND WE ARE STANDING IN ONE OF THE MOST PEACEFUL SPOTS IN ALL OF HOUSTON. WE ARE IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN AT HERMAN PARK. I KNOW, ISN'T IT CRAZY? HERE WE ARE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE US BUT YET WE ARE SURROUNDED BY 5.4 ACRES OF SERENITY AND RELAXATION. THIS PLACE IS TRULY A HIDDEN GEM OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THANKS TO A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY. THE BEAUTY OF THIS GARDEN IS MAINTAINED YEAR ROUND. WE'VE BEEN SO LUCKY TO HAVE, OF COURSE, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE, UM, THEY CONCEIVED OF THIS GARDEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JAPANESE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ALMOST 35 YEARS AGO, AND HAVE STEWARDED IT AND ALL OF ITS BEAUTY. AND NOW STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENHANCE THAT BEAUTY AND TO AID IN THAT EFFORT. TWO GARDENERS AND ONE DESIGNER FROM JAPAN FLEW IN TO BE PART OF THE GARDEN'S TRANSFORMATION. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET US. HI YUKI SUJI. HE IS ONE OF THE APPRENTICES OF THE ORIGINAL GARDEN DESIGNER NAKAJIMA. AND WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT HE IS ABLE TO COME HERE AND VIEW OUR NAKAJIMA GARDEN AND HELP US WITH THE NEXT STEP IN WHAT THE RESTORATION OF THE SPACE SHOULD BE. THREE POINTS. MM-HMM. IS VERY IMPORTANT. THIS, THIS AREA IS DOWNTOWN, NEAR DOWNTOWN. MANY TYPES THAT PEOPLE COMING. I HOPE, UM, EVERYBODY LOVES THIS GARDEN AND RELAX. YOU KNOW, MATT, THIS PLACE IS SO RELAXING. I CAN STAY HERE ALL DAY. DAD, THAT IS A GREAT IDEA. HOLD ONTO THAT THOUGHT. IN FACT, WE INVITE OUR FOLLOWERS TO COME OUT TO THIS SPECIAL PLACE AND ALWAYS REMEMBER, HEY, IT'S FREE OF CHARGE TO GET TO THE JAPANESE GARDEN. HEY, REMEMBER THOSE DUCKLINGS? LET'S GO CHECK 'EM OUT. THE JAPANESE GARDENS IN HERMAN PARK. IT'S JUST ONE MORE REASON WHY WE LIKE TO SAY HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, WHERE YOU BELONG. THE CITY OF HOUSTON KICKED OFF DEMOLITION DAYS STARTING IN CASHMERE GARDENS WITH A LONG TIME ABANDONED HOME. THIS INITIATIVE [00:10:01] USES $30 MILLION FROM HOUSTON STORMWATER FUND TO ADDRESS DANGEROUS PROPERTIES THAT CAUSE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. NOW LET'S GET TO WORK. THERE'S OVER 2000 ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE DANGEROUS. THEY AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. THIS CONTAINER WE JUST GOT RID OF WAS FULL OF MOSQUITOES. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RAISING A YOUNG PERSON IN THIS SETTING, WALKING BY HERE, DRIVING BY HERE ON THE WAY HOME? THINK WHAT IT DOES TO THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND THEIR HOPE AND DREAMS. WE'RE OUT IN THE CASHMERE, UM, COMMUNITY, UH, DEMOLISHING A ABANDONED HOUSE, YOU KNOW, AND SO, UM, IN DISTRICT V, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH ACROSS THE DISTRICT. ABANDONED PROPERTIES THAT, AND THE ISSUE IS THE RESIDENTS. THEY'RE IMPACTED BY THESE PROPERTIES. IT ATTRACTS ILLEGAL DUMPING AND, YOU KNOW, CRIME. AND SO, UM, I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TAKING ON THIS STAFF OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE ABO UM, DEMOLISHING, UM, THESE LONGSTANDING PROPERTIES THAT'S JUST BEEN PLAGUING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED. TOMORROW WE WILL DEMOLISH SEVEN MORE FACILITIES, BUILDINGS FROM KINGWOOD TO SOUTHWEST HOUSTON. AND IT'S GONNA BE WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THE HOUSTON CONTRACTORS. WE CAME TOGETHER THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HOUSTONIANS. REBECCA, IT'S HERE. YES, IT IS. YEARS IN THE MAKING. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MONTHS AND MONTHS. YES. THE FIFA WORLD CUP. OH MY GOD, I'M SO EXCITED. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT? I DON'T HAVE A TICKET. OH. UM, HOUSTON'S EASTON HAS THE NEXT BEST THING. OKAY. THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL. HOUSTON, ARE YOU READY FOR WORLD CUP 2026? I AM IMPRESSED. UH, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE THE HOST COMMITTEE, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, EVERYONE THAT PLAYED A ROAD, HOUSTONIANS, THIS IS SUCH A DEMONSTRATION OF CAN-DO ATTITUDE, GET THINGS DONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WELL, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE THIS SOFT LAUNCH OUT HERE TODAY. GETTING READY FOR, OF COURSE, THE BIG OPENING ON THURSDAY. I MEAN, THIS IS A FREE FAN FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE OPEN FOR ALL 104 MATCHES, 34 DAYS OF THE 39 DAYS OF FAN FESTIVAL. I'M HAPPY TO BE IN THIS, UH, FUN, UH, FESTIVAL. SOMETHING IN NEW, AND IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER FESTIVAL BECAUSE IT'S WORLD CUP. THIS IS A PRETTY COOL EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE GAME ACTUALLY BEGIN. UM, THAT WAY ALL THE FANS CAN GET TO KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT. I THINK IT'S GREAT. I FEEL LIKE IT'S PROMOTING FAMILY. IT'S PROMOTING FUN, PROMOTING THE WORLD CUP IS GIVING KIDS THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE, OH, I CAN BE A PART OF THIS ONE DAY. UH, I WILL BE ATTENDING THE VERY FIRST MATCH ON JUNE 11TH BETWEEN, UH, GERMANY. YEAH, I THINK IT'S FOR GERMANY, BECAUSE I GO FOR GERMAN. YEAH. SO I'M PROBABLY GONNA COME AND WATCH THE NETHERLANDS AND MAYBE, UH, PORT OF GOLD GAME OVER HERE. I JUST WANT EACH STONE TO COME EXPERIENCE THIS. AND ALL I CAN SAY IS, YAY HOUSTON, BECAUSE IT IS NOW FIFA TIME. AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE OPERATION. THANK YOU TO THE HOST COMMITTEE, SPORTS AUTHORITY, PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CERTAINLY THE TEAM AT CITY HALL. SO WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS. LET'S JUST KEEP ON WORKING HOUSTON. WELL, TRAVIS, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T GET TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, LIKE ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTION, UH, ABOUT CITY HALL, BUT I, I LEARNED A THINK OR TWO. MY FAVORITE QUOTE AT CITY HALL IS WHERE THE PEOPLE COME IN EACH AND EVERY WEEK WHEN THEY SPEAK BEFORE CITY COUNCIL. BUT, UH, LET'S HEAR YOUR GOODBYES AND THEN SHARE THE QUOTE. ALRIGHT, WELL, FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION, PARKS AND RECREATION, I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS. AND I'M TRAVIS LEMONS. INSTEAD OF ENDING THE SHOW LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, HERE'S A GREAT REMINDER OF WHAT HOUSTON WAS, IS IT WILL ALWAYS BE BECAUSE I GO, HOUSTON'S DOWNTOWN KNEW. NO, NO, IT DOESN'T. . AND HE DONATED A LARGE CHUNK OF MONEY. WHEN CITY PULSE RETURNS, WE'RE GONNA GET OUR HANDS DIRTY AND SOMETHING, WE'RE GONNA GET OUR HANDS DIRTY SOMEWHERE. SOMEWHERE AT CASHIER GARDENS. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING. DEMOING A HOME THAT NEEDED IT FOR SOME TIME. NOW THIS, I KNOW THAT WAS BAD. I. * 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.