Aug 11, 2026 Council Meeting (August 11, 2026 & August 12, 2026)

[00:00:02]

INFORMATION TO THE EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO RECOGNIZE EAST END DAY 2026.

[Additional Item]

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL. COME UP AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY.

YOU KNOW, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M AN EAST END NATIVE, BORN AND RAISED IN THE EAST END.

WENT TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL CAGE, JACKSON AND AUSTIN FOR THOSE AUSTIN FOLKS AROUND HERE.

YOU KNOW, AND WHAT I'VE RECOGNIZED OVER THAT, THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS THE EAST END PROGRESSING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SUPPORT OF BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE THERE IN THE EAST END AS WELL. JUST ON A PERSONAL, FRANCIS AND I WE'VE ATTENDED THE SAME CHURCH FOR SOME TIME.

I WAS ACTUALLY HER ALTAR BOY FOR A WHILE AT BLESSED SACRAMENT.

BUT IN ALL THAT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT THE EAST END IS A, IS IS A PLACE WHERE THE CITY OF HOUSTON NOT ONLY NEEDS, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WE WE HELP WITH THE TREND, RIGHT? WE HAVE THE PORT, WE HAVE AMAZING SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND ALL THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALONG WITH OTHER ENTITIES THAT THAT HELP LIFT UP THE EAST END.

AND SO TODAY WE GET TO CELEBRATE OVER THREE DECADES OF THE EASTERN CHAMBER DOING GREAT WORK.

EARLIER TODAY, WE WERE ABLE TO GATHER OVER SOME VERY DIVERSE FOOD.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE EAST END, WE HAVE SOME NEW POP UPS THAT HAVE COME UP.

ONE OF THEM YOU KNOW, MORE, MORE RECENTLY WAS A BARBECUE SPOT THAT USED TO BE EAST END BACKYARD.

NOW IT'S EAST BOUND. AND OF COURSE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF YOUR STAPLES LIKE NINFA'S, EL TIEMPO, DONA MARIAS AND WHATNOT. AND SO WITH THAT, I'M PROUD TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO LIFT UP THE EAST END.

AND I WANT TO THANK FRANCES FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND HER BOARD AS WELL.

SO WHAT? I'LL READ PART OF IT. I WANT TO ALSO THANK MY MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR BEING HERE.

HE REPRESENTS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE EAST END, WHICH IS THE SECOND WARD AREA.

IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO I APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT AS WELL.

SO EAST ENDS BEGINNING ARE ROOTED IN THE AREA ALONG BRAYS BAYOU AND BUFFALO BAYOU, KNOWN TODAY AS OLD HARRISBURG, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN 1826. THE COMMUNITY'S CONNECTION TO THE WATERWAYS CONTINUES TODAY THROUGH ITS PROXIMITY TO THE PORT TO PORT HOUSTON, THE NATION'S LEADING PORT PORT FOR FOREIGN WATER BORNE COMMERCE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST PORTS IN THE WORLD.

EAST END IS THEREFORE ONE OF THE ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST HISTORIC COMMUNITIES AND SERVES AS A VITAL ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE CITY, THE REGION AND THE STATE. CHAMPIONING THE EAST END ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IS THE HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1991, IT HAS SERVED AS A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY BY CONNECTING BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS, PROMOTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION AMONG THE PRIVATE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT SECTORS.

THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, IT HELPS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES THRIVE AND INVESTMENT GROWS AND THE COMMUNITY FLOURISHES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AND THANK YOU ALL.

IT TRULY IS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT PART OF THE EAST END AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS RECOGNITION OF THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY.

LAST YEAR MARKS THE CHAMBER'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY, CELEBRATING OVER THREE DECADES OF SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY FOR THE AREA'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS.

ON AUGUST 11TH, 2026, IT WILL HOST ITS BIANNUAL EASTON DAY AT CITY HALL, GIVING ELECTED OFFICIALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH EASTON RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THROUGH ITS SIGNATURE TASTE OF THE EAST END.

ATTENDEES WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE THE DIVERSE FLAVORS OF LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANTS THAT HELP DEFINE THIS BELOVED COMMUNITY.

IN RECOGNITION OF EAST END DAY AND THE EASTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE CHAMBER AND ITS LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL WHO LIVE, WORK, AND INVEST IN THIS REMARKABLE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ CASTILLO. IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO STAND WITH THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF THE EAST END. CERTAINLY THE CHAMBER AND ITS SPECIAL 35TH ANNIVERSARY.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EAST END SINCE BEING THEIR SENATOR THROUGHOUT THE 80S, BEFORE WE HAD A HISPANIC SENATE SEAT, PLAYING A ROLE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE THAT SEAT IN 91 FOR THE 92 ELECTIONS, WE ELECTED THE HONORABLE MARIO GALLEGOS, WHO BECAME A CLOSE ALLY AND FRIEND.

SO IT'S A REAL GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF THE EAST END.

AND WE STAND ON OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOULDERS. THE HISTORIC CREATION OF HARRISBURG IN 1826.

[00:05:08]

AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMIRE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 11TH, 2026 IS HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 35TH ANNIVERSARY IN EAST END DAY ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMIRE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND MARTINEZ. TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF ME ARE SOME OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS IN THE EAST END, AND WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.

HOPEFULLY, IF YOU DIDN'T GET A TASTE OF THE DELICIOUS FOOD DOWNSTAIRS, YOUR STAFF DID ASK THEM HOW DELICIOUS IT WAS.

COME BACK AND VISIT OUR DIVERSE CULINARY EXPERIENCE.

WE DO HAVE A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.

SO FOR THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US, WE WILL PASS THEM ALONG TO YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 35 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

MYSELF, I'VE BEEN HERE 16 YEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE FIVE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S THE SAYING GOES, LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

AND IT NEVER YOU NEVER CALL IT WORK, I GUESS.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE AN AMAZING STAFF AND AGAIN, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT THEM.

CHEERS TO 35 MORE. COUNCIL MEMBERS, BEFORE YOU TAKE A PHOTO.

COUNCILMEMBER CARTER, I COULDN'T MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU ALL.

BUT I'M GOING TO DATE MYSELF A LITTLE BIT AND TELL YOU, OVER 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN I ATTENDED BURNET ELEMENTARY IN THE THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADE, THE ONLY THING ON NAVIGATION WAS MAXWELL HOUSE.

WELL, IT WASN'T ON NAVIGATION DOWN AT THE END. RICE FOOD MARKET, EVERYBODY REMEMBER RICE, THE WHITE SWAN AND THE RAINBOW BREAD BAKERY DOWN THERE OFF OF LOCKWOOD AND OVER LELAND.

BUT I USED TO WALK UP NAVIGATION DOWN BY MAXWELL HOUSE INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE.

SO TO REALLY, Y'ALL ARE ONLY 35. I'M A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN THAT, BUT TO REALLY SEE THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN JUST UNBELIEVABLE AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE. JUST THE NEW ALMA CAMPUS IS GOING TO BE MAGNIFICENT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU ALL. ALL FOR ALL YOU DO. THANKS FOR BRINGING LUNCH TODAY BECAUSE YOU REALLY BROUGHT LUNCH.

WE GOT TO STEP IT UP A LITTLE BIT. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO LIZ COOK FOR HER 30TH AND FINAL EDITION OF THE LIZ COOK TRAIL RIDE, RODEO, ZYDECO AND CAMPOUT. THANK YOU.

[00:10:07]

AND SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

AND WHILE I'M STANDING, MAYOR, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT TWO PEOPLE HERE, THIS IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO MISS LIZ COOK.

LET ME ASK YOU GO RIGHT HERE. AND I WANTED TO ALSO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS THIS PRESENTATION THAT HER PASTOR, THAT HER PASTOR IS HERE. AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE PASTOR JERRY EVANS.

COME HERE. STAND UP, PASTOR EVANS, WE RECOGNIZE YOU.

YES, SIR. PASTOR JERRY EVANS. AND ALSO AND ALSO, AS I MAY, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER SON WHO'S STANDING NEXT TO HER MAYOR, WHO RIGHT HERE IS A POLICE OFFICER.

THIS IS BROTHER CEDRIC KIRBY. AND. YES. AND HE, I UNDERSTAND, IS RETIRING THIS COMING OCTOBER, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. BUT WE DO WANT TO TAKE THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION THE 30TH AND FINAL EDITION OF THE LIZ COOK TRAIL RIDE, RODEO, ZYDECO AND CAMP OUT.

WHEREAS, ON JULY 31ST, 2026, THE 30TH AND THE FINAL EDITION OF THE LIZ COOK TRAIL RIDE, RODEO, ZYDECO AND CAMPOUT WILL TAKE PLACE CELEBRATING MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF BLACK COWBOY CULTURE AND MUSIC AND COMMUNITY BUILDING THROUGH HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDING THROUGH THE VISION AND DEDICATION OF ELIZABETH COOK, KIRBY COOK, ELIZABETH KIRBY COOK. AND WHEREAS THE TRAIL RIDE TRACES ITS ROOTS TO 1994, WHEN LIZ COOK BEGAN THE EVENT WITH APPROXIMATELY 50 COWBOYS AT THE WIMER BLACK COMMUNITY PARK, INSPIRED BY HER LOVE FOR THE CREOLE TRAIL RIDES OF LOUISIANA AND EAST TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE TRAIL RIDE HAS GROWN INTO AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT COMBINES HORSEBACK RIDING, RODEO AND DANCING TO THE CREOLE RHYTHMS OF ZYDECO MUSIC WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGING YOUTH RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND PRESERVING THE RICH HERITAGE OF THE BLACK RODEO LIFESTYLE.

AND WHEREAS HOUSTON TRANSPLANT AND WEIMER, TEXAS NATIVE LIZ COOK IS RESPECTED FIGURE IN TEXAS CULTURE, SERVING AS AN ASSISTANT TRAIL BOSS FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN TRAIL RIDE GROUP, WHICH ANNUALLY MAKES 120 PLUS MILES, JOURNEYED TO HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO.

AND WHEREAS ELIZABETH KIRBY COOK PREPARES FOR THE 30TH AND FINAL LIZ COOK TRAIL RIDE, RODEO, ZYDECO AND CAMPOUT. THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS ITS APPRECIATION AND PROUDLY RECOGNIZES HER DEDICATION, HARD WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO TEXAS COWBOY HERITAGE.

MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DAVIS, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE TRAIL RIDERS.

CERTAINLY MISS COOK'S TEAM. I GREW UP IN HOUSTON, AND I CAN REMEMBER WHEN THERE WEREN'T BLACK COWBOYS AT THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. THAT'S RIGHT. SO I KNOW THE COURAGE AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT IT TOOK TO CREATE SUCH AN EVENT FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AND EVEN THOUGH THIS MIGHT BE WHERE YOU WRAP IT UP ON A TRAIL RIDE, YOUR LEGACY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO LIVE ON. YOU'RE YOUNG ENOUGH TO TELL THE STORY.

AND, OFFICER, I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU WHEN WE GET THROUGH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR EXPERIENCE ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND YOU'VE SEEN A LOT IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS REALLY A SPECIAL DAY. IT IS. IT IS.

AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMIRE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 31ST, 2026, THE LIZ COOK TRAIL RIDE RODEO AND ZYDECO CAMPOUT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

[00:15:05]

OH. NICE DROP. YES, SIR. THAT'S NOT A DROP. YES.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE.

IT HAS TRULY BEEN A BLESSING FOR THE 30 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THE TRAIL RIDE AND BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE YOUTH MENTOR TO TRY AND KEEP THE WESTERN HERITAGE ALIVE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS I AM A PART OF THE SOUTHWESTERN TRAIL RIDERS OF HOUSTON.

BUT IT'S JUST TIME FOR ME TO KIND OF STEP DOWN FROM THE PERSONAL EVENT THAT I WAS GIVEN.

BUT IT HAS TRULY, TRULY BEEN A BLESSING. I'VE MET A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AND I THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS TO ME.

SURE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER. DAVIS, BEFORE YOU TAKE A PHOTO, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS, MAYOR, FOR RECOGNIZING THIS, THIS AMAZING GROUP.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, MISS COOK JUST A BRIEF MOMENT.

I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, RIGHT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY.

BUT QUITE FRANKLY, EVERYBODY'S COMMUNITY BY, BY DOING THE TRAIL RIDES.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'VE IN THIS THIS JOURNEY, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO.

BUT THE FOLKS THAT SHOWED UP HERE WITH YOU, THEY LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU AND DEFINITELY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DEFINITELY INSPIRED OTHER FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK. AND THEN TO YOUR SON WHO JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE INVESTED AND POURED A LOT INTO HIM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH HPD AS WELL.

YES. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. CONGRATULATIONS. Y'ALL WANT TO COME UP? WE MAYBE GO INSIDE.

[00:20:04]

ONE HERE FOR THE MAYOR.

REMEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.

[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]

MAYOR. AND WE LOVE SAINT THERESA'S AND WE LOVE FATHER.

FATHER VINCENT. HE IS THE MOST JOYFUL PRIEST.

AND HE'S HERE TO GIVE US A PRAYER. SO COME ON UP.

ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL GOD, SOURCE OF ALL WISDOM, JUSTICE AND PEACE BE GATHERED IN THE CITY HALL OF HOUSTON TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE DELIBERATE ON THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BLESS THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL WHO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.

GRANT THEM CLARITY OF MIND, INTEGRITY OF HEART, AND COURAGE TO ACT FOR THE COMMON GOOD, ESPECIALLY THE POOR, THE VULNERABLE, AND THOSE MOST IN NEED. SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT UPON THIS ASSEMBLY THAT THE DISCUSSIONS MAY BE MARKED BY MUTUAL RESPECT, SENSIBLE JUDGMENT, AND SINCERE DESIRE FOR THE FLOURISHING OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.

WE ASK ALL OF THIS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

IN THE UNITED STATES. AT THE END OF. THE.

ROLL CALL. MR.. SECRETARY MAYOR. PRESIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBER.

[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]

PANZARELLA. HERE. COUNCIL. MEMBER. EVANS. SHABAZZ.

COUNCIL. MEMBER. FLICKINGER. COUNCIL MEMBER. THOMAS. COUNCIL. MEMBER. HUFFMAN. PRESIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. POLLOCK.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. TATUM WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ WILL BE ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER. DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER. CARTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLCORN HERE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS. SHABAZZ. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JULY 21ST AND 22ND.

MOVED. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION.

COUNCILMEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO UNDER THE THREE MINUTE LIST, HAVE THE ORDER OF SPEAKERS BE ALICE BAILEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIE THOBE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS VALDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS KRISTEN SCHLEMMER HOFFMAN.

SECONDS. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? IF NOT OUR FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE. LESLIE KNOPE OF AUSTIN.

[2:00 P.M. – PUBLIC SPEAKERS ]

[00:25:11]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMIRE AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.

WE HAVE A POTENTIAL A PETITION WITH OVER 40,000 SIGNATURES ON THEM, MAKING THE HOUSTON FREEDOM ACT A REALITY IN THIS YEAR'S UPCOMING MIDTERM ELECTION.

IT'S AN ACT THAT BANS NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND REDUCES LOW LEVEL CANNABIS ARRESTS.

AS YOU ALL SHOULD BE AWARE OF, TWO HISTORIANS IN OUR GREAT CITY HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF THESE DEADLY NO KNOCK RAIDS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.

THE HPD SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE TIME GOING AFTER HARD DRUG OFFENSES VERSUS SMALL CANNABIS OFFENSES TO IGNORE THE 40,000 FOLKS IN OUR CITY THAT SIGNED THIS PETITION COULD.

IT COULD RESULT IN POLITICAL BATTLES, POLITICAL BACKLASH, RESULTING IN YOU LOSING THE REELECTIONS OF NOVEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

POLITICAL TENSIONS ARE ALREADY AT AN ALL TIME HIGH HERE IN TEXAS.

AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE NEW THC LAWS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SET FORTH, WHICH IS STARTING TO COMBINE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS TOGETHER AS A WHOLE.

I THANK THE HOUSTON FREEDOM ACT COULD BENEFIT YOU ALL IN THE LONG RUN, POLITICALLY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR NOW. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

THANK YOU. NEXT ANGEL CAROL. TO BE FOLLOWED BY SERGIO.

LARA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ANGEL CARROLL. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR GROUND GAME TEXAS THAT LED THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE IN GETTING THE SIGNATURES, AS WELL AS A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE YES ON MAKING THIS INTO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

THOUSANDS OF ESTONIANS SIGN THIS PETITION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN POLICIES THAT KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

THE HARDING STREET RAIDS LEFT FAMILIES FOREVER CHANGED.

AND WHILE WE CAN'T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT NO KNOCK WARRANTS ARE BANNED WITHIN THE CITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A BASIC LIFE SAVING SAFEGUARD NOT JUST FOR OUR OFFICERS, BUT RESIDENTS AS WELL.

HOUSTONIANS ALSO SIGNED THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY RESOURCES SHOULD BE PLACED ELSEWHERE.

RIGHT. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS MEASURE DOES NOT LEGALIZE MARIJUANA BY ANY, ANY MEANS NECESSARY, BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS SET A CLEAR COMMON SENSE PRIORITY BETWEEN CLASS A AND CLASS B MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION.

WHICH WILL CAUSE THOSE TO HPD'S LOWEST ENFORCEMENT TO BECOME, I APOLOGIZE, HPD'S LOWEST PRIORITY.

IT ALSO BUILDS ACCOUNTABILITY. SO ONE, IT PROVIDES A ONE TIME AUDIT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY SEE WHAT ENFORCEMENT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE AND WHO IS BEING POTENTIALLY OVERPOLICED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENS.

IT ALSO PROVIDES AN ANNUAL PUBLIC REPORTING ON ARRESTS, CITATIONS, DIVISION DIVERSION REFERRALS, AND STAFF HOURS SO THAT THIS POLICY DOESN'T JUST SIT ON PAPER, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING AND WHY.

LAST AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS IT SUPPORTS DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE WITH TREATMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO DIVERT THEM OUT OF OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. THIS IS A HOUSTON LED INITIATIVE THAT IS BACKED BY HOME RULE AUTHORITY UNDER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND REFLECTS WHAT RESIDENTS, MY NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF WANT TO SEE. AND AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO VOTE YES ON PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT AND LET DEMOCRACY AND HOUSTONIANS DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO SEE THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MA'AM.

MA'AM? MA'AM, JUST A SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. AND THIS QUESTION IS REALLY FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 20,000 SIGNATURES, AND I KNOW THAT OUR JOB TOMORROW IS, IS MINISTERIAL AND NOT DISCRETIONARY.

BUT I KNOW THAT A RANDOM SAMPLING WAS USED TO VERIFY THE SIGNATURES.

DO YOU KNOW HOW LARGE THAT SAMPLING WAS OR JUST CURIOUS? I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK, I THINK IT HAD TO BE 25% OF THE OVERALL SIGNATURES THAT WERE GATHERED.

SO IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THE 10,000 RANGE.

[00:30:03]

THANK YOU. NEXT, SERGIO LARA TO BE FOLLOWED BY MERLIN RASKY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M.

DOCTOR SAID I AM A FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE EAST END AND PRESIDENT OF GREATER HOUSTON.

LULAC 4967. I'M HERE BECAUSE IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THIS DIVISION IN OUR CITY AND COUNCIL 45 YEARS AGO, I STOOD OUTSIDE THOSE STEPS WITH MARGUERITA TORRES SHOUTING JUSTICE FOR HER.

CAMPOS TORRES AGAIN. TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS OUT HERE ASKING FOR JUSTICE FOR LORENZO SALGADO.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR IMMEDIATELY MEETING WITH THE FAMILY, SHOWING COMPASSION AND SUPPORT.

COUNCILMAN JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR IMMEDIATELY WRITING A LETTER TO CHIEF DIAZ ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THE DEA INVESTIGATION AND INDEPENDENT.

I WAS SHOCKED THAT ONLY FOUR MEMBERS SIGNED ON TO THAT LETTER.

COUNCILMAN DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION ON HOLD AND DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS HUMANE AT THE CATHOLIC FUNERAL.

I ASKED YOU FIRMLY. I SAID, WHERE ARE THE OTHER AT LARGE MEMBERS? DO THEY NOT REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY? AND DOCTOR SHABAZZ, YOU ARE CORRECT.

WE DO NEED TO GET OUT AND VOTE. A WHOPPING 80% OF SPANISH SURNAMES REGISTERED VOTERS DID NOT VOTE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN THE MARCH PRIMARY.

THIS IS TRULY WHERE OUR POWER LIES. FINALLY, WE HAVE A DEMOCRACY HERE.

WE NEED THREE TO PROPOSE AND NINE TO VOTE. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS DEMONSTRATED A BIPARTISAN EFFORT CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTY. THERE ARE FOUR THINGS I WANT YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER.

ONE CHANGE THE BODY. THE. TO CHANGE CANAL STREET, WHICH WAS FORMERLY CALLED JERMYN STREET.

AND THERE WEREN'T TOO KIND TO MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS, CHANGED CANAL STREET TO LORENZO SALGADO.

SO HIS LEGACY, HIS NAME WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

SECOND, HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE CATHOLIC CLERGY AND ARCHBISHOP VASQUEZ AND LEADERS OF THE HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP TO DENOUNCE WHAT HAPPENED.

BECAUSE FAITH IS OFTEN THE ONLY THING THAT IMMIGRANTS HAVE TO GET UP EVERY MORNING TO WORK IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, WHEN IN REALITY THEY ARE NOT FREE. THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A STRONG ALLIANCE WITH THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO, THE NUMBER ONE U.S. TRADING PARTNER. THE MAYOR OF MONTERREY AND THE MEXICAN CONSULATE TO FOSTER A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP.

TO SHARE RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN GETTING JUSTICE FOR LORENZO SALGADO.

MEXICO IS SAD WHEN ONE OF THEIR SONS IS WRONGFULLY KILLED IN THE US.

FINALLY, PLEASE RECONSIDER THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE TO LIMIT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE AND FOLLOW STATE LAW.

AND FINALLY, IN A FEW MONTHS, WHEN ALL OF THIS NOISE IS CALM, THE WHISPER OF GOD WILL COME TO YOUR EARS, AND HE WILL REMIND US ALL WHO WAS SILENT IN THIS DEFINING MOMENT OF OUR CITY.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

SERGIO, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORTH AND YOUR WORDS. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT A GOOD AMOUNT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS HORSESHOE SPOKE OUT AND SAID THINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE FAMILY IN SUPPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION AND INDEPENDENT LOCAL INVESTIGATION.

SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING OR HEARD EVERYTHING, BUT THE SUPPORT AROUND THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN, I THINK, VERY APPROPRIATE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND CERTAINLY, DOCTOR LEROY IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE FOR YOU TO BE HERE.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHEN I MADE MY STATEMENT IT WAS NOT TO ADMONISH OR CRITICIZE ANYONE.

BUT WE ARE AT A DEFINING MOMENT WHERE WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I CAN LISTEN AND I CAN LISTEN, BUT IT'S IN MY NATURE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN FIX THIS.

THAT IS HOW WE CAN FIX IT, AT LEAST WHERE WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO OUR REAL ISSUES. SO I KNOW I TOOK A LOT OF FLAK FOR THAT, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS I'M TEN TOES DOWN ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAY OUT OF THIS MESS. I KNOW THE WAY, BUT I KNOW IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT PEOPLE BOTH REGISTERING AND VOTING.

[00:35:09]

SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING. ALWAYS. THE ENGAGEMENT THAT I HAVE WITH YOU IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS PLEASANT AND POSITIVE.

AND I CAN SAY I THINK WE'VE BEEN ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT IF NOT, WE ARE SO RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OUR HEARTS ARE FOR THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR SHABAZZ.

AS AN EDUCATOR, AS EDUCATOR TO EDUCATOR, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR INTENT WAS AND YOU DID CATCH A LOT OF FLACK.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO THE REGISTERED VOTERS.

THE HISPANIC VOTERS ARE ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR VOTERS, AND THEIR VOTE IS SO CRITICAL TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND CHANGE IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO. AND I AGREE WITH YOU, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT POINT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, OF COURSE YOU CAN'T.

COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR, FOR COMING DOWN.

AND CERTAINLY THE OP ED THAT YOU WROTE WAS VERY WELL DONE.

AND AS, AS COMMUNICATED ON EMAIL, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN AGREE ON AND, AND THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO, TO REVISIT AND TO REALLY TAKE A PRACTICAL LOOK AT IMMIGRATION REFORM IN A REAL WAY.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, AS YOU SAY, WHEN THINGS QUIET DOWN TO VISITING WITH YOU, BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS AS AMERICANS, WE NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO STAND UP, CREATE LAWS AND ENFORCE LAWS.

BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS WHAT WE HAVE HERE NOW.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ.

THANK YOU MAYOR. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AS WELL.

I THINK WE BOTH CAN AGREE THAT OUR FAITH HOLDS US TRUE TO WHO WE ARE AND OUR ACTIONS.

AND, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEAN INTO YOU THROUGHOUT THESE LAST, YOU KNOW, MONTH AND A HALF OR SO.

I DO WANT TO JUST ALSO JUST SHARE THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD EVERYBODY AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S BEEN HEAVY FOR EVERYONE.

IT REALLY HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

AND THE, THE REQUEST THAT YOU BRING TO OUR ATTENTION IT'S THESE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE STILL NEED TO HAVE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS YOU SHOW UP, OF COURSE, WITH SOME OF YOUR FOLKS FROM LULAC AS WELL.

BUT QUITE FRANKLY, EVERY COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, LIFTING THEIR VOICE MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE DON'T FORGET THAT THAT REQUEST FOR THE SALGADO FAMILY IS MET. KNOW THAT THE WORK CONTINUES.

AND AS DOCTOR SHABAZZ MENTIONED, RIGHT, MY COLLEAGUE, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT TO SEE THIS CHANGE, WE NEED TO ALSO PUT THAT WORK INTO ACTION YOU KNOW, IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.

I THINK WE ALL, WE, ALL I CAN, I CAN SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, FROM ALL MY COLLEAGUES, WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR EVERYONE, NO MATTER STATUS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE WORK CONTINUES.

THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU DOCTOR. NEXT.

MERLIN RADKE. TO BE FOLLOWED BY ASTRID LANE.

HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? HOW'S EVERYBODY? SO I'M BACK HERE AS, AGAIN, A CONCERNED HOUSTONIAN, AND I'M ASKING FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP, ESPECIALLY YOU, JOHN WHITMIRE, BECAUSE WHEN I SAW YOUR INTERVIEW ON CNN ON JULY 15TH, 2026, IT SEEMED LIKE YOU WERE ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. LORENZO. NOW, ALMOST A MONTH LATER, I'M WONDERING WHERE YOUR ENERGY IS ON THE SUBJECT AND IF YOU STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY.

BECAUSE HERE IN OUR CITY, WE'RE ONLY EXPERIENCING AND SEEING MORE UNJUST DETENTIONS OF GOOD HUMAN BEINGS PASTORS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, FATHERS, PEOPLE, MOTHERS, FATHERS, SOME WHO HAVE LIVED HERE THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

AND THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING LIKE FIVE MINUTES FROM WHERE I GREW UP, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MY MOM'S HOUSE.

WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING? THE RESPONSE IS SIMPLE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO TRANSPARENCY.

THERE HAS BEEN NO PROTOCOL IN PLACE. THERE HAS BEEN NO MITIGATION.

THE COUPLE OF TIMES THAT WE HAVE DECIDED SOMETHING, IT JUST KEEPS GOING BACK AND FORTH.

SO THERE'S NEVER REALLY A CONCRETE RESPONSE. WE SEE DIFFERENT TIMES OF HPD HOLDING PEOPLE.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY THAT I'VE MET THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS.

I'VE ONLY MET ONE PERSON TO COME OUT OF THIS.

EVERYBODY ELSE IS NOT HERE ANYMORE, SO THEY CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE GET MOVED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN TRANSFERRED TO ARIZONA TO GET DEPORTED.

[00:40:05]

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WALKING OUR STREETS RIGHT NOW. SCHOOL STARTS IN TWO DAYS AND ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT, TOO. KIDS GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND WORRY ABOUT IF THEIR MOM AND DAD IS GOING TO BE THERE WHEN THEY GET HOME. IT'S JUST CRAZY. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. AND OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS ARE STRUGGLING. IT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORSE WITH THESE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE THING, ONE FACT FOR YOU THAT I FOUND MYSELF AND I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING ALL DAY ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS FROM U OF H 2025 HOUSTON HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ICE ARRESTS, AND THIS ALL HAPPENED EITHER IN THE MORNING, SUPER EARLY AT 6 A.M. WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING.

SO THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN FRONT OF OUR FAITH FOR OVER A YEAR.

AND NOT MANY OF US SEE THE THE OUTCOME OF IT, BUT IT'S CAUSING POVERTY.

IT'S CAUSING PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO CALL THE POLICE. IT'S CAUSING KIDS TO GO INTO FOSTER CARE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR PARENTS ANYMORE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST SO MANY RIPPLE EFFECTS. LIKE I TOLD YOU THE LAST TIME, OKAY? AND I MEAN, WE JUST NEED ANSWERS LIKE, AND THEY'RE STILL HERE.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? ARE WE GOING TO TELL THEM TO LEAVE? ARE THEY GOING TO STAY? LIKE FROM THE INTERVIEW THAT I SAW ON CNN, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU DON'T WANT THEM HERE. SO CAN WE GET THEM OUT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE. THEY'RE KILLING OUR THEY'RE KILLING OUR UNCLES, OUR OUR FATHERS, OUR PAPAS, OUR GRANDPAS. THEY'RE TAKING OUR GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM, AND TAKING THEM FOR NO REASON.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE, SOME OF THEM THEIR WHOLE LIVES. SO PLEASE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS THIS IS YOUR FAMILY. YOUR FAMILY. WE'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME.

IT'S HAPPENING A LOT IN SPRING BRANCH. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FROM AROUND SPRING BRANCH OR GREW UP THERE, BUT WHY IS IT HAPPENING MORE IN SPRING BRANCH AND NOT IN MEMORIAL AND NOT IN RIVER OAKS? WHY IS IT HAPPENING IN KATY? WHY IS IT HAPPENING IN ALL OF THE BROWN COMMUNITIES? BUT IF IF IN THE RICH COMMUNITIES, YOU DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING A LOT.

THANK YOU. AM I RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. SO FOR A GRANDMA, 60 YEARS OLD, JOSIE, HER HUSBAND, SIX YEARS OLD, THAT THEY CAME HERE FROM VENEZUELA WITH NOTHING.

THEY TRAVELED THROUGH THE JUNGLE. THEY GOT VICTIMIZED BY ICE.

THEY AMIDE YOU AGAIN. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, THEY WEREN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

THEY WERE THERE BY ACCIDENT. THEY'RE TAKING PEOPLE TO WORK.

THEY WERE NOT THE TARGET. JUST LIKE LORENZO. LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHO'S NEXT? THANK YOU. MA'AM, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO SHARE SOME TIME WITH OTHERS THAT ARE WAITING PATIENTLY.

THANK YOU. I'M JUST SAYING, YOU GUYS REMEMBER SCHOOL STARTS IN TWO DAYS, AND THERE'S. THANK YOU MA'AM. 40% OF KIDS THAT ARE AT RISK RIGHT NOW OF HAVING A PARENT DEPORTED. THANK YOU, MA'AM. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

YOU'RE NOT BEING FAIR TO THOSE THAT ARE ON OUR OWN.

LET ME TALK FOR TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MA'AM. CHILDREN SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOL. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

ASTRID LANGE. TO BE FOLLOWED BY MUSHIR EL MAHMOUD.

GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? OKAY, GREAT.

TWO TOPICS. THE FIRST OF ALL IS ALABAMA ROAD IN DISTRICT C.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR FIXING THE SITUATION AT MENDEL AND ALABAMA.

I HAD PUT ON GOOGLE MAPS, LARGO, MANDELA, BAMA, BUT NOW I CAN TAKE IT OFF BECAUSE THEY FIXED IT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT SAID, THERE'S PART OF ALABAMA THAT IS STILL VERY, VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON EVERY DAY.

I'M NOT SURE OF THE HOW TO ASK ABOUT THAT OR CHECK UP ON THAT TO SEE HOW IT IS.

BUT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING. IT'S BETWEEN MONTROSE AND DOWNTOWN.

REALLY ROUGH ON CARS, AS YOU ALL KNOW. THE SECOND THING IS THIS I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU EVER HAD A CHANCE TO KNOW MY STEPFATHER, MICKEY SCHEINFELD. HE LITERALLY HELPED WRITE THE BOOK ON BANKRUPTCY TAXATION FOR CORPORATIONS AND WAS A GREAT LAWYER IN THIS CITY AND ELSEWHERE, AND ALSO HAD THE MOST INTEGRITY OF ANYBODY I'VE EVER KNOWN.

AND I KNOW THAT HE TOUCHED MANY. AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OF YOU THAT ARE STILL ACTING WITH INTEGRITY TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ALL YOUR CITIZENS SEE THAT? THANK YOU. NEXT. JOSHUA HENLEY.

TO BE FOLLOWED BY MELVIN WILLIAMS.

[00:45:01]

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS CALLED AN OIL EMBARGO IN THE LAND, AND HE HAS MADE PROVISION FOR US.

LOCATE THE OIL LOCATED AT THE 3300 BLOCK OF MONTROSE.

HE ALSO HAS SAID IT. THIS WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED, UNHEARD OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING.

HOUSTON WILL BE A BEACON OF LIGHT TO THE WORLD, AND WE ALL HAVE OUR PART TO PLAY.

HE ALSO SAID PRELIMINARY PRELIMINARY PREPARED BEFOREHAND.

THUS SAID THE LORD, I AM NOT FROM HERE. I WAS LED HERE BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FROM THE CARIBBEAN, AND HE IS THE ONE THAT HAS MADE KNOWN TO US THIS OIL WELL.

AND AS SURE AS WE KNOW THAT THAT WELL IS THERE, IT IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SPEAKING.

WE KNOW IT. YOU KNOW IT. AND JUST AS HE WOULD HAVE US TO DO, PREPARE BEFOREHAND BEFORE THE OIL EMBARGO GOES INTO EFFECT. DO NOT LOOK ON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

TRUST IN THE WORD OF GOD. HE MADE KNOWN TO US THAT OIL WELL, TRUST IN HIS WORD.

DO NOT LOOK ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING SURROUNDING THE AREA.

TRUST IN HIS WORD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

NEXT. MELVIN WILLIAMS. MIKE SCHULTZ OF DALLAS. JAMES. SPRINGER.

WIMBERLY. DEAN. ALICE BAILEY.

TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIE. TOBY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALICE BAILEY AND MY HUSBAND, JOE BAILEY JR LAST STOOD BEFORE YOU ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 23RD. IT WAS HIS 44TH BIRTHDAY AND THERE WAS NOWHERE HE FELT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE.

HE CAME TO THIS COUNCIL TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO ENFORCE EXISTING FIRE AND PARKING CODE TO MAINTAIN SAFE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN GAS STATIONS AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES. ON JULY 30TH, JOE WAS AT AN OLD SIXTH WARD NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WITH OUR EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, LISTENING TO A DISCUSSION ABOUT 1909 WASHINGTON AND THE PROPOSED GAS STATION ORDINANCE WHEN HE SUFFERED A STROKE. BY THE TIME HE RECEIVED CARE AT THE HOSPITAL AN HOUR LATER, IT WAS TOO LATE.

WE BURIED JOE LAST FRIDAY. MORE THAN 750 PEOPLE CAME TO MOURN HIM AND TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE.

COUNCIL. MEMBERS. ALCORN. CASTILLO. SALINAS. THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN ATTEST TO JOE'S DOGGED DETERMINATION TO KEEP HOUSTON SAFE FROM GAS STATIONS BUILT TOO CLOSE TO HOMES.

SOMETIMES I WONDERED WHY THIS MATTERED SO MUCH TO HIM.

IT WAS SIMPLE. HE LOVED THIS CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.

HE WANTED HOUSTONIANS TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR, TO WALK AND BIKE SAFELY, AND TO SLEEP IN THEIR HOMES AND SIT IN THEIR BACKYARDS WITHOUT COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS DRIFTING OVER THE FENCE.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE. HOUSTON HAS SEEN TO THE EXPLOSIONS, THE FIRES, THE POLLUTION.

TOO CLOSE TO HOMES. SO THE PLAN FOR 1909 WASHINGTON STRUCK.

JOE IS SENSELESS. 44,000 GALLONS OF FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE ON A SMALL LOT, 25FT FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCE LINE, AS LITTLE AS 30FT FROM THEIR HOMES.

HE DID THE RESEARCH. HOUSTON MAY HAVE NO ZONING, BUT HOUSTON DOES HAVE OTHER DETERMINATIVE LAWS CITY PARKING CODE,

[00:50:01]

AND THAT SET REQUIREMENTS AND THAT SET REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE FUEL DELIVERY BY THOSE LAWS.

THE PLANS FOR 1909 WASHINGTON DO NOT COMPLY. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A FAVOR.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. WE ARE ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO URGE THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO FOLLOW THE LAW AS WRITTEN, TO STOP BUSINESS AS USUAL AND TO USE THE TOOLS YOU ALREADY HAVE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

NO ONE WANTS A GAS STATION. IN 1909, WASHINGTON, NOT THE RESIDENTS NEXT DOOR, NOT THE MORE THAN 50 NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR AN ORDINANCE, NOT NEIGHBORING COMMERCIAL OWNERS, INCLUDING LOVETT COMMERCIAL.

JOE HAD THE COURAGE TO STAND WHERE I AM STANDING AND TO SAY IT PLAINLY.

HOUSTON MAY BE A CITY WITHOUT ZONING, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN A PROPERTY OWNER GETS TO PUT HIS NEIGHBORS IN DANGER.

MY NEIGHBOR, KRISTIN SCHLEMMER WILL WILL DETAIL OUR ASKS TODAY AND I WILL EMAIL THEM TO YOU LATER TODAY.

PLEASE ENFORCE THE LAW YOU ALREADY HAVE. THANK YOU.

LET ME LET ME FIRST, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL AND HOUSTONIANS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE SHARE YOUR LOSS. IT'S HOUSTON'S LOSS.

YOU MENTIONED HIS DETERMINATION. I WOULD SAY PASSION FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, I GUESS WHAT, THREE WEEKS, A MONTH AGO, HE STOOD RIGHT THERE.

WE WERE ALL IMPRESSED, HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW.

SO HE LIT A FIRE. AND LET ME JUST ASSURE YOU, WE WILL USE EVERY TOOL POSSIBLE.

WE ARE CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PREVENT FUTURE WASHINGTON SITES, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE WASHINGTON SITE.

I'M WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU MENTIONED AND OTHERS.

WE DO CARE, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND THE FAMILY THAT IT MATTERS THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR ME TO SAY JOE WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE AND THE WISDOM OF YOUR WORDS.

AND SEVERAL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. CERTAINLY, COUNCILMEMBER ALCORN.

YEAH. ALICE. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. WHAT YOU SAID WAS RIGHT ON.

AND MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THE MAYOR AND I HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING.

HE IS IN THIS FIGHT WITH US. WE KNOW THAT JOE WAS FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS.

HE WAS FIGHTING FOR THE FOR HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, HIS COMMUNITY, THE THE 1909 WASHINGTON STATION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING. WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY LOOK AT.

I MET WITH CITY ATTORNEYS YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS.

I TALKED TO THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE FIRE PERSONNEL THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS TODAY.

THE MAYOR IS COMMITTED TO THE ORDINANCE. IT'S GOING TO BE THE JOE BAILEY ORDINANCE.

AND THAT JUST SPEAKS TO HIS CHARACTER. NOT ONLY DID HE CARE ABOUT HIS OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, HE CARED ABOUT THIS ENTIRE CITY.

MAYOR. THAT FUNERAL WAS LIKE NOTHING I'VE EVER BEEN TO IN MY LIFE.

SAINT MARTIN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. YOU GUYS KNOW IT ON SAGE.

THAT HUMONGOUS CHURCH WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY, AND IT WAS.

THEY TALKED. THE PRIEST TALKED ABOUT THE GAS STATION FROM THE PULPIT.

HE SAID HE HAD GONE TO A SPORTING EVENT WITH JOE AND.

AND JOE WASN'T WATCHING THE GAME. HE WAS TALKING TO THIS TO THIS PRIEST ABOUT THE GAS STATION.

SO MANY GOOD THINGS COME FROM RESIDENTS LIKE JOE BAILEY.

HE PUT HIS HEART, HIS SOUL, AND BY GOD, HIS INTELLECT.

YOU READ THESE THESE EMAILS FROM HIM, THEY ARE IN LEGALESE.

HE'S LOOKED THROUGH FEDERAL CODE, STATE CODE, CITY CODE.

AND THEN FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, HE DUMBED IT DOWN AND HAD A WHOLE SEPARATE PAGE THAT SAID FOR THE LAY PEOPLE.

AND SO I WOULD BE ABLE TO TALK INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT IT.

HE MADE SOME GREAT SALIENT POINTS IN HIS ARGUMENTS AGAINST 1909 WASHINGTON THAT I KNOW THE CITY, THE MAYOR, AND EVERYONE'S TAKING SERIOUSLY WHATEVER WE CAN DO WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW, WE WILL PURSUE THE BROADER ORDINANCE THAT IS ON A TRACK AND THAT IS ON A TRACK TO COME IN OCTOBER.

AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS AN THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S AFFECTED US ALL OVER THE CITY.

SOME SOME INTERSECTIONS HAVE LIKE FOUR GAS STATIONS.

[00:55:03]

PLEASE KNOW THAT JOE FOUGHT FOR EACH ONE OF US HERE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO FIGHTING ALONGSIDE YOU IN HIS MEMORY AND HIS HUMANITY, HIS PASSION AND THE EXCELLENCE OF EXCELLENCE, OF HIS FIGHT.

WE FEEL IT. AND I AM SO SORRY TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY, AND YOU HAVE CERTAINLY MY COMMITMENT THAT I'LL GO TO THE MAT ON THIS DEAL.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. I JUST WANT TO ECHO SALLY'S SENTIMENT.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW JOE OVER THIS FIGHT.

AND JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, HE WAS IN MY OFFICE AND WE WERE SITTING DOWN, GOING THROUGH THE CODE, GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING HE HAD RESEARCHED, AND HE WAS EDUCATING ME AND MY STAFF AND JUST I FEEL SO HONORED TO HAVE KNOWN HIM TO, TO HAVE SEEN AND WITNESSED HIS INCREDIBLE PASSION AND COMMITMENT.

AND I ECHO EVERYTHING, COUNCILMEMBER ALCORN SAID.

I KNOW MANY OF US FEEL WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES TO HONOR JOE.

AND SO JOE'S GOING TO LOOK DOWN AT US FROM HEAVEN SAYING WE MADE THE CITY BETTER TOGETHER.

SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT FIGHT IN HIS HONOR, IN YOUR FAMILY'S HONOR.

BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH US, FOR MAKING THE CITY BETTER.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING HE DID. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR ALICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THE OLD SIXTH WARD COMMUNITY FOR FOR JOE'S LOSS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN SAID BY COUNCILMEMBER ALCORN SORT OF WHERE THINGS STAND.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING DRAFTED AND REALLY SEEING THAT THROUGH AND MAKING SURE IT DOES COME TO FRUITION.

HAVING THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM REALLY ON THIS AS WELL, IT'S ONLY HELPING TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TARGET DEADLINE AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING TO TO MAKE SURE WE HIT THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE MY COMMITMENT FOR CONTINUING TO JUST LOOK THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN WITH, WITH REGARDS TO THE WASHINGTON SITE SPECIFICALLY.

IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I KNOW IT MATTERS A WHOLE LOT TO THE COMMUNITY AND IT DESERVES THAT THOROUGHNESS WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE ALL SAW JOE DO AS HE WOULD WALK US THROUGH THINGS ON, ON THE ZOOM CALLS AND THE MEETINGS.

BUT REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR WORDS.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PANZARELLA. THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DID NOT HAVE THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING JOE, BUT I WAS LUCKY TO SEE HIM COME SPEAK AT CITY COUNCIL JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

AND ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTS OF SERVICE IS CARING ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS.

CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITHIN A MILE RADIUS OF YOUR HOUSE AND COMING TO GOVERNMENT, BE IT LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL, TO FIGHT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THEIR LIVELIHOODS.

AND JOE WAS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THAT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HIS SERVICE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE HERE ON COUNCIL TO TO FURTHER HIS LEGACY AND PUSH THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR ELLIS, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

I WAS ACTUALLY ON HELLO, HOUSTON THIS MORNING SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC WITH JOE AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PRESSING THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT AND TO ACT UPON.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT ADVOCACY HAS LED ALL OF US KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND FINDING WAYS TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE APPROACH IT.

AND I EVEN SENT THE MAYOR A LETTER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REALLY LOOKING AT GAS STATIONS AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT CLOSE TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND. AND THE MAYOR RESPONDED THAT HE WOULD HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT.

AND I DON'T ALWAYS GET A RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR ON EVERYTHING, BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, I DID. AND THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE THAT WE ALL ARE TAKING THIS AND TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND JOE IS A BIG PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THAT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU ENCOURAGEMENT AS YOU GO FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER EVANS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. CERTAINLY, I WANT TO ECHO MY CONDOLENCES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE A TESTIMONY IN MY DISTRICT. WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO STOP A GAS STATION.

[01:00:02]

WE MEANING MY OFFICE, LEGAL PERMITTING. AND WE USE EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOL CHEST TO STOP THAT.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN WIN THIS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE WIN THIS. THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT.

BUT JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF THERE'S A BEACON OF LIGHT, IT'S IN DISTRICT D WHERE WE CAME TOGETHER AND COLLABORATED AND JUST CLOSED UP IN MY OFFICE. AND LIKE I SAID, WE MADE IT DO WHAT IT DO.

AND SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, CERTAINLY TO ASSIST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T ALWAYS THINK I HAVE TO BE THE SMARTEST ONE IN THE ROOM.

BUT IF WE GET TOGETHER AND WE WORK TOGETHER AND WE HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE AND THE SAME HEART, WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS. SO BE ENCOURAGED. AND CERTAINLY THE LEGACY, THE LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO STAND AND THE NAME SHOULD STAND FOR ALL OF THE WORK, BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS THAT HE PUT INTO THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU.

NEXT. JULIE. TOBY. TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS VALDEZ.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I WAS HERE JUNE 23RD.

JOE WAS ALWAYS SO KIND TO DRIVE ME TO CITY COUNCIL.

AND TODAY I DROVE MYSELF. I WANT TO THANK ALICE FOR SPEAKING SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT HER HUSBAND.

HE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL PERSON, AS YOU ALL KNOW AND HAVE RECOGNIZED.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALCORN, SALINAS, CASTILLO, POLLARD, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE ORDINANCE AND ALSO TO THE SITUATION AT 1909 WASHINGTON. THIS GUEST. KUDOS.

GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORE HAS ALREADY BEEN PERMITTED TO BUILD AT 1909 WASHINGTON.

A MONTH AGO, THEY STARTED KNOCKING DOWN THE OLD BUILDINGS, AND TODAY I NOTICED THEY HAVE HUGE GALVANIZED PIPES ON THE LOT.

I AM ONE OF THE THREE RESIDENCES THAT ABUT THIS PLOT, THIS LAND.

AND I'M IN THE OLD HISTORIC WARD. AS YOU KNOW, MY PROPERTY IS ONE OF THESE HOUSES.

MY NEIGHBORS ARE NOT HERE. THE TWO THAT WILL ALSO ABUT THIS ONE IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE OTHER HAS TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.

SHE'S HOME SCHOOLING. I'M JUST TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THE SIZE OF THIS LOT.

THIS ISN'T AN ORDINARY SITUATION. IT'S 150FT WIDE AND ABOUT 150, 100FT DEEP.

AND THAT PUTS THE PUMPS AND FUEL DELIVERY. AS I KNOW JOE TOLD YOU, MUCH CLOSER THAN THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE REQUIREMENTS OF 300FT DISTANCE FROM FLAMES, SUCH AS GRILLS OR A FIRE PIT. THE CITY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO PROVIDE OR IMPOSE SAFETY STANDARDS. AND CURRENT FIRE CODE SAYS THAT THE DIVISION OF FIRE PROTECTION HAS THE PRIMARY DUTY OF CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS, REVIEWING PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION.

THAT MEANS THEY REVIEW THEM BEFORE IT'S CONSTRUCTED, INSTEAD OF WHAT IS THE CITY'S PRACTICE TO REVIEW AND INSPECT AFTER IT'S BUILT? THAT'S A LITTLE LATE. FURTHERMORE, AS ALICE MENTIONED, THE PARKING CODE, THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO COUNT THEIR FUELING SPOTS AS PARKING SPOTS, AND THE CODE IS WRITTEN.

SPECIFIES THAT PARKING SPOTS SHALL ONLY BE USED FOR PARKING AND NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY OTHER USE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE SALE, DISPLAY OR STORAGE OF MERCHANDISE.

THIS HAS ENABLED THIS DEVELOPMENT TO BE PLANNED ON A LOT WHICH IT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE FIT ON.

THIS SITE IS OUTSIDE, BUT NEXT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THE CITY HAS DESIGNATED AS A PROTECTED NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF THOSE HISTORIC HOMES. JOE AND ALICE REDID A HOUSE BEAUTIFULLY LOVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AS WE ALL DO. PLEASE SEE THAT THE CITY'S CODES ARE ENFORCED TO MAINTAIN THE OLD SIX WARDS, CHARM AND PROTECT OUR HOMES AND TO PROTECT US.

AND WE DO WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE MORATORIUM AND THEN THAT THE CITY EXPEDITE NEW ORDINANCES TO PROTECT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE HEALTH, FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARDS IMPOSED BY THIS SORT OF INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT. THANK YOU MA'AM.

NEXT CHRIS VALDEZ. MY TIME. CHRISTIAN SCHLEMMER.

[01:05:05]

I LIVE A BLOCK AWAY FROM 1909 WASHINGTON, ACROSS THE STREET FROM JULIE TOBEY.

I WAS LAST HERE ON JUNE 23RD WITH JOE, WHO'S WHO WAS MY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR.

I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR TEN YEARS. AT THE JUNE MEETING, WE OBSERVED IN THIS COUNCIL A SINCERE INTEREST IN FIXING THE CITY'S GAS STATION PROBLEM.

AND TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO HONOR JOE'S MEMORY AND PERSISTENCE AND HARD WORK AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED TODAY, WHICH IS THIS ORDINANCE. I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PASSED IN OCTOBER.

BUT WE ALSO NEED SOLUTIONS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THE SITE AT 1909, WASHINGTON.

SO JOE SPOKE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, COUNCIL, COUNTLESS OTHERS OF THE CITY AND EXPLAINED IN GREAT DETAIL WHAT THEY COULD DO TO ADDRESS DEFECTS IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

THAT HAS LED TO THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AT 1909 WASHINGTON.

AND THESE DEFECTS ARE SMALL, BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT.

JULIE TALKED THROUGH SOME OF THESE JUST NOW, SO I'LL BE BRIEF.

BUT FIRST, AS YOU KNOW, ENFORCING THE CURRENT PARKING CODE, GAS STATIONS ARE ABLE TO MEET PARKING REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE THE PERMITTING CENTER ALLOWS THEM TO COUNT THEIR FUELING SPOTS AS PARKING SPOTS, WHICH GOES AGAINST THE EXISTING CODE.

AND THIS ENABLES SOME DEVELOPMENTS LIKE 1909 WASHINGTON TO EXIST ON LOTS THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE FIT ON.

SECOND, ENFORCE THE CURRENT FIRE CODE. JULIE COVERED THIS IN DETAIL, BUT I JUST REALLY WANT TO UNDERLINE WHAT SHE SHARED.

THIS HAS OUR NEIGHBORS ASKING WHAT SHOULD BE A REALLY ABSURD QUESTION, WHETHER THEY CAN EVEN GRILL IN THEIR BACKYARDS ONLY FEET AWAY FROM WHERE COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS ARE BEING EMITTED DURING FUEL DELIVERY FOR FEAR OF CREATING A FIRE RISK IN THEIR BACKYARDS.

THE FEDERAL FIRE CODE IS INTENDED TO PROTECT AGAINST THIS, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY BEING IGNORED BY THE CURRENT CITY PERMITTING PROCESS.

THIRD, WE ASK THAT THE CITY VOID PERMITS WHERE DEVELOPERS HAVE PRESENTED ERRONEOUS OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATION.

JOE SHARED DETAILED MEMO MEMOS ON THIS POINT AND ALL THE POINTS THAT I MENTIONED THAT WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH AFTER THIS MEETING.

THOUGH I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN SHARED PREVIOUSLY AND JUST LAST IN CLOSING A REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR GAS STATIONS.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN GO BEYOND THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.

THIS SHOULD HAVE DIRECT IMPACT FOR THE PROJECT AT 1909 WASHINGTON, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER DEVELOPMENTS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE CITY.

JOE AND MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN HERE MEETING WITH YOU FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS.

THE CHANGES WE'RE ENVISIONING CAN BRING TO OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY.

PLEASE HONOR JOE'S MEMORY, DO THE RIGHT THING, DO THE SENSIBLE THING, AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON PROTECTING MY NEIGHBORS AND ALL RESIDENTS FROM GAS STATIONS NEXT TO HOMES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MA'AM. COUNCILMAN. SELENA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FOR CITY LEGAL.

DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE OR EXPLANATION OR UNDERSTANDING WITH REGARDS TO HER COMMENTS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE PARKING, WHAT APPEAR TO BE IN PERMIT IMPROPER CONSIDERATION OF PARKING SPOTS? I DON'T COUNCIL MEMBER IT'S PROBABLY BEST ASKED OF PLANNING.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY MADE THE DECISION. OKAY.

YEAH. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. SUZANNE. HAMRICK.

JAMES DAVIS. TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT LABELLE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS TODAY.

MY NAME IS MINISTER JAMES DAVIS, A BEACON OF LIGHT CHRISTIAN CENTER.

I'M HERE BEFORE YOU REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE OST SOUTH UNION PARTICULAR.

77021. I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING.

I'M NOT HERE SIMPLY TO COMPLAIN. I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE IS A SOLUTION AND I BELIEVE THEIR SOLUTION IS REQUIRED.

COMMUNITY. IT REQUIRES THE COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DEVELOPERS TO WORK TOGETHER.

ONE OF THE MOST URGENT ISSUES THAT I SPOKE WITH MR. TAYLOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. HE REPRESENTS METRO.

IN REGARDS TO. YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE FACING OUT THERE.

GROWING NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WERE IN. WE ARE INCREASINGLY SEEING PEOPLE LIVING AT, AT OR AROUND THE METRO BUS STOPS ALONG WITH HOMELESSNESS.

[01:10:07]

WE CANNOT SIMPLY MOVE PEOPLE FROM CORNER TO CORNER.

WE NEED INTERVENTION, OUTREACH, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES.

SHELTER ALONG WITH LONG TERM SOLUTIONS. AT THIS TIME, THERE IS HOPE IN OUR COMMUNITY. NEW BUSINESSES, DEVELOPERS INVESTED IN SEVEN 702 ONE.

WE HAVE A DEVELOPER BUILDING NEW HOUSES, BUSINESSES PREPARING TO OPEN AND ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO BECOME PARTNERS AND REVITALIZING THIS AREA. THE BETHLEHEM FOUNDATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS BUILDING A NEW MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT ON THE CORNER OF YELLOWSTONE AND CULLEN. IT HAS BECOME AN ALLY. THEY HAS BECOME AN ALLY IN THE WORK AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP WHERE DEVELOPERS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, CHURCHES AND CITY CAN INVEST COLLECTIVELY IN NEIGHBORHOODS, CLEANUPS, HOMELESSNESS, OUTREACH, BEAUTIFICATION, AND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP WE ARE DEVELOPING.

WE WANT TO EXPLORE DEVELOPERS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE NEED THE CITY'S HELP FOR A RELATIONSHIP.

SIR EVAN SHABAZZ THANK YOU SIR. ARE YOU PASTOR OR NO MA'AM.

MINISTER. PASTOR ANTHONY GARCIA IS THE PASTOR.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YOU KNOW, I'M LISTENING TO YOU, AND CERTAINLY THAT IS A CONCERN.

NOW, WE DO HAVE A HOMELESS NEW HOMELESS CENTER RIGHT THERE ON EMANCIPATION.

AND MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR IS SITTING THERE.

SHE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. SO BECAUSE PARTNERSHIP IS GOING TO BE KEY.

BECAUSE YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT WE MAY NOT SEE AND THEN THEY TRUST YOU.

WHERE THEY MAY NOT TRUST US. AND SO CERTAINLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEVERAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP.

AND THEN I SAW SOMETHING ABOUT METRO BUS STOP COVERS IS THAT YES, THEY THEY CAMP OUT.

OKAY. LET ME TELL YOU, I THINK LAST YEAR OR SO, WE DID USE SOME COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS AND METRO MONEY TO TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD ADDRESS THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE LIVING THERE ON THE BUS STOPS.

BUT WE ALSO ALWAYS WANT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR THOSE THAT NEED THOSE SERVICES, RIGHT? SO IF YOU WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE LADY RIGHT THERE.

OKAY, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP.

AND I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. YOU SURE YOU DON'T HAVE A CALLING ON YOUR LIFE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PASTOR OR MINISTER. NO, NO, YOU'RE A PERSON THAT'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING. I REALLY HATE TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY. I DID A LOT OF WRONG IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO MY HEART IS IN THIS COMMUNITY. ABSOLUTELY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THEY DO HAVE THAT FACILITY. THEY JUST RECENTLY OPENED UP.

YES. AND I MEAN, I HAVE A FRIEND THAT THAT'S THERE NOW.

AND HE'S, HE'S SAYING THAT IT'S A GOOD PLACE, BUT WE KNOW IT'S A PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE FOR SHELTER, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO GET ON THEIR FEET, YOU KNOW, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

021 THAT'S FINE. THEY CAN. WHY NOT REPLICATE THAT IN 021 THAT Y'ALL HAVE IN.

WELL, IF WE CAN. BUT OF COURSE IT COMES DOWN TO RESOURCES, RIGHT? BUT CERTAINLY IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO IN MY OFFICE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT NEED, PARTICULARLY IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND SO AGAIN, TALK TO THE LADY RIGHT THERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN'T PARTNER.

AND I'M JUST I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS. THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO ME AS WELL.

THESE ARE THESE ARE THE SAME STREETS THAT I HAVE RUN UP AND DOWN ALL OF MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, 770477021 PARTICULARLY RIGHT THERE OFF OF IT.

YEAH, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CROSSED THE BIO IN AT 77021 BUT CERTAINLY TALK TO THE LADY OVER THERE AND THANK

[01:15:07]

I WILL CONTINUE TO LET YOU KNOW I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE CHANGED. THAT'S YOUR JOB. YOU GOT ONE JOB. HERE YOU GO. AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON OUR JOB, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. OKAY. AND I CARE ABOUT HIM.

HE BETTER TRY TO RUN THE CITY. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH.

OKAY. DON'T MAKE ME. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

BROTHER, FOR COMING. AND I, I WHO WHO IS THE PASTOR AT YOUR CHURCH? ANTHONY GASSERI. GASSERI. YEAH. WELL, I, I LIKE TO STEP OUT AND MEET WITH YOU AS WELL.

WE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MINISTRY ADVISORY GROUP THAT MEETS ONCE A MONTH AND SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, I LIKE TO BRING THAT UP WITH YOU BECAUSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSS EVERY MONTH.

WE HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING, HAVE ONE COMING UP THIS WEEK.

SO I'LL STEP OUT AND SPEAK TO YOU CONCERNING IT ON SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP.

THANK YOU SIR. VERY GOOD. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SIR.

NEXT. ROBERT LABELLE. EMERALD DARTHARD.

TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMANDA RIVERA. HI. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON.

I DID BRING A FEW HANDOUTS. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO GIVE THEM TO.

OH. THANK YOU. SORRY, GUYS.

MY NAME IS EMERALD DOROTHY. I AM A HOUSTON NATIVE.

BORN, BRED AND RAISED. BEEN HERE SINCE THE OILERS AND THE ASTRODOME.

BUT I'M A MOM, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, AND I'M HERE TODAY ABOUT A PROMISE THAT MUST BE KEPT WHEN IT COMES TO SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYMENT.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I MADE A FEW MISTAKES THAT RESULTED IN FELONY CONVICTIONS, BUT I DID MY TIME.

I ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY, AND I WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO REBUILD MY LIFE.

LAST YEAR, AFTER COMPLETING A RIGOROUS PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK, I WAS OFFERED EMPLOYMENT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER.

I WORKED THERE FOR OVER A YEAR, WAS PROMOTED TWICE.

I EVEN WORKED ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR AT THE WARMING CENTER.

AND I JUST SERVED HOUSTON VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

NOW, DESPITE MY EFFORTS AND HARD WORK, MY NEW START WAS CUT SHORT AFTER AN HR OVERSIGHT ON MY BACKGROUND CHECK THAT RESULTED IN MY EMPLOYMENT ENDING OF THIS YEAR AFTER ONE YEAR OF WORKING FOR THE HARRIS CENTER.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS DEVASTATING FOR ME TO ACCEPT AND MY CHILDREN TO WATCH THEIR MOTHER BE BROKEN DOWN AFTER WORKING SO HARD TO REBUILD OUR LIFE.

I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY INDIVIDUAL CASE.

MY PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE IS TO CHALLENGE HOUSTON TO CHAMPION MORE TRANSPARENT AND CONSISTENT SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

WHEN EMPLOYERS HIRE SOMEONE AFTER REVIEWING THEIR BACKGROUND, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE LOWERING THEIR STANDARDS.

IT MEANS THAT THEY'RE RECOGNIZING GROWTH AND THE VALUE PEOPLE BRING WHEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.

I'M PROOF THAT PEOPLE CAN CHANGE. ALONG WITH MR. ALBERT YANCY, WHO THE MAYOR HAS WORKED WITH BEFORE.

SO I CHALLENGE THIS COUNCIL TO ADVANCE POLICIES WITH INCENTIVES THAT REMOVE BARRIERS TO HOUSING, FAIR HOUSING, SAFE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH A PAST CRIMINAL RECORD.

LASTLY, I ASK THAT ONCE WE'VE EARNED A SEAT AT THE TABLE, THAT OPPORTUNITY ISN'T TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF A PAST.

WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO OVERCOME. HOUSTON HAS A CHANCE TO LEAD THE NATION BY EXAMPLE, BY SUPPORTING SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES THAT EXPAND OUR WORKFORCE, STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILIES, AND CREATE SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS.

BECAUSE ONE CAN'T POSSIBLY BELIEVE IN REHABILITATION IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN REDEMPTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT, MR. DARTHARD. SO THE HOUSTON CENTER HIRED YOU OR WAS CONSIDERING HARRIS CENTER? HARRIS CENTER? I WAS HIRED JUNE 16TH, 2025. I COMPLETED I DISCLOSED MY BACKGROUND.

I SIGNED OFF FOR CONSENT FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK TO BE CONDUCTED.

IT CAME BACK AND I WAS HIRED. I WAS ALSO FINGERPRINTED 90 DAYS AFTER MY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE FBI, CHECKED THROUGH IDENTITY CODE THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR.

I WAS PROMOTED NOVEMBER FROM A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST TO A PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN AND A FLEET MANAGER.

[01:20:08]

YES, SIR. SO THEN THEY LET YOU GO. DID YOU HAVE AN APPEAL PROCESS? THEY LET ME GO. I WAS PROMOTED TO. I ACCEPTED A PROMOTION.

MY THIRD PROMOTION JULY 7TH OF THIS YEAR AND JULY 17TH.

I WAS BROUGHT INTO THE MAIN BUILDING AT 9401, STATING THAT I WAS TERMINATED EFFECTIVELY DUE TO MY BACKGROUND, THERE WAS AN OVERSIGHT. RIGHT NOW I AM IN THE APPEAL PROCESS.

I HAVE AN APPEAL INTERVIEW FOR FRIDAY AND I JUST WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN I SIGNED FOR MY TIME, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ONCE I DID MY TIME THAT THAT WAS IT.

THAT WAS MY CONTRIBUTION. WERE YOU THERE? DID YOU GO TO STATE JAIL? I DID, I DID, I DID, I DID YOU MEET DID YOU MEET MISS KATHY GRIFFIN? I, YES, I DID ACTUALLY. MISS RHONDA WAS MY MENTOR.

NO MORE ABOUT YOU JUST FROM THAT PROFILE THAN ANYTHING.

BUT WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY. DID YOU APPLY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? I DID, I HAVE SEVERAL APPLICATIONS PENDING RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M JUST KEEP GOING, BUT. WELL, I'M IMPRESSED THAT YOU'RE HERE.

AND CERTAINLY THE CITY SUPPORTS, AS I HAVE MY ENTIRE CAREER SECOND CHANCE WITH YOUR PEOPLE SKILLS OF STANDING UP THERE AND THE COURAGE YOU'RE PROBABLY THE TYPE EMPLOYEE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS LOOKING FOR.

THANK YOU. AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN POLLARD AND A COUPLE OTHER MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, BUT WHEN YOU GET FINISHED, I WANT YOU TO GET WITH MISS WILSON, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, AND REBECCA WILLIAMS, WHO'S OUTSTANDING HELPING PEOPLE HAVE SECOND SOMETIME THIRD CHANCES.

YES, SIR. BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO CALL CATHY THIS AFTERNOON AND LET HER KNOW.

ONE OF HER GRADUATES CAME TO CITY COUNCIL FREEDOM PROJECT MENTORING MOMS. SHE'S UNBELIEVABLE, ISN'T SHE? SHE IS, I LOVE HER.

WELL, SHE'D BE PROUD OF YOU TODAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD, GIVING US YOUR TESTIMONY.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF PERSEVERANCE AND OVERCOMING.

THANK YOU. I'M VERY MUCH IMPRESSED BY EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD TO SAY AND SYMPATHETIC TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD TO SAY.

I'M WISHING YOU WELL ON YOUR APPEALS PROCESS.

I WILL GIVE YOU MY CARD. IF MY OFFICE CAN PROVIDE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE CAN GET TO YOU.

YES, SIR. THAT YOU CAN SUBMIT DURING YOUR HEARING.

WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. YES, SIR.

AND I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR HAS GIVEN YOU SOME RESOURCES WITH HIS ADMINISTRATION TO SPEAK TO.

I THINK YOU WOULD BE A WONDERFUL CANDIDATE WHEREVER YOU GO TO SERVE PEOPLE.

AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MY INFORMATION TO FOLLOW UP WITH ME AS WELL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. EVANS. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

AND SO KATHY AND I ARE PERSONAL FRIENDS. OKAY.

WE GO WAY, WAY BACK. BUT CERTAINLY, I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, THE MAYOR'S REACH IS MUCH WIDER THAN MINE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT HE HAS CERTAINLY TAKEN AN INTEREST.

AND HE'S GIVEN YOU SOME STELLAR LADIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK YOU THROUGH.

BUT I WANT THAT LADY OVER THERE. SHE'S MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR.

I'M KIND OF WORKING HER TODAY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOUR HAND AND WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

THANK YOU. BECAUSE SOMETIMES JUST THE FACT THAT YOU STEPPED OUT ON FAITH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO RESPOND.

THANK YOU. AND SO CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN HELP YOU.

AND YOU HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL NAME AS WELL AND A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

THANK YOU. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU TO GET WHERE IT IS YOU NEED TO GO.

AND THAT IS MY COMMITMENT TO YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION.

THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY ANY ANY FRIEND OF KATHY'S IS A FRIEND OF MINE.

UNTIL NOW. BUT ANYWAY. NO, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

AND I'M A HUGE FAN OF SECOND CHANCE. THE REENTRY PROGRAM WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT I'VE WORKED QUITE A BIT WITH.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT A COUPLE OF SECOND CHANCE STAFF MEMBERS MYSELF.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT THE A TEAM AND YOU DON'T NEED THE B TEAM OR THE D TEAM.

BUT ANYWAY WE'RE WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU OUT AND AT LARGE, AT LARGE.

ANYWAY GOD BLESS YOU. AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND FOLLOW YOUR STORY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I'LL BE TRYING TO STEAL MY EMPLOYEE.

BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT THE RECEPTION OUT FRONT.

OKAY. ANYWAY, THEY'RE GREAT ALLIES, AND TOGETHER WE'LL GIVE YOU THE

[01:25:10]

THAT'S WHAT MARTIN. I'M JUST SAYING. IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR PRODUCT.

YOU PUT THIS TOGETHER. I DID. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

THANK YOU. OKAY, WE GOT A PLAN. THANK YOU. TALK TO YOU.

TALK TO THE CHIEFS OVER THERE. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAY AND WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT. MEMBERS. THAT'S WHY WE RUN FOR OFFICE TO HELP FOLKS. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD TOMMY HOLSTEIN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AGENDA MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES.

AMANDA. YES. OKAY, LET ME PULL THIS UP.

HE'S EXCITED. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

I'M AMANDA, AND THIS IS CARTER. I'M HERE TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I FEEL THAT OUR NATION AND OUR CITY TRULY NEEDS.

GROWING UP, MY MOM TOLD ME THAT THE STRONGEST PRAYER THAT WE HAVE IS THE OUR FATHER. SHE TAUGHT ME THAT IT HAS THE POWER TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE AND TO PROVIDE STRENGTH IN DIFFICULT TIMES AND REMIND US OF WHAT TRULY MATTERS.

LATELY, AS I LOOK AROUND AT THE WORLD AND HOUSTON SPECIFICALLY, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE STARTING TO LOSE SIGHT OF WHO WE REALLY ARE AND THIS COMMUNITY OF WHAT WE STARTED. THAT DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, THAT WE'RE MEANT TO BE ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

WE NEED THAT REMINDER NOW MORE THAN EVER. AND IN HONOR OF MY MOTHER'S WISDOM AND OUT OF A DEEP LOVE FOR OUR CITY, I'D LIKE TO USE THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME TO RECITE THIS PRAYER FOR ALL OF US, IN HOPES THAT IT BRINGS OUR COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER AND TO FULFILL GOD'S WILL.

SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO BOW THEIR HEAD AND JOIN ME.

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW AND FOREVER.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL. I'M SO NERVOUS AND I THINK HE'S SO READY TO GET OUT OF HERE, SO THANK YOU.

CHRISTY. GARRAHAN. OZIL. JOHNSON.

ALMA FIERROS. OH. OH.

HELLO. THANKS. AND CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR. I DON'T THINK YOU'LL REMEMBER ME.

I HAD BLACK HAIR WHEN I LAST SAW YOU AT THE RICE HOTEL.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BREAK INS IN MY HOME.

MANY, MANY YEARS. IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I'VE WRITTEN LETTERS.

I'VE CALLED THE POLICE. POLICE MANY TIMES. AND I HAVE CALLED MY CITY COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO TALK. I THANK MISS TOSHI JACKSON.

SHE HAD SOMEONE TO CALL ME TODAY. I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE.

I TOLD HER SHE WASN'T MY REPRESENTATIVE. BUT THE YOUNG LADY WAS VERY NICE.

I AM VERY CONCERNED. MY HOUSE IS TORN UP. LAST THURSDAY THEY BROKE THE BUMPER ON MY CAR.

JUST EVERY TIME. YOU WOULD THINK IF ONE GO TO CHURCH, THAT PERSON SHOULD BE AT CHURCH.

IT OCCURS ON SUNDAY. EVERY SUNDAY I GO TO CHURCH.

WHEN I COME HOME, MY HOUSE IS TORN UP AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE AND REALLY CONCERNED.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. WILLIE DAVIS, REVEREND DAVIS, WHEN I WROTE A LETTER BEFORE AND WHOMEVER OR HAS SOMEONE EMPLOYED NAMED LONG, HE HE TRIED TO CONTACT ME AND HE DIDN'T.

AND I WORKED 44 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND HISD AND IT'S TERRIBLE WHEN I GO HOME.

I LIVE IN A TWO STORY HOUSE. I'M AFRAID I GO TO EVERY ROOM AND CHECK.

I'M AFRAID TO GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT CHECKING MY HOUSE.

AND IT'S JUST THAT BAD. IT'S TERRIBLE. MAYOR.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, I NEED HELP, I, I REMEMBER I WAS THE FIRST LADY PRESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATION.

[01:30:05]

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

I'M GOING TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND SEE.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU, MAYOR. SEE? WHAT'S IT, COUNCILOR EVANS.

SHABAZZ. WELL, THANK YOU, MISS JOHNSON. I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.

MISS JOHNSON HAS WORKED VERY HARD IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF CHECKS AT YOUR HOME, BUT APPARENTLY WE NEED TO KEEP CHECKING, BECAUSE I DO WANT YOU TO BE SAFE. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T CARE.

IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE DO LOOK FOR YOU TO LEAVE TO SEE SOMETIMES IF THEY CAN COME IN AND CREATE HAVOC IN YOUR HOME.

BUT AND I THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR, FOR REACHING OUT TO MISS JOHNSON BECAUSE SHE IS CERTAINLY WORTHY FOR ANY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE CAN GIVE HER TO GIVE HER ANY KIND OF SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND. SO AGAIN, MISS JOHNSON, QUIT SHAKING YOUR HEAD AT ME, MISS JOHNSON. OVER THERE. THERE'S THERE'S MISS INGRAM OVER THERE.

I'M WORKING HER TODAY. IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THE POLICE TO COME AND CHECK, MAYBE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HOME IS SECURE.

MAKE SURE THAT THE WINDOWS AND EVERYTHING ARE LOCKED AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND I WASN'T.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU ASK ME ANYTHING.

I CHANGED MY LOCKS FOUR TIMES. IT DOES NO GOOD.

SOMEHOW THEY CAN GET IN. YES, MA'AM. IT'S A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, REALLY, AT MY AGE.

YES, MA'AM. IT'S TERRIBLE. YES, MA'AM. WELL, THANK YOU.

AND JUST TALK TO MISS HER, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN'T GET ANOTHER CHECK OF YOUR HOME.

YEAH, OKAY. BUT IF THE POLICE COME OUT. BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER WHEN I CALLED, SOMETIMES THEY COME OUT. BUT WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO? THEY JUST COME OUT AND ASK YOU YOUR NAME AND WHAT HAPPENED, AND THAT'S THE END OF IT. THAT'S NOT PROTECTING A PERSON.

DO YOU HAVE CAMERAS, MISS JOHNSON? YES, BUT THEY DESTROYED THE CAMERAS.

I HAVE A DOORBELL. A CAMERA ON THE DOORBELL. THEY DESTROYED YOU.

HIT THE BELL OUTSIDE. BUT I DON'T HEAR IT INSIDE.

I GOT A A DOG, MA'AM. DOES ANYONE SUGGEST TO YOU A CAMERA? MAYBE A CAMERA? PARDON ME. CAMERA. I'LL GET STARTED ON THAT ONE TODAY.

I GOT A PITBULL. THOUGHT HE COULD PROTECT ME.

HE BIT ME. THAT'S WHY MY HANDS WERE UP. NOW, WAIT A SECOND.

YOUR DOG BIT YOU? YES, SIR. WHAT'D YOU SAY? I LIVE A TERRIBLE LIFE WHEN I OUGHT TO BE VERY HAPPY.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT. WE'RE GOING 44 YEARS IN EDUCATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATION.

SOME OF US KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS IS TO HELP US GET WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY KINDLY. THANK YOU AGAIN, MISS JOCELYN AND REVEREND DAVID SAYING THANK YOU, SIR. NICKS. BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK AS I KNOW, SO I DON'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE. SO I PASSED MY TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT. ELMO.

PHARAOHS. JOSEPH.

HAGEGARD. KERRY. WILLIAMS. SARAIVA. PAGE. AMOS. SIMS. JOSEPH OMARI. TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZA.

HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? HOW YOU DOING TODAY, MR. MAYOR? I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOR DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB OF GETTING RID OF THE CELL PHONE VERIFICATION CODE. BUT IT'S BACK LIKE A POLTERGEIST WHERE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND IT SECURITY DONE TO GET RID OF IT. PLEASE DO IT AGAIN BEFORE IT TAKE OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL THE HOUSES AND SINK INTO A BIG SINKHOLE.

I PRAY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMPUTER SCIENCE BASED SYSTEM, OTHER INDEPENDENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS IS NOT CONNECTED TO A CENTRALIZED DATABASE SYSTEM THAT

[01:35:02]

OF COURSE, THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE DECENTRALIZED, PROTECTING AMERICAN CITIZENS PRIVACY RIGHTS WHEN DOING BUSINESS WITH OTHER BUSINESSES AND THE GOVERNMENT. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK, VISIT OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICES, INCLUDING OUR STATE AND FEDERAL CIVIL COURTS AND CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM, AND DO BUSINESS WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT GPS SYSTEM LIMITING OUR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, TRAVEL WITHOUT PEOPLE ENDING UP ON OUR DOORSTEP.

UNAUTHORIZED GPS SYSTEM. GPS SHOULD BE DISABLED AND SHOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO.

ONLY SHOULD BE DONE LEGALLY WHEN THE POLICE. EMERGENCY OR POLICE.

LAW. POLICE. EMERGENCY. LAW. EMERGENCY. UNAUTHORIZED GPS UNAUTHORIZED GPS.

AMERICAN CITIZENS CELL PHONE ACCOUNT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO PLACE PEOPLE WITH HIGHER SECURITY RISKS.

HIGHER RISK OF BEING VICTIMS OF CRIME. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, BUSINESS TO BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, COMPUTERS, COMPUTERS, EMAILS, EMAIL WITHOUT GPS OR CELL PHONE VERIFICATION, COOPERATIVE ACTION WHERE WE ARE, GPS MAPPING SYSTEMS. ALL RIGHT. BUT WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO FROM DESKTOP COMPUTERS TO OTHER DESKTOP COMPUTERS, OPEN OUR EMAIL ACCOUNT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. BUT THE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED.

PUTTING CELL PHONES INTO DESKTOP IS JEOPARDIZING OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS.

MR. MAYOR, YOU MIGHT BE VISITING HOUSTON COUNTRY CLUB AND AND SOMEBODY'S GPS.

YOU'RE THERE. OR YOUR CELL PHONE EVEN AT YOUR VERIFICATION CODE.

I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T LIKE THAT, AND I KNOW THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE SPYING ON YOU, ON US EVERYWHERE WE GO.

HOWEVER, I SAY WE'VE HAD GPS CODING POLICY. WHEN IT CAME TO MY KIDNAPING, THE MOTHER, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT GPS OR LOCATION AT THE TIME OF HER KIDNAPING. THE POLICE NEGLECTED TO DO THAT. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA IS NOT A HISTORY. THAT'S NOT A STATISTIC. THAT'S NOT A HOUSTON POLICE SITUATION.

BUT. SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA. BUT WHEN GG IS CONCERNING, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN THE POLICE EMERGENCY COMES, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PEOPLE CALL YOU EMAIL ACCOUNT VERIFICATION, FIND OUT WHERE YOU ARE, WHO YOU ARE, WHERE THEY STAND. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL JUST THANK YOU AND BE DONE WHEN IT'S A POLICE EMERGENCY.

THANK YOU. NEXT LSA MARONIA. I DIDN'T SEE HIM.

VALERIE TAYLOR. TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUIS AGUIRRE OF CHANNEL VIEW.

HELLO, COUNCIL. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR FULL ATTENTION, SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE LOOK UP AT ME WHEN I'M SPEAKING.

MARY ANN. THANK YOU. I'M HERE AS SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED IN HOUSTON THEIR ENTIRE LIFE AND IS DISGUSTED BY HPD'S ACTIONS.

BUT FIRSTLY, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ALL TONIGHT TO DEMAND THE RELEASE OF VICTOR SALGADO, ARAUJO AND DANIEL TIRADO PANTOJA.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN ISIS TORTURE CUSTODY FOR A MONTH.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND Y'ALL, THOUGH, I'M SURE YOU DON'T KNOW OR CARE.

23 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN ICE CUSTODY IN 2020 623.

BEING UNDOCUMENTED IS A CHOICE. IT'S A CHOICE TO CRIMINALIZE MIGRATION, WHICH IS A NATURAL RIGHT.

IT'S A CHOICE FROM POLICY MAKERS WHO REFUSE TO UPDATE IMMIGRATION PROCESSES.

IT'S A CHOICE TO EVEN RECOGNIZE BORDERS THAT ONLY SERVE TO DIVIDE HUMANITY.

AND IT'S Y'ALL'S CHOICE TO BRUTALIZE MY BROWN AND BLACK SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

YOU NEED TO END THE COOPERATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE.

YOU SAY THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO? NO. THERE'S NOTHING YOU WANT TO DO.

YOU NEED TO BE WILLING TO TAKE ABBOTT TO COURT, MR. WHITMIRE. I WAS HERE AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE THERE WERE 150 SPEAKERS.

I FEEL CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT. THE MAJORITY OF THEM DEMANDED, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION.

DEMANDED THAT YOU END THE DISGUSTING COOPERATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE.

YOUR HANDS AREN'T TIED, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT. AND WE'RE HERE BARE MINIMUM.

YOU NEED TO TELL OFFICERS TO STOP CALLING ICE, AND YOU NEED TO PUNISH THOSE WHO DO.

HPD NEEDS TO END NON-NECESSARY TRAFFIC STOPS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE REALLY FOR.

TO PULL OVER ANYONE WITH BROWN SKIN. CALL ICE ON THEM AND HOLD THEM THERE UNTIL AN AGENT SHOWS UP.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE HPD'S DISGUSTING CULTURE AND BEHAVIOR.

HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY HARASS PROTESTERS AND UNLAWFULLY DETAINED YOUR CONSTITUENTS AT PUBLIC SESSIONS.

[01:40:03]

ARE YOU THAT AFRAID OF SIMPLY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT? STOP WORKING WITH THE STATE TO PROTECT KILLER COPS AND AGENTS.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE LORENZO SALGADO ARAUJO WAS MURDERED, AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE NAMES OF THE MURDERERS.

ONLY BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR FEDERAL AGENCY. IF I WENT OUT AND SHOT SOMEONE ONE MORNING, MY FACE WOULD BE ALL OVER THE NEWS AND I'D GO TO PRISON.

IF THERE WERE WITNESSES, THEY WOULDN'T BE PUT IN DETENTION IN MONTGOMERY TO REMAIN SILENCED.

THE FOOTAGE WOULD BE PUBLIC. THE CASE AS WELL.

AND IF A METRO BUS DROVE BY, THE SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE WOULD BE RELEASED.

YET WHEN A COP OR ICE AGENT MURDERS SOMEONE, THEY'RE PROTECTED.

HPD OFFICERS ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. ICE IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND YOU ARE NOT ABOVE LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

JAIL KILLER COPS. JUSTICE FOR THE STOLEN LIVES.

JUSTICE FOR LORENZO AND HPD HAS BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS.

AGAIN, JAIL KILLER COPS. AND I'D LOVE IF YOU COULD ASK ME A QUESTION SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE LISTENING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS HERE.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE A QUESTION SO I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING, PLEASE.

THANK YOU MA'AM. I WOULD LOVE A QUESTION SO I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO ME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS HERE, WHO IS PRESENTING ON SOMETHING MAYBE A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE. I'D LOVE IF YOU COULD ASK ME A QUESTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE A QUESTION.

WE CAN WAIT TILL YOU THINK OF ONE. ANY ONE OF YOU.

I WOULD LIKE A QUESTION SO I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING.

OKAY. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? WE'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS. DO YOU NOT CARE WHEN A BROWN MAN DIES? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF ONE OF YOU WAS SHOT AND NEVER SAW YOUR KIDS AGAIN, HOW MANY MORE LIVES HAVE TO BE TAKEN? COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. WE HEAR YOU.

YOU'RE NOT ALONE. YOU'RE NOT TALKING INTO THE VOID.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE UP HERE THAT COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU AND WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

THE NEXT STEP, AS I VIEW IN THIS PROCESS, IS THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS GOING TO COME TO THE NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING AND TESTIFY ABOUT THE HPD AND ICE COOPERATION REPORT. WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS TRUE AND VALID.

AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT ME AND OTHERS TO RAISE THE CHIEF OF POLICE, SEND THEM TO OUR OFFICE.

LET'S HEAR WHAT THE CHIEF HAS TO SAY. LET'S HAVE HIM EXPLAIN THE DATA.

AND THEN TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE NEXT STEP. BUT YOU'RE NOT ALONE. WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. AND TELL OFFICERS TO STOP CALLING ICE BARE MINIMUM.

LUIS AGUIRRE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CINDY MENDIOLA.

GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST TIME I WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF CITY HALL OUTSIDE ON JANUARY 27TH AND WITNESSED HOW DISAPPOINTING THE MAYOR AND GOVERNING BODY OF MY CITY ARE. MORE THAN A QUARTER OF OUR METRO AREA, 8 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN.

THAT'S. MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.

I'M NOT JUST REPRESENTING MYSELF. I'M NOT JUST REPRESENTING CHANNEL VIEW. I'M PRESENTING EVERYBODY THAT ALLOWED ME TO BE HERE TODAY. HOW ARE YOU REPRESENTING AND FIGHTING FOR THEM? HOW MANY HOUSTONIAN, PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE LIVING DOUBLE LIVES, HAVING TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY AND REMAIN VIGILANT FOR PEOPLE OUT TO GET THEM AND SEPARATE THEM? SEPARATE THEM FROM THEIR LOVED ONES, HAVING TO WATCH THE SURROUNDINGS ON THE WAY TO WORK. I HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR POLICE EVERY SINGLE DAY. I GO TO WORK WITH MY FAMILY BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF THEM BEING SEPARATED IN FRONT OF ME IN THEIR OWN WORKPLACES, WHETHER IT BE IN THE KITCHENS OR RESTAURANTS. YOU'RE ALL ABOUT TO EAT OUT AFTER THIS, WHETHER IT BE IN THE HOMES THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED BY IMMIGRANTS THAT WE ALL LIVE IN.

CHILDREN MUST BE PROTECTED IN SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES, THE CHURCHES, THE PARKS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. MY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT AND LIVE THEIR NORMAL LIVES. HOW LONG WILL THIS FEAR STAY WITH US? UNTIL THE MIDTERMS. UNTIL 2028. UNTIL WE GET A NEW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

HOW LONG WILL MY CITY FAIL TO ACT TO PROTECT MY PEOPLE? A DECADE AGO, THE ANXIETY ATTACK OF THIS VIOLENCE, SEPARATION, SEPARATION COMING TO FRUITION.

AND NOW THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS BROUGHT ME. AND MANY FAMILIES AND MANY FAMILIES LIKE MINE.

THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE. WE DID AN ACT AFTER KEITH PORTER JR.

WE DID AN ACT AFTER RENEE GOOD. WE DID AN ACT AFTER ALEX PURDY AND NOW LORENZO SALGADO.

BLOOD IS ON CANAL STREET. ALL BECAUSE OF SO-CALLED LEADERS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE AND ACT UPON THE DANGER TO OUR LIVES.

THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT IS INFLICTING UPON US THROUGH ICE AND DHS.

LORENZO SALGADO DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE, AND IT ISN'T HERE.

EVERYONE IN POWER THAT AN INNOCENT MAN DID NOT GET TO COME HOME TO HIS FAMILY ON JULY 7TH, INSTALLING MORE CAMERAS AROUND THE CITY AND PAYING MORE THAN THEY WILL EVER NEED.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP US OR ANYONE IN THE CITY EXCEPT THOSE WHO PROFIT FROM THOSE POLICIES AND REMAIN IN POWER THROUGH THEM.

JOHN WHITMIRE, YOUR CITY IS IN DISORDER. WHY ARE YOU ON THE PHONE, MAN? LISTEN TO ME, MR. WHITMIRE. I'M NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK UP TO ME.

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION WHILE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SPEAKING TO YOU.

WHAT THE F[EXPLETIVE] IS UP, MAN? PAY ATTENTION TO ME. I'M LOOKING AT MY PHONE BECAUSE. COME ON.

[01:45:01]

WE HAVE WEAPONS OF WAR SHIPPING THROUGH OUR PORTS, GOING TO ISRAEL TO CONTINUE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE AND THE WAR IN LEBANON. WE HAVE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AFRAID TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND CALL OUT GENOCIDE. WHEN WE SEE ONE, WHETHER IT'S HERE AT HOME OR ABROAD, BECAUSE THE THREAT OF ICE AND BEING DETAINED OR DEPORTED IS PRIORITIZED OVER OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, MY PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER, AND EVERY DAY WE FAIL TO DO SOMETHING. MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

WHETHER ANYONE GOING WITHOUT ANYONE GOING TO SAVE THEM.

THERE'S AN ETHNIC CLEANSING GOING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WHO LOOK AND SOUND LIKE ME, MR. WHITMIRE AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM. I AM BEGGING YOU TO GET ICE OUT OF HOUSTON AND ITS COLLABORATION WITH ICE, AND REMOVE EVERY SINGLE CAMERA BEING USED TO SURVEIL THE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN MY CITY AND THOSE OF SPIKE LEE.

PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. NEXT. CINDY MENDIOLA, TO BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS HOLSTEIN.

I DON'T THINK I CAN FOLLOW THE LADY WITH THE CHILD AND THE OUR FATHER, BUT THAT WAS PRETTY TOUCHING.

MAYOR WHITMIRE, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CINDY MENDIOLA.

I HAVE LIVED IN HOUSTON MY WHOLE LIFE. SAVED MY FIRST FIVE YEARS.

I'M A FREQUENT PATRON OF EAST END. I VISIT THE SMALL BUSINESSES THERE.

I HAVE FRIENDS THERE. I GO TO CHURCH THERE. JOAQUIN AND MY YOUNGEST SON SERVED AS ALTAR SERVERS THERE.

BLESSED SACRAMENT. THE CHURCH THAT CAME UP BEFORE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MEMBERS OF THAT CHURCH FOR 35 YEARS DURING OUR MARRIAGE.

MAYOR YOU SAID TO LORENZO'S ELDEST SON ON THE JULY 28TH, AS YOU SO GRACIOUSLY RESPONDED TO HIS COMMENTS THAT DAY, YOU SAID, AND I QUOTE, AN INDEPENDENT, TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION, WHICH WE DID AT THIS TABLE THE DAY AFTER YOUR FATHER'S MURDER. THE KEY WORDS THERE BEING YOUR FATHER'S MURDER.

THE KEY WORDS THERE, BECAUSE JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST AS THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS, THIS WAS CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE DON'T KEEP SHOWING UP.

LORENZO WILL BE JUST ANOTHER MEXICAN DEAD BECAUSE HE WAS BROWN.

AT THAT SAME MEETING, YOU ASSURED HIM THAT YOU WOULD WORK WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS.

AND I'D LIKE TO ADD STATE LEADERS TO THAT, STATE OFFICIALS, AS YOU WILL, BECAUSE WE KNOW ICE IS NOT ADEQUATELY TRAINED, AND THAT'S A VAST UNDERSTATEMENT. WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THEM ARE JUST HATEFUL MONGERS, LOOKING FOR VIOLENCE AND FEELING EMPOWERED BEHIND THE DISHONEST AND EVIL SHIELD OF ICE.

AND I KNOW THERE AREN'T AS MANY OF US HERE AS THERE HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST FEW SESSIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL BEGAN THIS THIS WEEK, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE PARENTS ARE JUST TAKING TIME TO MAKE SURE AT LEAST AS MUCH AS THEY CAN THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

I REMEMBER IN 1977 WHEN ANOTHER MURDER TOOK PLACE IN HOUSTON, THAT OF JOSE CAMPOS TORRES.

THE OUTCOME OF THAT TRAGIC MURDER WAS DISMAL.

AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE MUST DO BETTER. EVEN THEN, HPD ESTABLISHED THE CHICANO SQUAD IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE LATINO AND POLICE DEPARTMENT RELATIONS, AND IN EARLY 1980, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONED MY LATE HUSBAND, TACHO MENDIOLA, TO RESEARCH HOUSTON HOMICIDE PATTERNS, MOTIVATIONS BEHIND VIOLENCE INVOLVING LATINOS AND THE DEPARTMENT'S HANDLING OF THE CITY'S SOARING LATINO MURDER RATES.

SO THAT SOMETHING COULD BE DONE. AND ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION FOR TODAY, I ONLY REFERENCE IT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ALL EXPECT FROM YOU, MAYOR AND FROM YOU CITY COUNCIL TO GET CREATIVE NOT WITH EXCUSES, BUT WITH SOLUTIONS.

YOU ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR CITY. YOU ARE THE PROXY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVELS TO STOP THIS INHUMANE TREATMENT OCCURRING IN OUR CITY WHILE ICE GOES AROUND IN A LAWLESS MANNER.

[01:50:03]

AS MY HUSBAND USED TO SAY, YOU THINK WE'RE GOING AWAY, BUT WE WILL NOT.

IN FACT, THERE WILL BE MORE OF US IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP AND I'M IMPLORING YOU TO USE YOUR POWER AND YOUR VOICE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO GET JUSTICE FOR LORENZO TO GET THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ICE OUT OF HOUSTON TO END THE HUMANE TREATMENT, INHUMANE TREATMENT, AND YES, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, MURDER IN THE MURDERING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR.

MISS MENDIOLA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THERE'S, THERE'S FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I APPRECIATE.

IT'S FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF, OF COURSE. OUR FORMER MY FORMER PROFESSOR, DOCTOR MENDIOLA AS WELL, YOUR HUSBAND THE, THE WORDS THAT YOU BRING, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T, I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH THAT THE WORK THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH SOMETIMES MAKES IT SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT.

IT'S REALLY ALL HANDS ON DECK AND THE, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE WITH STATE LITIGATION, OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, I WAS AT A, AT A, AT A HEARING A FEW WEEKS BACK WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA AND SEVERAL OF OUR HOUSTON DELEGATION.

NOT JUST FROM TEXAS, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS IT IS A DIFFICULT SPACE AT THE MOMENT.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT THEY INVITED DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THEY INVITED FBI AT THAT HEARING, AND THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE DELEGATION FROM HOUSTON HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE STATE TROOPERS TO BE INVOLVED, AND THEY'VE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION, THIS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. TO YOUR POINT ABOUT CONTINUING TO SHOW UP, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE CONTINUES TO SHOW UP.

SO WE CAN HEAR YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T FORGET THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH THE FAMILY WITH RONALDO YOU KNOW, AND LORENZO JR THERE'S A HUGE COMMITMENT ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AS WELL TO SEE JUSTICE.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THE YOUNG MOM THAT CAME UP TO SAY THAT OUR FATHER, I THINK AGAIN, FOR ME, QUITE FRANKLY, MY DECISIONS ARE ROOTED IN FAITH AS WELL.

BUT THEN THE ACTION NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO YOUR POINT.

AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO, I'LL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST.

I KNOW A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES AROUND HERE, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOT JUST IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF, BUT QUITE FRANKLY SINCE WE'VE HAD THIS HARSHER, AGGRESSIVE FEDERAL POLICIES WITHIN ALL OF OUR CITIES. AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN JUST FOR SHOWING UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. AND WE'RE HERE. WE HEAR YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT. THOMAS. THOMAS HOLSTEIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY MELINDA GLEGHORN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME THIS AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TOMMY HOLSTEIN WITH BAKER RIPLEY.

AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO DURING THE PROPOSITION A COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ABOUT UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN HELPING FAMILIES MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING TIMES OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S RELEVANT AT ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR. BUT IT'S EVEN MORE TIMELY IN AUGUST, WHICH IS LIHEAP ACTION MONTH. I'M SURE IT'S A MONTH YOU ALL HAD CIRCLED FOR A WHILE, BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS WHEN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURSELVES, NATIONWIDE SPEAK TO OUR LEADERS. AND FOR US, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE ONGOING NEED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND SHARE OUR IMPACT WITH THE BAKERRIPLEY UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND EXPLORE MEANINGFUL WAYS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PARTNERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND ADVOCATES TO HELP EXPAND AWARENESS, ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, KNOWN IN TEXAS AS THE COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR LIHEAP AND CAP. A COUPLE ACRONYMS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE IN OUR STATE.

HELP ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS MANAGE ENERGY COSTS DURING TIMES OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

IN A REGION WHERE SUMMER TEMPERATURES CAN BE RELENTLESS, ACCESS TO RELIABLE UTILITY SERVICE IS ABOUT MORE THAN CONVENIENCE.

IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND STABILITY.

BAKERRIPLEY IS PROUD TO BE THE LARGEST OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

35 REGIONAL PARTNERS ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM.

EACH YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 25 TO $30 MILLION IN UTILITY ASSISTANCE ACROSS HARRIS, BRAZORIA AND GALVESTON COUNTIES, HELPING SENIORS, FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, VETERANS,

[01:55:02]

LIHEAP ACTION MONTH IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS AND THE IMPACT OF THIS ASSISTANCE.

LIHEAP AND CAP PROVIDE A CRITICAL SAFETY NET.

THE DEMAND FOR ASSISTANCE FAR EXCEEDS THE AVAILABLE FUNDING.

IN FACT, THE CURRENT TEXAS LIHEAP FUNDING LEVEL ALLOWS US TO SERVE ONLY 1 IN 40 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS SEEKING ASSISTANCE.

WHILE RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT BAKERRIPLEY MAXIMIZES FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR OUR REGION.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH TDI AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WE OFTEN SECURE ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS WHEN RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE THAT WEREN'T SPENT ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE. WE ALSO WORK DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THESE RESOURCES ARE DEPLOYED AS EFFICIENTLY, EQUITABLY, AND TRANSPARENTLY AS POSSIBLE. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE REFINED AN APPLICATION AND INTAKE PROCESS TO BETTER ALIGN PROGRAM ACCESS WITH AVAILABLE FUNDING. RATHER THAN EXHAUSTING RESOURCES EARLY IN THE YEAR, WE NOW UTILIZE A SCHEDULED ENROLLMENT PERIODS IN TECHNOLOGY ENABLED APPLICATION CYCLES THAT ALLOW US TO REACH THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS DURING EACH FUNDING RELEASE, WHILE MAINTAINING FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY IN THE PROCESS.

IN 2025, BAKERRIPLEY RECEIVED OVER 24,000 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO APPROXIMATELY 19,820 HOUSEHOLDS DISTRIBUTING $23.1 MILLION. WHILE THOSE NUMBERS REFLECT A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY IMPACT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT A GAP EXISTS BETWEEN THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

I HAVE A COUPLE MORE SECONDS. EACH ONLINE PORTAL OPENING FOR 4000 APPLICATIONS TYPICALLY REACHES ITS ALLOCATED CAPACITY IN LESS THAN ONE BUSINESS DAY, AND OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR CALL CENTER HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 750,000 CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE.

THE FINAL WRAP UP IS THIS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE OF THIS IMPACT WITH YOU.

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH SOME OF THOSE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND YEAH, BAKER RIPLEY WAS MENTIONED DURING THE THE PROP EIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE AIR CONDITIONING ORDINANCE AND YOUR YOUR DATA ABOUT UTILITY ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT. SO I'D LOVE TO GET A COPY OF THAT.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT DESCRIBE THE TYPES WHEN YOU SAY THE HOW EVER MANY THOUSANDS APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE, WHAT'S LIKE YOUR MOST COMMON REQUEST FOR TO COVER WHAT.

WELL, SO TYPICALLY THE LIHEAP COVERS BOTH ENERGY LIKE IT'S ALL ENERGY STUFF, RETAIL ENERGY PLUS ALL ENERGY UTILITY.

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DID YOU DID YOU TESTIFY DURING THE HEARING? I SAW MOST OF IT, BUT DID I, SIR? NO, SIR, I DID NOT.

FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WILL AIR CONDITIONER RAISE SOMEONE'S UTILITY RATES? I'M NOT FOR SURE, TO BE HONEST, I KNOW THAT. NO, WAIT A MINUTE.

I DIDN'T ASK YOU FOR A POLITICAL ANSWER TO YOUR.

DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT AN AIR CONDITIONER WOULD RAISE SOMEBODY'S UTILITY BILL? I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE GROWING UP HERE IS THAT AS A FAMILY, I REMEMBER A SUMMER THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE OF THE COST. SO THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION. I GREW UP WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING AS WELL.

WENT THROUGH HIGH D WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING, BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S PROBABLY HOTTER NOW.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT IF ASSISTING FAMILIES YOU WOULD RUN IN.

TO INFORMATION THAT WOULD SHOW WHETHER AIR CONDITIONING IS GOING TO RAISE UTILITIES OR NOT.

I JUST I, I'M SURE IT WILL, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS ALREADY STRAPPED.

WHAT ABOUT RENT? IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, YOU FORCE THE LANDLORD TO FURNISH IT.

WILL THAT RAISE THE RENT IN YOUR OPINION? I'M NOT FOR SURE.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, TOMMY, FOR COMING DOWN. I HAD QUOTED THAT 95% ARE TURNED AWAY.

IS THAT AN ACCURATE 95% ARE DENIED FROM A HOUSTON CHRONICLE PIECE LAST SUMMER, BUT 95% ARE DENIED.

WHAT'S THE ACTUAL NUMBER? THE NUMBER FOR KIND OF THE THE NEW ACT, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION, IS 1 IN 40 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH IS 97.5.

SO 97.5% ARE DENIED BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES.

THE RESOURCES DON'T COVER THAT. AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS WHEN ON A DAY WHERE WE HAVE 3 TO 4000 APPLICATION SLOTS AVAILABLE THE THERE CAN BE TENFOLD, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF THAT OR MULTIPLE MULTIPLES OF THAT OF PEOPLE SEEKING ASSISTANCE. UNTIL WE GET A, THE CAP IS REACHED AND A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE OF THAT PROCESS,

[02:00:02]

ALSO WHEN PEOPLE ARE, ARE SEEKING RESOURCES. IMAGINE IF YOU'RE GOING AFTER SOMETHING, YOU MAY NOT APPLY JUST ONCE.

YOU MAY HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WINDOWS OPEN. RIGHT.

SO FOR INSTANCE, IN, I DON'T KNOW, SAY JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MY ELECTRIC BILL IS A THIRD OF WHAT IT IS IN JULY.

SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING, JUST FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, AIR CONDITIONER DOES INCREASE THE COST OF ELECTRIC IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

WELL, AND I THINK THAT A SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT THAT WE ADOPTED IS THERE WAS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WHERE FUNDING WAS EXHAUSTED EARLY IN THE GIVEN YEAR.

AND WE KNOW YOU GET TO THIS TIME OF YEAR EVEN GREATER NEED.

AND SO THE CYCLES EVERY 5 TO 6 TIMES A YEAR IS MEANT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE A NEED THIS MONTH AND ON OCTOBER.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT. MELINDA GLEGHORN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ARCO BOWMAN.

HI EVERYONE. THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT SPEAKERS TODAY.

I FEEL A LITTLE BAD ABOUT TALKING ABOUT MY SUBJECT TODAY WHEN THERE'S SOME REALLY HEAVY THINGS GOING ON.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE SAFETY OF MY COMMUNITY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR PROPERTY IS VALUABLE AS WELL.

SO I'M HERE FOR THE THIRD TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE BRICKYARD DEVELOPMENT IN OAK FOREST.

AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SINCE JULY THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 18TH WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE.

THE BALL CONTINUES TO BE PASSED FROM ONE HEAD OF ONE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO THE HEAD OF ANOTHER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT INTO WHAT IS A THREE RING CIRCUS. AND I WENT SO FAR AS THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE TO EVEN DRAW OUT A MAP AND CIRCLE IT IN CASE, PERHAPS WITH THEIR ENGINEERING DEGREES, THEY WEREN'T CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT A CLOGGED DRAIN LOOKS LIKE.

THAT DIDN'T HELP. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING THE LEGALITIES OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT WHEN WE HAVE A CITY ENGINEER SIGN OFF ON A DRAINAGE PLAN WITHOUT EXISTING DRAINAGE, THEY STAND TO LOSE THEIR LICENSE WHEN THE CITY WON'T GIVE ME THE PUBLIC INFORMATION, OR THEY SEND ME THE WRONG INFORMATION, THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT. VERY GOOD, COUNCILMAN PANZARELLA.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU, LINDA, FOR FOR BEING HERE AGAIN AND FOR CONTINUING TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH VAUGHN AT OUR OFFICE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO IT AS WELL.

AND I KNOW SHE'S HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND I THINK IT'S BEYOND YOUR CONTROL RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK IT IS IN MAYOR WHITMIRE'S COURT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING.

AND THE BUCK STOPS HERE FROM AS FAR AS I KNOW.

AND SO I KNOW THE CEO OF OUR COMPANY, IF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS CAN'T GET SOMETHING DONE, THEN THEY STEP IN.

BUT I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH AN ENGINEERING BOARD STATE OF TEXAS ON JOHANNA CLARK FOR SIGNING OFF ON SOMETHING FRAUDULENTLY. AND I'LL BE FILING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE LACK OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST BEING FILED.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT. ARKO. BARMAN. TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB KLEMENCIC.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DOCTOR ARKO BARMAN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF STATISTICS AT RICE UNIVERSITY.

I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TERMINATE ITS CONTRACT WITH FLOC.

MORE THAN 53 MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ALREADY CUT TIES WITH FLOC, AND HOUSTON SHOULD BE NEXT.

FLOC ADVERTISES A 4% ERROR RATE, BUT THAT NUMBER IS MISLEADING.

IT'S THE ACCURACY OF READING ONE SINGLE CHARACTER ON A LICENSE PLATE.

A LICENSE PLATE HAS SEVEN CHARACTERS ALONG WITH THE STATE INFORMATION.

IF YOU DO THE MATH. THE ERROR RATE IS THREE OUT OF TEN.

THAT'S 30%. IN PRACTICE, IT'S MUCH WORSE. THE CITY OF ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA, HAS REPORTED ERROR RATES OVER 70%.

THAT'S MORE THAN 7 IN 10. AND WE ARE PAYING 6.4 MILLION IN OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR THIS ATROCITY.

THE COST ISN'T JUST OUR MONEY, IT'S OUR PRIVACY AND THE POTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

POLICE OFFICERS IN PASADENA, BAYTOWN AND FORT BEND COUNTY ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR USING FLOCK TO STALK WOMEN.

YES, TO STALK WOMEN RUNNING ILLEGAL SEARCHES HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

THANK YOU SIR. PLEASE WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. SORRY YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.

PLEASE WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. JUST A MINUTE. HPD OFFICERS HAVE BLATANTLY FLOUTED AND DISREGARDED POLICY GUIDELINES REGARDING FLOCK.

TWO THIRDS OF THEIR FLOCK SEARCHES MENTIONED NO SPECIFIC JUSTIFICATION AT ALL.

THOUSANDS. THOUSANDS OF MORE SEARCHES ARE LOGGED WITH REASONS LIKE STOLEN ELEPHANT FARMER PICKLES AND DONUT MAYOR WHITMIRE AND CITY COUNCIL

[02:05:09]

THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE. TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.

REDIRECT THE FUNDS TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HELPS KEEP HOUSTONIANS SAFE.

I'M HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS, PLEASE. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME I'M HERE.

WE'RE FINE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE OKAY WITH HPD RUNNING SEARCHES WITH DONUT FOR YOUR AND MY LICENSE PLATES.

ARE YOU FINE WITH THAT? COUNCILMAN POLLARD? SIR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FOR YOUR SECOND TIME HERE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AND TAKING SERIOUSLY.

WE HEAR YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DISCUSSION.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A DISCUSSION TODAY ON THIS, BUT YOUR TESTIMONY IS NOTED AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. JACOB CLEMENS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MORRIS BELL.

WELL, I'M BACK TO SCHOOL, SO I'M GOING TO SAY I'M GOING TO PLAY.

ALICE COOPER SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER OR VAN HALEN, 1984.

HOT FOR TEACHER. I DON'T FEEL TARDY. AND I'M GOING TO PLAY SCHOOLHOUSE. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK. AS YOUR BODY GROWS BIGGER, YOUR MIND MUST FLOWER.

IT'S GREAT TO LEARN. CAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

IT'S SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKY. A CHIP OFF THE BLOCK OF YOUR FAVORITE SCHOOLHOUSE.

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK. DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE USA? DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT? NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE AGGIE JOKE.

NOW. WELL, AND THIS IS ONLY TRUTHFUL TO A LIBRARIAN.

AND IT GOES LIKE THIS. DO YOU KNOW HOW AGGIE CHANGES TEMPERATURE FROM FAHRENHEIT TO CELSIUS BY SIMPLY READING FAHRENHEIT 451, THEN BURNING THE BOOK FORMULA AND WRITING A NEW BOOK CALLED CELSIUS 154.

ERGO, THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE.

JACOB. NEXT. MORRIS. BAIL. EDUARDO. DURAN.

TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY HUBBARD.

HI THERE. I HAD TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, I JUST HEARD ABOUT THE MANDATE OF POSSIBLY PUTTING THE BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS.

I GUESS 2030. SO IT'S A LONG TIME FROM NOW. IT COULD BE SOONER.

THAT'D BE BETTER. AND REALLY, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT VERSION OF THE BIBLE WILL BE PUT IN THE TEXAS SCHOOLS WHEN IT DOES, IF THEY SO HAPPEN TO DO SO AND MAKE THAT A MORE IMPORTANT PRIORITY THAN POT.

SO THAT'S MY QUESTION. YOU CAN DEBATE THIS BECAUSE DEFINITELY IMPORTANT DECISION REPRESENTS OUR NATION. AND. WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE OTHER, THE QUESTION THE OTHER THING WAS OH YEAH.

IF IN TEN YEARS, RIGHT, IF THERE IS TEN YEARS WHAT WILL THE TEXTBOOKS, THE SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS SAY? WILL IT SAY BLM RIOTS OR BLM PROTESTS, WHICH.

OKAY. THANK YOU. TOTALLY INCORRECT. THANK YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR.. MR.. MR. WHITMIRE. DO YOU THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE A BLM PROTEST OR BLM RIOTS?

[02:10:06]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WILL ASK YOU SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TENNESSEE AND I WILL NOT BE HERE.

BUT CERTAINLY I ASK YOU THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO ASK YOU ALSO, BY THE WAY, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU CALL IT MRNA FLU VACCINES AVAILABLE BY THIS WINTER IN THE US. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE A HANDOUT READY FOR YOU. AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PASS IT OUT TO EVERYBODY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. NEXT ANTHONY HUBBARD.

TO BE FOLLOWED BY A C.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ARRIVES. YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE.

THIS IS A TIME FOR CHANGE. AS MANY OF YOU SHOULD KNOW OR MAY NOT KNOW, AUSTIN AND DALLAS BOTH HAVE MORE EXTENSIVE POLICIES FOR THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ICE THAN WE DO.

SB FOUR IS NOT AN EXCUSE. HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING CALLED TOWARDS ICE, BEING PICKED UP AND PLACED IN DETENTION CENTERS BECAUSE OF OUR POLICIES.

THERE'S NO REASON WE CANNOT CHANGE THIS. AUSTIN GIVES OFFICERS THE DISCRETION TO FOLLOW THESE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS, AND DALLAS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, HAS NOT CHANGED THE POLICY TO NOT LISTEN TO ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS.

SO WHAT EXCUSE DO WE HAVE? WHAT REASON DO WE HAVE NOT TO MAKE THIS CHANGE? WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE SEPARATED FROM THE FAMILIES, AND WE WANT UNITY AND WE WANT SAFETY.

WE WANT SENSITIVE LEGISLATORS. AND WE VOTED FOR THEM.

AND WE HOPE THEY'RE ALREADY IN OFFICE TODAY. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. NEXT, STEVE CHAUDHRY.

OKAY. BEFORE I START, I KNOW I WAS GIVEN ONLY ONE MINUTE, BUT I PROBABLY HAVE TO PRACTICE MY FIRST AMENDMENT AND MIGHT GO A LITTLE OVER A MINUTE.

IT HAS TO DO WITH SAFEGUARD. AND WHEN IT COMES TO FIRST AMENDMENT, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST STOP THE CLOCK AT ZERO.

OKAY. AND THAT BEING SAID, MY NAME IS ASIF CHAUDHARY, AND THIS IS MY THIRD TIME SPEAKING BEFORE YOU ABOUT SAFEGUARD.

AND THERE'S A NOTICE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND I HAVE NOT SEEN, AND THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY HAVEN'T SEEN AN URGENCY THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT. AND I'M SPEAKING BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THERE I MEAN, IT RAISES A LOT OF TENSION. AND PART OF MY TALK ALSO GOING TO ADDRESS FEW OF RISK ASSESSMENT THAT YOU GUYS NOT TAKING IT SERIOUS.

I MEAN, IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND IF YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, I THINK IT MATTERS.

THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT WHEN A PROPOSAL COMES BEFORE YOU UNDER THE DIRECT RULE 23 TO ADDRESS THE SAFEGUARD, WHICH HAS TO DO WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PD AND ICE.

INTERACTION AND TO REVERSE THE CURRENT APRIL 22ND AMENDMENT AND EITHER TO ADOPT A BETTER ONE OR ADOPT THE APRIL 8TH ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. EVERY MEMBER HERE SHOULD REALLY THINK AND VOTE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SECOND CHANCE.

LORENZO SALGADO'S SON AND THE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY RECEIVED SERIOUS CONCERN THAT THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR SYMPATHY.

SYMPATHY, BUT THEY ARE ASKING FOR ACTION. SO ANOTHER FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

THE CITY THAT HAS PROPOSED 2.5 MILLION. IT'S FOR INVESTIGATION, BUT AN INVESTIGATION IS FOR PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION LOOKS BACKWARD WHILE SAFEGUARD LOOKS FORWARD.

MAYOR WHITMIRE, RESPECTFULLY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL PEOPLE.

THE PERSON WHO COOKS YOUR DINNER, THE PERSON WHO COOKS AND BRINGS YOUR FOOD ON THE TABLE.

[02:15:02]

THE PERSON WHO CUT YOUR GRASS. THE PERSON WHO REMOVES YOUR TRASH AND CLEANS YOUR TOILET.

I MEAN BY NOT TAKING ANY ACTION WHAT YOU'LL BE SAYING AND WHAT TRANSLATE AND WHAT THEY'RE HEARING IS THAT THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO WORK FOR YOU.

THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO WORK BESIDES YOU, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN PROTECT THEM IN THEIR LIFE.

YES, SIR. I'LL JUST SEND YOU GUYS. I MEAN, IT'S FINE.

I MEAN, WE COULD KIND OF STOP HERE. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TIRED, BUT IT'S REALLY THE CRISIS ALSO THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT BECAUSE COMES TOWARDS DECEMBER, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING IN THE LAW THAT HPV COULD ACT AS AN ICE AGENT.

AND LOOKING. NOW IT'S NOT EVEN THE LAW. AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHAOS GOING ON.

THAT'S ONE AND A LOT OF GENERAL PUBLIC THAT HAVE NO IDEA THAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT AND THIS IS A HUMAN BEING AND THEIR EMOTION, OKAY, AND THEY'RE AT AT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, LIKE, AND YOU'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING OR YOU'RE NOT REALLY TAKING SERIOUS.

BECAUSE GROWING UP IN LA, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I HAVE SEEN RIOTS, I HAVE SEEN.

FIGHTS BETWEEN RACES. AND I DON'T THINK WHEN YOU GUYS CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT OR TAKE SOMETHING POSITIVE, YOU GUYS SHOULD DO THAT. THANK YOU SIR. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? NOT. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL IN THE MORNING.

[RECESS ]

DOING BUSINESS AS NATIONAL CAR RENTAL. EAN HOLDINGS LLC.

DOING BUSINESS AS ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR. AVIS RENTAL CAR SYSTEM BUDGET.

RENT A CAR SYSTEM, INC.. PAYLESS CAR RENTAL, INC..

THE HERTZ CORPORATION. THE HERTZ CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS AS DOLLAR RENTAL CAR AND THE HERTZ CORPORATION.

DOING BUSINESS AS THRIFTY CAR RENTAL TO CONTINUE PROVIDING AUTOMOBILE RENTAL SERVICES FOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AT WILLIAM P HOBBY AIRPORT.

ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FINANCING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US SLLP.

ITEM 30 ORDINANCE ORDERING ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, A PROPOSITION TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER TO DEPRIORITIZE ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN MARIJUANA OFFENSES AND BAN NO KNOCK WARRANTS.

ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR SAFETY THROUGH RECOVERY, ENGAGEMENT, AND EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT AND SUPPORT GRANT.

ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,225,000 FOR PLANNED WEBEX CONTACT CENTER MIGRATION PROJECT.

ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND LENNAR HOMES OF TEXAS LAND AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITED DOING BUSINESS AS FRIENDSWOOD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH MARTINEZ ARCHITECTS, L.P..

THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 33.

ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH RESCUED PETS, INC..

ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH PHONOSCOPE, INC..

ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,186,330.46.

APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION.

ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH ABC PEST CONTROL OF HOUSTON, INC..

DOING BUSINESS AS ABC HOME AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES.

ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACTS WITH CONCEPT ENGINEERS, INC. AND FXM ENGINEERS, P.C.. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 546 RELATING TO CONTRACT WITH TERRA NOVA CONSULTING, INC.. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT FOR FY 25.

LOCAL PARKS DIRECTOR GRANT APPLICATION FOR BORDERSVILLE PARK EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF JOINT ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE

[02:20:02]

EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 43 ORDINANCE CALLING FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AT WHICH INTEREST.

INTERESTING INTERESTED PERSONS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD ON PROPOSED FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EXISTING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SPRING CREEK UTILITY DISTRICT SUGGESTED HEARING DATES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH AND 16TH, 9 A.M.. ITEM 44 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 4.9896 ACRES OF LAND TO BRIDGESTONE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR 16.9798 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF RESTRICTED RESERVE A BLOCK ONE OF SHELL OIL, LOCATED IN GEORGE ALLEN SURVEY AYE DASH NINE SIX FOR $5,547,300 AND AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY RELATING TO SAID SALE ITEM 46 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE MISCELLANEOUS LARGE DIAMETER WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS.

PACKAGE THREE. PROJECT ITEM 47. ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.

INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE EIGHT INCH WATER LINE ALONG RYE WATER DRIVE AND I-40 FIVE FRONTAGE ROAD W O NUMBER TWO PROJECT ITEM 48 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING A PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS WATER LINE REPLACEMENT IN SECOND WARD AREA.

PROJECT ITEM 49 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO WASTE DISPOSAL CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 119.

ITEM 50 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $700,142.10 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH INC..

ITEM 51 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,562,610.86.

APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH ALLSTATE INCORPORATED.

ITEM 52 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING. $754,293.48 AND $450,000.

PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED UNDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-3, APPROPRIATING $4,693,293.48 AND $450,000 FOR CENTRAL LIBRARY RENOVATIONS.

ITEM 53. ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DARLING INGREDIENTS, INC., A TEXAS CORPORATION THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

ITEM 54 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO GRANT MCKAY COMPANY, INC., A TEXAS CORPORATION THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

ITEM 55 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO METRO GREASE TRAP, LLC, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL, TRANSPORT, SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

ITEM 56 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO PAY LESS WASTE SOLUTIONS, INC., A TEXAS CORPORATION THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

ITEM 57 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO RENTALS TO GOAL OF TEXAS, LLC, A TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

ITEM 58 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SEWER SQUAD LLC, A TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

ITEM 59 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SYNAGRO OF TEXAS DASH C INC., A MARYLAND CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. ITEM 60 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT OF TEXAS, INC., A TEXAS CORPORATION THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

AND ITEM 61 MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CITY'S TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE.

HEARING DATE 9 A.M. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2026.

AND THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTION FOR THE AGENDA OF AUGUST 12TH, 2026.

[02:25:03]

AND WITH THAT, HAPPY WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY. THANK YOU. MY NUMBER ONE COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT'S RIGHT.

[RECONVENE]

[HEARINGS - 9:00 A.M.]

MR. POLLARD.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HERBY POLLARD. I'M WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

RECREATION, WELLNESS. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR STANDARDS OF CARE THIS MORNING.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF, MY TEAM. AND I'M HERE IN THE ABSENCE OF NAKIA LEWIS, DIVISION MANAGER.

AS OUR TEAM, WE PROVIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE TAKE PRIDE AND WE MAKE STRIDES TO OFFER QUALITY PROGRAMING FOR ALL OUR FOR ALL OUR YOUTH CONSTITUENTS, AS WELL AS ADULTS AND SENIORS. MOST OF OUR YOUTH POPULATION DO COME FROM UNDERSERVED LOW TO MID HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

AND SO WE DO TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING QUALITY PROGRAMS TO GIVE THEM EXPOSURE TO THINGS THAT OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE. JOINING ME TODAY IS MR. PRENTICE COLLINS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RECREATION AND WELLNESS DIVISION, WHO IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION OR RESPONSE TO DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS AS NEEDED.

MR. COLLINS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO BRING THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO CITY COUNCIL.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO COMPLY WITH TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCE CODE 42.041 B 14.

THE STANDARDS OF CARE ARE INTENDED TO BE A MINIMUM STANDARDS THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL USE TO OPERATE THE SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY 3000 SCHOOL AGE YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM EACH YEAR, AND TYPICALLY 3500 SCHOOL AGE YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BASED ON OUR FOUR CORE COMPONENTS, WHICH ARE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, FITNESS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SPORTS, NATURE EDUCATION, AND CREATIVE FUN.

THE HOUSTON YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM STANDARD OF CARE IS CODIFIED IN ARTICLE 12 OF CHAPTER 32 OF CITY OF HOUSTON.

CODE, CODE OF ORDINANCE. TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCE CODE 42.041 B 14 PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION FROM CHILD CARE LICENSING FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS SERVING ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN AGES SIX THROUGH 13, WITH THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA A MUNICIPALITY OPERATES THE PROGRAM.

THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THE STANDARDS OF CARE TO THE PARENTS AND EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT.

THE ORDINANCE INCLUDES YOUTH STAFF RATIOS, MINIMUM EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS, MINIMUM BUILDING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, AND MECHANISM FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING THE ADOPTED LOCAL STANDARDS.

THE PROGRAM INFORMS THE PARENTS THAT THE STATE DOES NOT LICENSE THE PROGRAM.

THE PROGRAM DOES NOT ADVERTISE ITSELF AS A CHILD CARE OPERATION, AND THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY ANNUALLY ADOPTS STANDARDS OF CARE BY ORDINANCE.

AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. WE ARE REQUESTING COUNCIL ACTION TODAY TO READOPT THE HOUSTON YOUTH AND RECREATION PROGRAM STANDARDS OF CARE WITH NO CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF ANY.

THANK YOU, MR. POLLARD, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM, LED BY DIRECTOR ALLEN, FOR MAKING SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. CERTAINLY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.

MORE. MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I KNOW WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND TALK ABOUT STANDARDS OF CARE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO ACTUALLY REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT AFTER SCHOOL TIME IS. IT'S, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME OF DAY, RIGHT? BECAUSE SO MANY CHILDREN ARE UNSUPERVISED. AND THESE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS REALLY DO FILL IN A GAP FOR A LOT OF PARENTS.

[02:30:08]

3500 THRESHOLD. OUR NUMBERS DO FLUCTUATE. I WOULD SAY THE LOWEST OUR NUMBERS HAVE EVER BEEN WAS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

OUR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO INCLINE SINCE THEN. OKAY.

I WAS WITH MR. PRENTICE LAST WEEK. WE WERE AT MARION PARK.

WE WERE LOOKING AT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROCKETS TO HELP REVITALIZE THAT PARK AND, AND IMPROVE, MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FACILITY. SO I THINK TOWN PARK, WINDSOR VILLAGE PARK YOU KNOW, TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS IN THERE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND PARENTS HAVING THE REASSURANCE THAT THEIR KIDS ARE SAFE DURING THOSE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE COST OF DAYCARE CONTINUES TO GO UP AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE AT A CITY FACILITY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT OFFERING. SO KUDOS TO EVERYONE THAT'S MAKING SURE WE HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR KIDS TO BE IN A SAFE SPACE AFTER SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. MR. PRENTICE, I SEE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PARTNERSHIP WORK.

WE SAY THIS ALL THE TIME THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE.

SO ALL OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE FORMED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I ALSO WANT TO LIFT UP DEPUTY DIRECTOR COLLINS AS WELL.

SOMEBODY THAT USED TO MANAGE YOUTH PROGRAMS OUT OF FOUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR BAKERRIPLEY. UNDERSTANDING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME IS IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, BUT I THINK I WANT TO JUST KIND OF STAY ON A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE PARTNERSHIP PART UNDERSTANDING THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND ALSO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT HOW WE FIND MORE OF THESE NONPROFITS, TO FILL SOME OF THE SPACES INSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE HAVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, THAT CAN OFFSET A LITTLE BIT OF OUR DOLLARS WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THE THREE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH IS DELIVERING, MOWING AND MAINTAINING THE THE PARKS.

BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PARKS MAINTAINED, THEN NO ONE'S GOING TO BE COMING.

THERE'S NO PROGRAMING. AND SO FINDING THOSE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT.

AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK DEPUTY DIRECTOR COLLINS FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE OF THOSE THOSE TYPES OF NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BUTLER. THANK YOU. AND EVERYONE SHOULD GO SEE TRANQUILITY PARK.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR YEARS. I KNOW YOU'LL ECHO THE CONDITION THAT TRANQUILITY IN THE SHADOWS OF CITY HALL. BAD, BAD SHAPE NOW REAL, REAL GOOD SHAPE.

AND IT'LL BECOME A FOCAL POINT FOR ACTIVITIES AROUND CITY HALL.

CERTAINLY PRIDE WEEK, CERTAINLY A FARMER'S MARKET ON SATURDAY MORNING AND THE LIGHTING AT NIGHT FOR OUR GUESTS COMING OUT OF THE HOBBY AND OTHER CIVIC CENTERS IS SOMETHING TO GO OBSERVE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK AND LED BY OUR OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, KENNETH ALLEN, AND HIS TEAM.

WE DO HAVE A WITNESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

MISS AMANDA BONNER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YEAH.

THANK YOU SIR. AMANDA. BERNIE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

MISS BERNIE, IF YOU'RE NOT HERE, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. MOTION'S MADE AND SECONDED TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. LET'S GO TO PUBLIC HEARING. NUMBER TWO, PLEASE. ITEM TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NRG GREEN'S BIO SIX, LLC. WE HAVE SENIOR STAFF ANALYST ANDREW BUSKER WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR REPORT? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I'M ANDREW BUSKER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 44-126 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON CODE OF ORDINANCES.

A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BEFORE A TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL.

NOTICE OF TODAY'S HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE ON FRIDAY, JULY 17TH, 2026 AND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE ON MONDAY, JULY 20TH, 2026, WHICH WERE BOTH AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING DATE.

[02:35:06]

NRG GREENS BAYOU SIX, LLC PLANS TO DEVELOP A NEW POWER PLANT AT THEIR GREENS VALUE POWER GENERATION COMPLEX, LOCATED AT 12070 OLD BEAUMONT HIGHWAY. THIS NEW POWER PLANT IS DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE DURING PERIODS OF HIGH DEMAND, IN WHICH DOING SO PROVIDES INCREASED STABILITY TO OUR ELECTRIC GRID.

ENERGY WILL INVEST APPROXIMATELY $549 MILLION IN THE PROJECT, INCLUDING BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS AND THE INSTALLATION OF MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.

THE COMPANY WILL WILL RETAIN TWO FULL TIME EQUIVALENT JOBS AND CREATE 14 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT JOBS.

BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2028. THE COMPANY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A TEXAS ENERGY AWARD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND A JOBS, ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, OR JETTY AWARD FROM GALENA PARK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE TEXAS ENERGY AWARD AND JETTY INITIATIVE, COMBINED WITH THE CITY'S PROPOSAL FOR A TAX ABATEMENT, WERE PRIMARY FACTORS THAT LED TO THE COMPANY'S DECISION TO INVEST AND EXPAND AT THE HOUSTON LOCATION.

THE STATE AND LOCAL INCENTIVES WILL OFFSET THE HIGH CAPITAL COSTS NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW FACILITY.

AT THE PROJECT SITE, THE COMPANY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR TAX ABATEMENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON AUGUST 18TH, 2025. THE APPLICATION INCLUDED TWO VARIANCE REQUESTS SECTION 44125 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES ALLOWS FOR VARIANCES FROM ANY PROVISIONS IN THE TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE, EXCEPT FOR THE DURATION OF THE INCENTIVE.

THE FIRST REQUEST FOR VARIANCE REGARDS. SECTION 44-127D IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ABATEMENT GUIDELINES.

THIS VARIANCE WOULD ALLOW IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE GENERATION OR TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY NOT WHOLLY CONSUMED BY A NEW FACILITY OR EXPANSION TO BE CONSIDERED PROPERTY ELIGIBLE FOR ABATEMENT UNDER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINES.

HISTORICALLY, THE ENERGY PRODUCTION PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT WOULD BE CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT GUIDELINES AS WRITTEN. HOWEVER, THE INTENDED USE OF THIS NEW POWER GENERATION FACILITY CREATES AN ECONOMIC VALUE THAT WARRANTS A VARIANCE.

INCREASED ELECTRIC GRID STABILITY DURING TIMES OF HIGH DEMAND, IMPROVES GRID RELIABILITY DURING PERIODS OF STRESS AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACCEPTED THIS REQUEST FOR VARIANCE.

THE SECOND REQUEST FOR VARIANCE REGARDS SECTION 44-127H OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ABATEMENT GUIDELINES.

THIS VARIANCE WOULD ALLOW AN EXEMPTION FROM REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO HIRE RESIDENTS OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS LOCATED, OR HIRE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AS DEFINED BY THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT.

GIVEN THE HIGHLY TECHNICAL JOBS NEEDED FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS NEW POWER GENERATION FACILITY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACCEPTED THIS REQUEST FOR VARIANCE ON THE CONDITION THAT THE COMPANY MAKES COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORT TO HIRE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS, AS REQUIRED BY OUR TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE.

THE COMPANY MUST ADHERE TO COMMUNITY BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING HIRING LOCALLY, RECRUITING FROM REENTRY PROGRAMS, HIRING FROM HIGH POVERTY CENSUS TRACTS, AND PROVIDING JOB TRAINING FOR ENTRY OR MID-LEVEL EMPLOYEES.

IN ADDITION TO THESE REQUIREMENTS. ENERGY HAS AGREED TO A MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF $25 AN HOUR FOR THEIR FULL TIME EQUIVALENT DIRECT JOBS.

IF THE COMPANY DOES NOT FULFILL ITS JOB CREATION OR RETENTION COMMITMENTS, OR DOES NOT FULFILL ITS ANNUAL WAGE COMMITMENTS.

THE AGREEMENT WILL HAVE PROVISIONS TO REDUCE THE TOTAL ABATEMENT AMOUNT, AND THE COMPANY WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER THE REDUCTION.

HOWEVER, THE COMPANY HAS EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN ITS ABILITY TO MEET THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 44 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

THIS TAX ABATEMENT PROPOSAL CONTAINS A 50% ABATEMENT OF CITY PROPERTY TAXES OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THE CUMULATIVE ABATEMENT VALUE TO BE APPROXIMATELY $8.7 MILLION OVER THIS TEN YEAR PERIOD.

THE FIRST YEAR ABATEMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION, AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL ABATEMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $866,670. THE ANNUAL ABATEMENT AMOUNT WILL BE CALCULATED ON THE ACTUAL TAXABLE VALUE ASSESSED BY HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. IN CLOSING, SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT AND APPROVING THE TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ALIGN WITH THE STATE'S PRIORITY FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN POWER GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE CITY SUPPORTS THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF A STABLE ELECTRIC GRID AND HOW IT PROVIDES THAT STABILITY FOR HOUSTONIANS AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

[02:40:07]

CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 19TH, 2026. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU. WE PRESENTED ON THIS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I THINK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

THAT'S CORRECT. I'VE ALL THE TAX ABATEMENT PROPOSALS I'VE SEEN, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BEST ONE WITH THE MOST BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD PREFER NOT TO HAVE TO GIVE AN ABATEMENT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DID HAVE OTHER CHOICES.

WE ALSO GET TO KEEP A, YOU KNOW, HALF OF THE PROPERTY REVENUE EVEN DURING THE TEN YEAR ABATEMENT PERIOD.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES.

SO THAT HALF IS GOING TO BE BIG. ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VERY LITTLE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

IT ISN'T LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO DEMAND A LOT OF SERVICES FROM THE CITY.

SO OF ALL THE ABATEMENT DEALS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS THE BEST ONE, NOT EVEN MENTIONING THE FACT THAT IT IS GOING TO ADD TO STABILIZING THE GRILL TO BE ABLE TO GIVE DISPATCHABLE POWER WHEN IT'S MOST NEEDED.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND CERTAINLY THE CONTRIBUTION IT WILL MAKE TO THE DEMANDS ON THE GRID WITH OUR RAPID GROWTH. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUTS TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HAVING A VERY TRANSPARENT AND THOROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THAT'S THE WAY IT THE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK.

AND OF COURSE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, LED BY GWEN TILLOTSON, CERTAINLY WAS ONE OF MY OUTSTANDING APPOINTMENTS THAT IS SO KNOWLEDGEABLE, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT CERTAINLY OUR TOURS AND OTHER COLLABORATION THAT WE DO ON OUR MAJOR PROJECTS.

SO THANK YOU TO THAT. TEAM MEMBERS. NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE TESTIMONY? YES. I SAY TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND.

MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR TO CLOSE THE HEARING? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION IS CLOSED.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, MEMBERS. I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THE REPORT FROM OUR LEADERSHIP

[ADMINISTRATION REPORT]

WE WERE SO PREPARED AND ALSO VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL BECAUSE WE DID IT YESTERDAY IN THE PRESS.

HOUSTON GAINING 2.3 BILLION BIOTECH FACILITY BY BRISTOL MYERS, WHICH WILL BRING 500 JOBS TO OUR REGION.

IT'S ON THE HEELS OF ELI LILLY ANNOUNCING ONE JUST MONTHS AGO.

CERTAINLY, WE'RE THE BUZZ OF THE BIO RESEARCH COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVEN LARGER ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW THAT I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE.

BUT WE DID IT TOGETHER. IN TALKING TO THE LEADERSHIP OF BRISTOL-MYERS, THEY KEPT REFERENCING THE STABILITY OF HOUSTON'S GOVERNANCE. THEY ACTUALLY MENTIONED A 15 TO 1 VOTE ON THE CURRENT BUDGET, WHICH THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES. SO WE NEED TO BE PROUD WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE DID IT TOGETHER. AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

SO. LET'S TAKE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THE TEAM AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT IS BRINGING THESE MAJOR MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENTS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

ADDRESSING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. CERTAINLY THE WATER SUPPLY.

EVERYONE I JUST NAMED BRISTOL-MYERS, ELI LILLY.

THEY ALL DEPEND ON HOUSTON WATER AND SERVICES.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

NOW, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT FIFA. THE FIFA ORGANIZATION HAS TOLD US THAT WE'RE ON A VERY SHORT LIST. I WOULD ALMOST SAY WE'RE GUARANTEED, BUT CERTAINLY A SHORT LIST FOR THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP IN 2031.

[02:45:10]

IT WAS A MAJOR DECISION TO REVAMP THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, BUT WE DID IT A YEAR BEFORE FIFA BECAUSE WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS. ONE YOU NOT ONLY AN OUTSTANDING HOUSTONIAN ON THE RADIO RODEO.

FIRST HISPANIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER. YOU'RE LEADING THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOUR LEADERSHIP SPREAD ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND I'M SO DAMN GLAD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND. THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.

YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT INTRODUCTION, I APPRECIATE IT. I WAS GOING TO LET YOU KEEP TALKING, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. WELL, I'VE HEARD YOU INTRODUCE ME.

YEAH, I KNOW, AND I NEVER WANT YOU TO END. YEAH, WELL, YOU'LL GET YOUR TURN IN JUST A MINUTE, MAYOR. BUT THANK YOU FOR FOR THE KIND WORDS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST AND YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU AS WELL. AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT STARTED WE CAME UP HERE AND WE SAID WE WERE READY.

AND ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE HAD WAS NOT ONLY WERE WE READY THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE THE BEST IN NORTH AMERICA, THE BEST CITY IN NORTH AMERICA. AND WE DID IT.

WE DID IT. AND WHEN I SAY WE, I DON'T MEAN THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.

I DON'T MEAN THE HOST COMMITTEE. WE AS A CITY TOGETHER.

ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT THIS TOURNAMENT WAS THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT WE DID AMONG ALL ORGANIZATIONS, JUST LIKE MAYOR JUST TALKED ABOUT BRINGING THESE MAJOR CORPORATIONS HERE TO THE CITY.

THAT WAS THE SAME TEAMWORK THAT WE HAD HERE IN HOSTING THE FIFA TOURNAMENT.

AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST HALLMARKS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS THAT KNOW THAT WE CAN DO IT, WE DO IT TOGETHER AND WE DO IT AS A TEAM. AND SO WITH THAT, THERE ARE SOME THANK YOUS BEFORE I BRING IN RYAN WALSH AND OBVIOUSLY CHRIS KENNEDY, WHO HAD A HUGE IMPACT IN THE SUCCESS OF THE TOURNAMENT.

BUT MAYOR, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND WE AND WE KNOW THE LEADERSHIP AND WE KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL THAT YOU GAVE US.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR SHOWING UP.

I KNOW YOU AND MYSELF WERE AT THE FAN FEST ALMOST EVERY DAY, AND THAT MEANT A LOT TO OUR STAFF.

IT MEANT A LOT TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND I COULD SEE HOW THE HOUSTONIANS THAT WERE THERE ENJOYED YOUR PARTICIPATION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE FIFA FAN FEST AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS THERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WHILE WE'RE ON IT, I KNOW YOUR BIRTHDAY'S TOMORROW. SO I WANTED TO WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN ADVANCE.

SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR. ALSO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT LEADING UP TO THE TOURNAMENT AND BEING THERE.

I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU WERE AT THE FAN FEST AND SUPPORTING US AND THINGS THAT YOU DID KNOW.

COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO LINE UP FIVE HOURS BEFORE THE FAN FEST OPENED.

THE NEXT DAY, YOU HAD A LOCAL BUSINESS THERE WITH WATER CANNONS READY TO GO TO MAKE SURE TO HELP WITH THE HYDRATION ISSUES THAT WE WERE ENCOUNTERING, AND NOT TO STEAL CHRIS'S THUNDER, BUT FIFA IS GOING TO STEAL OUR HYDRATION PLAN MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN EFFECTIVE PLAN HERE IN HOUSTON THAT FIFA IS GOING TO ROLL IT OUT TO ALL OTHER NATIONS AND CITIES GOING FORWARD.

AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT'S DONE, AND IT WAS DONE HERE IN HOUSTON.

MOVING FORWARD, OUR FELLOW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND, AND RYAN WALSH IS OUR CEO, VERY SUPPORTIVE.

AND I KNOW, MAYOR, FOR APPOINTING THE BOARD THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND WHERE IT'S GOING.

CHRIS CANETTI PRESIDENT OF THE HOST COMMITTEE.

HIS LIFE HAS SURROUNDED THIS FOR ALMOST NOT MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, DID AN AMAZING JOB AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WELL DONE.

YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM HIM IN A MINUTE. AND THEN OUR PUBLIC SERVANT, OUR PUBLIC SERVICE PARTNERS THAT WERE THERE HPD, HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT MADE SURE THAT HOUSTON WAS SAFE AND IT WAS SAFE.

AND WE DID A TREMENDOUS JOB THROUGHOUT THOSE 39 DAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE SAFE.

AND THEN THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS METRO, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, HOUSTON, FIRST GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, ALL OF THEM WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL THAT HELPED MAKE THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THE SPORTS COURT OUT WHERE WE'RE NOW RELIANT STADIUM IS, ALONG WITH THE TEXANS AND THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO WORKING WITH US, THE STAFF, THE VOLUNTEERS, AND THEN FINALLY OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS.

THEY CAME OUT AND DID AN AMAZING JOB SUPPORTING THE FANFEST, THE GAMES, THE, THE, THE 40,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE ORANGE PARADE WHEN WE

[02:50:10]

AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THE SUPPORT.

WE'RE READY FOR 2031 IF AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, CROSSING OUR FINGERS.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE SUPPORT WITH THAT.

RYAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUAN. THANK YOU. THAT'S A THAT'S A HARD ONE TO FOLLOW.

IT IS. I JUST SAY THANK YOU AND SIT DOWN AT THIS POINT.

MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, JUAN MAYOR, YOU REFERENCED THAT YOUR TEAM IS IS FANTASTIC.

AND I KNOW THAT NO ORGANIZATION IS ANY GOOD WITHOUT A GREAT TEAM.

AND I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY SUPPORTING US.

AND SPECIFICALLY, HOLLY DEBEER, WHO WAS NAMED ON THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL'S WOMEN WHO MEAN BUSINESS LIST, ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THIS YEAR.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, HOLLY. SHE REALLY IS A WOMAN WHO MEANS BUSINESS AND SHE GETS IT DONE.

THANK YOU, JUAN, AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU TO THOSE LEADERS THAT JUAN MENTIONED.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, CERTAINLY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. AND SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBERS CASTEX, TATUM AND MARTINEZ WERE WHOSE DISTRICTS HOSTED A MAJORITY OF THE ACTIVITY.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR ENGAGEMENT, AND ALL THAT YOU DID THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIENCE.

BUT THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR LEADING THE COALITION OF PARTNERS THAT YOU DID, CERTAINLY FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ME AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND JUAN.

BUT THEY HELPED DELIVER HOUSTON. WHAT WE CAN NOW SAY IS THE LARGEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD, AND CERTAINLY THE LARGEST SPORTING EVENT THAT THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN.

SO MUCH SO THAT IT ACTUALLY TURNED MAYOR WHITMIRE INTO A SOCCER FAN.

SO WE'VE GOT A JERSEY FOR YOU FOR THE NEXT ONE.

GO AROUND. BUT THE WORLD CUP HERE WAS ANOTHER POWERFUL EXAMPLE THAT NO ONE DOES A BIG EVENT LIKE HOUSTON.

NOT ONLY HAS HOUSTON HOSTED MORE MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS THAN ANY OTHER CITY SINCE 2004, BUT WE'VE SET THE BAR GLOBALLY IN HOW WE EXECUTE AND DELIVER THOSE EVENTS.

THE ENTIRE WORLD WITNESSED THAT FIRSTHAND THIS SUMMER.

IT'S A CREDIT TO CHRIS CANETTI, THE HOST COMMITTEE, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY STAFF AND THE LOCAL LEADERS FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTED WITH BRINGING THE WORLD CUP TO HOUSTON, AND HOW FLAWLESSLY EXECUTING AN EVENT OF THIS SCALE CAN ELEVATE OUR CITY AND BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITIES. HOUSTON'S CHARACTER IN OUR CULTURE WENT IN FRONT OF EVERY COUNTRY AND EVERY TIME ZONE DURING THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND FOR THE 500,000 VISITORS THAT CAME HERE FOR THE WORLD CUP, HOUSTON'S TRADEMARK GENEROSITY AND OUR HOSPITALITY ASSURED, THEY LEFT HERE AS AMBASSADORS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THE WORLD CUP'S LASTING IMPACT IS GOING TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON SEVERAL AREAS, INCLUDING GROWING THE GAME OF SOCCER, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE WORKED WITH ALL FOUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRECINCTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO REFURBISH OR BUILD 2223 BRAND NEW OR REFURBISHED SOCCER PITCHES, A COLLECTIVE INITIAL INVESTMENT OF A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS ACROSS THE TOP FIVE LOCAL YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS IN THE CITY AND MORE THAN 1200 CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS TO BOYS AND GIRLS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

MORE THAN THAT, THE WORLD CUP'S LEGACY IS ONLY BEGINNING, AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION, THROUGH OUR IMPACT, HOUSTON 2026 INITIATIVE WILL ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS A PRIORITY AND A FOCUS FOR YEARS TO COME THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

BUT AS BIG OF AN EVENT AS WORLD CUP WAS, IT'S ONLY A MILESTONE IN OUR STORY.

BIG EVENTS MEAN MORE BIG EVENTS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THERE'S NOT ANOTHER CITY THAT CAN TOP THAT.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING BIG EVENTS, AND IT CERTAINLY ADDS TO OUR WORLD CLASS RESUME AND OUR WORLD CLASS VENUES, HAVING ONCE AGAIN SHOWN THE WORLD HOW HOUSTON EXECUTES AND EXCELS AT HOSTING THESE EVENTS.

HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY WE'RE BIDDING ON SEVERAL UPCOMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, INCLUDING THE 2031 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP, THE 2031 MEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER UPCOMING NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, INCLUDING A LOT OF THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WE SEE REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON WHAT'S NEXT, CONTINUING TO DRIVE SPORTS TOURISM AND ENSURING THAT HOUSTON KEEPS THAT TITLE OF HAVING HOSTED MORE MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN NORTH AMERICA. AND AFTER FACTORING IN THE WORLD CUP, THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY IN ITS HISTORY WILL HAVE HELPED DELIVER MORE THAN $4 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR REGION, AND WE'RE READY TO ADD TO THAT NUMBER.

THE TOURNAMENT IS OVER, BUT OUR STORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS CANETTI, PRESIDENT OF OUR HOST COMMITTEE, TO SHARE MORE ON THE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS THAT WORLD CUP WAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS MORNING. THANK YOU RYAN.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND GIVING US THE FORUM TO TALK ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS THAT WAS THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP HERE IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND. THE THANK YOUS FOR JUST HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING.

[02:55:02]

BUT LUCKILY FOR US HERE IN HOUSTON, THOSE CHALLENGES DIDN'T COME WITH ANY OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF US.

AND AS WE WORKED ON THIS EVENT AND WE PLANNED IT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, IT WAS THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ALL PROVIDED THAT ALLOWED US TO FLAWLESSLY EXECUTE AND DELIVER THIS EVENT FOR FIFA AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY DOOR WAS OPENED FOR US, WHEREVER WE WENT, WHEREVER WE TRAVELED, WHATEVER WE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT WAS CLEAR THAT LEADERSHIP HAD SAID, MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND IT WAS IT'LL PROBABLY, I'LL PROBABLY NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY LIFETIME AGAIN, WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH COOPERATION AND SO MUCH COLLABORATION AND ENTHUSIASM FOR ONE THING.

BUT WE HAD THAT AS A CITY. AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BUILT A TEMPLATE FOR WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT TOGETHER A SUCCESSFUL MAJOR SPORTING EVENT IN THE CITY.

WE BUILT THAT FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES GOING FORWARD FOR OTHER EVENTS.

WE'VE ALSO HANDED THAT OFF TO FIFA. AND WE'VE SAID FIFA, IF YOU WANT TO BE PICKING OTHER CITIES FOR WORLD CUP EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS IN THE FUTURE, THIS IS THE TEMPLATE FOR SUCCESS. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE NUMBER ONE SLIDE IN THAT TEMPLATE IS ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE THE THE SUPPORT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE TOP. IF YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DID.

SO THAT THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY CRITICAL.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT.

OFF THE TOP, I HAVE A PRESENTATION HERE. WHOEVER'S CONTROLLING THE SLIDE DECK, I'LL GO VERY, VERY FAST BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT IN HERE.

THE FIRST PART IS REALLY SOME EXCITING AND IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS THAT I THINK YOU'RE ALL GOING TO ENJOY SEEING.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEGACY, SOME THINGS THAT JUAN AND RYAN TOUCHED ON.

SO IF YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE REAL QUICK HERE'S, HERE'S THE SNAPSHOT OF THE NUMBERS.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE. WE HAD ALMOST 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN WORLD CUP RELATED EVENTS HERE IN HOUSTON.

I'LL TOUCH MORE ON THAT IN A SECOND. WE SOLD OUT EVERY SINGLE MATCH WITH 480 000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.

WHEN YOU THINK OF OUR FAN FESTIVAL DOWN IN EDO TIED IN WITH SOCCER CELEBRATION AT SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, WE HAD 550 000 PLUS PEOPLE ATTEND 4000 PLUS. HOUSTONIANS VOLUNTEERED TO HELP PULL THIS EVENT OFF, AND WE ENDED UP MEETING OUR PROJECTION OF OVER 500,000 VISITORS COMING TO HOUSTON.

AND THE LAST BOX HERE IN RED IS THERE WAS NO INCIDENTS.

EVERYTHING WENT FLAWLESSLY AND PERFECTLY. AND AGAIN, THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE COLLABORATION OF EVERYBODY WITHIN OUR CITY.

SO WE CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I WON'T READ THIS WHOLE THING.

YOU GUYS CAN READ IT WHILE I'M TALKING, BUT YOU'VE HEARD THE MAYOR SAY THIS BEFORE, AND YOU'VE HEARD JUAN AND RYAN AND I SAY THIS BEFORE. FIFA HAS ALWAYS RECOGNIZED HOUSTON AS A LEADING CITY. THIS IS A CUT FROM A LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED FROM FIFA POST TOURNAMENT.

YOU KNOW, THEY DEFINED HOUSTON AS NOT ONLY A GREAT HOST, BUT TAKING THE GAME IN THE TOURNAMENT TO NEW HEIGHTS.

SO GREAT COMPLIMENTS FROM FIFA ON OUR DELIVERY AT THE END YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT.

SO AGAIN, MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN WORLD CUP FESTIVITIES HERE.

THAT INCLUDED THE MATCHES DOWN AT RELIANT STADIUM, THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL, THE SOCCER CELEBRATION AT SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, AND THESE INCREDIBLE FAN WALKS THAT WE HAD. WE HAD MORE FAN WALKS THAN ANY OTHER CITY.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A FAN WALK IS, IS THE FAN GROUPS GET TOGETHER, THEY FIND A PLACE AND THEY PARADE TO THE STADIUM, AS RYAN MENTIONED, AND JUAN MENTIONED, THERE WERE 40,000 PEOPLE MARCHING IN ORANGE ON JUNE 20TH TO THE NETHERLANDS MATCH, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER 5000 SWEDES MARCHING AS WELL.

SO WE HAD 45,000 PEOPLE MARCHING TO THE STADIUM ON THAT DAY.

AND IT TOOK AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE WHEN WE WERE UNDER A MAJOR HEAT DOME ON THAT DAY TO ENSURE THAT THAT WENT OFF SAFELY AND WITHOUT A HITCH. SO INCREDIBLE WORK BY OUR CITY JUST TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SO NEXT SLIDE. SO AGAIN, 13 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES COMPETED IN THE SEVEN MATCHES HERE.

THE ONE COUNTRY THAT PLAYED HERE TWICE WAS PORTUGAL, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE PORTUGAL IS ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST STAR IN RONALDO. SO IT WAS TREMENDOUS TO BRING, YOU KNOW, MANY VISITORS FROM ALL THESE COUNTRIES INTO HOUSTON OVER THAT THREE WEEK PERIOD.

THIS IS A FUN STAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. BUT WE LED THE WE LED ALL 16 CITIES WITH GOALS SCORED.

SO WHEN YOU GO TO A SOCCER MATCH, YOU LIKE TO SEE SCORING.

AND IF YOU CAME TO HOUSTON, YOU SAW 27 GOALS SCORED, NUMBER ONE AMONGST ALL HOST CITIES.

SO A LOT OF FUN THERE, INCLUDING CRISTIANO RONALDO'S LAST TWO GOALS FROM THE RUN OF PLAY AS A WORLD CUP PLAYER.

SO AGAIN, HERE'S THE REALLY IMPRESSIVE DATA FROM THE MATCHES.

480,000 ATTENDEES, 68,000 PER GAME. WHAT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE ABOUT THIS IS 81% OF ALL THE ATTENDEES WHO BOUGHT TICKETS CAME FROM OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, SO WE HAD LOTS OF VISITORS COME IN AND 44% OF THE ATTENDEES CAME FROM INTERNATIONALLY.

SO THAT IS THE LARGEST AUDIENCE SEGMENT, 44% INTERNATIONAL.

THE NEXT PERCENT WAS DOMESTIC, AND THEN THE 19% OF LOCAL PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 200 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

TWO MATCHES HERE IN HOUSTON. SO HERE'S THE FIVE COUNTRIES THAT LED IN THE TICKET BUYING.

[03:00:04]

GERMANY PLAYED A MATCH HERE AND THEN BRAZIL AND PORTUGAL.

SO THOSE WERE THE TOP FIVE COUNTRIES OUT OF THE MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT TICKETS TO ATTEND A MATCH HERE IN HOUSTON.

SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FAN FEST AND HOW AWESOME THAT WAS.

WE MADE EDO THE PLACE TO BE. OVER THESE 39 DAYS, THE PLAN WORKED.

551,000 PEOPLE WENT DOWN TO THE FAN FEST OR THE SOCCER CELEBRATION, WENT THROUGH THE GATES OF FAN FEST OR SHELL ENERGY STADIUM.

FOR THE FAN FEST ALONE, HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE DAYS 24000 WAS WAS NUMBER ONE.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE DATA THAT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL 50 STATES TO ATTEND THE FAN FESTIVAL.

SO WHILE 550,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FAN FESTIVAL, WE HAD MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE GO TO EDO.

OKAY. SO THERE WAS LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WENT DOWN TO EDO, WHO DIDN'T GO TO THE FAN FESTIVAL OR DIDN'T GO TO SOCCER CELEBRATION, SCHILLINGER STADIUM.

THEY WENT TO WHAT WE CALL FOOTBALL FIESTA, WHICH WAS THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL UPTICK IN VISITORSHIP TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY HELPED IMPACT THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS, THE BAKERIES AND OTHER THINGS IN THE AREA, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE FOR THAT PLAN TO HAVE WORKED.

AND BY THE WAY, FLAWLESSLY IN TERMS OF NO ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC OR PARKING OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

SO REALLY GOOD STORY FOR EDO HERE. AND HERE'S THE TOP FIVE DAYS OF VISITORS TO EDO AND THE MATCHES THAT TOOK PLACE ON JULY 5TH.

WE HAD 78,000 PEOPLE DOWN THERE WHEN BRAZIL, NORWAY, MEXICO AND ENGLAND WERE PLAYING SO SIGNIFICANT FOOT TRAFFIC INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I'LL TALK IN A MINUTE ABOUT THE LEGACY THAT HOPEFULLY CREATES FOR EDO.

NOT ONLY WAS EDO SEEING AN UPTICK IN PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, BUT DOWNTOWN AS WELL.

YOU CAN SEE A 6% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR 12 MONTHS AND DAILY VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN AND ON MATCH DAYS.

IT WAS THE BUSIEST WHERE WE SAW A 53% UPTICK IN PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY.

SO NOT ONLY EDO BUT DOWNTOWN AS WELL SAW A SURGE IN IN TRAFFIC.

SO AGAIN, I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, ZERO MAJOR INCIDENTS, THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL TRANSPORTS FOR EVENT ON THE SIZE AND THE SCALE WITH WITH NEARLY 1.1 MILLION ATTENDEES WAS INCREDIBLE.

IT WAS FAR BELOW ANY ANY STANDARD THAT YOU GET AT AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

ALMOST FAR LESS THAN 1% OF ALL PARTICIPANTS. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS.

AND AGAIN YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THIS TO THE MAYOR AT ONE OF THE TIMES WE WERE TOGETHER AT THE FAN FEST.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE SAID WE WOULD, WE WOULD CALL OUT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS YOU KNOW, HERE TODAY TO JUST GIVE THEM THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEY DESERVE BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU BEHIND THE SCENES, THE TYPE OF EFFORT AND COLLABORATION AND WORK THAT WENT INTO MAKING SURE THAT THIS WAS THE CASE.

IF WE HAD ONE INCIDENT, IT WOULD HAVE PUT A SCAR ON EVERYTHING.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO TRULY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS AND THE AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION.

BUT WE DELIVERED SUCCESSFULLY, THANKFULLY. SO A GREAT STORY THERE.

YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT THE 2026 WORLD CUP IN HOUSTON WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THEN THE NEXT TOPIC HERE, TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY.

EVERYBODY TALKED BEFOREHAND HOW THE STREETS OF HOUSTON ARE GOING TO BE JAMMED, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE. AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

OUR PARTNERS AT METRO AND AT THE AIRPORTS TRULY STEPPED UP.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS HERE. METRO TOOK HAD 5.5 RIDES DURING THE WORLD CUP WINDOW, APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILLION METRO RAIL BOOKINGS ON MATCH DAYS ITSELF A HUGE INCREASE.

AGAIN, THEY DID IT SAFELY. THEY DID IT SECURELY.

THEY DID IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. REAL TRIBUTE TO METRO AND THE WAY THEY SCALED UP FOR THIS EVENT.

THE NEXT SLIDE TELLS THE SAME EXACT STORY FOR THE AIRPORTS.

THEY HAD 4.5 MILLION PASSENGERS TRAVEL THROUGH OUR AIRPORTS.

DURING THIS WINDOW. THEY SAW AN UPTICK OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS.

2% DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT I'M TOLD BY BY THE AIRPORTS THAT THIS IS A HUGE NUMBER IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MANY SEATS ON PLANES AND SO MANY FLIGHTS, AND THEY DID THEIR JOB SMOOTHLY, MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH THE AIRPORTS, GETTING THEM IN AND OUT OF THE PROCESSING AND ALL THAT STUFF.

SO AIRPORTS DELIVERED FOR US AS WELL. AND I MENTIONED THE VOLUNTEERS.

SO AGAIN, THESE, THESE FOLKS, IF YOU EVER SAW THEM AT ANY OF THE GAMES OR THE FANFEST AROUND TOWN, THEY WERE HAPPY, THEY WERE WELCOMING, THEY PUT ON A SMILE AND THEY HELPED REALLY CREATE A POSITIVE IMPRESSION FOR HOUSTON.

IT WAS A, IT WAS QUITE AN EFFORT COORDINATING OVER 4000 VOLUNTEERS.

BUT AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT REALLY WORKED TO SUCCESS.

WE HAD A HUGE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORT THAT WAS A PART OF THE WORLD CUP.

EVERY PLAN, EVERY INITIATIVE INCLUDED SUSTAINABILITY.

WE USED 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY AT THE FAN FEST, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF.

WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF STATS AND AND OTHER DATA AROUND THIS GOING FORWARD.

AND AGAIN, TEN 000 PLUS MEDIA CAME TO HOUSTON TO COVER THIS EVENT AS WELL.

SO IT HELPED LEAD TO BILLIONS OF OF POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS ABOUT OUR CITY ACROSS THE WORLD.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND PART. I'LL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THIS. WHEN WE STARTED THIS VENTURE BACK IN IN 2019.

[03:05:07]

I'LL COVER THOSE, LIKE I SAID VERY QUICKLY RIGHT NOW.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE WAS OVER ALMOST A HALF MILLION DOLLAR ONE HALF BILLION DOLLARS PUT INTO THE CITY THROUGH 200 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE WORLD CUP SO THAT WE CAN PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HELP THE CITY SHINE AND ARE GOING TO BE HERE LONG TERM.

RYAN AND JUAN TALKED ABOUT THE CREATION OF IMPACT HOUSTON 26.

THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL HELP CARRY THE WORLD CUP LEGACY FORWARD.

ANY SURPLUS FUNDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO INTO COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

RYAN TALKED ABOUT FREE KICKS. THIS IS THE SOCCER PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTY.

I'LL SKIP THAT. I TALKED ABOUT EDO AGAIN. EDO NOW IS ON THE MAP.

AS AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. WE'RE GOING TO FIND WAYS TO HELP IMPROVE THAT AND GROW THAT AND REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED IN IN IDA OVER THE WORLD CUP, HOUSTON DOWNTOWN, PLUS $17 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE GEARED FOR THE WORLD CUP THAT WILL LAST FOR THE CITY LONGER.

RYAN TALKED ON OUR HEAT MITIGATION PLAN AND HOW THAT IS NOW A MODEL FOR FIFA THAT WILL BE DUPLICATED IN CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

WE TALKED ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, BUT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS WE PUT IN PLACE IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR SCHOOLS, BAYOUS, YOU NAME IT, WILL CONTINUE AND LAST WELL BEYOND THE WORLD CUP.

WE HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE TOURNAMENT FOR YOUTH THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE FAN FESTIVAL THAT THAT BROUGHT MEMORIES AND THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PHOTO THAT WILL CREATE A LEGACY LONG LASTING AS THAT TOURNAMENT CONTINUES INTO THE YEARS TO COME.

AND THEN LASTLY, IF YOU DRIVE AROUND HOUSTON, THERE'S LITERALLY DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF WORLD CUP THEMED ART INSTALLATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN THAT HAVE BEAUTIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL. THERE'S FAR MORE THAN THAT.

BUT I KNOW TIME WAS A BIT OF AN ISSUE. SO ANYWAY, THERE YOU GO.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU CHRIS. OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR.

CHRIS, RYAN AND JUAN, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

BUT ALSO I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO PATTY.

PATTY WAS ON THE GROUND AND HELPING WITH A LOT OF THE LOGISTICS.

AS, AS JUAN MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO FIND WAYS WE CAN BRING HYDRATION TO FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO HOLLY AND JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AS WELL FOR THE FIFA FAN FEST.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT, THE ONE THING I WOULD REALLY WANT TO RAISE IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE, RIGHT? THE ZERO, YOU KNOW, MAJOR INCIDENTS. I THINK ON THE TOP OF MIND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LIKE, WELL, WHAT'S THE YOU KNOW THE UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF A WEATHER INCIDENT THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL.

EVERYTHING ELSE WAS WAS TAKEN CARE OF. AND SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE REALLY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT HAPPENED OUT IN EAST DOWNTOWN.

I WAS NERVOUS, BUT I KNEW I HAD A LOT OF FAITH IN EVERYTHING Y'ALL ARE DOING.

SITTING DOWN WITH EVERYBODY ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE, WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, WHICH ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO, YOU KNOW, RYAN AND THE TEAM AS WELL FOR SHOWING UP FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S HOW WE WERE GOING TO BLOCK OFF CERTAIN STREETS TO MAKE IT SAFER.

THOSE THAT WERE ATTENDING THE FAN FEST. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE INFORMING COMMUNITY ON WHERE THOSE STREET CLOSURES WERE GOING TO BE.

ALSO HOW BUSINESSES WERE GOING TO BE ENGAGED DURING THIS TIME.

AND AS I'VE NOTED, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYBODY IN EAST, DOWNTOWN REALLY ALL THE BUSINESSES SAW A HUGE UPTICK IN THEIR, IN THEIR BUSINESS. SO THANK YOU TO THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN LASTLY ON THE LEGACY PROJECTS YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT TO MASON PARK SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT II TO SEE SOME UPGRADES THERE. BUT I THINK ACROSS THE CITY AND WITH THE COUNTY SUPPORT JUST INCREASING THE GAME, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PITCHES, GREEN SPACE AS WELL.

IT'S JUST IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT HERE IN HOUSTON.

AND THEN MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, JOSH SANDERS SPECIFICALLY.

I KNOW HE WAS ON THE ON SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, VISITS DOWN TO DC TO AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT FINANCIALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NOT GOING TO PUT A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, CITY CITY'S REVENUE AND SERVICES.

AND SO WITHOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER CITIES THAT WERE CANCELING THAT WERE CHARGING.

BUT QUITE FRANKLY, HERE IN HOUSTON, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT WAS REALLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WORLD CUP THIS, THIS YEAR. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. AND OF COURSE, TO THE COLLEAGUES THAT WERE THERE AT THE FAN FEST, I'M SURE Y'ALL ENJOYED YOURSELF AS WELL. BUT YOU KNOW, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALL DONE.

EVERYBODY THAT WAS A PART OF THE HOST COMMITTEE.

[03:10:01]

BUT THEN EVERY OTHER PARTNER, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM.

THANK YOU MAYOR. TO ONE AND RYAN AND CHRIS. GREAT PRESENTATION.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST PROFESSIONAL SOCCER EVENT.

AND I BECAME A FAN BECAUSE WHEN YOU SIT IN A FIFA GAME AND YOU SEE THE EXCITEMENT AND THE JOY AND THE CELEBRATION OF CULTURES, EVERYBODY IN THERE WAS HAPPY.

IN A WORLD THAT SOMETIMES CAN BE VERY HEAVY AND DARK, AND EVERYBODY'S MAD ABOUT EVERYTHING.

IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO UPLIFT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR IN OUR CITY.

AND JUST LOOKING AROUND AT 70,000 FOLKS, SMILING, CHEERING, JUMPING UP AND DOWN, HIGH FIVING EACH OTHER, IT WAS ELECTRIC IN THE STADIUM. AND JUST WATCHING THESE PLAYERS RUN FOR 90 MINUTES IS INCREDIBLE. THE AMOUNT OF CONDITIONING YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO, TO PLAY SOCCER IS INCREDIBLE.

SO IT WAS A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE. BUT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNICATION THAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO THE EVENT SO THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WERE AWARE OF THE ROAD CLOSURES.

THEY WERE AWARE OF WHEN THE PARADES WOULD TAKE PLACE.

SO THEY KNEW HOW TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STADIUM.

THAT WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE. WE WERE ABLE TO USE ALL OF THE COMMUNICATION TOOLS THAT Y'ALL SHARED WITH US TO SHARE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS IN OUR NEWSLETTERS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS. SO THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN THAT THAT IT WORKED.

MAKING SURE THEY HAD THAT INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME WAS VERY BENEFICIAL.

I LOVE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EMPLOY SO MANY ARTISTS AROUND THE CITY.

WE'VE GOT NEW MURALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE FIFA CAME TO HOUSTON.

WE HAVE ARTISTS THAT HAD NEVER HAD PROJECTS THAT BIG.

THAT WAS THEIR VERY FIRST TIME BEING ABLE TO PAINT ON A BIG WALL.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CELEBRATION AROUND FIFA IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND IT WAS IT WAS VERY INSPIRING TO SEE SO MANY CULTURES COME TOGETHER AND SO MANY HOUSTONIANS GO VOLUNTEER AND JUST.

I LOVED EXPERIENCING THE JOY THAT CAME WITH CELEBRATING FIFA.

SO THESE THESE NUMBERS ARE IMPACTFUL. AND I HOPE THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I DID WANT TO JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO JANICE BURKE TOO, BECAUSE FOUR YEARS AGO, SHE RECRUITED ALL OF US TO GO STAND ON AVENIDA WITH SIGNS WHEN FIFA CAME TO WIN THE BID. AND WE ALL DID THAT.

AND I KNOW SHE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT, AND YOU ALL TOOK IT AND RAN WITH IT AND MADE IT A GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PANZARELLA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JUAN RYAN. CHRIS, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOURSELVES AND YOUR TEAMS PUT FORWARD FOR THIS.

AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF NOT JUST THE HOUSTON DYNAMO AND DASH, BUT ALSO THE U.S.

SOCCER FEDERATION, IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO SEE HOUSTON REPRESENTED ON THE WORLD STAGE HOSTING SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT.

AND CHRIS, I DON'T WANT TO LET IT GO BY THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU'VE HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON THE SPORT OF SOCCER HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

YOUR WORK WITH THE HOUSTON DYNAMO AND DASH HAS LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR MORE TOURNAMENTS LIKE THIS AND MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS, AND IT WAS REALLY AMAZING JUST TO SEE EVERYONE COME TOGETHER IN THE CITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SOON.

THANKS, Y'ALL. COUNCILWOMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR.

OUR GUYS. OUTSTANDING. I WANTED TO JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THE COMMENTS THAT SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS MY FIRST PROFESSIONAL SOCCER ATTENDANCE, BUT I WENT TO A WHOLE LOT OF, AS YOU KNOW, IN MY HOUSE, DYNAMO ACADEMY SOCCER.

AND SO I WAS REALLY FIRED UP FOR IT, THE FAN FEST.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING, THOSE NUMBERS INDICATE.

BECAUSE WHAT MAKES A CITY WHAT IT IS AS OFTEN AS LEADERSHIP AND THE WAY TO MAKE MONEY, THE MAYOR TO MAKE NOT ONLY JUST THE MONEY ASPECT, BUT TO INTRODUCE THE CITY TO THE WORLD.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THAT MANY YEARS AGO.

AND IN HOSTING A CONVENTION HERE WITH OVER 10,000 PEOPLE.

IT'S A IT'S A REWARDING FEELING TO KNOW THAT YOU PARTICIPATED IN SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE CITY STAND OUT AND YOU GUYS ARE JUST FABULOUS.

YOUR VOLUNTEERS, THE WHOLE THING, THE NUMBERS AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

[03:15:04]

MANY OF THE PASTORS AND PEOPLE I KNOW FROM CHICAGO AND OTHER PLACES ARE TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON AND HOW WE STOOD OUT AMONG ALL THESE OTHER CITIES, WHICH SAYS A WHOLE LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND THOSE WHO WAS PRE WORKING TO GET US TO GET FIFA, I THINK IS A CERTAINLY A CREDIT TO WHERE HOUSTON IS AND WHERE HOUSTON IS GOING.

SO THE DIRECTION THAT OUR CITY IS GOING IN, EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY OUGHT TO BE PROUD.

EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE IN ZERO INCIDENTS. THAT IS ALMOST A MIRACLE TO UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE ZERO INCIDENT.

I WAS OUT THERE AT THAT FAN FEST SWEATING AS ONE KNOW, AND ALL OF US BREAKING IN.

BUT YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT. ONCE YOU GET IN IT, YOU FORGET THE HEAT AND YOU JUST ENJOY THE DAY.

SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, MAN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GENTLEMEN, YOUR TEAM, Y'ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL. BUT ON BEHALF OF 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS, OUR REGION, OUR STATE, WE SAY THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE, BUT JUST OUTSTANDING.

I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT FAN FEST BEING FREE WHEN OTHER CITIES WERE CHARGING FOR MULTIPLE SITES.

I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU NAME.

IT'S A TESTIMONY TO WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH COLLABORATION, AND IT'S A STRONG STATEMENT THAT HOUSTON IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, AND BE SAFE. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU.

MELISSA.

[ELECTRONIC OPENINGS (CATEGORY)APPROXIMATELY 10:30 A.M.]

MAYOR PRO TEM TO TAKE ITEM THREE OUT OF ORDER.

IT'S THE PURCHASE SELLING OF OUR DOCUMENTS. IT'S TIME SENSITIVE.

SO. I THINK MR. SECRETARY CAN CALL ITEM NUMBER THREE.

ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES.

OKAY. NOW BACK TO CONSENT. CONSENT.

MAYOR, I KNOW THAT WE RECEIVED THIS DOCUMENT ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.

THE CONTROLLER IS HERE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WANTED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM THREE.

YES, IT'S TIME SENSITIVE. WE RECOGNIZE THE CONTROLLER BACK ON THE AGENDA AND THEN GET THE FINANCE REPORT LATER.

OKAY. YOU RECOGNIZE SIR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON, ON ITEM NUMBER THREE TODAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON FINANCIAL WORKING GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, THE MAYOR'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT, LEGAL AND SEVERAL OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, PRICED A COMPETITIVE BID FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S TAX AND REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES SERIES 2026.

THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS TRANS NOTES. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD HAVE JUST RECEIVED A PACKET THAT CONTAINS THESE WINNING BIDS FOR THIS YEAR'S TRANS ISSUANCE.

[03:20:07]

THE RESULTING TRUE INTEREST COST IS 2.65%. THE WINNING BIDDERS INCLUDE RAYMOND JAMES, GOLDMAN SACHS, PNC CAPITAL MARKETS, MESIROW FINANCIAL, J.P. MORGAN, HILLTOP SECURITIES AND BANK OF AMERICA.

AND THESE WERE COMPETITIVE BIDS, WITH THE WINNERS BEING THOSE WHO BID THE LOWEST RATE.

FOR COMPARISON, LAST YEAR'S 2025 TRANS NOTES TOTALED $121 MILLION, WITH A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 2.46%. SO THIS YEAR, WE'RE PAYING 19 ADDITIONAL BASIS POINTS.

AND THAT IS FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

THE SIZE OF THIS TRANS NOTE THIS YEAR IS, IS BASED ON OUR CASH FLOW NEEDS.

AND WHAT THE POINT OF THESE TRANS NOTES IS, IS TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM FINANCING TO BRIDGE THE CITY.

AS WE WAIT FOR PROPERTY TAX REVENUES TO COME IN IN EARLY 2027.

AND SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THIS TRANSACTION THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. BACK TO THE CONSENT. UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY ITEMS

[CONSENT AGENDA – NUMBERS 4 through 60]

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX, EIGHT AND NINE TO MOVE.

SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE OUR APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, CHAIRED BY FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM ELLEN COHEN.

MR.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.

JONI BAIRD REAPPOINTMENT. THANK YOU MA'AM. AND PETER STOUT, OUR CEO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO OVER THERE.

ON THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TIGER LINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ANYONE ELSE PRESENT? IF NOT, NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S GOOD TO SEE SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARCAT. MR. TRITICO IN THE AUDIENCE.

ONE OF OUR DISTINGUISHED ALUMS. EAT EM UP, CATS.

SO I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I AND I KNOW YOU ACKNOWLEDGED FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM ELLEN COHEN EARLIER.

SHE'S LOOKING LIKE SHE WANTS TO COME FORWARD AND SAY SOMETHING.

MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK YOU MISUNDERSTOOD ME, BUT I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE AND SURROUNDED BY BOARD MEMBERS AND PETER, OUR CHIEF CEO, AND A NEW BOARD MEMBER. I'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR FOR ASKING ME TO SERVE ON THIS.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND HONOR TO SERVE ON SUCH A DISTINGUISHED BOARD AS THIS.

I THINK THAT MY EXPERIENCE CROSS-EXAMINING FORENSIC SCIENTISTS OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS CAN BE A BIG BENEFIT TO TO THE HARD WORK OF THIS BOARD. AND SO I THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR THE FAITH THAT YOU'VE GIVEN IN ME AND SERVING ON THIS BOARD.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TO DOING IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A NOTE OF THE FACT THAT JONI IS GOING TO BE REAPPOINTED TODAY.

SO SHE'S BEEN A FANTASTIC VICE CHAIR. AND I MIGHT JUST MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT.

TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, DO YOU WANT TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD ME, WHICH I THINK SPEAKS WELL FOR PETER, IF THAT'S OKAY. I'M ACTUALLY I WAS ACTUALLY IN THE QUEUE TO, TO TALK ABOUT MY RECENT EXPERIENCE AS A JUROR ON A MURDER TRIAL AND SAW SEVERAL OF THE STAFF MEMBERS COME UP FROM THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER.

[03:25:03]

AND THEY WERE SO PROFESSIONAL, SO GOOD. YOU REALLY SAW KIND OF THE THINGS THAT WE APPROVE ON CITY COUNCIL IN ACTION THERE WITH THEIR TESTIMONY.

AND CHRIS TRITICO, TO YOUR POINT THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY WAS REALLY GRILLING THEM AND REALLY THEY HELD THEIR OWN.

AND BUT THAT'S THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CROSS-EXAMINING THEM, I THINK WILL BE REALLY VALUABLE ON THIS BOARD.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL FOR SERVING. AND AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH, WITH THE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. THANK YOU.

NEXT TO THE WORK UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM 14 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS TEN THROUGH 13. CAS TATUM.

MOVE SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES. UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY, SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEM 23 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 16, 20, 21 AND 22 AND 25.

AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE R 16, 20, 21, 22 AND 25.

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 15, 17 THROUGH 19 AND 20 FOR.

MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.

SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEMS 33 AND 35 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

ITEM 39 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.

ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 26, 30, 31, 33 AND 34, AND 35.

AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 26, 30 AND 31, 33, 34, AND 35.

NEED A VOTE ON THE BALLOTS? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING APPOINTED AND REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I KNOW WE HAVE THE VICE CHAIR, LINDA SMITH, HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE.

AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO LIFT UP THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO. AS YOU HEARD JUST A BIT AGO WITH THE FIFA FAN FEST AND JUST WORLD CUP ALL IN, IN GENERAL DOWNTOWN PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WERE SAFE AS WELL.

THE AREA IS CLEAN. AND SO THE WORK THAT THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT CONTINUES TO DO, WE WE APPRECIATE THAT WORK AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY AROUND THE HORSESHOE SUPPORTING THESE APPOINTMENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE.

SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 14 NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE.

MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 16 NEEDS A MOTION.

TO MOVE. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 20 NEEDS A MOTION MOVED.

MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 22 NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE.

SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 25 NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE.

[03:30:04]

THOSE OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS ITEM I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A TWO WEEK DELAY TO ALLOW IT TO COME BEFORE THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COMMITTEE FOR.

FOR REVIEW. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES.

ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE IN FAVOR.

SAY. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. I'M SORRY. I'M VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

AND I JUST REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE INNOVATION AND THOUGHTFULNESS TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL OWNERS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY DISASTER, THAT REMOVING THIS BARRIER ALLOWS US TO RECOVER SOONER AND THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED WITH THAT FEE.

AND I THINK IT COMPLEMENTS ALL OF THE OTHER EFFORTS THE CITY IS LEADING AROUND RECOVERY, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

SO THIS IS A, I'M GLAD THAT THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE BODY.

HAPPY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.

THANK YOU. I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

YOU KNOW, AFTER A DISASTER, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN A PERSON'S LIFE AND REMOVING SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS, HELPING PEOPLE GET HOME FASTER. I MEAN, THAT IS BEING RESILIENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT HOUSTON IS ALL ABOUT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN KINGWOOD WAS ANNEXED BY THE CITY 30 YEARS AGO, THEY JUST TOOK OVER THE VOLUNTEER FIRE STATIONS.

THE CITY HASN'T ACTUALLY BUILT ANY FIRE STATIONS OURSELVES OUT THERE.

MAYOR, YOU GOT THE CHANCE. WHEN WE HAD THE RAIN EVENT HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO GO WALK THROUGH THE MODULAR THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE HAVING TO SLEEP IN.

AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS THAT THEY WERE HOUSED IN.

AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE STEP INTO TO GETTING SOMETHING RECTIFIED WITH IT.

AND ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FOUR STATIONS OUT THERE, AND THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF TWO OF THEM, AS TWO OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE COMBINED. AND THE ONE WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH HAD BEEN FLOODED MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT THE THE ONE WE DID GO THROUGH.

SO THIS WILL BE A BIG STEP IN MAKING THINGS BETTER OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND COUNCILMAN CARTER CERTAINLY BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

WE WERE OUT HERE IN THE WHAT DID YOU CALL IT, A WATER.

IT WAS A IT WAS A, IT WAS A FLOOD EVENT. BUT BUT WELL, OKAY.

WELL, IT WAS A LOT OF RAIN. BUT THE CONDITIONS THAT I SAW THAT FIREFIGHTERS WERE HOUSED IN WAS DEPLORABLE.

AND I COULD DESCRIBE THEM WITH THE MOLE, THE HOLES IN THE FLOOR, HOLES IN THE CEILING.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THEY WERE ALLOWED TO GET LIKE THIS.

SO OBVIOUSLY THIS GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD CORRECTING THAT NEGLECT FROM YEARS PAST.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COUNCILMAN CARTER.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, THIS GOES A LONG WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY THE CONDITIONS WHICH WERE DEPLORABLE STILL ARE JUST THE ACCESS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DEPARTMENT SERVICE, THE FREEWAY QUITE A BIT AND COMING FROM SORT OF INTO, IN KINGWOOD OUT TO THE FREEWAY, AND IN MAKING THOSE CALLS, THIS WILL BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT ON RESPONSE TIMES, I FEEL, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS ACTUALLY COME TO LIFE AFTER SO MANY YEARS, A LIFETIME ACTUALLY. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS. WE WE CAN'T WAIT.

THANK YOU. A VOTE ON ITEM 33. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED? NO. ITEM PASSES.

ITEM 61. IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE

[03:35:02]

CASTEX. TATUM MOVED TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9 A.M.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2026. SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES.

THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. SOUNDS GREAT.

NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE MONTHLY FINANCE REPORT.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMPTROLLER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA TARKOWSKI.

GOOD MORNING ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR JUNE 2026.

BECAUSE THIS REPORT MARKS THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2026, IT'S A BIT LENGTHY, SO BEAR WITH ME.

BEFORE I GET GOING. MAYOR, I WANT TO JOIN OUR COLLEAGUES IN WISHING YOU A HAPPY 77TH BIRTHDAY.

BROTHER, YOU ALMOST OLD ENOUGH TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT NOW? BUT YOU KNOW, AS WE MARK, THANK YOU AS WE MARK ANOTHER YEAR, I HOPE THAT TOMORROW YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS AND WITH FAMILY. NOW FOR THE NUMBERS. THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE PROJECTS AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $319.2 MILLION, OR 12.1% OF EXPENDITURES. LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.

THIS IS $5.7 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THE DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE.

BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $121.1 MILLION, ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE.

WE'VE INCREASED OUR REVENUE PROJECTION BY $26.6 MILLION FROM THE MAY 2026 REPORT, REFLECTING THE FOLLOWING KEY CHANGES.

PROPERTY TAX DECREASED BY $18.7 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED HEARING LOSS.

SALES TAX INCREASED BY $17 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES INCREASED BY $15.4 MILLION DUE TO THE REASSESSMENT OF TERS CONTRIBUTIONS.

TO MEET THE RISING COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.

INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS INCREASED BY $5.4 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TAXABLE VALUATIONS.

CHARGES FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY $2.2 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO STRONGER THAN EXPECTED AMBULANCE FEES.

EASTER. MISCELLANEOUS AND OTHER REVENUES INCREASED BY $1.4 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO FIREFIGHTER DEPLOYMENT REIMBURSEMENTS.

SALES OF CAPITAL ASSETS INCREASED BY $1.4 MILLION FROM PROCEEDS RELATED TO LAND AND EASEMENT SALES.

INTEREST INCOME INCREASED BY $0.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED EARNINGS ON DEPOSIT INVESTMENTS.

LICENSES AND PERMITS INCREASED BY $0.6 MILLION, MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER COLLECTIONS OF FOOD DEALER PERMITS.

ELECTRIC FRANCHISE INCREASED BY $0.5 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER RECEIPTS ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

OUR PROJECTIONS DECREASED BY $16 MILLION FROM THE MAY 2026 REPORT DUE TO YEAR END SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES COSTS. THESE ARE ALL ADJUSTMENTS FROM LAST MONTH'S ESTIMATES.

SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND WALK YOU THROUGH THE OVERALL ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE MADE OVER THE COURSE OF THE ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR.

ON THE REVENUE SIDE, PROPERTY TAXES CAME IN $71 MILLION BELOW WHAT WAS BUDGETED WHEN YOU ORIGINALLY VOTED LAST JUNE.

NOW, WE WERE BAILED OUT ON THE REVENUE SIDE BY SALES TAXES COMING IN $35 MILLION ABOVE PROJECTIONS, WHICH WE ARE ALWAYS CONSERVATIVE. AND I BELIEVE FINANCE IS AS WELL IN THOSE PROJECTIONS.

CHARGES FOR SERVICES CAME IN $16 MILLION ABOVE PROJECTIONS, LARGELY DRIVEN BY AMBULANCE FEES, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL CAME IN $22 MILLION ABOVE PROJECTIONS, DRIVEN BY ROUGHLY DOUBLING WHAT WE CHARGED HERS IS FOR ADMINISTRATION, WHICH I JUST DESCRIBED A MOMENT AGO. SO OVERALL, NET NET REVENUE FOR THE YEAR CAME IN $15 MILLION ABOVE WHAT WAS PROJECTED IN THE BUDGET. ON THE COST SIDE, FIRE CAME IN $73 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

POLICE CAME IN $18 MILLION OVER BUDGET, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT CAME IN $21 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

[03:40:09]

BUT NET NET, WE SPENT MORE THAN $100 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT YOU APPROVED IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.

AS YOU LIKELY RECALL, IN THAT BUDGET, THE PLANNED DEFICIT, WHICH YOU VOTED ON AND APPROVED WAS ALREADY $76 MILLION.

AND SO WHEN WE ADD $86 MILLION IN UNPLANNED DEFICIT SPENDING ON TOP OF THAT, WHAT YOU REACH IS AN OVERALL DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR OF $162 MILLION, WHICH IS FAR AND AWAY THE LARGEST DEFICIT THAT THIS CITY HAS EVER EXPERIENCED.

JUST SO WE'RE TALKING APPLES AND APPLES FINANCES NUMBER AGAIN, OURS IS 162 IS ABOUT 156 157 $1 MILLION.

SO WE'RE NOT VERY FAR APART THERE. AND DIRECTOR DUBOWSKY, I'M SURE, WILL GO INTO THAT HERE IN A MOMENT.

THE THREE BIG DRIVERS OF THAT UNPLANNED DEFICIT SPENDING, NUMBER ONE WAS FIRE OVERTIME COMING IN $38 MILLION OVER BUDGET. POLICE OVERTIME COMING IN $17.5 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

AND THE FAKE SAVINGS ESTIMATE THAT WAS BAKED IN TO OVERTIME.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ULTIMATELY CAME IN $17 MILLION OVER BUDGET BECAUSE THOSE SAVINGS WENT UNREALIZED.

YESTERDAY YOU HEARD FROM POLICE FIRE AND SOLID WASTE ABOUT THEIR OVERTIME FIGURES FOR THE YEAR.

AND I HAVE THE REPORT RIGHT HERE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY CAME IN BASICALLY ON BUDGET, FOR. FOR HPD, IT'S SHOWING A BUDGET OF AROUND $31 MILLION AND SPENDING OF $31 MILLION.

BUT AGAIN, IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO WHAT YOU APPROVED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IN JUNE OF 2025, THEY'RE ACTUALLY $17.5 MILLION OVER BUDGET. FIRE.

SAME THING THE REPORT FROM YESTERDAY SHOWS. A BUDGET OF $82.6 MILLION, PROJECTIONS OF $79 MILLION. AND SO WHAT YOU SAW YESTERDAY SHOWED FIRE COMING IN UNDER BUDGET FOR OVERTIME.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE $38 MILLION OVER WHAT YOU APPROVED IN THE BUDGET LAST JUNE.

SIMILAR THEME FOR SOLID WASTE. THEY SOMEHOW CAME IN ON BUDGET TO THE PENNY IN THE REPORT THAT YOU SAW YESTERDAY, WHICH IS INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST. BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THEY WERE ABOUT $1.9 MILLION OVER BUDGET BASED ON WHAT YOU APPROVED A YEAR AGO. SO WE HAVE SOME ISSUES AGAIN. LARGEST DEFICIT IN CITY HISTORY.

BUT YOU MIGHT SAY, LOOK, WE JUST PASSED A NEW BUDGET AND THAT NEW BUDGET BRINGS THE DEFICIT WAY DOWN.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WORTH DISCUSSING. IN FACT, SOME RECENT NEWS ABOUT OUR CREDIT RATINGS HELPS TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON ON WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. FIRST, THE PROMISING OUTLOOK. MOODY'S UPGRADED THE CITY'S GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND RATING FROM AA THREE TO DOUBLE A TWO.

AND THEY CITED REDUCTIONS IN THE PROJECTED DEFICIT.

AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS BECAUSE A STRONGER CREDIT RATING SHOULD LOWER OUR COST OF BORROWING AND PRESERVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR OTHER PRIORITIES.

BUT EVERY DOLLAR HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. JUST YESTERDAY, WE GOT NEWS FROM S AND P, THAT'S RAISING ITS OUTLOOK FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM'S DEBT FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE.

WHAT THEY CITE IN THAT IS THE SAME THING WE TALKED ABOUT DURING BUDGET SEASON C US IS ABSORPTION OF SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS WITHOUT REVENUE TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR IT. A NEW RIGHT OF WAY FEE THAT DRAINS AT LEAST $100 MILLION A YEAR FROM C US WITH, AS OF TODAY, NO PLAN TO ADJUST RATES TO COVER THAT NEW COST AND AN $8.7 BILLION CAPITAL PLAN THAT'S FUNDED 65% WITH DEBT. THAT BRINGS ISSUES AROUND C US'S LEVERAGE.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOTHING NEW. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS STUFF AD NAUSEAM DURING BUDGET SEASON JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

AND I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF THIS. BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, WE'RE GOING BACK TO WALL STREET THIS FALL TO BORROW OVER $2 BILLION FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. AND THIS NEGATIVE OUTLOOK ALONE EVEN BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT A DOWNGRADE WHICH WE STILL POTENTIALLY HAVE TWO OTHER AGENCIES THAT MIGHT WEIGH IN.

[03:45:02]

IN ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO BORROW THAT MONEY. AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT'S REAL. OVER THE LIFE OF, OF THESE BORROWINGS, THIS COULD COST THE CITY WELL NORTH OF $75 MILLION JUST ON THIS 15 BASIS POINT ADJUSTMENT. AND SO THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS, REAL COSTS THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING. AND WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT. EVEN MOODY'S IN ITS UPGRADE REPORT, WARNED US THAT WE COULD BE DOWNGRADED AGAIN IF THE ANTICIPATED FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENTS FAIL TO MATERIALIZE.

AND IF HOUSTON RETURNS TO PERSISTENT STRUCTURAL DEFICITS.

BUT SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT PLAGUED LAST YEAR'S BUDGET ARE PRESENT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

FIRST, WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING A $25 BILLION DEFICIT.

WE HAVE PROPERTY TAX PROJECTIONS THAT ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE REALIZED.

WE HAVE OVERTIME FIGURES THAT DON'T REFLECT THE TRUE OPERATIONS OF OUR MAJOR DEPARTMENTS.

AND SO WE'RE LIKELY TO GO OVER BUDGET ON THOSE.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE FAKE SAVINGS FIGURES BAKED IN TO THE BUDGET.

MY OFFICE HAS CAUTIONED YOU THAT ALL OF THESE ARE FAULTY ASSUMPTIONS, AND THE IMPROVED RATING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM MOODY'S DEPENDS ON THOSE ASSUMPTIONS COMING TO PASS AND ADDING UP.

WE ALSO WARNED YOU THAT THIS BUDGET ROBS PETER, ALSO KNOWN AS THE WATER FUND, TO PAY PAUL, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GENERAL FUND. TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE TWO RATINGS REPORTS THE UPGRADE FROM MOODY'S FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK FROM S&P FOR SEE US, THEY EXPOSED THE BUDGET FOR WHAT IT IS WHICH IS A SHELL GAME.

NO NEW MONEY BEING CREATED, JUST MOVING MONEY FROM ONE POCKET TO THE OTHER.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T CREATE MONEY OUT OF THIN AIR OR OUT OF POLITICAL PROMISES.

THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. AND SO THE REAL TEST FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS WHETHER THE CITY IS GOING TO DELIVER RECURRING REVENUE, THE SPENDING DISCIPLINE AND THE STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PROMISED AND UPON WHICH THE STRONGER RATING FROM MOODY'S DEPENDS.

MY OFFICE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR OUR PROGRESS AGAINST THESE COMMITMENTS AND KEEP THIS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC FULLY INFORMED.

AS FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, WE'VE NOW BEEN WARNED S&P HAS PUT THIS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO RETURN US TO STABLE TERRITORY.

AND AS ALWAYS, MY OFFICE STANDS READY TO HELP.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND.

OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $16.9 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TERMINAL SPACE AND GROUND RENTAL FEES.

OPERATING EXPENSES DECREASED BY $2.5 MILLION DUE TO LOWER SERVICE COSTS, OFFSET BY HIGHER PERSONNEL SERVICES.

NONOPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $6.9 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME, AND THE OPERATING TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT FUND INCREASED BY $26.2 MILLION FOR THE CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES OPERATING FUND OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER GARAGE PARKING REVENUES.

OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASED BY $0.7 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED ARBITRAGE EXPENSE.

NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $5.8 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED COLLECTIONS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX AND INTEREST INCOME, AND OPERATING TRANSFERS INCREASED BY $3.5 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER TRANSFERS TO HOUSTON.

FIRST, THE C AND E CREDIT ALSO RECENTLY RECEIVED AN UPGRADE, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MICHAEL HECKMAN, FRANK WILSON AND THE WHOLE TEAM OVER AT HOUSTON FIRST ON THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FUND.

OPERATING REVENUES DECREASED BY $25.2 MILLION DUE TO A DECREASE IN WATER AND SEWER REVENUES.

OPERATING EXPENSES DECREASED BY $123.7 MILLION DUE TO LOWER SPENDING ON PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.

NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $19.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER LAND SALES AND INTEREST INCOME, AND OPERATING TRANSFERS DECREASED BY $62.6 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.

TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND TRANSFERS. TRANSFERS TO THE STORMWATER FUND FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND.

AD VALOREM REVENUES INCREASED BY $0.3 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME, WHILE EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $65.2 MILLION,

[03:50:05]

DELAYS IN CONTRACT SPENDING, AND DELAYS IN CAPITAL VEHICLE PURCHASES FOR SRF DRAINAGE REVENUES INCREASED BY $1.5 MILLION, REFLECTING HIGHER DRAINAGE REVENUES AND HIGHER INTEREST INCOME EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $39.2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, PERSONNEL SAVINGS AND LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED MANAGEMENT CONSULTING AND INTERFUND LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND. METRO REVENUES DECREASED BY $10.1 MILLION DUE TO LOWER METRO REIMBURSEMENT, WHILE EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $9.1 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL AND LOWER INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE SPENDING.

AND FOR THE STORMWATER FUND, REVENUES DECREASED BY $19.2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER TRANSFERS FROM THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, WHILE EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $25.7 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL, DELAYED VEHICLE PURCHASES, LOWER DEMOLITION SERVICES, AND LOWER INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE SPENDING.

NOW I JUST SAID A WHOLE LOT, AND SO IT'S WORTH PAUSING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE JUST TALKED THROUGH.

ACROSS EVERY ENTERPRISE FUND RELATED TO PUBLIC WORKS, WE SAW MASSIVE DOWNWARD ADJUSTMENTS IN EXPENDITURES.

ALL IN ALL, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, 60 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN PLANNED EQUIPMENT PURCHASES DID NOT HAPPEN, AND $180 MILLION IN BUDGETED CAPITAL PROJECTS DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THAT'S $180 MILLION IN WATER LEAKS THAT DIDN'T GET FIXED, AND POTHOLES THAT DIDN'T GET REPAIRED, AND SIDEWALKS THAT DIDN'T GET PAVED. AND FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS THAT SIMPLY DIDN'T TAKE PLACE.

AND SO WHEN WE SAY THAT MONEY IS BEING DRAINED OUT OF THE WATER FUND, AND WE'RE ASKING, WHERE IS THIS SURPLUS MONEY COMING FROM? THIS IS WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. IMPORTANT MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING HOUSTONIANS SAFER THAT SIMPLY ARE NOT HAPPENING.

WE HAVE TO FIX THIS GOING FORWARD FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS.

THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH RATING AGENCY GUIDANCE OF 25% OR LOWER AS OF JUNE 2026, THE RATIO OF UNHEDGED VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF OUTSTANDING DEBT REMAIN WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD.

AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2026, THE CITY HAD $7.42 BILLION INVESTED IN OUR GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL.

THE CHARACTER OF THIS POOL IS THAT OF A SHORT TERM BOND FUND THAT HOLDS INVESTMENTS OF VERY HIGH CREDIT QUALITY.

FITCH RATINGS REVIEWED THIS POOL AND ASSIGNED THE POOL ITS HIGHEST RATING OF TRIPLE A.

OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY IS TO MATCH ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR A TIME PERIOD OF A YEAR INTO THE FUTURE, AND TO EXERCISE DISCRETION FOR THE BALANCE OF REMAINING FUNDS.

INVESTMENTS ARE $1.72 BILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NEW BOND TRANSACTIONS IN AVIATION AND THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM AND IN CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2026, THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL WAS YIELDING 4.008%.

IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL, WE HAVE TWO SMALL INVESTMENT POOLS THAT TOTAL ROUGHLY $16 MILLION.

THOSE POOLS EXIST TO COMPLY WITH TAX REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

A DETAILED LISTING OF ALL THE SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CITY APPEARS AT THE BACK OF THE INVESTMENT REPORT.

BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME WORK THAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ON JULY 26TH, I WAS PROUD TO JOIN HOUSTON TEXANS QUARTERBACK C.J.

STROUD AND THE C.J. STROUD FOUNDATION, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEAN TEER AND THE YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL HUDDLE BACKPACK BLITZ. TOGETHER, WE HELPED MORE THAN 250 HOUSTON CHILDREN, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH BACKPACKS, SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

WE MADE THE DAY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT WAS BIGGER THAN BACKPACKS.

IT WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THESE KIDS KNOW THAT THEIR CITY AND THAT THEIR COMMUNITY ARE BEHIND THEM, THAT WE BELIEVE IN THEM, AND THAT WE WANT TO SEE THEM THRIVE.

AND SO WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO WALK INTO THAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITHOUT THOSE SORTS OF CONCERNS.

THEY CAN FOCUS ON GETTING GOOD GRADES, GETTING TO KNOW THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR CLASSMATES.

AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE GOT TO BE A PART OF THAT EFFORT. ALSO THIS MONTH, OUR OFFICE LAUNCHED THE RACHEL H.

[03:55:06]

CITY EMPLOYEES ALSO BRING AN ESPECIALLY VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE.

YOU SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT WORKS, WHERE WE FALL SHORT, AND WHERE BETTER SYSTEMS OR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, WE'RE ENCOURAGING YOU COUNCIL TO TAKE THE SURVEY, AS WELL AS TO ENCOURAGE STAFF AND OTHER COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

THE MORE THAT WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE CITY BEST, THE BETTER EQUIPPED IT WILL BE TO FOCUS OUR WORK WHERE IT CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, A FEDERAL JUDGE RECENTLY STRUCK DOWN HOUSTON'S MINORITY BUSINESS CONTRACTING PROGRAM AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY IS WEIGHING NOW WHETHER OR NOT TO APPEAL THAT RULING.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A QUESTION HERE.

WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY APPEAL THIS DECISION, AND WE SHOULD FIGHT TO PROTECT THE BUSINESSES THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS BUILT TO SUPPORT.

THIS PROGRAM EXISTS BECAUSE FOR GENERATIONS, MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES FACE BARRIERS TO COMPETING FOR CITY CONTRACTS.

ITS PURPOSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO ENSURE THAT QUALIFIED BUSINESSES HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE, AND THAT CITY'S CONTRACTING PROCESSES REFLECT THE FULL STRENGTH AND DIVERSITY OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT DIVERSITY IS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WHEN TALENTED BUSINESSES FROM EVERY CORNER OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE.

TAXPAYER TAXPAYERS BENEFIT FROM STRONG COMPETITION, FROM BETTER IDEAS AND FROM A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY.

HOUSTON'S MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR CASE FULLY HEARD, AND THEY DESERVE A CITY THAT'S WILLING TO STAND UP FOR THEM.

I URGE YOU ALL TO APPEAL THIS RULING AND TO DEFEND EVERY QUALIFIED BUSINESSES OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I WANT TO COMMEND HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR COMMITTING TO A FULL, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION SURROUNDING THE KILLING OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAUJO.

LORENZO'S FAMILY HAS ASKED ALL OF US TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, AND WE WILL HIS FAMILY AND HIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY DESERVE A FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT TOOK PLACE THAT LED TO HIS MURDER. AND UNTIL THEY HAVE IT, THIS CASE CANNOT DISAPPEAR FROM PUBLIC ATTENTION.

IT ALSO FORCES US TO CONFRONT A LARGER ISSUE.

AND THAT'S THAT ICE HAS NO PLACE IN HOUSTON. WE'VE SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES FIRSTHAND OF THESE OPERATIONS, AND THEY ARE TRAGIC. WE SHOULD NOT BE ASSISTING, FACILITATING, OR NORMALIZING THEM.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, AND WE SHOULD BE USING EVERY LAWFUL TOOL AVAILABLE TO LIMIT ISIS PRESENCE IN OUR CITY.

MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS CASE CLOSELY, AND WILL STAND WITH LORENZO'S FAMILY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AS THEY SEEK ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. FINALLY, I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE CHRIS BROWN INVESTIGATION.

A MONTH AGO, YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT THE MAYOR WAS STIFLING THIS INVESTIGATION BY REFUSING TO PROVIDE THE DATA AND INFORMATION THAT MY OFFICE REQUESTED AT THAT TIME, THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD FULLY COOPERATE AND TURN OVER EVERY DOCUMENT THAT WAS REQUESTED.

AS OF THIS MOMENT, OUTSIDE OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE WAS ALREADY PRIVY TO AND REPORTED ON MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THIS CANNOT BE INTERPRETED AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN ATTEMPT TO HIDE THE TRUTH.

THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED IN WRITING THAT MY OFFICE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AUDIT CITY OPERATIONS AND TO EXAMINE HOW CITY MONEY IS SPENT.

I WANT TO READ HIS WORDS TO YOU. THE COMPTROLLER DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT INTERNAL AUDITS OF THE OPERATIONS OF ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROFESSIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUDITING STANDARDS.

THE COMPTROLLER MAY EXAMINE AN EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF FISCAL OVERSIGHT, AND EXAMINE WHETHER THE TAXPAYER FUNDS TIED TO THE POSITION WERE PROPERLY AUTHORIZED, APPROPRIATED AND SPENT, WHETHER THE CITY RECEIVED VALUE OR WORK IN EXCHANGE, AND WHETHER INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER THE POSITION FUNCTIONED.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR OUR EFFORTS HERE ARE GENUINE.

THEY ARE SERIOUS, CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THAT A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S TEAM HAS BEEN PAID WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS AND MAY NOT HAVE PERFORMED REAL WORK OVER A TWO AND A HALF YEAR PERIOD. MY OFFICE'S REQUEST PERTAINING TO THOSE ALLEGATIONS FITS SQUARELY INTO THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY CHARTER AND WHAT IT GRANTS TO MY OFFICE, AS ADMITTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE ARE INVESTIGATING, THROUGH THE LENS OF FISCAL OVERSIGHT,

[04:00:01]

IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, TO HAVE CONTROL SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE SPENT LEGALLY.

IF THEY'RE NOT, THAT EXPOSES THE CITY BOTH LEGALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

AND THAT IS WHAT THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A CITY CONTROLLER.

THAT IS WHY THE CITY CONTROLLER IS PERMITTED, EXCUSE ME, BY THE CITY CHARTER TO LOOK INTO MATTERS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS ARE BEING MADE.

IF MY OFFICE DOES NOT RECEIVE THE DOCUMENTS AND DATA REQUESTED IN SHORT ORDER, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PURSUE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS AVAILABLE TO MY OFFICE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CITY'S LEGAL AND FISCAL OBLIGATIONS.

AS A CITY ATTORNEY HIMSELF ACKNOWLEDGES, THE THE MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE THE DISCRETION TO REFUSE TO COMPLY, AND HE CAN BE COMPELLED TO DO SO. ONE FINAL POINT, AND I'VE MADE THIS CLEAR TO THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT EVEN IF HE BELIEVES FOR SOME REASON THAT I LACK THE ATTORNEY, THE THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT THIS INQUIRY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTS REQUESTED PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. IF THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT, WE CAN SIMPLY SUBMIT A PIA REQUEST.

BUT THAT'S SILLY. AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT ANY PERSON MAY REQUEST, AND CERTAINLY WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ENTITLED TO THE MAYOR'S OBLIGATION TO PRODUCE TO PRODUCE THE INFORMATION DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHETHER HE LIKES THE REQUESTER.

THIS RAILROADING ATTEMPT DOES NOT CHANGE OUR RESOLVE.

TAXPAYERS ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW HOW THEIR MONEY IS SPENT, AND THIS OFFICE WILL KEEP PURSUING THAT INFORMATION UNTIL WE GET IT.

HOUSTON DESERVES AN HONEST GOVERNMENT, NOT ONE THAT DISGUISES BUDGET FIGURES, NOT ONE THAT CONCEALS ITS COOPERATION WITH TRUMP'S MASS DEPORTATION FORCE, AND NOT ONE THAT HIDES THE TRUTH ABOUT SENIOR OFFICIALS THAT ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION.

HOUSTONIANS DESERVE BETTER. WE DON'T SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BY SPENDING THEM.

WE DON'T SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BY DENYING THEM.

WE DON'T SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BY HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM.

WE SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BY TELLING THE TRUTH AND HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT IS WHAT HOUSTONIANS DESERVE, AND THAT IS THE STANDARD THAT MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO UPHOLD.

THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING CORRECTING YOUR MISINFORMATION ON YOUR IN YOUR POLITICAL SPEECH, BUT I'M NOT. CAN YOU PRODUCE THE DOCUMENTS ABOUT CHRIS BROWN THAT WE REQUESTED? MAYOR. WE'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH YOU.

HAVE YOU HAVE YOU GIVEN US THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE'VE REQUESTED? BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU DO IS TRY TO DIVIDE THIS CITY OVER THE NWB JUDGMENT, YOU KNOW, AND THE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT WE HAVE FILED A NOTICE OF APPEAL TO STAY THE ORDER, AND THEN WE WILL APPEAL.

SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOUR POLITICAL SPEECHES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY FINANCES, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAND THERE AND DIVIDE THE CITY.

ON THE MWB PROGRAM. THE CITY IS DIVIDED ON AN APPEAL.

WE SHOULD APPEAL. AND I APPRECIATE YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU TENDING TO CITY BUSINESS.

AND PLEASE TAKE YOUR POLITICAL SPEECHES SOMEWHERE ELSE.

COUNCILMAN ECOMMENTS. I CAN WAIT TILL DIRECTOR DUBOFSKY.

NO. TELL THE DIRECTOR DUBOFSKY DOES HER PORTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER. FINANCE DIRECTOR. OKAY. THANK YOU.

TRUE FINANCE REPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

THIS IS THE 12 PLUS ZERO FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026.

FISCAL YEAR 26 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 12 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS.

HOWEVER, INVOICES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDED DURING FISCAL YEAR 26 DO CONTINUE TO COME IN, AND AS THOSE EXPENSES CONTINUE TO BE RECORDED AS ACCRUALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST, SO THE RESULTS ARE NOT QUITE FINAL UNTIL THE FINAL PUBLICATION OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH SHOULD COME AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

NEXT MONTH, WE'LL BEGIN PRESENTING THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.

AND SO THIS ROUNDS OUT THE FISCAL YEAR 26 REPORTS FOR THE YEAR.

IN THE GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS $21.1 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 8.8 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH.

THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH PROJECTION IS DUE TO A $16.7 MILLION INCREASE IN SALES TAX, DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS, A $3 MILLION INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED COLLECTIONS. A $2.9 MILLION INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMBULANCE FEES,

[04:05:02]

THESE INCREASES ARE PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN $18.7 MILLION DECREASE IN GENERAL PROPERTY TAX DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED COLLECTIONS, AND ALSO A $1 MILLION DECREASE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL TO REFLECT LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED TOURIST MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEES.

AFTER OUR ROBUST MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

TOUCHING ON SALES TAX, THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY WERE 79.6 MILLION, OR ABOUT 7% HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

ON MONDAY, I REPORTED THAT TO MEET OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE OF 937 MILLION, THE REMAINING PERIODS WOULD NEED TO COME IN FLAT TO THE PRIOR YEAR.

JUST THIS MORNING, WE RECEIVED THE FINAL SALES TAX REPORT FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

AND FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, OUR COLLECTIONS CAME IN AT 7.8% ABOVE PRIOR YEAR, WHICH WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL $7 MILLION IN REVENUE.

THAT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THE WRITTEN REPORT AND THE NUMBERS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT ON MONDAY.

SO GREAT NEWS ON THE SALES TAX FRONT. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, OUR PROJECTION IS 101.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT IS $16 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH.

THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH PROJECTION IS DUE TO YEAR END SAVINGS, PRIMARILY IN PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

TOUCHING ON THE OVERTIME, WE HAD A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY WHERE WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TOUCHED ON IS HOW THE FISCAL YEAR 26 OVERTIME HAS ACTUALLY COME DOWN FROM OUR FY 25 SPENDING.

OF COURSE, WE KNOW OVER TIME A LOT OF IT IS OPERATIONAL IN NATURE, DEPENDENT ON WEATHER EVENTS, DISASTERS, AND A LOT OF OTHER UNPLANNED ACTIVITIES.

SO JUST TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE OVERTIME IN FISCAL YEAR 25 FOR HPD, IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, THEY SPENT $39 MILLION ON OVERTIME IN THE GENERAL FUND.

AND IN FISCAL YEAR 26, THEY SPENT $9 MILLION LESS THAN THAT, ABOUT 30 MILLION FOR FIRE.

IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THEY SPENT 87 MILLION ON OVERTIME.

AND THIS YEAR THEY'RE LOOKING AT 79 MILLION. SO ABOUT $8 MILLION LESS THAN THE PRIOR YEAR ON SOLID WASTE FISCAL YEAR 25, THEY SPENT 6.7 MILLION ON OVERTIME THIS YEAR, 5.9 MILLION.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST ABOUT 800,000 OR SO SAVINGS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

AGAIN, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THOSE AMOUNTS ARE MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ADOPTED BUDGET.

BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR, WE TRUE UP WHERE THE LINE ITEMS ARE, WHERE WE HAVE OTHER SAVINGS AND THERE ARE OFFSETS FOR THAT.

ALSO DISCUSSED IN OUR BFA. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK HAD ASKED ABOUT AND ADVOCATED FOR.

WE DID GO OVER HOW MUCH OF THE OVERTIME COST IS OFFSET BY REIMBURSEMENT FROM OTHER THIRD PARTIES, SUCH AS THE AIRPORT OR GRANTS AND OTHER THIRD PARTIES, BASED ON DIFFERENT EVENTS WE HAVE.

SO WE MADE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON MONDAY.

SO ALL OF THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TOGETHER FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE 324.9 MILLION, WHICH IS 25 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH AND REPRESENTS 12.3% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, NOT INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.

AND AGAIN, THAT AMOUNT IS DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT ADDITIONAL 7 MILLION THAT WE FOUND OUT THIS MORNING ABOUT SALES TAX.

IT WILL GO UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT. AND JUST TAKING A STEP BACK AS A REMINDER, AT THE TIME WE ADOPTED THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET BACK IN JUNE OF 2025. THE PROJECTED FISCAL YEAR 26 ENDING FUND BALANCE WAS 305 MILLION OR 12%.

SO WE'RE ENDING THE YEAR RIGHT IN LINE OR ACTUALLY IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE WHEN WE STARTED FISCAL YEAR 26, WITH ABOUT $20 MILLION HIGHER IN THE FUND BALANCE, EVEN INCLUDING ALL OF THOSE CHANGES TO THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

SO MOVING ON TO THE ENTERPRISE SPECIAL REVENUE AND OTHER FUNDS IN THE AVIATION, THE OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 16.9 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TERMINAL SPACE RENTAL FEES.

OPERATING EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 2.5 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO SAVINGS AND SERVICES, AND NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 66.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST.

FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, OPERATING REVENUES DECREASED BY 25.2 MILLION DUE TO A DECREASE IN WATER AND SEWER REVENUES,

[04:10:03]

ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, OPERATING EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $124 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS IN PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. OPERATING TRANSFERS DECREASED BY 62 MILLION DUE TO A LOWER TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND AS A NET RESULT FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, WE'RE LOOKING AT A NET NET INCREASE OF $180 MILLION, BRINGING THE PROJECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 FUND BALANCE, UP FROM OUR PROJECTION OF 1.48 BILLION TO 1.67 BILLION.

IN THE UTILITIES FUND ON THE CONVENTION, ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING REVENUE INCREASED BY 991,000 DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED GARAGE AND SURFACE PARKING, AND NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 5.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED DELINQUENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS NONOPERATING EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY $779,000 DUE TO ARBITRAGE EXPENSE, AND AS A RESULT, OPERATING TRANSFERS INCREASED BY 3.5 MILLION IN THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE STREET RENEWAL AD VALOREM TAX FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 65 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.

IN RD, SRF, DRAINAGE REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.5 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST ON POOLED INVESTMENT AND DRAINAGE REVENUES.

EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 39 MILLION DUE TO LOWER TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED INTERFUND LEGAL SERVICE COSTS.

D S METRO REVENUES DECREASED BY 10 MILLION DUE TO LOWER REIMBURSEMENTS.

OFFSETTING THAT, EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 9 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS IN PERSONNEL AND SERVICES.

IN THE STORMWATER FUND, EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 26 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND CONTRACT COSTS, WHILE THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS STILL ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE COMMITTED ROADSIDE DITCH.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES. THEY COMPLETED 536 MILES OF DITCH REESTABLISHMENT COMPARED TO THEIR GOAL OF 500.

EVEN WITH THE SAVINGS THAT THEY SAW. SO AS A RESULT, OPERATING TRANSFERS DECREASED BY 19 MILLION AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY 2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER ENROLLMENT AND NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED TO REFLECT REFUNDS FROM FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS.

EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 5.5 MILLION DUE TO LOWER CLAIMS AND PERSONNEL SAVINGS, AND THE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 9.2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED COSTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND IN WORKER'S COMPENSATION FUND OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES BOTH DECREASED BY 4.2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED WORKER'S COMP CLAIMS. AND THE BUILDING INSPECTION FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY 5.7 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED PERMIT AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, AND EXPENDITURES OFFSET THAT BY DECREASING BY FIVE 6.8 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS IN PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. IN THE HOUSTON HOUSTON OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND, EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 1.5 MILLION TO REFLECT SAVINGS IN PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, AND THE MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 4.2 MILLION TO REFLECT SAVINGS IN PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, AND PARK SPECIAL FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 2 MILLION TO REFLECT SAVINGS IN PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. AND I KNOW THAT IS QUITE A LOT OF CHANGES FOR THIS MONTH.

IT IS OUR LAST MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY TRY TO TRUE UP OUR FINAL YEAR END ESTIMATES TO WHERE WE WHERE WE SEE THINGS ENDING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

ON MONDAY IN THE BFA DID TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE HOUSTON ECONOMY.

SO I'LL GO OVER SOME OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS TODAY.

ON THE EMPLOYMENT SIDE, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS GAVE US THE INFORMATION ON THE PRELIMINARY TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR AREA, WHICH STANDS AT 3.5 MILLION, WHICH IS UP APPROXIMATELY 0.5% COMPARED TO THE PRIOR MONTH.

AND WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, NONFARM EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR REGION IS UP BY 0.9%.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY WAS 4.6% AND MADE THE PREVIOUS YEAR IT WAS ABOUT 4.2%.

SO THERE WAS A SMALL UPTICK THERE IN THE ENERGY SECTOR.

THE AVERAGE PRICE OF OIL, WHICH AS WE KNOW, IS VERY VOLATILE, BUT AS OF THE MONTH OF JUNE, WAS $85, WHICH IS ABOUT 16% LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH'S PRICE.

BUT COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, THE PRICE IS INCREASED BY 25% IN HOME SALES.

THE LATEST REPORT, PREPARED BY THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, SHOWS THAT THE TOTAL SINGLE FAMILY HOME SALES WAS ABOUT 3.5% HIGHER COMPARED TO JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

[04:15:02]

AS THE COMPTROLLER MENTIONED, WE DID RECEIVE NEWS FROM S&P YESTERDAY THAT THE OUTLOOK FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM WAS ADJUSTED TO A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK. HOWEVER, S&P DID AFFIRM THE EXISTING RATING.

SO IT'S NOT A DOWNGRADE BUT RATHER A REVISION TO THE OUTLOOK.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR DIALOG WITH S&P, AS WE DID WHEN THE GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT WAS ON NEGATIVE OUTLOOK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE WORK WITH THE RATING AGENCIES ON EVERY BOND TRANSACTION.

WE DO SO OVER THE NEXT 12, 18 AND 24 MONTHS. YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE CONTINUING THAT DIALOG WITH S&P AS WE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CITY IS CONDUCTING A RATE STUDY CURRENTLY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DIALOG WITH S&P ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE WE'LL BE HAVING MORE DIALOG WITH THEM.

BUT WE OF COURSE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, RESPONSIBLE PLANNING AND MAINTAINING THE STRONG CREDIT QUALITY THAT ALLOW US TO DELIVER ON THE PROJECTS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE UTILITY.

ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION SIDE. AS WE TALKED ABOUT ON MONDAY, WE GOT REALLY GOOD NEWS FROM MOODY'S.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS AT THE CITY EVER SINCE THEY DOWNGRADED THE CITY'S GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT BACK IN 2015.

REALLY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY WAS BUILT UPON THE PENSION REFORM THAT HAPPENED IN 2017, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT MOODY'S REALLY DINGED US FOR ON OUR CREDIT RATING AT THAT TIME.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TOWARDS REALLY FOR OVER A DECADE NOW.

MOODY'S, OF COURSE LOOKED AT THE LATEST MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.

THEY LOOKED AT OUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. OUR ASSUMPTIONS THEY, FORTUNATELY FOR US, DON'T AGREE THAT OUR BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS ARE FAULTY.

THEY WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME OF FISCAL YEAR 26 AND THE PATH FORWARD THAT WE SEE GOING FORWARD WITH THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET.

THE UPGRADE FROM MOODY'S REALLY BUILDS ON THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM THAT THE NEWS THAT WE RECEIVED EARLIER THIS YEAR FROM S&P, WHERE THEY REVISED OUR NEGATIVE OUTLOOK TO STABLE ON OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT.

SO THAT, AGAIN, IS PART OF THAT OPPORTUNITY OF THAT DIALOGING WITH THE RATING AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, OVER 12, 18 AND 24 MONTHS TO REALLY WORK WITH THEM ON THEIR OUTLOOK AND WHERE THEY SEE THE CREDIT RATING GOING.

SO FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION SIDE, THESE TWO ACTIONS FROM S&P AND MOODY'S REALLY UNDERSCORE THE GROWING CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE FINANCIAL TRAJECTORY OF THE CITY. AND OUR RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING WITH THAT RECENTLY ADOPTED BUDGET, THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET BEING APPROVED BY THE OVERWHELMING 15 TO 1 VOTE BY THIS BODY. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT THAT LED TO THIS RATING UPGRADE BY MOODY'S, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ALL THE DIALOG AND WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT THAT BUDGET VOTE.

THIS UPGRADED BOND RATING RECOGNIZES OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN OUR FINANCIAL POSITION IN THE GENERAL FUND WHILE WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT IMPROVE THE LIFE OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS EVERY DAY.

THE MOODY'S UPGRADE IS AN INDEPENDENT AFFIRMATION OF THE HARD WORK AND THE RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT WE'VE DONE TO POSITION OURSELVES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS.

THE ACHIEVEMENT DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND IT REALLY HELPS TO STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S ABILITY TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE WHILE DELIVERING VALUE TO THE TAXPAYER. AND AGAIN, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION, PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENSURING THAT HOUSTON CONTINUES TO BE A RESILIENT, THRIVING AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE CITY.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR REPORT.

THAT WAS A LOT. I KNOW AT THE QUARTERLY REPORTS AND ESPECIALLY AT THIS LAST ONE, WE COVER A WHOLE LOT OF GROUND.

FIRST BIG CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MOODY'S UPGRADE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SAVE US MONEY AND BORROWING ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, I KNOW A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THAT. YOU WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO PENSION REFORM.

AND THESE ARE, THESE ARE MEASURES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE THAT THE, THE STRENGTH OF OUR GENERAL FUND BRINGING DOWN THAT DEFICIT IS REALLY REFLECTED IN THAT CREDIT RATING. I THINK SOME OF THE POINTS, COMPTROLLER THAT YOU MADE THIS BODY HAD CONCERNS DURING THE BUDGET TIME AND I THINK AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT. I KNOW VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO CONTINUALLY LOOK AT THE STRENGTH OF THE SEE US.

IT IS IMPORTANT. I MYSELF DON'T LOVE TO SEE HUGE NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH NOT BEING SPENT IN THE.

SEE US AND IN THE DSRF. I THINK WHEN WE HAVE OVER $100 MILLION NOT, YOU KNOW, IN DECREASE.

[04:20:06]

BUT AS A TAXPAYER AND A WATER BILL PAYER, I LIKE TO KNOW THAT THAT THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT AS AS PLANNED.

SO I AM, I AM ASSURED. DIRECTOR DUBOWSKY BY YOUR, YOUR YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH THE RATING AGENCIES AND WE WILL BE AS A BODY AND AT BFA, WE WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY WATCHING THE SEE US LIKE IN A WAY WE HAVEN'T WATCHED IT BEFORE BECAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE LOADING MORE EXPENSES TO THE SEE US.

I TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT DURING THE BUDGET SEASON.

WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CUTS. WE WANT TO SEE THE PROJECTS OUT THE DOOR.

WE WANT TO SEE THE MONEY BEING SPENT. WE WANT TO WE WANT TO CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AT THE HEALTH OF OUR SEE US SO THAT NEGATIVE OUTLOOK DOES NOT TRANSFER TO TRANSLATE TO A DOWNGRADE.

WE DON'T WANT THAT. SO. SO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT.

AND WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AT THAT ON THE OVERTIME SIDE.

THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THIS BODY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND AMENDMENTS WERE PUT FORTH AND PASSED. LOOKING AT OVERTIME, I WOULD SUGGEST IN OUR AND GOING FORWARD IN THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED.

WE WILL BE REALLY SCRUTINIZING THOSE, CONTINUING TO SCRUTINIZE THOSE NUMBERS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A LINE IN THE CHART THAT THAT IS PROVIDED WITH THE ADOPTED BUDGET NUMBERS THAT THE COMPTROLLER PROVIDED.

WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRUING IT UP WITH THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION IN APRIL.

YOU'RE TRUING UP THOSE NUMBERS, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A LINE SO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

WE KNOW AND WE KNOW THAT OVERTIME IS UNPREDICTABLE.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET IT JUST RIGHT. AND WE'RE ALWAYS ABLE TO MAKE THAT UP WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS.

WHAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL GOING FORWARD, AS WE LOOK AT THIS QUARTERLY, IS TO HAVE AND I DON'T NEED EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM WHERE THAT WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM. BUT THE MAJOR LINE ITEMS, IS IT VACANCIES? IS IT, YOU KNOW, SUPPLIES? WHERE, WHERE, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? SO WE HAVE A TRUE PICTURE OF, OF THE OVERTIME SITUATION, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE IGNORED THESE FACTORS DURING THE BUDGET SEASON.

THESE WERE CONCERNS. WE BROUGHT THEM UP SEVERAL TIMES AND WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING THEM AT BFA.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MY ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL WE WANT TO SEE A GOOD OUTLOOK ON, ON ALL OF OUR FUNDS.

SO THAT'S THAT'S OUR JOB. AND HARD DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE.

WE WE. SALES TAX CONTINUES TO SAVE US. WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN THE NUMBERS IN YET.

SALES TAX CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM WHAT WE BUDGET.

SO WE'VE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A VOLATILE REVENUE SOURCE, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. CONTROLLER. I MEAN, DIRECTOR DUBOFSKY YOU, WE LOOK A LOT AT THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS AND WHAT'S GOING UP AND DOWN, BUT I THINK YOU'VE MENTIONED BEFORE HOW CLOSE WE COME OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND BY A PERCENTAGE.

AND CAN YOU REPEAT SOME OF THAT? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDS, THERE'S A LOT OF LINE ITEMS AND JAIL ACCOUNTS AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THEM.

ALL RIGHT. BUT AT THE VERY END, WE'RE PRETTY DARN CLOSE, I THINK.

SO IF YOU COULD, IF YOU HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE.

SURE. YEAH. AND IT'S ON PAGE EIGHT OF THE PRINTED REPORT.

THIS SHOWS YOU WHAT THE ANTICIPATED FUND BALANCE WAS AT THE TIME WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET.

SO AT THE TIME OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET IN 26, WE ANTICIPATED THE FUND BALANCE WOULD BE 304 MILLION, OR ABOUT 12% OF EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT. NOW, BASED ON THE CURRENT PROJECTION, EVEN WITH THE, YOU KNOW, CHANGE IN REVENUES, WHICH THE REVENUES ACTUALLY ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

AND EVEN WITH THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH ON AVERAGE, YOU KNOW, THE THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES BEING 100 MILLION OVER BUDGET OUT OF A $3 BILLION BUDGET, THAT'S ABOUT 3%. RIGHT.

ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, WE'RE PLANNING TO END THE YEAR AT $325 MILLION FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS ABOUT 12.3%.

SO WE'RE WITHIN WE'RE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT BETTER, ABOUT $20 MILLION BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

BUT, BUT SO OVERALL, WE'RE ABOUT THREE WITHIN 3% OF WHAT WE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY THE EXPENDITURE SIDE AND, AND ON THE TOTAL ENDING FUND BALANCE SIDE. WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT $20 MILLION BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE WHEN WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET.

AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE EXTRA $7 MILLION IN SALES TAX THAT I MENTIONED.

WE JUST GOT THAT NEWS THIS MORNING. SO THAT'S NOT INCLUDED HERE.

SO OKAY, IF I ADD THAT, I WOULD SAY ABOUT $27 MILLION.

OKAY. OKAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO THE FUND BALANCE PROJECTION AND WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING AT THE CLOSE OF LAST YEAR YOU KNOW,

[04:25:04]

THE REASON THAT THE MATH IS A LITTLE BIT PRETTIER THAN WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IS BASED ON ADJUSTMENTS TO LAST FISCAL YEAR.

RIGHT? AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING CLEAR ON THAT.

AND IF ANY ONE OF US WERE RUNNING OUR BUSINESS OR OPERATING OUR OWN SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT HOME, IF WE CAME INTO SOME MONEY, IT WOULD NOT BE WISE FOR US TO SAY, OH, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA.

LET'S SPEND ALL OF IT, RIGHT? LET'S INCREASE OUR SPENDING BY $100 MILLION BECAUSE WE FOUND SOME MORE MONEY FROM LAST YEAR.

WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT. AND THE CITY SHOULDN'T DO IT EITHER.

SO THAT'S POINT ONE. SMALL NOTE ON THE ON THE OVERTIME YOU TALKED ABOUT GOING OVER ON OVERTIME, BUT THEN FINDING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET.

FROM WHAT I'M TOLD, THAT IS HISTORICALLY WHAT HAPPENED OFTENTIMES FROM THOSE VACANCIES AND FIRE AND POLICE.

BUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE BECAUSE WE FILLED SO MANY OF THESE POSITIONS.

THOSE VACANCIES, VACANCY SAVINGS NO LONGER EXIST.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, POLICE FROM THIS YEAR, WE HAD TO INCREASE POLICE'S BUDGET BY $18 MILLION.

WE HAD TO INCREASE FIRE'S BUDGET BY $73 MILLION.

SO SO THESE THESE OVERTIME OVERAGES WERE NOT OFFSET INTERNALLY AND IN FACT HAD TO COME FROM ADDITIONAL.

AND THAT'S AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, BECAUSE WE ALL ARE INTERESTED FROM FROM WHICH FROM WHERE ARE THESE OVERAGES COMING? AND I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING FOR THAT NEW LINE ITEM ON THE QUARTERLY REPORT AND ON THE Q S OUTFLOW.

I MEAN, I'M NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT WITH $200 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL OUTFLOWS, YOU KNOW, SOME GOING TO SOLID WASTE AND SOME GOING AS THE RIGHT OF WAY PAYMENT.

THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM? RIGHT. WHERE'S THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT OFFSETS THE $200 MILLION IN COST? RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO PLAN THAT'S LAID OUT FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE THERE.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WE'RE DOING $180 MILLION LESS IN PROJECT WORK, AND THEN USING THAT SAVINGS TO PAY GENERAL FUND EXPENSES AND TRASH EXPENSES. WE'RE DOING SOME GOOD STUFF IN TERMS OF ROAD REPAIR AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT WE'RE DOING $180 MILLION LESS OF IT THAN WE PLANNED. AND YOU SAID IT BEST, RIGHT? AS A TAXPAYER, AS SOMEONE WHO WANTS THESE THINGS FIXED, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEPLOY THAT CAPITAL AND INVEST IN THESE PROJECTS THAT MAKE LIFE SAFE, MAKE LIFE MORE CONVENIENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

REGARDING THE ECONOMY AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FIFA, I KNOW WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE SOME NUMBERS, BUT WE HAD A PRESENTATION TODAY AS IT RELATES TO THE RESTAURANTS, TO HOTELIERS, TO RENTERS.

WE'VE SEEN REPORTS FROM THOSE ASSOCIATIONS SAYING THAT PROJECTIONS DID NOT MEET CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS.

CAN YOU ALL SPEAK TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OR WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, THE HOTELIERS AND RENTERS AS IT RELATES TO FIFA.

SO FROM, FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, SIMILAR TO HOW WE SEE OTHER EVENTS LIKE SUPER BOWL OR WORLD SERIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT COULD BE ONE TIME IN NATURE.

WE DON'T GENERALLY TAKE THOSE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE MAKE OUR BUDGET AND OUR PROJECTIONS FOR THE YEAR.

SO FOR US, WE SEE IT FROM A MORE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET MORE CONSERVATIVELY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMES IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL SALES TAX, MIXED BEVERAGE. THAT'S GREAT. THAT JUST MEANS WE'RE GOING TO EXCEED OUR PROJECTIONS.

AND SO KIND OF FROM A BUDGETING SIDE, THAT'S HOW WE, WE GENERALLY TEND TO HANDLE THOSE, THOSE ONE TIME THINGS.

I WOULD SAY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK, AND THEY TOUCHED ON IT IS THE, THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP COVER THOSE COSTS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

BECAUSE REALLY, WITHOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HARD TO MAKE UP THAT AMOUNT OF REVENUE TO COVER THOSE COSTS.

IN MY VIEW, CONTROLLER. I AGREE WITH DIRECTOR DUBOFSKY IN TERMS OF TAKING THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO SALES TAX ASSUMPTIONS AND TAKING WHATEVER WE GET AS A BONUS OR SURPLUS. I HAVE SEEN ANECDOTALLY IN THE NEWS COMPLAINTS OR STATEMENTS AROUND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FIFA BEING UNDERWHELMING ON THE CITY. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DATA, AND SO I WOULD REFRAIN FROM MAKING ANY JUDGMENTS UNTIL WE GET A LITTLE FURTHER IN THE PROCESS AND ARE ABLE TO BE OBJECTIVE ABOUT IT. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WHEN YOU SPEAK OF RELATING TO PUBLIC WORKS,

[04:30:04]

AND THOSE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MAYOR PRO TEM HAS A KEEN EYE ON THE FUND BALANCE IN THE DDS FUNDS.

SINCE THOSE PROJECTS ARE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT CAN SOMETIMES TAKE YEARS TO COMPLETE, BUT IT'S A PAY AS YOU GO SYSTEM.

AND SO THAT FUNDING REALLY, IF IT'S UNSPENT, IT, IT IS GOING TO FLOW TO FUND BALANCE FOR DDS.

SO THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIALOG ONGOING ALREADY WITH PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT, ABOUT SOME OF THOSE IN TERMS OF THE Q S SIDE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME ITEMS THAT WERE ON THE AGENDA RELATIVELY RECENTLY AND CONTINUE TO COME FORWARD ON THE EAST PLAN IN PARTICULAR.

THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE SINGLE LARGEST PROJECT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON. YOU'RE ALSO VOTED ON SOME ITEMS TODAY TO HELP WITH SOME FUNDING FOR GETTING THAT THAT PROJECT DONE. AND SO THOSE PROJECTS ARE VERY MUCH IN FLIGHT.

THEY'RE IN THE CIP. THEY'RE PART OF THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE THE WATER RATE STUDY PROCESS RIGHT NOW WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR CONSULTANT THAT'S HELPING WITH THE RATE STUDY. SO THEY'RE DEFINITELY ONGOING AND THEY'RE ACCOUNTED FOR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE DELAYED, THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE ON IN THE FUTURE. AND LASTLY, MY QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. THE COMPTROLLER MENTIONED REQUESTING CERTAIN DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE INQUIRY ON CHRIS BROWN. WHY HASN'T HIS OFFICE RECEIVED THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS AND WHEN SHALL HE EXPECT TO RECEIVE THEM? I WILL CALL HIS OFFICE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE CONCERN IS BY PROVIDING DOCUMENTS IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER WHERE HE'S CLAIMING THAT HE'S GOT THE ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE GENERALLY, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE CHARTER. I DIDN'T WANT ANY CONFUSION AS TO WHAT WE WERE PROVIDED, BUT I WILL CONTACT THE OFFICE AND GET HIM THE DOCUMENTS HE REQUESTS THIS AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU DON'T PRODUCE THE DOCUMENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING.

AND I WOULD NOT WANT THAT TO BE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS BODY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. A MONTH AGO, WHEN WE WERE STANDING RIGHT HERE, I TOLD YOU THAT THESE DOCUMENTS WERE NOT COMING IN, THAT THERE WAS OPPOSITION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDING THEM.

THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED, I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER, SALINAS AT THE TIME, THAT THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION AND THAT THEY WOULD PRODUCE THOSE DOCUMENTS IN SHORT ORDER. THEREAFTER, WE PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH WRITTEN UPDATES ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE SHOWED YOU THE F YOU LETTER THAT THEY HAD SENT TO US, DENYING US THE DOCUMENTS.

WE SHOWED YOU OUR RESPONSE. WHERE I READ THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OWN STATEMENTS TODAY, DENOTING OUR ABILITY TO CONDUCT THIS INQUIRY AND TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS US TO CONDUCT THAT INQUIRY.

SINCE THEN, DAYS AND WEEKS HAVE PASSED AND WE'VE RECEIVED NOTHING.

AGAIN, OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE CHRONICLE ALREADY HAD.

NOW WE'RE HEARING ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN RESPONDED TO BEFORE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

AND SO, I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, IT'S ABSURD. I WOULD YOU WOULD YOUR OFFICE LOOK INTO DOING ANYTHING BEYOND JUST A FORMAL REQUEST? IF THERE ARE ANY LEGAL RECOURSE THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT. ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DENIED THE ABILITY TO DO OUR JOBS AND GET ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT ANY OF YOU AROUND THIS DAIS. AND CERTAINLY OUR OFFICE IS ENTITLED TO TO DO OUR WORK, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER. PANZARELLA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO START BY THANKING YOU BOTH FOR PRESENTING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALCORN, FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON OVERTIME. I TOO WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED WHEN WE HAD THE PRESENTATION A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FUTURE MEETINGS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE, NOT JUST THE FINAL OVERTIME NUMBERS THAT WE SEE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT WHAT WAS APPROVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, I THINK I SAW POLICE HAD 106% INCREASE BETWEEN WHAT WAS APPROVED AND FY 26.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH APPROPRIATIONS AND WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY.

AND FIRE HAD A 93% INCREASE, I BELIEVE, FROM WHAT WAS APPROVED AND THEN APPROPRIATIONS INTO WHAT WE'RE AT TODAY.

[04:35:01]

AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE'LL STAY ON TOP OF THE QUESTIONS I WANTED TO ASK YOU ALL TODAY. I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE S AND P OUTLOOK. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK? TRANSITIONING TO AN ACTUAL DOWNGRADE. IS IT JUST REVENUE.

AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, THE SECOND QUESTION TO THAT IS CAN WE EXPECT AN INCREASE THEN IN THE RATE STUDY FOR FOR WATER PRICING? IS THAT KIND OF THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION TO WHAT WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS, SIR.

JUST GO AHEAD. YEAH. SO IN THEIR REPORT THE RATING AGENCIES ALWAYS GIVE DOWNSIDE SCENARIOS AND UPSIDE SCENARIOS FOR WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

WHEN S&P HAD THE GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT ON A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK, YOU KNOW, THEY CITED THINGS LIKE THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET GAP RESERVES, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THEY COULD SEE THAT COULD PUT, THEY CALL IT NEGATIVE PRESSURE ON THE CREDIT. AND SO IN S&P REPORT ON Q S, THEY PUT, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR LANGUAGE DOWNSIDE SCENARIOS.

THEY TALK ABOUT IF THERE'S A STRUCTURAL MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN REVENUES AND REVENUE REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD PUT DOWNSIDE PRESSURE.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO, LONG TERM CREDIT PRESSURE RELATED TO THE CAPITAL PLAN.

AND THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE CONSENT DECREE FOR OUR, THE CALL IT REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY OF COURSE WANT TO SEE US COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE MODELING OUT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MINIMUM DAYS, CASH ON HAND, MAINTAINING THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO. WHAT'S INTERESTING FOR ME IS THAT THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO FOR THE UTILITY BACK IN 2019 AND 2020 WAS AROUND 1.2, 1.3 TIMES. RIGHT NOW IT'S 2.2 TIMES, RIGHT? AND SO EVEN THOUGH OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO HAS DRASTICALLY IMPROVED, YOU KNOW, S&P DIDN'T UPGRADE THE US CREDIT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

SO REALLY OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO NOW IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS AT THAT TIME.

SAME THING WITH THE THE CASH FUND BALANCE, RIGHT? WE WERE AROUND 7 OR $800 MILLION IN IN FUND BALANCE AS OF TODAY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 1.6 BILLION OF FUND BALANCE.

AND THEY HADN'T UPGRADED US AT THAT TIME. RIGHT.

SO THEY'RE MAKING THIS OUTLOOK CHANGE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE PRESSURES THAT THEY SEE ON THE CREDIT WITH THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES. SO IT'S PART OF OUR JOB IS TO CONTINUE THAT DIALOG WITH THEM.

LOOKING AT OUR PEERS IN THE OTHER OTHER UTILITY CREDITS AROUND THE COUNTRY MAKING SURE THAT OUR DAYS CASH ON HAND ARE STILL STRONG, THAT OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO IS STRONG.

AND REALLY KIND OF PAINTING THAT PICTURE FOR THEM AND THE PROJECTION OUT INTO THE FUTURE.

AND.

SOLID WASTE WITHOUT ANY REVENUE TO PAY AND SUPPORT THOSE OPERATIONS.

RIGHT. AND SO WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE THERE IS EITHER THAT ACTION NOT HAPPEN, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE IT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. BUT NOW IT'S ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT ACTUALLY PAYS FOR SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS.

EVEN WITH THE GARBAGE FEE THAT YOU APPROVED, LESS THAN 20% OF THE OPERATION IS COVERED WITH THOSE FEES IF THEY'RE FULLY COLLECTED.

AND SO YOU'RE SEEING A $100 MILLION SUBSIDY OF OPERATIONS FOR SOLID WASTE, YOU KNOW, BY SEE US AND THEY THEY DON'T LIKE THAT VERY MUCH.

THE OTHER THING IS THE RIGHT OF WAY FEE, RIGHT.

WHICH IS STARTING OFF AT A LITTLE BIT OVER $100 MILLION, AND I ASSUME IT WILL GO UP IN THE FUTURE WITH NO PLAN RATE ADJUSTMENTS.

SO THE SAME THING I WAS SAYING TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR ALCORN TO SAY, LOOK, IF THERE'S MONEY FLOWING OUT, WHERE'S THE MONEY FLOWING IN? AND THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT'S AND P AND OTHERS ARE ASKING.

AND THEN FINALLY THEY TALK ABOUT OUR CAPITAL PLAN AND THESE DEBT COVERAGE RATIOS.

ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GOING TO BORROW. WE'RE GOING TO FINANCE LONG TERM PROJECTS.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE BORROWING IS, YOU KNOW, IN THE RIGHT COMPARISON TO OUR ABILITY TO PAY.

AND SO ULTIMATELY, THEY WANT TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN.

BUT THAT'S A DECISION AROUND OURS IN TERMS OF HOW AGGRESSIVE WE WANT TO BE IN OUR CAPITAL PLAN, AGAIN, WHERE THE REVENUE IS COMING FROM, HOW MUCH WE WANT TO FINANCE BETWEEN DEBT AND AND NON DEBT SOURCES.

YOU KNOW, ON THE OVERTIME PIECE, WHICH YOU MENTIONED DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE LAST FISCAL YEAR,

[04:40:05]

THIS YEAR, WE'RE $57 MILLION OVER BUDGET AND OVERTIME.

AND SO WE MOVED FROM, YOU KNOW, AN F MINUS TO AN F, BUT THAT'S PROGRESS.

AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.

WE NEED TO SPEED UP THE PACE AT WHICH WE'RE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION AND ACCURATELY BUDGET FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OVERTIME ON ITS OWN IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING.

JUST LIKE DEBT, WE MIGHT NEED IT OPERATIONALLY TO DO THE WORK.

LET'S BUDGET APPROPRIATELY BASED ON OUR EXPECTATIONS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT FUNDING THAT WITH DEFICIT SPENDING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ALCORN COUNCILMAN ALCORN.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PANZARELLA FOR THAT QUESTION. AND THOSE ARE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WHAT THE DIRECTOR AND COMPTROLLER TALKED ABOUT IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS LISTED.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT WHEN WE'RE CONTINUALLY EXAMINING THE HEALTH OF THE SEE US.

YOU KNOW, I WE WENT AND LOOKED AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS FROM THE END OF THE YEAR, FROM 24 FY 24 AND 25.

AND THEY THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THE, IN THE, IN THE THE AMOUNTS THAT DECREASE, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT, DIDN'T GET SPENT. WHEN I FIRST SAW THE NUMBERS, IT LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY, BUT IT'S KIND OF THE SAME STORY EVERY YEAR. SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GOOD OR BAD.

IT'S LIKE, WHETHER IT'S, IT'S JUST MAYBE IT'S TIMING AND, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO GET DONE. IT'S JUST DELIGHT IN SPENDING. BUT I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE CAN HAVE WITH PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING THE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE AND GETTING SPENT.

I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE OVERTIME, I NEGLECTED TO EARLIER, WE HAD PERSONNEL FROM FIRE, POLICE AND SOLID WASTE. AND ALL OF THEM DID COME DOWN, AS YOU SAID YEAR OVER YEAR IN, IN SPENDING ON OVERTIME DUE TO OPERATIONAL CHANGES, YOU KNOW REALLY LOOKING AT STAFFING AND SEE WHO CAN COVER THINGS THAT WON'T INVOLVE OVERTIME.

SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME GOOD OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND WE WANT TO SEE THOSE CONTINUE.

SO I THINK THE, THE SPOTLIGHT ON OVERTIME THAT WE'VE HAD HAS, HAS YIELDED SOME GOOD, GOOD RESULTS.

I THINK YOU SAID $9 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR IN POLICE, 7 MILLION OR 8 MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE IN FIRE AND CLOSE TO A MILLION IN SOLID WASTE. SO, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. THANKS.

FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THE BUDGET'S A PROCESS. AND ALSO IMPACTING OVERTIME IS THE FACT THAT WE'VE HIRED 1000 NEW POLICE OFFICERS 800 MORE. ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.

MS. SO THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR OVERTIME.

NOT TO MENTION BOTH CHIEFS KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

SO AS WE TALK, THEY ARE TAKING MEASURES TO REDUCE THEIR OVERTIME.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE EVENTS LIKE FIFA, THE POP UP PROTEST, I COULD GO ON AND ON.

WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES, INCLUDING OVERTIME, FOR KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

WITH THAT SAID, YOUR MOTION MOVE TO ACCEPT THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED JUNE 30TH, 2026. SECOND CASTILLO. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

BEFORE WE GO TO POP UP MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO.

CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT TO THE SALGADO FAMILY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FAMILY ON A PERMANENT MEMORIAL.

MONITORING THE INVESTIGATION AND THEY CONTINUE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PASSING OF GEORGIA PROVOST.

OH, LEGENDARY LEGENDARY HOUSTONIAN, LONGTIME PHOTOGRAPHER, ACTIVIST, TSU SUPPORTER.

SHE LIVED A VERY. PRODUCTIVE. FULL LIFE. AT THE AGE OF 85 AND THEN THE HEIGHTS LOST ONE OF THEIR CIVIC LEADERS IN NORMAN ADAMS. SO KEEP THESE FAMILIES IN OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS AT THIS TIME.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BEFORE WE START OUR POP OFF.

WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES JUST CAME IN.

[04:45:01]

WE WON THAT BID. AND SO NEXT YEAR, IN 2027 WE WILL BE HOSTING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO CLARENCE AND HIS TEAM ARE HERE THIS WEEK FOR A CONVENING WITH MAYOR PRO TEM AND LARGE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTS THAT I'M HOSTING FOR THE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

BUT SINCE HE WAS IN TOWN, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR HIM TO COME AND SAY HELLO TO THE COUNCIL.

AS WE ARE VERY PROUD MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, MORE THAN CLARENCE BEING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

WHAT IMPRESSES ME IS HE HAS DONE THIS WORK AS A MAYOR, SO HE KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE.

HE WAS THE MAYOR IN FLORIDA FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

OVER 24 YEARS. YOU SERVED AS FIVE. YEAH. AND SO, SO HE KNOWS ABOUT THIS WORK.

HE ALSO SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA'S MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

SO REPRESENTING CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES IS WHAT HE HAS DONE.

AND NOW AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, WE'VE DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO VERY PROUD TO WELCOME YOU TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S CITY HALL.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WORD, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING ME WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY.

MAYOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING WITH YOU, AS WELL AS WE START WORKING TOWARD 2027.

IT'S ALREADY HERE. WE SELECTED THE AMAZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO HOST.

IT'LL PROBABLY BE OVER 7000 MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, MAYORS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT AMERICA WHO'S GOING TO COME AND REALLY GET A CHANCE TO SEE THIS SPECIAL PLACE THAT YOU LEAD AND THAT YOU GOVERN.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT. I COME HERE AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES A YEAR, AND THE PROGRESS THAT I SEE DOWNTOWN AND IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY IS SO OBVIOUS. AND I SAY THAT TO YOU BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

A LOT OF YOU I SEE AT CITY COUNCIL, AT NLC'S MEETINGS.

AND I MUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON REALLY DOES SHOW UP ON POLICY, VISION AND REALLY COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH MORE TIME. I AM A FORMER MAYOR SO I CAN GO ON AND AND TALK.

BUT I WILL SAY TO YOU, MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THAT COMMITMENT MEANS.

BUT I ALSO WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT AS A PART OF DEVELOPING THE AGENDA, WE NEED YOUR VISION AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE MORE IN 2026.

BUT FOR SURE IN 2027, IN NOVEMBER OF 2027. SOUNDS WONDERFUL MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOUR YOUR KIND WORDS. WELL, THANK YOU ALL. I LIKE THIS SIDE OF BECAUSE YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE ALL KNOW YOU HAVE TO BE ON THIS SIDE TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE AND, AND THE ENJOYMENT OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. CERTAINLY. YOU KNOW WHAT I SPEAK OF.

THANK YOU. BE SAFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

AND MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT PROJECT FOR FINALLY MOVING FORWARD.

IT HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT WE'RE FINALLY MAKING PROGRESS ON IT AND IS GOING TO START THIS YEAR.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PROJECT, MAYOR. THIS $12.5 MILLION PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED IN SPRING OF 2028.

WE'LL HAVE 7490FT LINEAR FEET OF STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PROJECT FOR THAT AREA TO REALLY MITIGATE FLOODING.

SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS WHILE THIS PROJECT IS ONGOING, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AND YOU CAN ALSO GO TO ENGAGE HOUSTON.ORG.

THANK YOU. OH, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. ON THE HEELS OF THE WORLD CUP, I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY EXCITEMENT THAT WE CONCLUDED AN EIGHT WEEK SUMMER YOUTH SOCCER

[04:50:08]

I THE INITIATIVE ULTIMATELY WAS ANTIGANG EFFORT TO THAT ACTUALLY BECAME QUICKLY MORE AND MORE ABOUT CREATING WHAT A SAFE SPACE IS IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR YOUNG FOLKS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO BRING IN PARENTS AND HELP PROVIDE THEM WITH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SENDING THEIR KIDS OFF TO A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR.

THE PROGRAM ULTIMATELY HAD DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS THAT COVER GANG AND DRUG PREVENTION WORKSHOPS, LEADERSHIP TEAM WORK ACTIVITIES, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE ENGAGEMENT, AND POSITIVE DECISION MAKING.

I WANT TO DEFINITELY LIFT UP AND THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TEAM DIRECTOR SIMS, PAUL GREEN, MARK CUEVAS, AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, GLENDA GARCIA FOR WHO LED THE EFFORTS AND DID AN AMAZING JOB OF ORGANIZING AND FACILITATING THE CLASSES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR SOCCER PARTNER ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTED THE TWO WEEK SOCCER TOURNAMENT, ROOTS SOCCER. AND I, I CAN'T END WITHOUT THANKING MANY OTHERS THAT SUPPORTED THE PROGRAM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICE.

OFFICER DURAN WITH HHIZ POLICE, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, MR. MILBY, THE EAST END MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND AND AMA.

AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO WISH ALL THE STUDENTS A FACULTY AND STAFF A WONDERFUL SCHOOL YEAR.

I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY THREE YOUNG ONES TO SCHOOL STARTING MONDAY, AND I KNOW SEVERAL FOLKS STARTING TOMORROW.

MY TEAM AND I JUST WANT TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES STAY ENGAGED AHEAD OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD SUPPLIES AS WELL. AND THEN I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUTE TO AND FROM SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW, WE HEARD YESTERDAY FROM THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF JOE BAILEY JR, A YOUNG FATHER AND DEAR HOUSTON NEIGHBOR WHO SPENT HIS LAST MOMENTS SPEAKING AT THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING OLD SIXTH WARD, FIGHTING FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HIS NEIGHBORS BY FIGHTING AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GAS STATION AT 1909 WASHINGTON AVENUE.

I CELEBRATE HIS WORK TOWARDS THE ORDINANCE AND I CELEBRATE THE MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADMINISTRATION'S WORK ON AN ORDINANCE TO COME LATER THIS YEAR.

AND SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 1909 WASHINGTON.

ALICE BAILEY SENT AN EMAIL YESTERDAY, AND I HAVE MADE SURE THAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THAT NOW.

BASICALLY OUTLINING WHAT WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS LIKE THE CITY CAN DO ON THIS, ON THIS SITUATION.

THE FIRST IS TO ENFORCE THE CURRENT PARKING CODE.

GAS STATIONS TODAY ARE ABLE TO MEET PARKING REQUIREMENTS, BECAUSE THE PERMITTING CENTER ALLOWS THEM TO COUNT THEIR FUELING SPOTS AS PARKING SPOTS.

HOWEVER, THE CODE AS WRITTEN SPECIFIES PARKING SPOTS SHALL ONLY BE USED FOR PARKING AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY OTHER USE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE SALE, DISPLAY OR STORAGE OF MERCHANDISE.

THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING GAS STATIONS TO COUNT THEIR FUEL SPOTS TOWARD PARKING VIOLATES EXISTING CODES AND ENABLES SOME DEVELOPMENTS TO EXIST ON LOTS THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NOT FIT ON. THIS REQUIRE. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE BORNE OUT IN SECTION CHAPTER 26-4 HUNDRED 90 OF THE CODE REQUIRED.

PARKING MUST BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PARKING.

THEY CAN'T BE PUT AT A POINT OF SALE. ALSO, THE REQUIRED SPACES MUST BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.

WHEN FUEL TRANSPORT VEHICLES COME IN, THEY TAKE.

THEY TAKE AWAY TWO OF THE PARKING SPACES. ANOTHER VIOLATION THEIR THEIR THEIR OWN APPLICANTS DRAWINGS, LABEL PARKING SPACES PROVIDED ON THEIR PLAT.

AND THE OTHER ONE SAY FUEL CANOPY SPACES PROVIDED DEFINITELY NOT PARKING SPACES.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY LOOK AT AS A, AS SOMETHING THAT VIOLATES OUR CODE IN THEIR APPLICATION.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MR. BAILEY SPOKE A LOT ABOUT WAS THE FUEL DELIVERY HAZARDS AND THE TRUCK TRUCK MANEUVERING DEFECTS. HE HAD EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIRE CODE BOTH NATIONALLY, AND GOT INTO THE LOCAL CODE.

IN PRACTICE, GAS STATIONS TODAY DO NOT HAVE THEIR PLANS REVIEWED FOR FIRE SAFETY UNTIL AFTER CONSTRUCTION AND PERMIT APPROVAL IS COMPLETE.

THIS IS COUNTER TO THE CODE AS WRITTEN, WHICH CHARGES THE DIVISION OF FIRE PROTECTION AS HAVING THE PRIMARY DUTY OF CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS,

[04:55:01]

THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING GAS STATION DEVELOPMENTS TO AVOID FIRE REVIEW UNTIL AFTER CONSTRUCTION AND PERMIT APPROVAL ENABLES DEVELOPMENTS TO PROCEED THAT COULD POSE A HAZARD TO LIFE AND SAFETY. THERE ARE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO CODE THAT BACK THIS UP.

FEDERAL RULES REQUIRE FUEL DELIVERY TO BE SUPERVISED, SAFE AND CONDUCTED AWAY FROM IGNITION SOURCES.

THE SEVERAL PLACES IN FEDERAL LAW TALK ABOUT FUEL DELIVERY IS TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THE TANKER DEPARTMENT MUST KEEP FIRE AWAY DURING UNLOADING.

NO, THERE CAN'T BE ANY SMOKING 25FT, AND THERE CAN'T BE ANY PARKING OF THOSE FUEL TRANSPORT VEHICLES WITHIN 300FT OF AN OPEN FIRE.

I REMIND YOU, THESE TANKS ARE 25FT FROM THE LOCAL PROPERTY OWNER.

ANOTHER THING THAT THE NEIGHBORS AND JOE HAD CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT THERE WERE THERE WAS ERRONEOUS AND INCOMPLETE INFORMATION IN THE APPLICATION.

BASICALLY THERE WERE ERRORS DOCUMENTED IN THE GRADING PERMIT.

AND THE COMMERCIAL PREREQUISITE CHECKLIST AND THE ACCESS FORMS AND ALL OF THIS IS DOCUMENTED.

SO THOSE ARE THREE OF THE AREAS THAT I THINK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION REALLY HAS TO LOOK AT ON, ON THE, ON THE 1909 WASHINGTON. I THINK THAT THERE'S POWERFUL DOCUMENTATION AND SUPPORTING TO SUPPORT THAT.

AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL GIVE THAT OUR EARNEST REVIEW AS AND ON THE SECOND POINT, ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES, IN ADDITION TO THE DETAILED WORK HE DID ON 1909 WASHINGTON, MR. BAILEY ALSO DRAFTED TWO ORDINANCES TO BUILD A BETTER PROCESS FOR HOUSTON TO PROTECT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE HAZARDS OF GAS STATIONS, SUCH AS DANGEROUS VAPORS, HEAT AND POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS.

THE FIRST ORDINANCE MAKES SURE MAKES SURE THE FIRE MARSHAL REVIEWS GAS STATION DEVELOPMENT PLANS BEFORE PERMITS CAN BE ISSUED TODAY.

WHETHER THE FIRE MARSHAL SEES THE PLANS DEPENDS ON HOW THE APPLICANT FILLS OUT THEIR FORMS. THIS ORDINANCE FIXES THAT FIRE MARSHAL REVIEW BECOMES REQUIRED EVERY TIME HOUSTON HAS THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

BASED ON THE CITY FIRE CODE AND CITY CODE 344834.50.

IN THE CASE OF 1909, WASHINGTON FIRE MARSHAL REVIEW CAME TOO LATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT TO BE STOPPED, EVEN IF THE FIRE MARSHAL RAISED CONCERNS. JOE BAILEY'S SECOND ORDINANCE CREATES MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN GAS STATION FUEL, EQUIPMENT AND HOMES. SMALLER STATIONS UNDER 50,000 GALLONS WILL NEED 100FT OF DISTANCE.

LARGER STATIONS NEED 200FT. SO, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE OUR CONVERSATIONS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. I KNOW YOUR ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING ON THIS.

I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE THIS WORK AND HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN ADVOCATING FOR A STRICTER LOOK AT GAS STATIONS AND THEIR PLACEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ.

THANK YOU MAYOR. AS OUR STUDENTS BEGIN THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF THE PARENTS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL STAFF, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP MAKE THIS BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON SUCCESSFUL.

ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION DISTRICT D WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL GREAT BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS THAT BROUGHT RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE BACK TO SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY HELD ON FRIDAY, JULY 31ST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH FAMILY CARE CENTER ON MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD. FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, SNACKS, DENTAL KITS, HEALTH SCREENINGS, VACCINES, AND SPORTS PHYSICALS.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP THAT HELPS OUR CHILDREN START THE SCHOOL YEAR HEALTHY, PREPARED AND CONFIDENT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION FOR HOSTING ITS BACK TO SCHOOL JAM ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.

THIS EVENT BROUGHT FAMILIES TOGETHER FOR BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE AS AN HONORARY CHAIR AND TO STAND WITH PARTNERS WHO CONTINUE INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

AS OUR STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEIR CITY, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER ARE CHEERING THEM ON.

WE ARE PRAYING FOR A SAFE, SUCCESSFUL, AND PRODUCTIVE SCHOOL YEAR FOR EVERY STUDENT, EVERY TEACHER, AND EVERY CAMPUS. AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FEW UPCOMING COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UPCOMING EVENT, MUSEUM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, MUSEUM, PARK, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING WHICH WILL BE TODAY AT 530 VIRTUAL BY ZOOM AND YOU WILL GET DISTRICT D UPDATES AND COMMUNITY DISCUSSION WITH MUSEUM PARK RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

ALSO, THE RIVERSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING WILL BE TOMORROW FROM 630 TO 8 AT THE GOOD HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH,

[05:00:03]

WE WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK TO SUPPORT ARTS, CULTURE AND CREATIVITY AND OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

DISTRICT D IS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SHOWING UP FOR OUR STUDENTS, SENIORS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

ON A SAD NOTE, I WANT TO FIRST GIVE MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MY COUSIN AND GODSON, ERNEST R STOKES JR, WHO WE LOVINGLY CALL ERNIE.

HE IS ALSO THE GREAT NEPHEW OF OUR BELOVED, THE LATE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ERNEST MCGOWAN AND HIS PHENOMENAL WIFE, AUNT JEWEL MCGOWAN. ERNIE WAS A PHENOMENAL GYMNASTICS COACH AND HAD A GYMNASTICS ACCIDENT HELPING A STUDENT AND UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT SURVIVE HIS INJURIES. MY HEART IS BROKEN AS HE WAS 42 YEARS OLD AND COULD STILL PERFORM LIKE SIMONE BILES AND WAS SO DEARLY LOVED BY ALL WITH HIS BRIGHT SMILE, LAUGHTER AND PERSONALITY. I CERTAINLY WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO JEROME PROVOST AND THE FAMILY OF MRS GEORGIA PROVOST.

I SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AT HER HOUSE WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT JACK YATES, THE JACK YATES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND, HERBERT, A WORLD RENOWNED TENNIS COACH HELP US TO CREATE OUR MASTERPIECE HISTORICAL YEARBOOK AT JACK YATES, WHICH CHANGED FROM A RED COVER TO A GOLD FIST FOR POWER.

MRS PROVOST ALWAYS PUBLICLY SAID THAT I STOOD UP FOR HER AND HER COMPANY WHEN HISD, WHO TRADITIONALLY WERE SO INCLINED TO USE A PUBLISHING COMPANY THAT WAS NOT BLACK. SHE OFTEN SHARED THAT I WENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO INSIST ON USING PROVOST AND ASSOCIATES, SAYING THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO, IF THEY WERE GOING TO PAY FOR THE BOOK, THEY COULD GET WHO THEY WANTED.

BUT IF WE AND OUR PARENTS WERE PAYING FOR IT, IT WOULD BE THE PROVOST.

ULTIMATELY, WE USE THE PROVOST. SHE INSTILLED IN ME THE NEED TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND THE REQUISITE WILLINGNESS AND COURAGE TO FIGHT.

I WILL ALWAYS CONSIDER HER TO BE A MENTOR. WE SOMEWHAT HAD A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN 2023, BUT I ALWAYS HAD A HIGH REGARD AND RESPECT FOR HER, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT IF YOU DID NOT WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH, ACCORDING TO MRS. PROVOST, YOU BETTER NOT ASK HER, BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS READY AND WILLING TO TELL YOU IN A WAY LIKE NO OTHER COULD.

SHE ALSO SUPREMELY LOVED TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, MY ALMA MATER, FOR MY TERMINAL DEGREE. SEEING HER ADVOCATE TO SUPPORT TSU FINANCIALLY WEARING THAT PIN ON HER BACK GAVE ME NOTICE AND INSPIRED ME TO BECOME A SUSTAINING DONOR TO THE UNIVERSITY. TSU'S TSU SEES THE DONATION MONTHLY BEFORE I SEE IT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT OUR HBCUS MORE THAN JUST GOING TO A GAME OR HOMECOMING.

THEY SAY WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND SUPPORT IS SHOWN IN YOUR CHECKBOOK.

SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AND PERHAPS REPLICATED, BUT NEVER DUPLICATED.

MAY SHE TRY. MAY SHE TRY TO REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.

BUT BE PREPARED TO HEAR FROM HER ARE THINGS ARE NOT BEING RUN RIGHT.

I LOVE MISSUS PROVOST AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, MAYOR, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND ENJOY YOUR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR.

VERY BRIEFLY, JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS. I WANT TO START WITH, FIRST OF ALL.

AND MAYOR, YOU KNOW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND YOUR DAY AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A BLESSED MANY MORE.

JUST WANTED TO BEGIN AS OTHERS HAVE ALREADY AS YOU, MAYOR AND OTHERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE LOSS OF MOTHER P, AS MANY OF US SO CONTINUOUSLY CALL HER. MANY KNOW I WAS VERY CLOSE TO MOTHER PROVOST.

SHE WAS A BIG SUPPORTER AND I WAS ONE OF HER MANY SONS.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. AND OF COURSE, WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO SUPPORT JEROME PROVOST AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY BECAUSE SHE IS A LEGACY OF A LADY WITH CLASS, NOT ONLY HER ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALISM, BUT HER COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TRULY MISS HER. BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OF HER AND ALSO ANOTHER GOOD FRIEND MR. DARRELL SCHROEDER MANY WHO MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW DARRELL, BUT HE WAS A REAL HE WAS A UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LOVER, COUGAR SUPPORTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AS LIKE MOTHER PROVOST WORLD OF TSU AND BROTHER SCHROEDER.

[05:05:08]

SO I WANT TO GIVE PRAYERS FOR THAT FAMILY TO SHOW THE FAMILY AS WELL AS THE PROVOST FAMILY.

I DO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR, WE TOOK A TWO MONTH BREAK, BUT WE WILL BE MEETING ON TOMORROW MORNING. WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR NORMALLY MONTHLY MEETINGS.

WE WILL BE MEETING AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY HERE DOWNTOWN AS WE MEET AND ALL OF THE PASTORS FROM ALL DENOMINATIONS AND ALL CULTURES, WE WILL COME TOGETHER AT 9 A.M.

TOMORROW MORNING, AND WE WILL BE HAVING OUR MEETING A COLLECTION OF PASTORS.

AND WE'VE, WE'VE HAD PARTICIPATION SOMETIMES WELL ABOVE 100 PASTORS.

SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND THE PARTICIPATION.

SECONDLY, I'M EXCITED TO JOIN MAYOR PRO TEM IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

I WAS WITH THEM A COUPLE YEARS BACK WHEN MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM HOSTED AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING THERE AS WELL. AS I INDICATED PRIOR TO BECOME A MEMBER IN SUPPORT OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR 13TH TOWN HALL MEETING ON THURSDAY.

ON MONDAY. I'M SORRY. OCTOBER 17TH. WE'VE BEEN SPONSORED BY WASTE PRO.

THEY HAVE BEEN STEPPING UP, HELPING US IN GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. AGAIN, TO HAVE OUR TOWN HALL.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI PURPOSE CENTER ON MONDAY, AND WE CERTAINLY INVITE ALL TO COME OUT WITH US.

WE HAVE OF COURSE, OUR DAY IS GOING TO BE A PART OF OUR TOWN HALL MEETING BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO PUT EMPHASIS ON TWO THINGS, WHICH IS CRIME. AND THE, BEFORE OUR HURRICANE SEASON, WE WANT TO PUT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

SO WE'LL BE JOINED BY OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, OUR D A PRECINCT SMOKEY PHILLIPS MANY OTHER DEPARTMENT LEADERS WITHIN OUR CITY. AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU WILL COME OUT AND JOIN WITH US AND PRAY THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL DAY. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING TOMORROW.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE'VE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED OUR DISTRICT C DIRECTOR DOLLARS SURVEY, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW WE HAVE ABOUT $1 MILLION TO SPEND IN THE DISTRICT, AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE THE EXPERTS. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO SPEND THESE THESE OPERATING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS.

IMITATION IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY. SO I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER $0.02 SURVEY.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I KNOW HE DOES ONE FOR DISTRICT H. SO WE'RE COPYING THE BEST IDEAS HERE AT CITY HALL AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET A LOT OF GREAT RESPONSES.

WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY AT OUR FIRST 100 DAYS TOWN HALL ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 10 A.M. AT THE WEST GREENVILLE SERVICE CENTER.

WE'LL BE SENDING OUT AN INVITE TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER DIFFERENT OFFICES AT CITY HALL, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING 100 DAYS IN OFFICE AND AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS TO COME THERE AS WELL.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ARE ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE.

THIS SUMMER WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WELCOMING A SUMMER INTERN IN OUR OFFICE, BEN NEWMAN.

BEN, COULD YOU STAND UP REAL QUICK? THANK YOU.

BEN. WE STARTED IN THIS OFFICE JUST ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF HAVING A FULL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

SO I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BEN. HE HAD THE COURAGE TO REACH OUT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAY, I LOVE YOUR MESSAGE. I LOVED YOUR CAMPAIGN. HOW CAN I HELP OUT? AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING HIM ON BOARD. AND BEN DID AN AMAZING JOB WORKING WITH OUR DISTRICT SEAT CONSTITUENTS, JOINING ME FOR MEETINGS WITH COUNTLESS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HELPING DELIVER BACKPACKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL.

HE'S A COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR AT SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO OUR OFFICE FUNCTIONS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU, BEN. BEST OF LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEK, Y'ALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW.

RETIRED HPD SERGEANT RALPH YARBOROUGH, THE SECOND PASSED AWAY TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS 82ND BIRTHDAY.

RALPH JOINED HPD IN 1971, BEGINNING A DISTINGUISHED CAREER THAT SPANNED MORE THAN FOUR DECADES.

HE SERVED IN CENTRAL DIVISIONS JUVENILE AND THEN ULTIMATELY ENDED HIS CAREER IN THE HOMICIDE DIVISION.

[05:10:05]

HE LEAVES BEHIND HIS WIFE OF 48 YEARS, SYLVIA YARBROUGH.

RALPH LIVED A LIFE DEFINED BY SERVICE, LOYALTY, AND A DEEP LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.

THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF LIFE TOMORROW AT 4 P.M.

AT THE BRIER CLUB, WHICH IS 2603 TIMMONS LANE.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN THOMAS, THANK YOU EARLY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR. I VOTE AND I MOVE AND SECOND THAT THE REMAINDER OF OF AUGUST.

WE HAVE NO MEETINGS IN HONOR OF YOUR BIRTHDAY.

ALL IN ALL IN ALL IN FAVOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

SOME HEAVY NEWS ON SUNDAY. ICE DETAINED A GENTLEMAN WHO REPORTED A CRIME BY CALLING HPD AT HOME DEPOT AT BEL AIR AND BELTWAY EIGHT, THE HOME DEPOT I SHOP AT IN MY ZIP CODE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY FATHER'S SUBDIVISION AS WELL. ALTHOUGH HPD WAS NOT DID NOT INITIATE THE CALL TO ICE, IT IS DEEPLY DISRUPTIVE TO THE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS BUILT AND COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS YEARS, OVER YEARS, OVER YEARS. AND IT IS ERODING THAT TRUST.

I SHARED CORRESPONDENCE WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS AGENCY IS ROAMING TO AND FRO OF WHO THEY CAN DETAIN. AND WE HAVE BUILT A POSTURE IN THIS CITY THAT REGARDLESS OF STATUS, THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING TO ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THEIR JOB.

AND HE DID JUST THAT AND WAS PENALIZED. SO MY HEART IS REALLY HEAVY TODAY.

AND THIS SENDS A VIBRATION THROUGHOUT NOT JUST THE ALIEF AREA, BUT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO I HATE EXTENDING THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. I'M REALLY, MY HEART IS REALLY HEAVY AND I'M REALLY UPSET.

WE'RE STILL IN THE SUMMERTIME AND OUR SUMMER SAFETY INITIATIVE IS ONGOING.

AND LAST WEEK MY OFFICE, LED BY OUR COUNCIL INTERNS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS IN THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE CANVASED TWO SUBDIVISIONS. OUR TEAM VISITED APPROXIMATELY 225 DOORS.

WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH ROUGHLY 50 RESIDENTS, AND HFD INSTALLED TEN CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS ON SITE, WHICH IS EXCEPTIONAL. BOTH OF THOSE SITES WERE ACTUALLY CANVASED AND SECURED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO PREVENT BLIGHT.

AND I WANT TO THANK CHIEF MUNOZ FOR THE SURPRISE VISIT ENCOURAGING THE TEAM.

SO WE HAVE BEEN CANVASING OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY FIRE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD MOMENTUM AND EDUCATION ABOUT SAFETY, AROUND SMOKE DETECTORS, AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE CLEAR ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOUR HOME IS PREPARED IN THE CASE OF A FIRE.

SO I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO THANK THAT ALSO IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, TO CONCLUDE, OUR SUMMER SAFETY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON ARTS AND CULTURE, MY OFFICE IS SPONSORING A PUBLIC SAFETY MOBILITY MURAL.

IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A DYNAMIC ART PIECE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S GOING TO CENTER LILIANA VASQUEZ, WHO WAS A VICTIM OF A HIT AND RUN AT WEST PARK IN FONDREN, DECEMBER 2024.

SHE WAS TRAINING FOR THE HOUSTON CHEVRON MARATHON SUBSEQUENTLY, AFTER HER DEATH, THERE WERE THREE OTHER INCIDENTS AT THE SAME INTERSECTION. MY OFFICE HAS DIRECTED COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO IMPROVE THE SIDEWALKS AT WESTHEIMER AND FONDREN, BUT CLEARLY THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO UNVEILING THAT, AND I AM DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE TO THE SUPPORT OF HER FAMILY FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO CENTER HER IN THIS MOMENT. SHE WAS A RESIDENT OF TANGLEWILDE AND AN AVID RUNNER, AND WE HAVE.

WE CONTINUE TO KEEP HER STORY ALIVE. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

I KNOW MY VICE CHAIR JUST STEPPED OUT OF THE CHAMBERS, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE IS BACK DURING THE MONTH OF JULY. MY BIRTHDAY GIFT TO THEM IS THAT WE DO NOT MEET.

SO WE ARE BACK IN AUGUST. OUR VICE CHAIR WILL CHAIR THAT MEETING ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH AT 10 A.M..

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SINGLE FAMILY DIVISION HAS.

[05:15:06]

APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN PICK UP AND PICK UP YOUR APPLICATION, HELP YOU WALK THROUGH THAT APPLICATION SO YOU CAN BE IN LINE FOR HOME REPAIR.

AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL BE IN DISTRICT H AUGUST 22ND FROM 10 TO 1 P.M.

FOR THEIR ANNUAL HOUSTON RECOVERY DISASTER EXPO AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION, SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT AND GET THIS INFORMATION OUT.

I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THIS NEWSLETTER ON LAST FRIDAY.

IT'S A SPECIAL CALL NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF OUR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT FROM HIGHWAY SIX ALL THE WAY TO HILLCROFT.

WE TALKED EVERYTHING ABOUT GENERATORS. WE HAVE A 29 WEEK LEAD BEFORE THE INSTALLATION OF THE GENERATOR AT THE ALIEF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.

THIS IS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED. EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE GENERATORS ON SCHEDULE FOR THE WEST SIDE HPD COMMAND STATION ON DAIRY ASHFORD AND OUR BRAYS WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

WE HIGHLIGHTED UP TO 50 STREETLIGHTS, INSTALLED OUR STORMWATER ACTION PROJECTS.

TWO NEIGHBORHOODS ARE IN THE QUEUE FOR INVESTIGATION.

BEL AIR WEST AND IMPERIAL POINT, AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IN THE NEWSLETTER, THE 24 PROJECTS ON BACKLOG FOR THE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.

WE HAVE VOTED TO APPROVE A SERIES OF CONTRACTS TO CLEAR THAT BACKLOG.

SO THE NEXT THING YOU SHOULD SEE ARE NOTICES TO PROCEED AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN YOUR DISTRICT.

IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THAT NEWSLETTER, PLEASE SIGN UP SO YOU CAN GET THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY, FROM SIDEWALK TO PANEL REPLACEMENT TO OPEN DITCH MAINTENANCE, AND MORE.

AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE ANNUAL FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT WILL BE HOSTED ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH. WE ARE GOING BACK TO DISTRICT K.

WE WILL BE AT THE COLLECTIVE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE POWER CENTER.

SO IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, I WILL ANNOUNCE MANY OF OUR PARTNERS AND HOW WE'RE ELEVATING OUR CONTENT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL THERE. AS ALWAYS, A AN ANTICIPATED EVENT WITH LOTS OF INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE TO HELP US MEET OUR MISSION AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE SIGN UP WITH MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT F AT HOUSTON, TX TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND UP TO DATE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE ONE OF THOSE NEWSLETTERS.

YOU GOT MY NUMBER. YOU DON'T NEED TO READ THAT. I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GET ONE.

YOU SHOULD JUST SUBSCRIBE. RIGHT? YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THAT. JUST SUBSCRIBE.

I'M GOING TO GET I'M GOING TO GET ONE. I'M NOT I'M NOT BULL CORNYN.

I'M SERIOUS. I'M GIVING THIS ONE. I REALLY YEAH.

I'LL GIVE YOU THIS ONE. OH I'LL GET YOU TO SIGN IT.

I OUGHT TO GET YOU TO SIGN IT. MAYOR PRO TEM THANK YOU MAYOR.

JUST WANT TO ROUND OFF OUR POP OFF TODAY WITH A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SOME PROJECTS AND THINGS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT K THE RESIDENTS AT WILLOW BEND AND CHIMNEY ROCK AND POLO STREET BETWEEN GRAPEVINE AND TIFFANY DRIVE SHOULD BE VERY EXCITED.

THE STREET REPAIR IS HAPPENING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THAT WORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON AUGUST THE 10TH AND SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE PARK, IF YOU HAVE DONE ANY DRIVING THROUGH THAT AREA, YOU'VE SEEN THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE PARK.

THAT AREA IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE BEING CONSTRUCTED UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.

WE WILL BE HOSTING A PUBLIC MEETING ON TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 25TH AT 5:30 P.M.

SO RESIDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE VILLAGE PARK, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE, RECREATION, ACCESSIBILITY AND THE OVERALL PARK EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE ON THAT CALL.

AUGUST THE 25TH AT 5:30 P.M.. AND THEN I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR SOUTHWEST CROSSING PRESIDENT, MR. BROWN. HE HAS BEEN WORKING FEVERISHLY TO TRY TO GET THE SPEED CUSHIONS MOVED ALONG IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE ARE FINALLY MOVING TO CONSTRUCTION PHASE.

SO THE RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWEST CROSSING CAN LOOK FORWARD TO PHASE ONE OF THEIR SPEED CUSHIONS COMING TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THAT PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2026. JUST A REMINDER, OUR NEXT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 MEETING WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST THE 14TH AT 6 P.M.

AT THE HIRAM CLARKE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, ENCOURAGING ALL OF THOSE RESIDENTS THAT ARE PART OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 TO PARTICIPATE.

[05:20:05]

AND THEN COLLEAGUES, OUR NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY AT 2 P.M.

HERE IN THE CHAMBER. WE'LL HAVE ONE PRESENTATION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE AND RE ADOPTION.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED TODAY IN HONOR OF MISS GEORGIA PROVOST.

WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. MA'AM. GET MY NEWSLETTER.

GET YOUR NEWSLETTER.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.