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COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER.
I'M GONNA ASK THE VICE MAYOR PROM TO PRESIDE.
[Additional Item ]
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DAVILA HONORING HER DISTINGUISHED VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN THE HOUSTON QUI SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION.THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, IF I CAN HAVE, UH, MS. PAULINA DAVILA WITH THE QUI SISTER CITY COME UP AND ALSO CHIEF CHIEF MUNOZ.
HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? WELCOME, WELCOME CHIEF.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SISTER CITIES.
MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE SISTER CITIES ARE, BUT UH, THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL THAT DON'T, DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SISTER CITIES ARE.
SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS SEVERAL ACROSS THE WORLD.
UH, ONE OF 'EM, WE GET TO PARTNER, UH, WITH
AND ESSENTIALLY THE SISTER CITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIP, CULTURAL EXCHANGE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SHARED LEARNING.
AND IN THIS CASE, UM, YOU KNOW, PAULINA DAVILA, WHO'S A DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADER AND LONGTIME VOLUNTEER WHO SERVICE IS STRENGTHENED, STRENGTHENED, AND THE ENDURING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON AND HUA ECUADOR.
UH, SHE, UH, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON HU AQUI SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION SINCE 2020 AND THROUGH MORE THAN 12 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION, MS. DAVILA HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN FOSTERING PUBLIC SAFETY AND BUILDING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND COMMUNITIES IN BOTH OF THE CITIES.
UH, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE CHIEF OZ UP HERE AS WELL.
UM, HER LEADERSHIP IS CO IN COORDINATING FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT, DONATIONS AND TRAINING EXCHANGES HAS TRAINED IN QUIS FIRE SERVICE AND THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON AND QUI.
AND SO I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING BACK HOME, BUT ALSO FOR THE PARTNERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I'LL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE PROCLAMATION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS MAINTAINED A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS SISTER CITY QUI SINCE 1987, AND THROUGH THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF PAULINA DAVILA, OF HOUSTON'S QUI SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION, THE RELATIONSHIP OF AND OF COOPERATION AND GOODWILL BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS AND FIRE SERVICE PROFESSIONALS OF BOTH CITIES HAS BEEN FURTHER STRAIGHTENED.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON HAWAII KILL SISTER CITY PARTNERSHIP, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, PROUDLY THANKS PAULINA DAVILA AND RECOGNIZES HER DEVOTED EFFORTS TO REINFORCING THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP, COOPERATION, AND MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN HOUSTON AND HUILA.
THANK YOU MRS. DAVILA FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.
CERTAINLY ALSO OUR SISTER CITIES.
UH, WE NEED DAYS LIKE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT BRING JOY TO PEOPLE'S LIVES DURING THESE DAYS OF TURMOIL.
IT'S A GREAT CELEBRATION OF JUST FELLOWSHIP AND, AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU CHIEF FOR UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED AS A MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026, IS PAUL DOLA DAY ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.
UM, IT IS FOR ME AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I LOVE ECUADOR, BUT I LOVE HOUSTON AS MUCH AND THAT CAN RESEMBLE IN THE SERVICE THAT I AM, UH, TRYING TO PROVIDE IN THE UNION OF THE, UH, TWO COUNTRIES.
IN THIS CASE, AKIL IS MY HOMETOWN.
AND, UM, I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO GOD FIRST AND TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR, UM, NOT ONLY PROVIDING, BUT KEEPING THIS RELATIONSHIP ALIVE.
NO, PAULINA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE US.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT, UM, RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT AND FRIENDSHIPS ARE WHAT CARRIES, BUT THE WORLD VISION, THIS ALLOWS THE WORLD TO
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SEE WHAT HOUSTON'S MADE OF.SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT SUPPORT, PAULINA, THANK YOU FOR THE FRIENDSHIP AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME MORE.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DAIKIN TO CELEBRATE THEIR SUPPORT IN HELPING TO KEEP HOUSTONIANS COOL DURING EXTREME HEAT EVENTS.
TODAY I HAVE AN HONOR OF RECOGNIZING DAIKIN AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION FOR THIS GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND DAIKIN HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER TO HOUSTON HERE IN THE CITY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE DISTRIBUTED, UH, AIR FILTERS, UH, THAT WERE DONATED BY DAIKIN LAST YEAR TO CONSTITUENTS.
AND THIS YEAR, MOODY PARK, WHICH IS A, IS THE HEART OF DISTRICT H, UH, AND THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER SERVES AS A COOLING CENTER IN THE SUMMER.
IT SERVES AS A WARMING CENTER IN THE WINTER AND HOST COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, ZUMBA, CIVIC MEETINGS, VOTING ALL YEAR LONG.
UM, WE ARE NOW GOING TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL KEEP IT MORE RESILIENT AND ALLOW IT TO SERVE THOSE FUNCTIONS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
THANKS TO THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH DAIKIN AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION.
AND THAT'S WHY, UH, TODAY I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THEM TODAY.
WHEREAS MOODY PARK COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATED IN DISTRICT H HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE SECOND RECIPIENT OF THE COOLING INITIATIVE, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DAIKIN COMFORT TECHNOLOGIES AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE COMFORT, RELIABILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOUSTON.
HOUSTON AREA RESIDENTS BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY SPACES THAT SERVE FAMILIES, CHILDREN, SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND INVESTMENT, DAIKIN IS DONATING $100,000 IN ADVANCED HVAC EQUIPMENT, FEATURING ENERGY EFFICIENCY INVERTER TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE RELIABLE HEATING AND COOLING FOR THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO UTILIZE MOODY PARKS COMMUNITY CENTER EACH YEAR.
AND WHEREAS WITH ITS NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, DAIKIN COMFORT TECHNOLOGIES IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN INDOOR COMFORT SOLUTIONS AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE ITS EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, AND NEIGHBORS LIVE AND WORK.
WHILE PARTNERING WITH THE ASTROS FOUNDATION FURTHERS THIS COMMITMENT AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPACT OF THE COOLING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH DISTRICT H COMMENDS, DAIKIN COMFORT TECHNOLOGIES, NORTH AMERICA AND
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THE ASTROS FOUNDATION FOR THEIR GENEROUS INVESTMENT IN MOODY PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.AND FOR HELPING ENSURE IT REMAINS A WELCOMING, COMFORTABLE, AND DEPENDABLE PLACE WHERE HOUSTONIANS CAN CONNECT, FIND, SUPPORT, AND THRIVE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, AND THANK YOU TO BACKING LEADERSHIP, THE, UH, ASTRO FOUNDATION TO HELP US IMPROVE THIS ICONIC PARK.
IT IS A PARK OF HOUSTON'S LEGACY AND NOW YOU'RE PARTNERING WITH US IS REALLY SPECIAL.
UH, ALSO A SHOUT OUT FOR YOUR JOBS FAIR.
I'VE GONE OUT TWO 90 AND I SEE YOUR PLANT AND WHAT A SPECTACULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSTONIANS TO HAVE A JOB.
AND OF COURSE, THE HOUSTON ASTRO FOUNDATION HAS BEEN WITH US THROUGH ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES, SO THANK YOU.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026, IS DAIKIN COMFORT TECHNOLOGIES IN THE ASTROS FOUNDATION DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
UM, I COULD HONESTLY SAY AS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THESE INITIATIVES THAT GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE'VE DONE WITH THIS COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, IT IS DAIKIN'S PLEASURE AS OUR, UM, FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MANY MORE IN THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY AND JUST TO CONTINUE FURTHER INITIATIVES AS WE GO FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THANK YOU DAIKIN.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN NOBODY KNEW WHO DAIKIN WAS.
AND I FEEL LIKE THE WHOLE TOWN DEFINITELY KNOWS WHO DAIKIN IS NOW.
NOT JUST FOR THE ASTRO STUFF, BUT ALL, ALL ALSO FOR THE VERY GOOD WORK YOU DO.
I KNOW YOU'VE GIVEN AWAY A LOT OF STUFF, A LOT OF THINGS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT, WENDY HALL AND I USED TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE CITY HOUSING DEPARTMENT BACK IN THE DAY.
SO GREAT TO SEE YOU, WENDY, AND GOOD JOB, DAIKIN.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THE ASTERISK FOUNDATION AND DAIKIN THAT BOTH OF YOU DO THROUGHOUT THE CITY, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, DO THEY WANNA INTRODUCE THEMSELVES? EVERYONE THAT'S HERE.
I'M THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF HR AND I SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
I'M SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS AT BURTON PR.
NICK DE I'M A REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR HOUSTON AND KURT HEIM.
I'M A VICE PRESIDENT IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROMOTION OFFICE.
THANK FOR DAVIS FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN LEGION IN HONOR OF THE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION RESPONSIBILITY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM, PEG, AND TO ALL OF US GATHERED TOGETHER.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE DR. JONES WILL COME UP, UH, WITH US AS WE MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THAT I AM ALWAYS PROUD TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE SERVICE OF, OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT ON THE UNIFORMS ACROSS, UH, THIS NATION TO SERVE OUR NATION AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WHAT I'M MOST PROUD ABOUT AS WELL IS THAT WHEN WE, WHAT WE CALL ETS OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE, THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION, UH, THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THIS NATION, UH, THOUGH WE TAKE OFF THAT UNIFORM, BUT WE NEVER STOP SERVING.
WE CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS NATION.
AND BROTHER HEAT, IS HE HERE? YES.
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YOU.AND SO I WANT TO PROUDLY AS A VETERAN PRESENT THIS TO THE AMERICAN LEGION POST FIVE 60 AMERICAN LEGION DAY IN HOUSTON.
WHEREAS OBSERVE ANNUALLY AMERICAN LEGION DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION, PATRIOTISM, VOLUNTEERISM, AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS OF LEGIONARIES AND THE ANTI-AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY WHOSE CONTINUED COMMITMENT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS HOUSTONIANS.
AND WHEREAS CHARTERED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1919, THE AMERICAN LEGION IS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE ENDURING PRINCIPLES OF VETERAN AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION, NATIONAL SECURITY AND AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
AND WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST, MOST RESPECTED VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION MEMBERS AND 14,000 POSTS WORLDWIDE PROVIDING UNWAVERING SUPPORT, THE VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, MILITARY FAMILIES, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS IN HOUSTON, AMERICAN LEGION, POST AND LEGION FAMILY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE, SERVE VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, AND ALSO YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, PATRIOTIC OBSERVANCE, SCHOLARSHIP, DISASTER RELIEF, VE VETERANS ADVOCACY AND CHARITABLE INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, AND WHEREAS AMERICAN LEGION POST FIVE 60 LOCATED IN HOUSTON, THE HISTORIC GARDEN OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS PROUDLY SERVED THE COMMUTER SINCE 1946, PROVIDING A WELCOMING HOME WHERE VETERANS OF EVERY GENERATION CONTINUED THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE WHILE FOSTERING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS THAT BENEFIT THE CITIES OF HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS THE RECOGNITION OF AMERICA LEGION DAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL HOUSTONIANS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE SERVICE SACRIFICE AND ENDURING COMMITMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, UH, WRITERS AND THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE AMERICAN LEGION WRITERS AND LOCAL POSTS SUCH AS AMERICAN LEGION POST FIVE 60, WHOSE VOLUNTEERISM CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SPACE CITY.
THEREFORE, I PRESENT THIS TO YOU, MAYOR AND THIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN DAVIS, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF OUR STRONGEST, ONE OF OUR STRONGEST VOICES, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR VETERANS.
UH, THE AMERICAN LEGION HALLS ARE IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK I CAN SAFELY SAY IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR NATION, IT'S NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY, BUT REALLY THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THAT IS A GATHERING PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HAVING FUNDRAISERS FOR SOMEONE THAT'S ON DIFFICULT TIMES.
MARIO AGAS USED TO TAKE ME TO AMERICAN LEGION IN HIS DISTRICT ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND CERTAINLY HAVING STARTED MY CAREER IN GARDEN OAKS, I'VE BEEN IN YOUR FACILITY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PROPER TO SAY I BOUGHT FOLKS BEER IN THERE.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO MEET YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2026 IS AMERICAN LEGION DAY ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.
ALL OF THE, EVERYBODY COME ON UP.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THE FELLOW FELLOW VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF OUR AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, THANK YOU FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY RECOGNITION.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AS AS A FELLOW VETERAN, THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR CONTINUING YOUR OWN LIFE OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY WOULD NOT, UH, MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, AMERICAN
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VETERANS RETURNED HOME FOR MORE AND MADE A POWERFUL DECISION.SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY WOULD NOT END WHEN WE TOOK THE UNIFORM OFF.
THAT COMMITMENT BECAME THE AMERICAN LEGION FOR GENERATIONS.
HOUSTON LEGIONNAIRES HAVE CARRIED IT FORWARD.
NOT ASKING FOR RECOGNITION, BUT ASKING ONE QUESTION, WHERE CAN WE SERVE NEXT? WE SEE THE ANSWER EVERY DAY RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT HERE, WHAT MR. MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE CLUBHOUSE, AS WE CALL IT, I REFUSE TO CALL IT A BAR.
THAT'S OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.
WE SEND THEM TO THE PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN LEGION BOYS STATE AND THE PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY GIRLS STATE.
YES, WE'RE REMINDED WHAT WE DO MATTERS WHEN WE VISIT COMBAT VETERANS HEALING FROM THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR RIGHT OVER HERE AT CAMP HOPE.
AND THEN WE SUPPORT THAT MISSION WITH A GIANT OVERSIZED HAPPY GILMORE.
CHECK THE AMERICAN LEGIONS ADDICTS STRONGEST WHEN VETERANS SERVE THE COMMUNITIES WE CAME HOME TO IN NEW WAYS.
WE DO NOT SERVE ALONE ALONGSIDE OUR LEGIONNAIRES.
YOU SEE 'EM RIGHT HERE TO NEXT TO ME.
OUR AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, OUR AMERICAN LEGION WRITERS, ALL EQUALLY COMMITTED TO SERVANT LEADERSHIP, MAYOR WHITMEYER, AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY, YOU RECOGNIZE SOMETHING VETERANS DEEPLY UNDERSTAND SERVICE DOES NOT HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE.
THE UNIFORM MAY COME OFF, THE MISSION DOES NOT.
ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON'S AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR HONORING OUR HISTORY.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE BEHIND THE PROGRAMS THAT CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MR. MAYOR AND EVERYONE HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR HELPING CARRY THE IMPACT OF SERVICE FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE GENERATION.
WE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOUSTON HOME AND WE ARE PROUD TO CONTINUE SERVING THIS GREAT CITY ALONGSIDE YOU FOR GOD AND COUNTRY.
AND GOD BLESS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO REMEMBER, IF A EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE MANUEL TEAL OF TEAL GLASS REPAIR SERVICES FOR HIS GENEROSITY, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON'S THIRD WORD COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE SOME REAL LIFE HEROES.
SO I'M GOING TO JUST POP MY FAN, Y'ALL COME ON,
AND EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTS THEM, IF YOU ALL COULD STEP UP AS WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ANYWAY, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN MAYOR.
AND CERTAINLY THIS IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK WHEN THE MEDIA PUTS A STORY OUT AND LETS US KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE IN NEED, THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THEY GET THE WORD OUT AND THEN PEOPLE RESPOND.
BUT CERTAINLY I WANNA FIRST THANK CHRISTIE AND JOE NEAL, WHO SAW THE STORY, AND THEY REACHED OUT TO HEROES WHO CAME AND HELPED MRS. SAMMY HUGHES, WHO LIVES ON SOUTHMORE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY, BUT THERE WAS VANDALISM DONE AT HER HOME AND SOMEONE CAME AND BROKE ALL, WELL, SEVERAL OF HER WINDOWS OUT.
THOSE I GUESS THEY COULD REACH.
AND CERTAINLY THAT LEFT HER IN A VERY BAD SITUATION BECAUSE CERTAINLY SHE'S ON A FIXED INCOME.
UH, SHE AND I HAVE BEEN LONGTIME FRIENDS.
BUT CERTAINLY TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME AND HELP YOU AND DO IT IN A BENEVOLENT MANNER THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY A DIME, IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT AND GIVE THEM ACCOLADES.
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IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MAN MANUEL TEAL, MARVIN TEAL AND DAVID BROOKS, MANUEL TEAL AND MARVIN TEAL OF THE TEAL GLASS REPAIR SERVICES.AND DAVID BROOKS, WHO'S WITH MAYBERRY HOMES.
AND YOU ALL ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH SHARON MAYBERRY AND ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL HOMES THAT HE HAS PUT, PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT D, BUT EXCUSE ME, SIR
BUT CERTAINLY I, AND, AND TODAY HAPPENS TO BE MY YOUNGER SISTER'S BIRTHDAY.
SO THIS IS REALLY, REALLY, UH, AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND HERE.
WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER THE 15TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION PROUDLY WELCOMES MANUEL TEAL, MARVIN TEAL AND DAVID BROOKS OF TEAL GLASS REPAIR SERVICES AND MAYBERRY HOMES TO CITY HALL TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SHARED COMMITMENT TO HELPING THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF A SENIOR CITIZEN IN HOUSTON'S HISTORIC THIRD WARD WHOSE HOME HAD MULTIPLE BROKEN WINDOWS.
AND WHEREAS UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF A SAFE AND SECURE HOME, MANUEL TILL, MARVIN TILL AND DAVID BROOKS GENEROUSLY DONATED THEIR TIME, MATERIALS AND PROFESSIONAL LABOR TO REPLACE THE DAMAGE WINDOWS AT NO COST TO THE HOMEOWNER.
AND WHEREAS THEIR SERVICE BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT SEVEN, ITS VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR, MAYBERRY HOMES AND THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AG AREA AGENCY ON AGING, WHO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT A SENIOR HOUSTON RESIDENT.
AND WHEREAS THE WILLINGNESS OF MANUEL TILL MARVIN THIEL AND DAVID BROOKS TO USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND RESOURCES TO ASSIST A NEIGHBOR IN NEED, EXEMPLIFIES THE EMPATHY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF HOUSTONIANS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SELFLESS ACTIONS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT D COMMEND THEM FOR DEMONSTRATING HOW STEPPING FORWARD TO HELP OTHERS CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO THANK PATIL FAMILY.
MR. BROOKS, WHAT WE SEE TODAY IS WHAT MAKES HOUSTON A GREAT CITY.
THEY DON'T DO THIS EVERYWHERE, RIGHT? BUT CERTAINLY WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WE NEED TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY.
IT'S SO APPROPRIATE THAT I, JOHN WHITMEYER, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026, IS MANUEL TL DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WERE, AND THIS GENTLEMAN HERE IS SO HUMBLE AND HE WAS SO EXCITED THAT I DIDN'T WANNA PUT THIS OFF.
AND SO, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR WORKING US IN BECAUSE THIS IS SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
MR. TE I'M NOT, I'M NOT GOOD AT THIS.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T EVEN EXPECT NONE OF THIS.
I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM ONE OF MY DISTRICT PROPERTY MANAGER, CHRISTIE.
CHRISTIE, COME HERE FOR, BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT HER.
SO SHE CALLED ME AND I DON'T THINK SHE FINISHED SAYING THE WHOLE STORY.
SHE SAID, AND SHE SAID, WELL, NOW LET ME GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS.
I SAID, JUST TELL, I'M READY TO DO IT.
AND I DIDN'T SEE THE NEWS PROGRAM THAT IT HAPPENED AUGUST THE FIFTH.
SO SHE WAS ALL THEM DAYS WITHOUT, AND SHE CALLED DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
AND THAT WAS, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK, THANK, THANK YOU, THE LORD FOR ALLOWING ME TO HELP THE, TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO, TO SOMEONE ELSE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.
AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN, BUT NOT FOR, FOR NO RECOGNITION.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR PHOTO.
VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCILMAN SHABAZ.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION TO THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
AS BROTHER TILL SAID, HE REALLY WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT AND ATTITUDE WE OUGHT TO HAVE NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT IT IS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU, AND THEN OF COURSE OUR FRIEND BROTHER MAYBERRY, I'VE KNOWN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
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AND FOR ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, WE KNOW THAT OUR SENIORS AND OUR YOUTH ARE GENERALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE SOMEONE TO JUST DO IT OUT OF THE, THE, THE, THE NATURE OF THEIR HEART.
TO DO THAT BECAUSE, UH, WE ALL SERVE, AS THE MAYOR OFTEN SAYS, WE ALL ARE SERVANTS, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.
AND YOU GUYS ARE PROVING THAT BY COMING AND SAYING, HEY, FOR NO PAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX SEAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I SAW THIS STORY ON THE NEWS AND I WAS WATCHING AND I THOUGHT, OH MY GOD.
WHO, WHO WOULD DO THAT TO SOMEBODY? BUT THEN I SMILED, UH, WHEN I SAW THAT WE HAD HOUSTONIANS WHO STEPPED UP TO MAKE THIS RIGHT.
UM, AND I WANT TO KNOW THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY, THE PHONE NUMBER, THE WEBSITE, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU TIME TO MAKE A PLUG ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, BECAUSE IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT NEED WINDOW REPAIR, I WANT THEM TO USE THE PEOPLE THAT GIVE BACK TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
UM, AND SO IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE US THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY AND HOW WE COULD REACH YOU.
IF WE NEED TO HAVE OUR WINDOWS REPAIRED IN OUR HOMES, UH, JUST SIMPLY CALL, GIMME A CALL.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU NEED TO SAY, NORMALLY YOU CHARGED
NO, I, NO, I, I AND I ABSOLUTELY.
AND I MEAN THAT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO, UM, SHARE WITH PEOPLE THE NAME.
SHE'S INFORMATION THE NAME OF THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY FOR SURE.
UM, I WANNA SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
UM, THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS TEAL GLASS REPAIR AND SERVICES.
UM, HIS PHONE NUMBER IS (713) 548-3110.
UM, THE EMAIL IS TEAL, TEAL GLASS, G-L-A-S-S REPAIR SERVICES WITH AN S@GMAIL.COM.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WHO GIVE BACK TO PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
SO WE WANT TO, UH, SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US.
[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
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US PLEASE LEAD US INVOCATION.WE DO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENCE OF EACH OF US TODAY.
WE PRAY OUR HEALTH AND STRENGTH INDIVIDUAL, AND COLLECTIVELY, WE ASK OF YOU HOLY SPIRIT, TO COVER US NO MATTER WHERE OUR MINDS AND IDEAS MAY BE.
BUT HELP US TO BE ONE ON THOSE THINGS THAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE PRAY, DEAR GOD, FOR OUR MAYOR, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, FOR ALL OF THE STAFF, THE DEPARTMENTS, THE COUNCIL, AND THE ALL OF THOSE WHO MAKE UP THIS GREAT CITY.
WE PRAY AND ASK THAT THIS MEETING TODAY WILL BE DONE IN DECENCY AND IN ORDER, AND THAT YOU WILL COVER US WITH YOUR LOVE AND YOUR GRACE.
AND JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 9TH.
[Additional Item ]
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS.I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SERGIO OLI TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I MAY TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO PUT ANASTASIA MILANOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
[2:00 P.M. – PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF NOT, UH, MS. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER.UM, SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED AN AGENDA, BUT SHOULD BE BECAUSE, UM, IT'S JUST TOO EERILY SIMILAR.
SO LAST YEAR, OCTOBER, 2025, AO BAAN AND HIS DAD WERE, UH, CHASED DOWN BY PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT UNMARKED CARS AND HAD MASKS ON.
AND HIS DAD WAS QUICKLY DEPORTED BEFORE HE COULD EVER TALK ABOUT IT.
HIS SON WAS BEAT UP AND SENT TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE AGAIN, THAT'S A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, YOU GUYS GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY'RE CITIZENS'.
CHILDREN AGAIN, TOO SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED TO LORENZO BECAUSE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO CASES IS THAT HE DIDN'T DIE.
HE CAN STILL TALK TO HIS DAD, ARNOLDO AND
BUT WHAT I WANNA SAY IS YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY FOCUS ON THAT AS AN AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE IT IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND ALSO, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
IF THIS DOESN'T GET LIKE, LIKE HANDLED NOW, IT'S JUST GONNA ESCALATE.
AND IT DID, IT ESCALATED TO SOMEBODY GETTING MURDERED AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS.
THE BAAN FAMILY STILL DOESN'T KNOW WHO DID IT TO THEM, BUT THEY WERE GETTING CALLED RACIAL SLURS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SAY IT ON MICROPHONE, BUT B****R BORDER HOPPER, THEY SOLD HIS PHONE.
DID HPD INVESTIGATE THAT? BECAUSE CONWELL POLICE INVESTIGATE AS A SECOND DEGREE FELONY.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER CASE THAT NEEDS TRANSPARENCY AND IT'S ALSO A GOOD WAY TO USE AS REFORM THAT YOU GUYS COULD FIX THAT.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A CITY DOESN'T MEAN THAT Y'ALL CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S OTHER CITIES LIKE AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DUDE, THEY, THEY DID SOMETHING.
YOU GUYS ALL WENT TO LAW SCHOOL.
Y'ALL ALL CAN PUT YOUR BRAINS TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING.
THERE'S ONLY LIKE A COUPLE PEOPLE HERE THAT I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, KNOW THIS IS NOT OKAY.
[00:40:01]
DO SOMETHING.YOU GUYS ALREADY SAID IT, SO THAT'S WHY I SAID IT.
SO PLEASE FOCUS ON YOUR CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE, OUR LIKE KIDS, PLEASE.
NEXT, EDUARDO DURAN SERGIO, LITTER LIRA TO BE FOLLOWED BY 10 HALL.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
AS WE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, LET'S REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF UNSUNG HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, GROWING UP I WOULD COME DOWNTOWN AND I WOULD LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS, THE STREETS, AND LOOK FOR STATUES THAT HAD A LATINO NAME.
YOU KNOW, AND I COULD NEVER SEE ONE 50 YEARS FORWARD.
THERE'S NO NATIONAL FIGURE HERE IN, IN ONE OF OUR STREETS AND STATUES.
BUT THERE IS ONE STATUE OF A LATINO NATIONAL HERO.
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHO IS THAT STATUE? AND WHERE IS IT? PRECISELY MY POINT.
THERE IS ONE TI THAT'S IGO PARK.
IT WAS DONATED ON THIS DAY, 26 YEARS AGO.
IT'S IN THE BACKSIDE OF IGO PARK COVERED BY TREES OBSCURED.
YOU KNOW, LATINOS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CITY BEFORE HOUSTON WAS EVEN HOUSTON, AND NOW IT'S NEARLY 50% OF THE POPULATION.
I WANNA ASK YOU FOR A FAVOR, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
IT DOESN'T INVOLVE A TAX INCREASE.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF MIGUEL D**O STATUE CAN MOVE FROM THE BACK OF THE PARK TO THE FRONT OF THE PARK AS AN EDUCATOR.
SYMBOLISM AND CULTURE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND FINALLY, YOU KNOW, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
IT'S NOT ABOUT A MONTH TO ME, IT'S EVERY DAY.
I'M PROUD OF MY HERITAGE AND I'M SURE YOU ARE OF YOUR HERITAGE AND WISH SHOULD SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE IT.
SO AS YOU CELEBRATE STARTING TOMORROW, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, I JUST WANNA SAY VIVA MEXICO, VIVA SALVADOR, VIVA, GUATEMALA, VI, HONDURAS, VIVA COST PER VI COLUMBIA, BECAUSE THEY ALL FOUGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE.
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GIVING US, UH, UH, JUST SO THIS, UH, PRE-OPENING TO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
UH, WE'VE START, I STARTED YESTERDAY AT, UH, THE ELA, UH, WITH, WITH LA ELA.
THEY, THEY, THEY KICKED OFF SOME OF THE CELEBRATION ALREADY.
AND, UH, THE REQUEST FOR THE STATUE MOVE, THIS IS THE FIRST THAT I'M HEARING OF IT, UH, DR.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU, SEE WHAT THAT ENCOMPASSES, AND SEE, UH, HOW WE CAN POSSIBLY ACHIEVE THAT AS WELL.
I APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCILMAN.
THE REASON I CAME FORWARD, AND I, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, FABULOUS JOB.
BUT THE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, AND ESPECIALLY THE AT LARGE MEMBERS, TO UNDERSTAND THAT CITYWIDE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE AND, AND UNDERSTAND THE, THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND OUR CULTURE AND OUR HERITAGE.
UH, SERGIO, THANK YOU FOR COMING, MY FRIEND.
CAN YOU TELL ME THE LOCATION? WHERE, WHERE'S THAT? UH, IT'S ALGO PARK.
IT'S RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF MAGNOLIA PARK.
LITERALLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHERE LORENZO SALGADO WAS KILLED.
SO IS THIS A IT'S A, YOU SAID THIS IS A, AN AREA THAT'S WOODED UP.
AND IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A PARK THAT HISTORIC THERE IN MAGNOLIA PARK NAMED AFTER MIGUEL ALGO, WHO WAS A CATHOLIC PRIEST WHO WAS EXECUTED FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM IN MEXICO.
HE'S A NATIONAL HERO, AND THAT STATUTE IS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE PARK AND IT'S COVERED BY TREES AND IT'S OBSCURED.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE FRONT, FESTIVITIES AND EVENTS, BUT NO ONE REALLY NOTICED IT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SYMBOLICALLY AS AN EDUCATOR TO EDUCATE, UH, CHILDREN THAT IT SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE FRONT.
SO IT IS, IT IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF.
THE, THE NO ONE'S CARING FOR THE MOTHER.
WELL, TO ME IT SEEMS KIND OF, UM, ALMOST, UM, NEGLECTED IN A SENSE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT FOLKS ARE PROUD OF.
AND I INVITE FOLKS THAT VISITORS THAT COME AND VISIT ME FROM OUT OF TOWN, THEY TELL ME WHERE THE LATINO MONUMENTS, I'LL TAKE 'EM TO ALGO PARK.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU MAYOR.LITTA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, AND I'LL CERTAINLY GET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.
AND YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THIS, BUT I HOPE MY GRANDCHILDREN SEE A NAME OF ONE OF YOU, PERHAPS, UH, GARCIA RAMIREZ OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU HERE IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA ON ONE OF THE STREETS, OR AT ST.
10 HOME TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAR MARGO, JORDAN.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT K, AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO ADDRESS A VERY OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT THIS CITY HAS AMONG THE MANY CITIES IN TEXAS.
UH, HOUSTON UNFORTUNATELY, HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR HAVING POOR ROAD CONDITIONS AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND REGARDLESS OF HOW WE COMPARE TO DALLAS, AUSTIN, OR OTHER MAJOR CITIES, EVERYONE KNOWS THIS CITY HAS A SERIOUS ROAD PROBLEM.
THIS MATTERS BECAUSE HOUSTON IS A CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON THEIR CARS.
DRIVING IS A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE HERE, AS WE SPEND HOURS ON THE ROAD GOING TO WORK, GOING TO SCHOOL.
SO WHEN THE ROADS ARE POORLY MAINTAINED, MILLIONS OF RESIDENTS HERE PAY THAT PRICE THROUGH LOST TIME FUEL CONSUMPTION AND FRUSTRATION.
BUSINESSES ALSO PAY THAT PRICE THROUGH DELAYS AND REDUCE PRODUCTIVITY.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, THIS IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
OUR STATE, TEXAS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP DESTINATIONS FOR PEOPLE LEAVING HIGH COST AND HIGH REGULATION STATES JUST, UH, SUCH AS CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, AND NEW YORK.
SO I THINK OUR CITY SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE HOUSTON AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR THESE NEWCOMERS, NOT SIMPLY LETTING DALLAS, AUSTIN, OR OTHER CITIES CAPTURE THEIR GROWTH.
IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE, BUILD BUSINESSES HERE, SPEND MONEY HERE, AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A CITY THAT IS NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, AND WELL MAINTAINED.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS PART OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT, UH, WE ARE SELLING TO THESE PEOPLE.
SO MY REQUEST TO THE CITIES COUNCIL IS SIMPLE.
WE NEED TO PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON ROAD MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE QUALITY, MAKE IT A HIGHER LONG-TERM PRIORITY, AND PUSH THIS ISSUE MORE AGGRESSIVELY WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND TEXDOT WHERE RESPONSIBILITIES OVERLAP.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, TIM HUNG FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I HEARD YOU SAY YOU WERE A DISTRICT, A RESIDENT.
WHAT, IS THERE A SPECIFIC, UM, PART OF HOUSTON THAT YOU ARE REFERENCING? OR IS THERE SOMEWHERE IN DISTRICT A THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO, UM, MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS? ARE YOU SPEAKING IN GENERAL OR ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC AREA? UH, MORE GENERAL THAT, UH, BECAUSE WHEN, WHENEVER I DRIVE OUTSIDE OF, UH, CITY CENTER, UH, THE ROADS, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR MY HOUSE, UH, THERE IS SOUTH POST OAK ROAD.
UH, IS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BUMS AND THE, THE ROADS HAVE, THE CONDITION HAS HAVE BEEN VERY POOR FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I WAS JUST HOPING TO RAISE THIS ISSUE AS, UM, GENERAL, UH, A GENERAL ISSUE ACROSS THE CITY.
SO YOU, YOU, YOU LIVE NEAR SOUTH POST OAK? YEAH.
COUNCILMAN ALCORN, THANKS FOR COMING.
AND, UM, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS THAT WE'VE UNDER INVESTED IN, IN OUR STREET INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE REALLY ARE INVESTING A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN WE HAVE BEFORE.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE AT ABOUT A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, UM, IN INVESTMENTS IN STREET AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THIS YEAR.
UM, THERE WAS A LAWSUIT THAT W THE CITY, UM, UNDERWENT, WE SETTLED.
SO IT ENDS UP BEING LIKE A HUNDRED MILLION MORE THAN WE WERE SPENDING EACH YEAR ON STREET AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S NOT, I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE DEFINITELY SPENDING MORE THAN WE USED TO.
NEXT MARGO JORDAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY RODNEY UNDERWOOD.
UM, SO I AM GONNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK WAS ON THE AGENDA.
[00:50:01]
SO MY NAME IS MARGO JORDAN.I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF A COMPANY CALLED RICHLY.
AND WE'VE HELPED TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH FOR A LITTLE OVER 300,000, UH, KIDS ACROSS THE WORLD.
UM, AND I WANNA SPEAK UNDER GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING AROUND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND THE FACT THAT NATIONALLY, 40% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORT PERSISTENT SADNESS OR HOPELESSNESS.
AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALIZATIONS ROSE OVER 124% BETWEEN 2016 AND 2022.
TEXAS RANKS 19TH OUT OF 51 STATES FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, AND TWO THIRDS OF TEXAS CHILDREN WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION RECEIVE NO TREATMENT AT ALL.
SO HERE AT HOME, ABOUT 42% OF HOUSTON ISD STUDENTS SURVEYED REPORT, UH, REPORTED FEELING SAD OR HOPELESS TO THE POINT OF STOPPING REGULAR ACTIVITIES AND 14% REPORTED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.
H ISDS COUNSELOR TO STUDENT RATIO REMAINS FAR ABOVE THE RECOMMENDED STANDARD.
AND THE PANDEMIC RE THE PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS ONCE STOPPED THOSE GAPS EXPIRED OR EXPANDED BEYOND 2024.
IT'S NOT JUST A SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE, UH, CITIES ARE SHAPING ACCESS THROUGH PARKS AND RECREATION, PROGRAMMINGS AND LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS STILL REMAINS A LARGE ONE.
SO JUST LAST MONTH, META AGREED TO PAY ROUGHLY $17 BILLION TO SETTLE CLAIMS FROM OVER 50 STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS.
AND THAT KNOWINGLY DE DESIGNED FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO BE ADDICTIVE TO CHILDREN AND TEENS.
UM, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON ACTUALLY SECURED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS FOR TEXAS ALONE, AND THIS WAS FROM THAT METAL META SETTLEMENT.
UM, SO I'M ASKING THE, THE COUNCIL TO PLACE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ON A FUTURE AGENDA, IF NOT A CURRENT ONE.
UM, AND MAYBE A BRIEFING FROM PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF, A REVIEW OF WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, UM, MAYBE A PARTNERSHIP DIRECTIVE WITH PLATFORMS LIKE RICHLY TO REALLY SCALE HOW WE LOOK AT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
MICHELLE FERNANDEZ, OR Z KILGO KIMBERLY ON YE DEANDRA HOLLOWAY, ANGELA ROSS, DANIEL AJO, AJO.
I LIVE IN ADAMS COURT, A SMALL RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AT THE CORNER OF STEWART STREET AND MILAM IN MIDTOWN.
OUR HOMES ARE APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET FROM 33 15 MILAM STREET, WHERE THE CITY APPROVED A REMODEL PROJECT OF A FORMER NIGHTCLUB AND IS CURRENTLY NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
ADAMS COURT WAS DEVELOPED IN 2002, AND MOST OF THE FAMILIES HAVE LIVED THERE FOR ALMOST OVER 20 YEARS.
WE HAVE 12 RESIDENTS, INCLUDING SIX CHILDREN, RANGING FROM THE AGE OF ONE MONTH TO 13 YEARS OLD.
FIVE OF OUR RESIDENTS WORK IN HEALTH RELATED PROFESSIONS, NURSES, PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT, AND A HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN.
FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, WE ARE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
THESE ARE PROFESSIONS THAT REQUIRE EARLY MORNING, OVER OVERNIGHT SHIFTS, UNPREDICTABLE SCHEDULES, AND SOMETIMES RESPONDING WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN CRISIS.
OUR CONCERN IS SIMPLE AND LOGICAL.
A BUILDING THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1000 SQUARE FEET IS BEING EXPANDED TO 4,000 SQUARE FEET, FOUR TIMES THE ORIGINAL SIZE, AND YET THE PROJECT WAS CLASSIFIED AS A REMODEL PROJECT.
IT IS A CONSTRUCTION SITE WE SEE EACH DAY WITH STRUCTURAL BEAM INSTALLATIONS.
WE ARE ASKING LOGICAL QUESTIONS.
HOW DID THIS PRO UH, PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE GET CLASSIFIED AS
[00:55:01]
A REMODEL PROJECT? THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION SITE, THOUGH A DEVELOPMENT IS THE SIZE.THIS SIZE WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE, MORE VEHICLES, MORE ACTIVITY, JUST 73 FEET FROM OUR HOMES.
WE ARE HERE TO GET ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
WHAT IS THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING PLAN? WHAT IS THE NOISE MITIGATION PLAN? HOW WILL RESIDENTS, HOW WILL THIS AFFECT RESIDENTS AND EMERGENCY ACCESS PROTECTION? AND WHAT SAFETY MEASURE MEASURES WILL PROTECT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING NEXT DOOR? WE ARE HERE NOT TO FIGHT CITY HALL.
WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR CITY HALL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE ELECTED TO FIGHT FOR US.
WE HAVE REPEATEDLY REACHED OUT TO OUR HOME DISTRICT OFFICE, LEFT MESSAGES, EMAILS.
WE HAVE SENT ALL THE ALL THE, UH, AT LARGE MEMBERS LETTERS.
ALL WE'RE ASKING TODAY IS TO BANK.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED TO GET ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE THIS ESTABLISHMENT OPENS.
UH, MY NOTES SHOW THAT PUBLIC WORKS ATTEMPTED TO GET AHOLD OF YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES.
MISCOMMUNICATE, I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE NOTES SAY.
AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT TO BE ON THE NOTES.
IF SOMEONE DID NOT ATTEMPT, UH, WOULD YOU TALK TO REBECCA WILLIAMS AND SHE'S GONNA CONNECT YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS AND LET YOU ASK THEM THE SPECIFICS.
UH, YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW WITHOUT ZONING, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SOME OF THE, UH, ESTABLISHMENTS, BUT, UH, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND IF YOU'LL TALK MS. MS. WILLIAMS, SHE'LL CONNECT YOU TO, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NEREDA GARCIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESUS MADE.
MY NAME IS NERE GARCIA AND I'M HERE GRA I AM HERE BECAUSE I REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT, UH, SENIOR CITIZENS THAT ARE REALLY MISTREATED AND NOT TREATED FAIRLY AT THE APARTMENTS THAT WERE LEASING.
NO REFRIGERATOR, UH, NO REFRIGERATOR FOR ONE YEAR.
THEY DON'T REPAIR, THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION.
AND THEY WALK INTO MY APARTMENT WITHOUT MY APPROVAL AND I LEAVE ALONE.
AND THEY COME IN ANYTIME THEY WANT.
I ASKED THEM TO SEND ME AN EMAIL TO CALL ME ON THE PHONE OR TO CONTACT MY CHILDREN, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY NEEDED A NOTARIZED LETTER TO DO ANY OF THAT.
SEND ME, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO I WOKE UP TO FIND TWO PEOPLE IN MY KITCHEN.
I'M, I'M SICK AND I LIVE ALL BY MYSELF.
[01:00:07]
UH, I GOT SCARED WHEN I WOKE UP AND I SAW THAT THERE WAS ONE IN THE KITCHEN AND THE OTHER ONE ON THE WALL.I'M NOT SPEAKING ONLY FOR MYSELF.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SENIOR LIVING, UH, APARTMENTS FOR 10 YEARS AND I CAN SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, I WAS MOVED OUT BY THE STATE ON MY PREVIOUS APARTMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT REPAIRING, UH, THE DIS REPAIRS IN THE APARTMENT IN AT THIS CURRENT APARTMENT.
I'M GONNA MOVE OUT BECAUSE THERE'S RATS AND THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THINGS.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LIVE? SENIOR CITIZENS, WHERE SHOULD WE GO? WHAT, WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR? ARE THEY GONNA THROW US AWAY IN THE TRASH CAN? DON'T WE HAVE RIGHTS? YOU SAW THE ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO, UH, SENIOR CITIZENS IN HOUSING.
I DON'T WANNA GO INTO DETAILS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO START CRYING.
THANK YOU MS. GARCIA FOR BEING HERE.
AND WE'RE SORRY ABOUT YOUR CONDITIONS.
UH, IS THERE A MANAGER ON SITE? IT'S, THERE IS ONE.
THEY DON'T WHAT? THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION.
HOW LONG, HOW LONG HAS MS. GARCIA LIVED THERE? SINCE DECEMBER.
I HAVE PROOF THAT I DON'T HAVE A PURCHASE IS NOT WORKING.
MAY I ASK HER A PERSONAL QUESTION? HOW MUCH RENT DOES SHE PAY? HOUSING PAYS $948.
AND THEY DISCOUNT THAT FROM MY RETIREMENT CHECK HER RETIREMENT CHECK.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, BECAUSE THE DETAILS AND THE INFORMATION IS SO IMPORTANT, UH, I KNOW REBECCA WILLIAMS STEPPED OUT WITH OUR OTHER PERSON.
UH, WHEN REBECCA GETS THROUGH, SHE'S REALLY DEVELOPED A REAL EXPERTISE IN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM.
REBECCA VISIT WITH MS. GARCIA AND LET'S GET AN INSPECTION OF THAT LOCATION AND SEE WHAT HER OPTIONS ARE, BUT ALSO, UH, MIGHT NOTIFY HEALTH TO GET AN INSPECTION.
THANK YOU MA'AM FOR BEING HERE.
WE'RE SORRY WITH YOUR DIFFICULTY.
UM, MS. GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I KNOW THAT YOU SPOKE TO MY OFFICE EARLIER TODAY.
UM, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THAT AT THE PEPPER TREE APARTMENTS.
WE'VE HAD THOSE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WHERE THINGS HAVE KIND OF GOTTEN BETTER AND THEN GOTTEN WORSE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, NEW MANAGERS COMING IN.
UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH YOU ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES, MAYOR, WE'VE CONTACTED, UM, YOUR OFFICE, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UM, TO GET ASSISTANCE ON THIS.
AND SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO GET SOME PROGRESS GOING ON THIS.
[01:05:01]
PERSONAS.MAYORS, I AM ASKING YOU FOR ALL THE SENIOR CITIZENS, JESUS DEL LATOYA, DAVIS MOAZ KHAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY TAMIKA DONOVAN, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RAISE GRAVE CONCERN REGARDING THE FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS OTHER ADVANCED AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS ADVANCED A APRS.
AND I AM REQUESTING THAT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S COME BEFORE THIS BODY, UH, RECENTLY, IF Y'ALL COULD BRING IT UP AGAIN AND, UH, RESUME DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES, PRIVACY IS A CORE COMPONENT OF LIBERTY.
AND LIBERTY IS AN INALIENABLE RIGHT IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
UH, AND IT'S BEEN WITH US THROUGHOUT, UM, EVERY ASPECT OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY, DESPITE ITS HYPOCRISIES.
UM, IN OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT SAYS CLEARLY, UH, LIBERTY FROM TYRANNY, EXPERTS OF TYRANNY AND AUTHORITARIANISM TELL US THAT MASS SURVEILLANCE IS A TOOL OF TYRANTS AND AUTHORITARIANS.
I CONTEND AND EXPERTS CONTEND IN CYBERSECURITY AND A-A-C-L-U AS WELL THAT, UM, CAMERA NETWORKS, UH, ADVANCED APRS LIKE FLOCK SYSTEMS ARE IN FACT WHEN FULLY NETWORKED, UH, SYSTEMS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES, UH, NATIONWIDE, AND I DO CONCEDE THAT IN THE, IN THE SCHEME OF, UH, YOU KNOW, 20 BILLION LICENSE PLATE READS PER MONTH, STATISTICALLY THEY'RE LOW.
UM, UH, AND THEREFORE THEY'RE ANECDOTAL NOT ENOUGH TO DEVELOP A PATTERN.
HOWEVER, IF WE LOOK AT HOW SOME OF THESE CAMERA SYSTEMS ARE DEPLOYED AND MODIFIED INTERNATIONALLY, WE CAN SEE THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH WHEN LAYERING ON OTHER TECHNOLOGIES LIKE FACIAL REC RECOGNITION, UH, BODY LANGUAGE ANALYSIS.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE TOOLS THAT CHINA HAS DONE TO CREATE A POINT SCORING SYSTEM AND TO, UH, ISOLATE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES LIKE MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS WHO NOW HAVE TO WORSHIP IN PRIVATE AND AS WELL AS HONG KONG, WHICH WAS VERY DEMOCRATIZED AND WESTERN ORIENTED.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I VISITED, UH, PALESTINE WEST BANK, MULTIPLE CITIES THREE YEARS AGO BEFORE THIS CURRENT TRAGIC WAR THAT'S GOING ON, UH, IN THE CITY OF EL KAL, WHICH, UH, THE, UM, BIBLICAL ANGLICIZED IS HEBRON, YOU CAN SEE TOWERS OF CAMERAS AND NO, THEY'RE NOT MONITORING TRAFFIC.
THEY ARE SCANNING PEOPLE AND USING DATABASES TO GIVE PEOPLE COLOR CODING SCORES.
SO GREEN, YELLOW, RED, AND I KNOW YOU'LL SAY WE'RE NOT HERE THERE, AND THIS IS DIFFERENT HERE.
AND I DO AGREE AND I CONCEDE THAT THE CONCERN IS THAT IF WE LOOK THROUGH THE CORRECT CO KALEIDOSCOPIC VIEW THAT WE HAVE BY SOME OF OUR ACCOUNTS AND OPINIONS TAKEN STEPS IN THE AUTHORITARIAN DIRECTION OVER THE LAST 10 TO 12 YEARS, AND, UH, THE CONCERN IS THAT SETTING UP THESE INSTRUMENTS THAT COULD BECOME, UH, UBIQUITOUS, OMNIPRESENT, MASS SURVEILLANCE CAN PUT US IN A POSITION TO BE FURTHER MISUSED BEYOND ANECDOTES.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, BRINGING IT TO ATTENTION WHEN YOU CAN.
NEXT DAVID PRICE, TAMIKA DONOVAN TO BE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIAN WRIGHT.
MY HEALTH, SAFETY AND LIVELIHOOD IS IN DANGER.
AUGUST 21ST, 2026 WAS MY FIRST BREAKTHROUGH FROM A 30 YEAR IRREFUTABLE LAST FOUR YEARS.
CHAIN OF ABUSE, NOT OFFICIARY DUTY UNTIL TODAY'S DATE.
HERE I HOLD A PACKET OF A LAWSUIT.
I HAVE BEEN DUE PROCESS BLOCKED,
[01:10:01]
NEVER FILED.PLEASE TAKE IT AND GIVE ME JUSTICE.
HOW, HOWEVER, PACK A LOT OF PROOF AND TRUTH IF THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AGENCY SUPPOSED TO BE A MONUMENT BY LIE A DA DISCRIMINATE, DECEIVE, FRAUD, TAMPER WITH EVIDENCE USING GOVERNMENT, STATE DATA SYSTEMS, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, RACKETEERING, MENTAL ANGUISH, PTSD, CIVIL RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, HIPAA VIOLATION, IDENTITY THEFT CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FRAUD TRAUMA, CAUSING IT TO BE NOTHING.
UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
CAN YOU GIVE US THE NATURE OF YOUR ISSUE AND WHAT YOUR REQUEST OF THE COUNSEL IS? SO THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FILE A LAWSUIT THAT STARTED JUST AS A SIMPLE MOLD IN AN APARTMENT.
AND THEY TRIED TO BULLY ME BY SIGNING A FALSE, UM, RELEASE.
AND WHEN I REFUSED TO DO THAT, THEY BEGAN TO RETALIATE AGAINST ME, PUT IT ON MY CREDIT.
UM, I TRIED TO GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I WENT TO FORT BEN, LAURA DOWDY, SHARON THOMPSON, BRIAN MIDDLETON, WESLEY WHITTICK, CAMILLE JOHNSON, ERIC FAGAN.
SO DID YOU, CHIEF PARVO, DID YOU GET A PRIVATE ATTORNEY TO, UH, LOOK INTO YOUR MATTER? NO.
PRIVATE ATTORNEY WOULD TAKE ME, EVERY ATTORNEY I TAKE IT TO WHEN I TELL 'EM WHO IT'S AGAINST, THEY NEVER WANTS TO HELP.
IT'S EITHER THEY HAVE ALREADY REPRESENTED THEM BEFORE OR IT'S, I DON'T WANT TO PUT A BAD NAME ON MYSELF FOR REPRESENTING YOU AGAINST THESE HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU SPEAK TO THE EARL CARL INSTITUTE.
REACH OUT TO THE EARL CARL INSTITUTE IF YOU WANNA WRITE THAT DOWN.
THIS HAS BEEN OVER A FOUR YEAR STINT.
THIS PACKET HERE HOLDS OVER 3000 PAGES OF NOTHING BUT IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE.
I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP APPOINT ME COUNSEL SO THAT I CAN GET CIVIL RIGHTS.
UH, IT WOULDN'T BE THIS BODY TO BE ABLE TO APPOINT YOU COUNSEL, BUT I DO AGREE THAT YOU WILL NEED PRIVATE COUNSEL TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER.
UM, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR, UM, ENTITIES OR NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE THAT TO BE ABLE I HAVE DONE THAT.
I'M WELL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
MY, MY LIFE IS IN DANGER DUE TO THIS.
I'M BEING DEPRIVED OF MY MEDICAL, MY MEDICINE, MY INCOME, MY WORK.
BUT EVERY DAY THESE PEOPLE GET TO WALK WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
MA'AM, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT.
DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THE HOUSTON AREA? WHAT DO FAMILY HAVE TO DO WITH IT, MA'AM? WHAT DO FAMILY HAVE TO DO WITH IT? WELL, I'M OF COURSE WORKING WITH COUNCILMAN POLLARD WHO HAS A EXCELLENT IDEA ABOUT THE INSTITUTE THAT MIGHT HELP YOU LEGALLY.
I'M JUST THINKING FAMILY SUPPORT QUITE OFTEN WOULD HELP IF YOU HAVE FAMILY.
IF NOT, THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
BUT MY FAMILY IS BEING ABUSED DUE TO ALL OF THIS AS WELL.
HOW CAN THEY HELP IF WE'RE TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER DUE TO ALL THE ABUSE I NOTICED I'VE WENT TO EVERY, WHEN YOU SIGN UP, YOU SAID EVERY RESOURCE YOU LIVE IN HUMBLE.
I HAVE WENT TO EVERY RESOURCE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
IF SOMEONE WOULD PLEASE TAKE YES MA'AM.
WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME HELP.
YOU'VE DESCRIBED YOUR, YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
UH, IT APPEARS TO BE MUCH MORE THAN LEGAL.
PERHAPS YOU NEED FAMILY SERVICES.
FAMILY SERVICES FOR WHAT? DO I NEED? FAMILY SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOU.
MAYBE HELP YOU THROUGH, UH, I NEED FAMILY.
YOU'RE SAYING I NEED FAMILY SERVICES TO STOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM ABUSING ME.
MY FAMILY NEEDS THE HELP OF A MAYOR.
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU ALSO MAYOR.
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE PRESIDENT TO KNOW PREVAIL.
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TEXAS RANGERS, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO, WHEN I SAY EVERYTHING AND EVERY ONE LET ASK YOU ALL LONE STAR LEGAL AIDS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I WON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU GUYS.
I'M FIXING LET YOU MEET WITH LOUIS CONNECTOR
[01:15:01]
WITH, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE REBECCA WILLIAMS. LET ME ASK YOU, ARE YOU EMPLOYED? I AM.WE'RE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, WE'RE HVAC CONTRACTORS.
I'M LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DUE TO THE ABUSE THAT IS HAPPENING TO ME DUE TO MEDICAL, DUE TO HOUSING, DUE TO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
WELL, WE ALL SYMPATHIZE AND ARE GONNA TRY TO GET YOU SOME ASSISTANCE, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH US.
I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
UH, LOUIS, WOULD YOU LET ELIZABETH SIT DOWN AND SEE, UM, THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HER SOME ASSISTANCE? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
WILL YOU GUYS BE TAKING THIS EVIDENCE? YOU, YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH MR. LOUIE ARIAN WRIGHT, ANASTASIA MSOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEAGE.
I AM JUST A DUMB LITTLE A AND I COULDN'T GET MY PRINTER TO WORK TODAY, SO I JUST THOUGHT I TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
AND SALLY, IT'S ANCE AS MANY TIMES AS WE MET.
WELL, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW.
I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ANIMALS TODAY, BUT IMAGINE YOU GOING HOME OR TO YOUR PROPERTY AND ENCOUNTERING WHAT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE TIME.
MY NAME IS ANASTASIA MALIS AND I OWN THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN OH SIX WEST TIMER.
IT IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'VE WORKED HARD ALL MY LIFE AND THIS PROPERTY REPRESENTS MY LIVELIHOOD AND FINANCIAL SECURITY.
NOW THAT I'M RETIRED FOR TWO YEARS NOW, I HAVE DEALT WITH INDIVIDUALS REPEATEDLY TRESPASSING ON WHAT IS CLEARLY LABELED AS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THEY SLEEP THERE, THEY USE MY WATER AND ELECTRICITY, THEY LEAVE TRASH, THEY URINATE AND DEFECATE ON THE PREMISES.
AND IN FACT, THIS MONTH, UH, LAST MONTH, THEY, IT COST ME $3,000 FOR VANDALISM.
WE NEED ADEQUATE PATROL AND WE NEED THE LAW EXISTING LEGISLATION TO BE ENFORCED.
I HAVE CALLED FOR, EXCUSE ME, I HAVE CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW FOR ASSISTANCE EIGHT TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND BECAUSE OF MY AGE, I'M AFRAID TO CONFRONT THESE SITUATIONS MYSELF.
JUST LAST MONTH I HAD $3,000 WORTH OF VANDALISM.
ON AUGUST 12TH, MY TENANT CALLED ME BECAUSE THREE MEN WERE CAMPED OUTSIDE THE ADJOINING BUILDING AND IT CREATED QUITE THE MESS.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE PICTURE GOING AROUND.
UM, I DROVE TO THE PROPERTY AND CALLED 3 1 1 IN THE INTERIM FOR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I HAD PREVIOUS, PREVIOUSLY BEEN ACCOSTED AND WAS AFRAID I BROUGHT AN UNLOADED HANDGUN.
IT DID NOT HAVE A MAGAZINE OR NO AMMUNITION IN IT, BUT HAVING BEEN ATTACKED, I'VE BEEN URINATED ON.
I'M OBVIOUSLY BEEN CUSSED OUT.
THE POLICE HAVE COME OUT THERE AND IN THE PAST, ALL THEY DO IS SHOO THESE PEOPLE OFF WHAT IS CLEARLY LABELED AS PRIVATE PROPERTY PROSECUTED IF THEY INVADE THE SPACE.
I'M CONSTANTLY PICKING UP DIRTY NEEDLES AND TRASH AT THIS LOCATION.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE ACROSS THE STREET FROM LANIER.
AND AS I HAVE SAID, PLEASE CITY COUNCIL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN AN, IN AN EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY MANNER.
THOUGH I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BRINGING THE HAND GUN WAS A MISTAKE, WHY DOES THE CITY COUNCIL AND HPD FORCE US TO TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HAND? LIKE I'VE SAID, THAT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WAS THE NINTH TIME I'VE CALLED HPD OUT THERE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
[01:20:01]
ISN'T THIS WHY WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT? WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS ALSO DESERVES ATTENTION.WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, I IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED AND PUT DOWN MY GUN DESPITE EXPLAINING THAT I HAD, WAS RECOVERING FROM SEVERAL SURGERY.
AND PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO KNEEL.
I WAS THROWN AGAINST THE GLASS AND HANDCUFFED THIS REALLY COMPROMISED SURGERY I HAD ON A BROKEN ARM.
I REPEATEDLY TOLD OFFICERS THAT I WAS IN SEVERE PAIN.
I WAS EVENTUALLY PLACED IN A POLICE VEHICLE WHERE I REMAINED WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN TRESPASSING ON THE PROPERTY WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE.
PROBLEM IS THEY COME WITH NO CONSEQUENCES.
THEY COME BACK THE DAY OR TWO LATER AND THEY'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE ARE.
I ASKED FOR AN ATTORNEY NO LESS THAN 18 TIMES.
I WAS, I WAS, THEY TOLD ME I WAS NOT UNDER ARREST AND DID NOT QUALIFY TO TALK TO MY ATTORNEY.
I WAS ONLY BEING INTERROGATED.
YET I KIND OF FIND IT FUNNY THAT IN, DURING THAT TWO AND A HALF PERIOD OF TIME, I WAS ONLY ASKED ONE QUESTION AND THAT WAS MY NAME.
NEVER WAS I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT PROVOKED THIS? WHY AM I DOING THIS? WHY AM I TAKING SUCH MEASURES THAT PROPERTY HAS NEVER BEEN VACANT IN 50 YEARS, MORE THAN A MONTH I'VE SAT ON THIS VACANCY NOW FOR 18 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS PROB PROPERTY.
AND IT, BELIEVE ME, IT HAS COST ME A LOT OF MONEY.
THAT NIGHT, MY SON HAD TO END UP TAKING ME TO THE ER FOR ADEQUATE PAIN MEDICINE.
MY PURPOSE IN SPEAKING TODAY IS NOT TO EXCUSE MY DECISION TO BRING A FIREARM.
I'M HERE TO ASK WHY A 70-YEAR-OLD PROPERTY OWNER FEELS THAT REPEATED CALLS FOR HELP ARE NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT HER RIGHTS.
HPD HAS BEEN VERY INEFFECTUAL IN, IN, UH, ENFORCING THE LEGISLATION THERE.
I'VE REQUESTED FOR POLICE ASSISTED AT THIS LOCATION EIGHT TIMES AND DURING THE, THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES.
PEOPLE ARE ONLY REMOVED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.
AND THEN WE RETURNED A FEW DAYS LATER.
MY TENANTS, MY PROPERTY, AND MY ULTIMATELY SURROUNDING BUSINESSES ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.
THEY ARE MAD AS HELL THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
I AM ASKING FOR ME MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT ON THE RECORD TODAY.
AND ADEQUATE PATROLS IN THE AREA OF WESTHEIMER.
PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A SITU SITUATION ESCALATES BEFORE HELP ARRIVES.
PLEASE NOTE, I HAD CALLED 3 1 1 ON MY WAY DOWN THERE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM WHERE THE PROPERTY IS.
I'M ASKING THE CITY TO ADDRESS THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM BECAUSE SOMEONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, TWO DAYS AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE, A HOMELESS PERSON THREW ROCKS AT, WENT A WINDOW IN THE, AT A DRY CLEANERS IN THE NEXT BLOCK.
AGAIN, NO CONSEQUENCES BY THE HOMELESS PERSON WERE FACED LEAVING THE OWNER TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR REPLACING ALL OF HIS GLASS.
I HAVE CALLED OUT CHAD, LIEUTENANT CHAD, OR I'M SORRY, SERGEANT CHAD WALLS, LIEUTENANT SATTERWHITE, OFFICER BURNELL, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
SINCE THIS EVENT, I'VE LEFT FIVE MESSAGES FOR SERGEANT CHAD WALLS AND TO DATE HAVE NOT HAD ANY RETURN CALL IN A TIME WHEN THERE IS CON CONSTANT RESTRAINTS ON THE NUMBER OF POLICE.
IT SEEMS TO BE A TERRIBLE WASTE OF TIME AS FIT WELL AS FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO HAVE 12 POLICEMEN THERE AT THAT LOCATION FOR OVER TWO HOURS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE'RE SORRY ABOUT THOSE CONDITIONS.
OKAY? AND YOU, YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT.
GIVE MS. WILSON THE ADDRESS AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE THERE THIS AFTERNOON.
HOW ABOUT TOMORROW? I MEAN, I'M JUST ASKING FOR HPD JOB.
WE'LL, WE'LL BE HERE THROUGH SHORTLY.
GIVE MS. WILSON YOUR, DO YOU WANT THE INCIDENT? GIVE MS. WILSON THE INFORMATION.
ANYONE ELSE IS JACOB, ARE YOU UP THERE? ARE YOU REGISTERED? YES, SIR.
I'M NOT TALKING, WELL, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE AUSTIN CHRONICLES, BUT THEY'RE NOT TO BE MISTAKEN FOR THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES.
NOW, UH, AUSTIN CHRONICLES, I TOLD YOU LAST WEEK THAT I WAS GOING TO AUSTIN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TALK WITH THEM.
AND I DIDN'T, I I TALKED WITH THEM THAT, UH, UH,
[01:25:01]
ALL DAY LONG AND WELL THEN SOME.BUT AT ANY RATE, DEAR MAYOR KIRK WALKER, KIRK WALTON, HE SAID, SAY HI TO JOHN WILMAR FOR ME, AND BECAUSE HE REMEMBERS YOU AS A DEAN OF THE STATE SENATE, AND HE WAS ALSO WITH, UH, RODNEY ELLIS AND INS GARCIA.
NOW, AT ANY RATE, I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE CANDIDATE FORM, WHICH WILL BE AT THE AVALON STEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, 5 6 0 1 BRIDGEWOOD AND SEPTEMBER 29TH.
AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE AGGIE JOKE.
WHY DIDN'T THE AGGIE MAKE A GOOD, GOOD CHEF? BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS SPELLED KNIFE AS NIFE, NOT K-N-I-F-E.
YOU SEE, I TOUCHED YOUR GOOSE, WAS TO BE COOKED.
NEXT, ARCO BARMAN TO BE A TO BE FOLLOWED BY A SEA SHOWERING.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, PERHAPS NEPHEWS, NIECES? DO YOU TAKE THEM FOR GYMNASTICS OR TO THE POOL? DO YOU THINK THEY'RE SAFE THERE? SAFE FROM WATCHING A LIVE FEED FROM CAMERAS IN THOSE GYMS AND POOLS.
PUBLIC RECORDS SHOW FLOCK SAFETY, EMPLOYS LIVESTREAM CAMERAS FOR HOURS FROM GYMS AND SWIMMING POOLS WHERE CHILDREN VISIT IN DUNWOODY, GEORGIA.
THESE LIVE STREAMS WERE USED FOR A SALES PITCH.
WHO WAS THE BUYER? A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
APPARENTLY THEY WERE SO ECSTATIC THAT THEY SIGNED THE CONTRACT.
EVEN ALL OF YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING IN HOUSTON.
PEDOPHILES ARE PREY ON YOUR CHILDREN THROUGH FLOCK CAMERAS.
YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN HOUSTON.
WHEN YOU GO HOME TONIGHT, LOOK YOUR KIDS IN THE EYE.
TELL THEM PEDOPHILES ARE WATCHING YOU AT THE POOL AND THE GYMNASTICS ROOM.
AND I SIGNED THE CONTRACT THAT ENABLES THEM.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT? NO.
SO SINCE YOU'RE COMPLICIT IN THE ABUSE OF LITTLE CHILDREN, FLOCK CAMERAS ARE TARGETED TOWARDS POOLS AND GYMNASTICS ROOMS. THERE IS ONE SUCH FLOCK CAMERA I FOUND IN, UM, IN THE CITY OF WOODLANDS.
I HAVE IT ON A MAP IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COMMENT? NO, WE'RE FINE.
UH, WE HEARD, UH, THEY'RE GOING TO RETIRE CONGRESS.
IT'S OKAY IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT.
UM, CONGRESSWOMAN JASMINE CROCKETT, GIRL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.
I EMAILED YOU, GOT YOUR PEOPLE THROUGH LINKEDIN, BUT YOU STILL CAN COME ON THE 22ND OR THE 29TH OF THIS MONTH, MS. SALINAS, TWO WEEKS.
UH, IT'S PRETTY MUCH COPY AND PASTE.
THEN TO SUBMIT ON THE FLOOR, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONE OF THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT FOR THE THIRD TIME OR THE FOURTH TIME.
BECAUSE ONCE OR TWICE CAN CAN BE A MISTAKE.
BUT THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME, IT'S A WILLFUL AND MALICIOUS CONDUCT INTENT TO CAUSE HARM ON A SPECIFIC, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MS. COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
ANYONE ELSE THAT SIGNED UP? I SIGNED UP.
SO I WANTED TO, TO THANK THE MAYOR AND, UH, THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE HAVE AN, A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE BROADENED AND, UH, UP TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR.
AND WE JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND ADVOCACY.
UH, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON CONTINUES TO, UH, SUPPORT ORGANIZED LABOR AND A, AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT IDENTIFY YOURSELF, YOU WITH THE ELEVATORS.
RYAN SCHUTT, BUSINESS MANAGER, IUEC, LOCAL 31.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE WRITING PUBLIC ALL STAYS SAFE
[01:30:01]
AND THAT, UH, WE'RE USING THOSE FUNDS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.SO I WANT TO VERY GOOD SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, WE STAND RECESSED NINE IN THE MORNING.
UM, NO, US IMMIGRANTS ARE STILL HERE.
WE'RE STILL A PART OF HOUSTON.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIMES BE REPORTED TO ICE BY HPD.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THE OFFICERS, TRUST OUR CITY TO LOOK AFTER US.
AND THE LAST REPORT NOTED 14 TIMES HPT CALLED PEOPLE CALLED ICE ON HOUSTONIANS.
ARE WE GONNA SEE THE SAME NUMBERS NEXT REPORT? WE NEED CHANGE, OR I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE TALKING WITH HBD CHIEF OR HBD AT ALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST REPORT.
THEY HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE GOT NO ANSWERS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT REPORT'S GONNA BE WORSE, WHAT THE NUMBER'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED ANSWERS OR WE'RE SCARED.
I I DON'T WANT TO BE SCARED TO CALL THE POLICE.
I DON'T WANT MY NEIGHBORS TO BE SCARED TO CALL THE POLICE.
I DON'T WANT SOMEONE WHO'S SUFFERING THROUGH ABUSE TO NOT WANT TO CALL HPD BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE, OR JUST, I DON'T WANNA GO OVER TIME.
[5:00 P.M. – RECESS]
STAND RECESS AT NINE IN THE MORNING, 650[READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA]
700 BLOCKS OF MILLARD STREET, BETWEEN GAMT STREET AND COLEMAN BELMONT GULLY WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.ITEM 21 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 700 BLOCK OF RAND STREET BETWEEN REAGAN STREET AND WATSON STREET, BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 22, ORDINANCE RENEWING, RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 2,400 TO 2,500 BLOCK OF OAKDALE STREET BETWEEN EMANCIPATION AVENUE AND LIVE OAK STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER FOURT.
TWO OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY BACKUP WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH PINE VILLAGE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT.
ITEM 24 ORDINANCE, FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS MANSFIELD, OFF-ROAD DITCH EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROJECT ITEM 25 ORDINANCE, ACCEPTING AND AUTHORIZING GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BRIDGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM FOR BUFFALO BIO BRIDGES REHABILITATION STUDY ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF WATER LINES ALONG CLINTON DRIVE IN MAYO, MAYO SHELL ROAD.
ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $194,673 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH BR ENGINEERING INC.
ITEM 28 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DHO GREASE TRANSPORT, LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 39 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 29 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS IMD BIKEWAYS FROM DAIRY ASHFORD ROAD TO ARTHUR STORY PARK PROJECT.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND WAS ITEM 19 ON THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTION FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO WISH MYSELF A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS FRIDAY.
AND WITH THAT HAPPY HUMP DAY EVERYBODY.
[RECONVENE]
COUNSEL, PLEASE[01:35:01]
COME TO ORDER.[HEARINGS - 9:00 A.M.]
FIRST TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.MR. SECRETARY, NUMBER ONE, ITEM ONE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EXISTING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SPRING CREEK UTILITY DISTRICT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR MEYER AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RUPE KOSHI AND I'M A SENIOR STAFF ANALYST IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS THE, UH, SECOND OF THE TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE 2026 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ROUND, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SPA.
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.
FOLLOWING THIS PUBLIC HEARING, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL WILL BE SEEKING COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THE SPA AND THE LIMITER PURPOSE ANNEXATION ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2026.
IF APPROVED TAX COLLECTIONS WILL BEGIN ON APRIL 1ST, 2027.
THE PROPOSED SPA AND LIMITER PURPOSE INDEXATION FOR OCTOBER, 2026 ARE AS FOLLOWS, UH, SPRING CREEK UTILITY DISTRICT, WHERE THE CITY WILL AMEND THE EXISTING SPA AND ANN NEXT ADDITIONAL TERRITORY FOR LIMITED PURPOSES FOR THIS DISTRICT, THE CITY WILL LEVY A ONE PERSON SALES TAX, WHICH WILL BE DIVIDED EVENLY WITH THE DISTRICT.
THERE ARE, AT PRESENT, NO RESIDENCE IN THE AREA TO BE ANNEXED FOR LIMITED PURPOSES.
ALSO, THE CITY IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANY SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 43.075 1D OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
NOTICES OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 23RD AND 28TH, 2026, AND CONTAINED A STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARINGS, THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF THE HEARINGS AND LOCATION WHERE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED SPAS MAY BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO THE HEARINGS.
THAT COMPLETES MY REPORT, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR WITNESS? IF NOT, THANK YOU, SIR.
IS ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO ONE IS SIGNED UP.
GONNA GET A MOTION TO ACCEPT TO CLOSE CASTEX TA MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[Additional Item]
THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT IS TO GET A REPORT FROM KENNETH ALLEN.KENNETH, YOU'LL COME FORWARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
CERTAINLY IN MY JUDGMENT AND I, YOU CAN DETERMINE FOR YOURSELF THE MISINFORMATION CONCERNING GRIMES PARK.
UH, I THINK EVEN THE CONTROLLER WAS REFERENCING IT IN HIS QUOTE, FINANCIAL REPORT.
THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY'S LEGAL AGREEMENTS.
I THINK COUNCILMAN POLLARD, UH, APPROPRIATELY BROUGHT HOW WE MUST DO BETTER AND NOT GET INTO BUYING THAT WE FOUND OURSELF IN.
UH, CERTAINLY I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK AND I CAN YIELD TO YOU, KENNETH.
UH, BUT THE AGREEMENT WAS 30 YEARS AGO WITH A FIVE, EVERY FIVE YEAR RENEWAL.
THE LAST FIVE YEAR RENEWAL WAS IN 23.
UH, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE SURE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERYTHING HAPPENS DURING MY ADMINISTRATION.
BUT, UH, COUNSEL AND THE ADMINISTRATION APPROVED THE LAST AGREEMENT IN 23.
AND CERTAINLY WE'VE LEARNED FROM THAT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S VERY FEW OF THESE AGREEMENTS, BUT, UH, WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD, UH, TO PROTECT THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT.
UH, AND HID WALKED IT AND, UH, THEY'VE GOT BIG PLANS.
WE'LL, I THINK TIME WILL TELL WHETHER IT'S TO THE, UH, ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S A MAJOR INVESTMENT AND THEY WOULDN'T YIELD THEY BEING HID BUT MEMBERS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT A FINE JOB MR. ALLEN DOES.
HE TREATS OUR PARKS LIKE HIS CHILDREN.
AND IF YOU MESS WITH ONE OF HIS PARKS, HE WILL FIGHT YOU.
IN FACT, AS WE WORK WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UH, TO COLLABORATE AND ALLOW THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TO MANAGE A
[01:40:01]
LOCATION, UH, KENNETH FIGHTS FOR CITY PROGRAMS, CERTAINLY THE, THE YOUTH PROGRAMS, I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE YOU.SO IF YOU WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE TIMELINE ON GRIMES, WE CERTAINLY WENT TO WORK AS SOON AS NOTICE CAME IN AND, AND FOUGHT THE TAKEOVER UP TO THE LAST DAY.
BUT YOU PROTECTED THE ASSETS AND CERTAINLY HELPED RELOCATE THOSE SPORTS, UH, ACTIVITIES.
THE LEAGUE, THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
I'M, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOU, BUT, UH, I WILL PUBLICLY SAY YOU'RE ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING DIRECTORS AND WHY I BRAG ON OUR TEAM ALL, ALL THE TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE JOB YOU DO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LABOR OF LOVE AND PASSION.
I'M ONE OF THE VERY KIDS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT USE PARKS THAT WE MANAGE AND CATER TO TODAY.
SO WHEN I HEAR ABOUT AMENITIES, PROGRAMS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IMPACTS ME AS WELL.
SO WE'VE HAD THIS LONG HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH HSD, NOT JUST FOR PARKS OPERATING ON THEIR PROPERTY.
WE HAVE THREE AGREEMENTS NOW, UM, SIMILAR TO GRIMES.
UH, AND WE'RE ADJUSTING THOSE BASED ON COMMENTS AND, AND, AND STATEMENTS MADE RIGHT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND WE WILL CERTAINLY DO JUST THAT.
UM, BUT IN 2022 WHEN WE, UH, REDEVELOPED A PARK UNDER A MAYOR TURNER'S ADMINISTRATION, UH, WE CHOSE GRIMES BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE NEEDED MORE PARK SPACE THERE.
AND WE INVESTED WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UM, IN THAT SPACE THAT, THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR OUR USE FROM HISD.
AND UNBEKNOWNST TO US, UM, THEY WANTED TO TERMINATE.
AND WE GOT NOTICE AT THE, BASICALLY THE VERY LAST MINUTE, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE TIMELINE, UM, BUT IT WAS JUST VERY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO KEEP GOING AS WE HAVE BEEN GOING FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
WE MET WITH LEGAL, WE MET WITH HISD, UH, IN TERMS OF, UM, REAL ESTATE AND THEIR STRATEGIC PLANNING.
AND IT ALL CAME BACK FROM HSD.
THEY HAD SOMETHING BIGGER AND MORE IMPORTANT FROM THEIR STANDPOINT TO DO ON THEIR LAND, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.
WHO COULD WHO COULD COMBAT THAT FOR BETTER EDUCATION, FOR USE OF THE COMMUNITY? AND PEOPLE OFTEN SAY, PARKS ARE WHERE PEOPLE PLAY, BUT THE PASSION FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS QUITE EVIDENT IN TERMS OF THE BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE.
ALL AGE GROUPS, YOU KNOW, YOUNG AND MATURED LIKE MYSELF.
SO, SO I JUST, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE, WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
NO, WE, BASED ON THE AGREEMENT AND, UH, BASED ON WHAT THEY WERE PLANNING, UM, WE COULD NOT STOP THEM.
UM, AND SO BACK TO 2022 AND THE PARK IMPROVEMENT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL WITH MONEY INVOLVED, WE HAVE TO GO TO COUNCIL TO GET FUNDS APPROPRIATED.
AND BECAUSE MORE MONEY WAS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AT, AT GRIMES, THAT WAS APPROVED.
SO TO SAY THAT NOBODY HAD AN OP OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THESE AGREEMENTS, UM, IT'S JUST NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE PUT THIS ON A TABLE, EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.
DO WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS? YES.
UM, WHEN I LOOK AT JANUARY 26TH, LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
WE GOT OUR FIRST NOTICE OF TERMINATION THAT CAME TO AN, AN ACTUAL PO BOX.
A CITY'S PO BOX DIDN'T GET TO US.
UM, SO WE DIDN'T GET OUR FIRST NOTICE ABOUT THE TERMINATION FROM HSD UNTIL MARCH 26.
[01:45:02]
RIGHT AWAY WE WENT TO WORK, AS I MENTIONED, WITH LEGAL MEETING WITH HISD OFFICIALS, UH, TO FIND OUT WE HAD NO, NO RECOURSE.SO MOVING FORWARD TO APRIL, AFTER GETTING THE NOTICE IN MARCH, WE GO RIGHT AWAY INTO EXECUTION AND PLANNING.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY TEAM.
UM, THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.
AND MAYOR, AS I CHALLENGE YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY CHALLENGE ME.
SO, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE 37 YEARS AS A, AS A CITY EMPLOYEE FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT MULTIPLE LEVELS, I STARTED WITH THIS DEPARTMENT PART-TIME AS A REC LEADER.
I'VE REACHED EVERY ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION THAT I COULD REACH UP UNTIL THE, THIS CHAIR AS A DI, AS THE, UH, DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, I KNOW COMMUNITY.
I'VE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE LAST THING I EVER WANTED TO DO WAS DENY THEM A PARK VERY AGGRESSIVELY.
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH HISD, MY TEAM AND I, WE GET TO THIS POINT, SO AGAIN, APRIL 26TH, WE GO INTO ACTION.
WE START TALKING INTERNALLY, WHAT'S OUR GAME PLAN? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE REMOVE? WHAT CAN WE SALVAGE? LET'S GET OUR OTHER DIVISIONS INVOLVED IN THIS.
AND THEN IN MAY 26TH, WE EVEN NOTIFIED OUR MAY, 2026, I'M SORRY, WE MO WE NOTIFIED OUR BIGGEST PARTNER IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENT PLAN, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THAT THIS IS THE DECISION THAT'S BEEN MADE AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD.
THEY NOTIFIED THEIR DONORS AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MONEY OR FUNDS THAT WERE UTILIZED.
SO ALL, ALL THAT INVESTMENT TO CAME UP TO ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.
WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH OUR PARTNERS.
WE SENT THE LETTER OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHABASH, UM, AND THE LEAGUE DIRECTOR, MR. DIXON, ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND WE START WORKING ON ANOTHER PLAN FOR REALLOCATION AND REPLACEMENT.
HSD NOTIFIED US THAT THE TIMELINE IS MOVED UP.
AND WE HAD TO VACATE GRIMES BY JANUARY, BY FIRST.
IT WAS JANUARY AND THEY MOVED IT TO OCTOBER 26TH, 2000.
26 AUGUST, WE GOT ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FROM HSD.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE FROM AUGUST, 2026 TO THE FIRST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER, 2026.
ALSO IN AUGUST, WE JUST STARTED OUR PLAN TO REMOVE AMENITIES SO THAT WE CAN FIND OTHER PLACES FOR THE, THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SAL SALVAGE.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAD TO FIND A GROUP OF ABOUT A HUNDRED KIDS, A PLACE IN A HOME.
WE WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS GROUP.
WE HAD ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
EITHER IT WAS DISTANCE, LIGHTING, FIELD CONDITIONS, A LOT OF WORK.
WENT INTO FINDING THEM A HOME, WHICH IS NOW AT GARDEN V PARK GARDEN VILLAGE PARK WITH WITH LIGHTS.
WE MOVED FROM THERE AND START WORKING ON OUR PUBLIC STATEMENT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE WANTED TO, WHAT DO WE TELL THE COMMUNITY? WHERE ARE WE? AND THIS HAPPENED RELATIVELY FAST.
WE GET TO SEPTEMBER, WE GET A SPEAKER AT COUNCIL.
A LOT OF MISINFORMATION GOING OUT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND, UM, WITH THE LETTERS AND THE TIMELINES.
THERE'S NO DOUBT, NO QUESTION ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHAT OUR PLAN IS AT, AT AT THIS POINT.
SO ALSO IN SEPTEMBER, WE CAME TO THE POINT WHERE THE LIONS HAD A PLACE, UM, A PLACE TO, TO PLAY AND PRACTICE.
THE GROUP WAS ALREADY INFORMED THAT THEIR PERMIT WOULD END JULY 31ST.
[01:50:01]
AND THEY DECIDED TO GO OUT ANYWAY.THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM, ISN'T IT? BUT WE, WE COMMUNICATED WITH THE GROUP AND WE WERE STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT A LOCATION.
THANK GOODNESS WE FOUND THAT AGAIN AT GARDEN VILLAGES.
ALRIGHT, ALL THE AMENITIES FROM GRIMES, WE WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE THE LIGHTING, THE POLES, THE PLAYGROUND, UH, THE BENCHES, THE PICNIC TABLES, NETTING, COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE, UH, CONCRETE.
ONCE YOU BUST UP THE CONCRETE, IT'S NO LONGER USABLE AS A SURFACE.
BUT ALL THOSE AMENITIES, STARTING WITH SCOTT, SCOTT CREST PARK, UM, WE'LL HAVE A NEW LOCATION AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT NOW.
AND THAT, THAT'S KIND OF THE TIMELINE OVERALL.
UM, I'M GLAD I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND PRESENT THIS TIMELINE IN A SERIES OF EVENTS, ALONG WITH THE FACTS AND THE, AND THE FACT THAT WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE WITH, WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
UM, OUR DUE DILIGENCE WITH HISD, UM, IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
UM, OUR, OUR HOPE IN THIS REDEVELOPMENT, OUR KIDS FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT, UM, REALLY GET WHAT THEY NEED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR HISD.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT LOCATION? YOU KNOW, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOLS THAT, THAT ARE CLOSING.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'LL HAVE TO ANSWER THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS.
AND FOR ME, IT'S JUST TO SALVAGE WHATEVER I CAN AND TO CONTINUE TO PROGRAM AND BE A BENEFIT, UM, TO CHILDREN AND, UM, SENIORS AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT USE OUR PARKS BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED.
KENNETH, I HOLD YOU UP AS ONE OF OUR BEST DIRECTORS.
'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S A CALLING FOR YOU.
AND I'M SORRY THAT THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM AND MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FINE JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS.
AND, UH, ALL I'D SAY IS ANYONE MESSAGED WITH YOU, THEY'RE MESSING WITH ME.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATELY THAT THE MEDIA AND AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS JUST KIND OF GIVE A BLANKET CRITICISM OF HOW YOU HANDLED A VERY TOUGH SITUATION.
AND, UH, I KNOW WE'RE NOT THROUGH, YOU'RE GONNA FOLLOW THROUGH TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE LEAGUE HAS EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
UH, I MIGHT ASK YOU WHY YOU'RE BEFORE US.
AND, AND CERTAINLY THE MONIES THAT THE LEGISLATURE BUDGETED ALL TIME HIGH FOR CITY PARKS IN HOUSTON.
AND I THINK IT POSITIONS US WELL FOR NEXT SESSION.
BUT IF YOU WOULD JUST KIND OF MAYBE AN UPDATE OF, UH, LET'S PLAY.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN REALLY GET EXCITED ABOUT.
$60 MILLION INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS ALONG WITH DONORS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE IDENTIFIED 25 PARKS, AT LEAST ONE IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT IN PLACES WHERE IT NEEDED, WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST.
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA SEE A CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SMALLER GREEN SPACES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONSERVANCIES, WE HAVE CAPITAL INITIATIVES AT OUR SIGNATURE PARKS, UH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND OUR POCKET PARKS WITH MAYOR LES PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE, UH, IT EXPANDS FURTHER THAN ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE PARK SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE BREAKING GROUND THIS FALL, STARTING WITH LAWRENCE PARK.
UM, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS DONE, UH, THROUGH THE YEAR.
THE FIRST 11 PARKS WE'LL HAVE DONE BY THE END OF 27, THE NEXT 14 PARKS WE HAVE DONE BY THE END OF 28.
THAT'S A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING TO HAVE THOSE PARKS DONE VIRTUALLY AT THE SAME TIME IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WITH 50 50, WE COULDN'T QUITE GET THERE, UH, IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT, BUT WE DID MANAGE TO DO SOME GOOD WORK IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING ON AND CREATING A NEW INITIATIVE SIMILAR TO THE OLD ONE, BUT WITH
[01:55:01]
FURTHER REACH IN THE, UH, PHILANTHROPIC AND THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY.YOU GUYS, YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE 25 PARKS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, RENOVATED WORKING WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND OTHERS.
WELL, EVAN, YOUR BOSS, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CERTAINLY DIRECTOR.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING, UH, WITH THIS TIMELINE.
AND I HAVE TO HONESTLY SAY, WELL, BAX, SOME YEARS AGO, I THINK WE WENT SIDEWAYS ONCE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT, MAYOR.
WE GO SIDEWAYS ONCE AND THEN WE STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS.
I'M GONNA SAY THAT WHEN IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION, UM, AT THE END OF AUGUST, I REACHED OUT TO HIM AND HE IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY STARTED OFFERING OPTIONS FOR OTHER PLACES THAT THE FOOTBALL TEAM COULD GO.
UH, HE CAME BACK WITH A FEW, WE FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF THEM DID NOT HAVE LIGHTS, AND I TOLD HIM THE LIGHTS WERE REQUIRED.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THEY, THEY PRACTICE AT NIGHT.
AND SO CERTAINLY HE CAME BACK WITH AN OPTION THAT I BELIEVE THE, UH, TEAM HAS BEEN HAPPY WITH.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK THAT THAT PROPERTY WAS ONCE FOR SALE.
AND SO I'M WONDERING HOW DID THAT GO SINCE WE HAD MADE SUCH A MAJOR INVESTMENT, UM, AS TO WHY THAT WASN'T PURSUED.
WAS IT, YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH, OR, OR, OR, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TO GO IN AND PUT THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT IS LIKE, YOU GO IN AND YOU BUILD A HOUSE AND THEN SOMEBODY COMES AND TELLS YOU, OH, YOU GOTTA GET OUT.
UM, AND SO HOW DID THAT GO IN RETURN IN REGARDS TO OFFERING THAT PROPERTY FOR SALE AND WHY THE CITY DIDN'T PURCHASE IT? I'M, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, THAT COULD ALSO BE A RUMOR AS WELL.
IT COULD BE, AND THIS IS A TIME TO DISPEL THAT.
AND IF YOU COULD GET, MAYBE GET SOME INFORMATION BACK TO ME, CERTAINLY I'D LIKE TO KNOW CERTAINLY, UH, WHETHER THAT PROPERTY WAS EVER OFFERED FOR SALE AND WHY WE DIDN'T PURCHASE IT.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, I, I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD DID BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT IF WE HAVE THESE KINDS OF CONTRACTS WHERE WE ARE MAKING THESE MAJOR INVESTMENTS, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO KNOW, UH, IF WE HAVE A BETTER CONTROL OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND SO I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHEN WAS NOTICE GIVEN TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT I WAS A RELATIVE OF THE COACH.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT STARTED, UH, ESCALATING AND I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT, WERE THEY GIVEN ADEQUATE NOTICE THAT THEY WERE GONNA NEED TO STOP PRACTICING AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE? OR, UM, HOW DID THAT GO? BECAUSE HAD IT COME TO MY ATTENTION EARLIER, WE COULD HAVE COLLABORATED TO HAVE MADE IT A MORE SMOOTH TRANSITION WHEN WE FOUND OUT, WE STARTED COMMUNICATING, UH, BACK IN ACTUALLY THE END OF APRIL.
BUT WHEN DID, WITH, WITH, WHEN DID THE TEAM, THE LEAGUE THAT'S FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE GONNA HAVE TO RELOCATE? YEAH.
WHO WE COMMUNICATED WITH WAS THE TEAM.
IT WAS MR. DIXON WHO RUNS THE TEAM.
SO WE DIRECT BASICALLY YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY KNEW BACK IN APRIL? YEAH, WE HAD DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, BUT REMEMBER THE TIMELINES WERE MOVED UP.
SO THEY WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY WOULD HAVE ANOTHER SEASON.
BUT WHAT, WHAT KIND OF GAVE THEM THAT IMPRESSION WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THEY WERE SAYING, AND I, AND CERTAINLY I'M NOT TRYING TO LET ME FINISH SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ATTACK YOU, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN DID THEY KNOW I'M GOING BACK AND FORTH.
COMMUNITY NOTICE IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO THEY, THEY, THEY WERE, THEY WERE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN WE FOUND OUT, RIGHT? MM-HMM
UM, HSD MOVED THE TIMELINE MM-HMM
SO THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER SEASON, WHICH, WHICH, WHICH WOULD BE THROUGH 28, WHICH MM-HMM
HSD MOVED THE TIMELINE UP TWICE.
SO IT SENT US INTO A RED ALERT.
SO NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER SEASON TO WORK WITH.
YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO RE YOU HAVE TO MOVE THIS SEASON, WHICH IS NOW, RIGHT.
THAT'S WHEN WE BEGAN WORKING TO FIND OTHER LOCATIONS.
SO HOW WERE THEY NOTIFIED? HOW, HOW WERE THE, HOW WAS THE LEAGUE NOTIFIED? HOW DID THE TEAM KNOW THAT THEY NEEDED TO MOVE? BECAUSE I'M TOLD THAT THEY WERE PRACTICING AND THEY STARTED COMING AND REMOVING THE LIGHTS.
THAT COULD BE A RUMOR WHILE THEY WERE THERE FOR THEIR LAST PRACTICE.
SO HOW WERE THEY, WERE THEY GIVEN A EMAIL OR HOW WERE THEY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY? THERE WAS DIRECT COMMUNICATION FROM OUR PERMITS OFFICE WHO PERMITS ALL THE FIELDS TO MR. DIXON.
TO MR. DIXON WHO RUNS THE LEAD.
NOW, WE DON'T CALL EACH INDIVIDUAL COACH.
YOU'VE, IF YOU'VE TOLD THE DIRECTOR, YOU HAVE
[02:00:01]
DONE YOUR PART.YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO TO EVERY PARK AND ADVISE EVERYONE.
WELL, EVERY, EVERY, EVERY COACH AND EVERY PARENT.
UM, SO THE DISCONNECT WAS PROBABLY WITH THE LEAGUE AND THE TEAMS, I'M SURE.
BUT THEY WERE, THEY WERE NOTIFIED.
AND LAST QUESTION, IT'S COME UP ALSO ABOUT EMINENT DOMAIN, UH, REGARDING THAT PARK.
AND THEN I'M TOLD THAT IT HAS TO BE A PARAMOUNT PUBLIC USE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WEIGH A, BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA PUT A, UM, A SCHOOL THERE, A CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL, WHICH I AM JUST ELATED ABOUT.
IT BEING IN THAT COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO, UM, GET TRAINING FOR LUCRATIVE JOBS AND, AND THAT COULD PROVIDE THAT MM-HMM
BUT I DON'T KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MAYOR, IF I COULD SPEAK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY SO HE CAN SPEAK TO WHY THEY DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH IMMINENT DOMAIN.
IS THAT OKAY? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
JUST, JUST, JUST, AND I'M TELLING YOU, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN FACEBOOK FODDER ADDRESS, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHY MR. ALLEN IS HERE TODAY.
WE COULDN'T DO, IT'S, IT'S OBVIOUSLY, AND SO I WANNA OBVIOUSLY KIND OF LAY THAT CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO USE IT, UH, FOR FUTURE RACES, FOR COUNSEL AND OTHERWISE, SO THIS IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK MR. ALLEN ANY OTHER DETAILS.
ANY, ANY STEPS TO PURCHASE IT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY COULD COME FROM ANY, UH, PERSON AT ANY TIME.
WHAT DO YOU WANT? ASK? NO, I, NO, NO, NO.
MR. ALLEN HAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED IT, AND I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS.
THE FACTS OF, OF THIS, WE WEREN'T, HE'S ALREADY INDICATED THAT THEY DID HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEAGUE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEAGUE WAS THERE, THE PERSON THAT SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THAT INFORMATION TO THE TEAMS. SO THIS IS THE BEST FULL DISCLOSURE, TRANSPARENCY, THANK YOU.
SO I'M VERY CLEAR AS TO HOW IT TRANSPIRED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IN REGARDS TO LAYING TO REST THE, THE POSSIBILITY OF EMINENT DOMAIN THAT WAS NEVER, LIKE I SAID, THIS, THIS WAS BEFORE Y'ALL IN 22, 23.
SO THE DIRECTOR HAS DONE HIS JOB.
AND THAT WAS NEVER PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
EMINENT DOMAIN, PARTLY, I'M SPECULATING ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THE FOLKS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS PROPERTY GOING FORWARD WITH OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF TRAINING FACILITY AND THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THAT'S A MAJOR FACTOR, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO WEIGH THAT ATTEMPT TO PRESERVE IT AS A PARK.
AND HISD NOT ONLY WOULD NOT ENTERTAIN THAT IDEA, THEY KEPT ADJUSTING THE TIMELINE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY CREATED A HARDSHIP, UH, FOR THE FAMILIES AND LEAGUE.
BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MR. ALLEN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF COMMUNICATION AND PLANNING, WORKING WITH THE PARKS BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND SO, UH, I CONCUR AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S MISINFORMATION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE CLEARED UP.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, DIRECTOR, I WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO GRIMES, AND I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TIMELINE.
UM, MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH YOU AS A FORMER STAFFER, BUT NOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK YOU'RE A WELL QUALIFIED, UM, DIRECTOR.
AND THEN EVEN MORE SO AS A, IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, YOUR PASSION, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU'VE, FROM THE, FROM PART-TIME TO THE DIRECTOR, I'VE SEEN IT.
AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IS INFORMED.
THERE'S SOME, UH, TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOU WORKING WITH LITTLE LEAGUES AS WELL, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR, YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE, ARE ALL HANDS ON DECK.
UM, AND SO NOW THAT THEY'RE IN GARDEN VILLAS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A PASSION FOR LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL, BASEBALL.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT OUR PARKS.
UM, IF YOU CAN CONNECT ME TO THE LIONS ORGANIZATION AS WELL, ANYTHING THAT I CAN BE HELPFUL WITH, UH, SINCERE AND GARDEN VILLAGE.
I KNOW MOST OF THEIR, UH, THEIR KIDS ARE PROBABLY LIVING IN DISTRICT D, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHILE THEY'RE AT GARDEN VILLAS, UH, SINCE THAT'LL BE THEIR HOME, THAT WE CAN ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM, LIKE THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS OR THE EASTERN EAGLES.
UH, PLEASE, IF YOU COULD, UH, UH, CONNECT ME WITH THEM, I WOULD, WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I, UH, WANTED TO KIND OF LIFT UP AS WELL IS ALL THE, THE, THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO, UH, ANDOVER,
[02:05:01]
BROOKLINE, THOSE ARE PARKS THAT ARE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED A LONG TIME AGO AS WELL.I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHEN BROOKLINE PARK WAS EVEN LOOKED AT.
ANDOVER I THINK WILL BE HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
UH, BROOKLINE, I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 60% DESIGN.
SO, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
UH, THOSE INITIATIVES MOVING FORWARD ON THE PARK, UH, POCKET PARK INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT.
UH, SOME OF THOSE ARE ALSO, UH, IN, IN A LOT OF NEED AS WELL.
UH, WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK AT WOODRUFF, BUT I, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHERS.
IKA PARK, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S OUT IN THE, UH, GULF CREST AREA AS WELL.
UM, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THOSE, ON THOSE THINGS.
UH, I THINK GREEN SPACES ARE IMPORTANT FOR US ALL.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, WE HAD A, A SPEAKER COME YESTERDAY, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY.
HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT, UH, THE STATUE OF ALDO PARK, UH, THE ALGO, UH, STATUE.
UM, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PARK.
MY DAD USED TO PLAY LITTLE LEAGUE THERE BACK IN THE DAY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS THAT HAPPENED THERE AS WELL.
WE HAD, UH, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, UH MM-HMM
AND HERNANDEZ STATE REPRESENTATIVE HANNAH HERNANDEZ, WHO BROUGHT ABOUT, ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS WORKING ON SOME MORE MONEY TO COME INTO HILO PARK.
AND SO WE'VE HAD A PHASE ONE, UM, WANTED TO START HAVING CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF THAT STATUE WERE TO BE MOVED, OR WHAT ARE THOSE POSSIBILITIES? CERTAINLY, UM, ALWAYS, EXCUSE ME.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WORK WITH LISA JOHNSON AND OUR INTERNAL MICHAEL EVANS, ALONG WITH TINA IN TERMS OF STATUTE, IT'S CONSIDERED ART, AND THERE'S GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES TO INSTALL AND ART, UH, TO MOVE IT AND TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
UH, TYPICALLY IF THERE'S A DONOR, YOU KNOW, WE ASK THEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
UH, YOU THINK ABOUT ARTWORK ALL OVER THE CITY, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAINTAIN EVERYTHING.
UM, BUT MOVING FORWARD ON PHASE TWO, WE CAN DECIDE WHERE WE WANT IT AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH IT BASED ON FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.
SO YEAH, DEFINITELY WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY IMPACT LOCATION AND CARE.
I APPRECIATE THAT, UH, DIRECTOR.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH, UH, COMMUNITY AS WELL, SO, UH, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY IN THE LOOP AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE UPDATES AS WELL TO, TO THOSE THAT, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN A MORE KIND OF FORWARD FACING, UH, LOCATION DURING PHASE TWO.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO LAY OUT THE TIMELINE, UM, GIVE THE FACTS FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN UNDERSTAND EACH STEP OF THE WAY REGARDING THIS, UM, PARK AND THIS PROJECT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I THINK LEADS TO MISINFORMATION IS WHEN WE DON'T COMMUNICATE WHAT WE KNOW INITIALLY, ESPECIALLY TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND THE WAY IN WHICH CORRESPONDENCE IS COMMUNICATED.
I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY SENT A LETTER BACK IN JANUARY, BUT YOU SAID IT WAS TO A POST OFFICE BOX.
THE FACT THAT ONE, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S CUSTOMARY, BUT TWO, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY SENT IT, YOU DIDN'T GET NOTICE UNTIL MARCH OVER A MONTH LATER.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS A DISCONNECT WITH HOW WE RECEIVE OUR MAIL AND CORRESPONDENCE, OR THAT'S JUST UNARY.
SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS NOTICES TO BE, UM, GIVEN IN THAT FASHION.
BUT I, I DO THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE WE, WE CAN'T HAVE, UM, NOTICES OF THAT IMPORTANCE NOT BEING RELAYED FOR OVER A MONTH ON THINGS LIKE THIS.
UM, AND SO THE QUESTION IS, WERE ALL OF THE NOTICES LIKE THIS, UM, 'CAUSE YOU SAID ONCE YOU GOT THE NOTICE IN MARCH, YOU STARTED GETTING ADDITIONAL NOTICES FROM THEM ON, ON MOVING DATES UP AND THEIR INTENTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS.
WAS IT ALL THROUGH PO BOX OR WAS IT START TO BE DIRECTLY OR EMAILED? WELL, THAT'S NOT RESPONDING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AS TIME WENT ON, THEN THEY CONTACT, THEY CONTACTED US DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHEN THE REAL COMMUNICATION BEGAN.
UM, AND IT'S TYPICAL, I MEAN, IF YOU ARE A PARTNER, YOU KNOW WHO TO SEND INFORMATION TO.
REMEMBER, THIS WAS A 30 YEAR THING, YOU KNOW, RENEWABLE EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WHY WOULD YOU SEND SOMETHING TO A PO BOX? KEEP COMMUNICATING WITH US WITH ANY PARTNER.
SO, SO AFTER MARCH, UH, THE COMMUNICATION START TO BE MORE
[02:10:01]
DIRECT AND NOT THROUGH THE PO BOX.AND UM, I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU ALERTED THE PARKS DIRECTOR IN JUNE AND SOMETIME THIS LATE SUMMER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT, UH, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT SINCE THE PARK IS SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT'S IN DISTRICT D AND JUST ALL AROUND UTILIZE THAT, WE HAVE TO GET THOSE NOTICES OUT QUICKER BECAUSE THE LONGER, UH, WE DON'T COME FORWARD DIRECTLY OURSELVES, THAT'S WHEN THE MISINFORMATION STARTS TO SPREAD.
AND THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF, UH, THE COMMUNITY START TO GIVE THEIR OWN INPUT AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND, UH, WE ALL RESPECT YOU AS THE LEADER OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, SO YOUR VOICE IS PARAMOUNT AND HOW WE MOVE AND HOW WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND I THINK, UH, THAT TIMELINE FROM JANUARY WHEN THE NOTICE FIRST WENT OUT TO WHEN IT REALLY STARTED TO BUBBLE IN AUGUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS THAT I THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB IN GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT, UM, MORE PROMPTLY SO THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE, UM, TIME TO DIGEST IT AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT MOVE MAY BE.
BECAUSE ONCE IT GETS OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND PEOPLE START PUTTING THEIR OWN SPIN ON IT, IT STARTS TO TAKE ON A WORLD OF THE SONG.
SO I, I, I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE THAT, UH, WE CAN LEAN ON AND THAT WE DO TRUST.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST PARKS, UM, OF ANY CITY, UH, IN THIS COUNTRY.
I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL THAT YOU DO.
YOU WORK UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE WISH WE COULD GET YOU, UH, MORE TO WORK WITH AND, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
BUT, UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UH, HISD DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF COMMUNICATING THEIR INTENTIONS TO THE CITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT LEGAL DOCUMENTS PERHAPS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MAIL, BUT THEY COULD HAVE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED YOU, ISN'T THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS OCCURRED, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN.
AND, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE FOOTBALL TEAM NOW HAS ANOTHER PLACE TO CONDUCT ITS PRACTICES, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
OKAY, SO THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
AND, AND I DO WANT TO, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OUR PRIVATE DONORS.
UM, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION IN QUALITY OF LIFE A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND THE CITY'S PARK SCORE WAS DISCUSSED.
AND, UH, WE ARE BLESSED IN HOUSTON TO HAVE, UH, VERY GENEROUS, UH, PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND ENDOWMENTS AND SO FORTH THAT PLAY A KEY ROLE IN KEEPING OUR PARKS THE WAY THEY ARE.
AND SO I JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THAT AND, UM, AND TO YOU FOR THE DIFFICULTY THAT YOU WORK UNDER, UH, TRYING TO COBBLE TOGETHER RESOURCES FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, UH, TO KEEP OUR PARK SYSTEM GOING.
UH, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
DIRECTOR ALLEN WAS SO RESPONSIVE AND HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND HE REALLY HELPED RESOLVE THIS.
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE DISCUSSED.
I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE MANY PARKS, INDUSTRY D THAT DO NOT HAVE LIGHTS.
THAT'S A PROBLEM WHEN THESE GREEN SPACES ARE GOING UNUSED.
UH, WHEN THEY COULD BE USED IN THE EVENING HOURS IF THEY HAD LIGHTS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BUDGET, UH, CAN GO FORWARD, UH, BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO UTILIZE AS MUCH OF OUR GREEN SPACE AS WE CAN.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING AT THE FOREFRONT THAT WE DISCUSSED.
UH, WHEN YOU WERE LOOKING FOR PARKS, WE HAD TO SAY NO, NOT THAT ONE.
THIS ONE NEEDS LIGHTS, THIS ONE NEEDS THIS.
AND SO CERTAINLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF, OF, WELL, I MEAN OF COURSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT DISTRICT D, BUT CERTAINLY AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT IN REGARDS TO REPAIRS AND LIGHTS.
[02:15:01]
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO GO AND, AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE SAFE IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.WE HAVE DONE JUST THAT IN TERMS OF THE, UM, ASSESSMENT FOR LIGHTING BALL, FIELD LIGHTING, SECURITY LIGHTING THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM.
AND THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT HURT US REALLY BAD, THE STORMS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEN COPPER THEFT.
SO WITH EVERY NEW LIGHTING SYSTEM WE PUT IN, I'M DEMANDING CAMERAS SO WE CAN IDENTIFY THESE CULPRITS THAT CONTINUE TO COME BACK AND STILL COPPER RIGHT FROM UNDER OUR NOSE.
AND THEN THE STORMS, UH, WHEN LIGHT SYSTEMS ARE TORN UP, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE ELECTRICAL BOXES OR THE POLES, IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW, TO REPLACE THEM.
UM, LIGHTING IS SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UH, BUT VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.
UM, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND OTHERS, UM, TO REPAIR LIGHTS AND REPLACE LIGHTS.
I THINK WE GOT 19 SITES IDENTIFIED, UM, THAT WE'LL BE AT A TOUCH THROUGH THE LES'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
UH, MAYOR WHIT MYERS, LES PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
HE'S COMMITTING, UH, FUNDING FOR US TO TAP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND POCKET PARKS AND DIRECTING PHILANTHROPIC AS WELL AS PRIVATE DOLLARS WORKING WITH PARKS BOARD.
THAT'S ONE WAY TO GET IT DONE.
AND CERTAINLY THE OTHER WAY TO GET IS TO GET IT DONE IS AN INCREASED BUDGET.
SO,
THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR.
I WAS GONNA BE QUIET 'CAUSE I THOUGHT YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING THE TIMELINE AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON.
WE HAVE THE GOOD INFORMATION NOW I AM CONCERNED WHY IT TAKES A MONTH TO GET A MAIL, SOMETHING FROM THE MAIL TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK INTO.
BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING NOW ABOUT PARKS FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY SOAPBOX.
SO I'M HERE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, AN ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN DONE AND IT'S ABOUT $781 MILLION OF NEEDS.
TENNIS CENTERS, SWIMMING POOLS, UH, COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIGHTING, THE WHOLE GAMUT.
WE, THAT ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN DONE.
WE'LL COVER THAT WITH FUTURE BONDS.
UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT OVERNIGHT.
WE'LL COVER THAT WITH AN INCREASE TO THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL BE COMING IN OCTOBER.
AND, UM, THAT WE HAVE VERY FEW WAYS TO FUND THEM AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE PARK'S BUDGET.
AS WE, UH, SAW TWO DAYS AGO, OUR PARK SCORE WERE, WE'RE DOWN IN THE LOWER PART.
WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN WHAT, HOW WE PUBLICLY SUPPORT PARKS.
NOT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING, WE'RE DOING A LOT.
I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, THE LET'S PLAY.
HOUSTON HAS A MUCH, UH, GREATER REACH WE'RE DOING, ALBEIT LAWRENCE PARK NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT PARKS.
IT'S JUST WE'VE GOT A HUGE NEED AND, AND A LITTLE BUDGET.
AND WE'VE GOT TO, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
WE OWN THESE PARKS AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOOD QUALITY PARKS TO, TO ENJOY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU ALL AN OUTSTANDING JOB,
[CONSENT AGENDA – NUMBERS 2 through 28]
MS. SECRETARY, LET'S UH, GO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE.UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.
UH, NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM TWO.
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM NINE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS THREE THROUGH EIGHT? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND.
NAME MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY.
THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEM 15 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEMS 13, 18 AND 25 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 13, 18, AND 25.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION CAST
WE NEED TO GET THESE APPLICATIONS MOVING
[02:20:01]
AT, AT PERMITTING.THIS IS A $20 MILLION FIVE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL REALLY DO, UH, WHAT I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING FROM PLAN, YOU KNOW, PLAN REVIEW TO A LOT OF HELP WITH INSPECTIONS.
WE ALL GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT, UH, INSPECTOR DELAYS AND COS UH, DIFFICULTY GETTING THE COS.
UM, BUT MY QUE MY OUTSTANDING QUESTION ON THIS IS THIS IS BUILDING INSPECTION FUND FUNDING, WHICH I GUESS WILL COVER AND ALSO A LOT OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE STUFF GETTING OUT THERE AND RED TAGGING STUFF.
BUT I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT THIS WOULD ALSO COVER OTHER DISCIPLINES LIKE HEALTH AND FIRE AND OTHER DISCIPLINES THAT HAVE PERMITTING, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE PERMITS.
DOES IT NEED DIFFERENT FUNDING FROM THOSE DEPARTMENTS? I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE SEPARATE ITEMS. I WAS BRIEFED AND, AND WE CAN GET MR. MOCK UP HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO, BUT NO, I DON'T.
I MEAN IT'S JUST, SO IT'S PRIMARILY HIS INSPECTIONS.
SO THIS'LL JUST BE PUBLIC WORK.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA USE THIS CONTRACT FOR OTHER DISCIPLINES? NO, NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.
SOMETIMES WE NEED TO HELP WITH THOSE OTHER DISCIPLINES TOO, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, TO YOUR POINT, UM, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT SAYS SERVICES MAY INCLUDE BUT AREN'T LIMITED TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
REGULATORY REVIEWS ARE IN THAT.
SO POTENTIAL EXPANSION, UM, DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, BUT I DO, I DO THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE, UH, RIGHT OF WAY ENCROACHMENT INSPECTIONS, THE MORE NUISANCE LEVEL THINGS THAT WE GET A LOT IN THE DISTRICTS, BUT DON'T OFTEN HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET ATTENDED TO RIGHT AWAY.
UH, BUT THEY ARE QUALITY OF LIFE LEVEL ISSUES, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE PERMIT OPERATIONS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL STORM WATER, ET CETERA.
SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AND, AND I DO THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO HELP GET OUR BACKLOGS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT ALSO ADDRESS MORE OF THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
MEMBERS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
I JUST WANNA UPLIFT THIS ORDINANCE REAL QUICK.
UM, ITEM 13 HERE EXTENDS OUR CONTRACT TERM WITH OUR NUTRITION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO SENIOR ADULTS PROGRAMS. ALLOCATING AN ADDITIONAL $6.7 MILLION FOR THIS PROGRAM THROUGH 2027.
THIS PROGRAM HELPS THOSE IN NEED GET TRANSPORTATION TO LOCATIONS FOR CONGREGATE MEALS AS WELL AS HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
THIS SERVES OVER 10,000 MEALS A DAY, ASSISTING OVER 7,200 HOME BOUND SENIORS AND TRANSPORTING OVER 450 INDIVIDUALS.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO SEE A LOT OF PARTNERS ON THIS LIST.
UM, ESPECIALLY THOSE, UH, IN DISTRICT C, WHICH IS EXCITING.
WE HAVE THE EVELYN RUBINSTEIN, JCC IN MEYERLAND AND BAKER RIPLEY WHO MANAGES A PROGRAM OUTTA THE WEST END MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR BEING A FANTASTIC STEWARD OF THIS PROGRAM AND FOR ALL THE PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO HELP MAKE SURE NO ONE GOES HUNGRY.
UH, I WANNA SECOND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER PENZA SAID AND ADD A LITTLE BIT.
UH, A LOT OF THIS IS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE HUGELY IMPORTANT TO HOME BOUND FOLKS AND A LOT OF FOLKS WHO, WHO DON'T GET MUCH, UM, UH, CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION WITH, WITH, UH, OTHERS.
AND IT ALSO IS WORTH NOTING THAT, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO BAKER RIPLEY AND INTERFAITH MINISTRIES, A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO PICK UP PROGRAMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY HANDLED BY THE YWCA BUT ARE NO LONGER BEING HANDLED BY THEM.
SO, UH, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SERVING THOSE HOUSTON RESIDENTS, UH, IT WAS NECESSARY TO, TO PROVIDE THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
JUST NEED A VOTE IN FAVOR SAY YES.
HUFFMAN COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.
I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE VOTED TO, UM, APPLY FOR THE GRANT AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE FINALLY ACCEPTING THIS MONEY.
SO, UM, THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THIS, UM, BRIDGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
UM, THIS WILL HELP KEEP US SAFER DURING FLOODS.
[02:25:01]
ALSO ECHO MY SUPPORT FOR THIS.UM, SABINE STREET BRIDGE IS VERY OLD AND IN NEED OF REPAIR AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, WHEN THIS CAME FORWARD, THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE BRIDGES LISTED AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THE, THE DOLLARS TO KEEP IT IN SAFE CONDITION AND PRESERVE IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES WITH OPPOSED NAME ITEM PASSES.
[MATTERS HELD]
ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE.RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PROM FOR A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE NEED A MOTION ON THE REFERRAL BACK PLEASE.
OKAY, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER]
COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.LET ME, UH, UH, FIRST OF ALL WITH A QUICK RECAP FROM LAST WEEK IN DISTRICT D, UH, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITY, GROUNDBREAKING.
LAST THURSDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF ITS NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITY.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL MORNING CELEBRATING ANOTHER IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THE HISTORIC THIRD WARD IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTH, WELLNESS, EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, ALONG WITH THE FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY OUR SENATOR BORIS MILES, WHO BROUGHT MONEY FROM, UH, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING TO SEE CONTINUED INVESTMENT TAKING PLACE AT ONE OF HOUSTON'S GREAT INSTITUTIONS RIGHT HERE IN DISTRICT D.
AS WE CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF THIRD WARD, I WANNA MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS KNOW ABOUT TWO IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEETINGS HAPPENING THIS WEEK.
THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE CUNY HOMES MEETING WILL BE TONIGHT FROM FIVE TO 6:30 PM AT THE CUNY HOMES COMMUNITY CENTER, 32 60 TRILLO STREET, WHERE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE LATEST PROGRESS ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CUNY HOMES.
REVIEW THE CURRENT SITE PLAN AND PHASE ONE CONSTRUCTION DESIGNS.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT TIMELINE AND HEAR ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CUNY HOMES AND THE THIRD WARD RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, PROVIDE FEEDBACK, AND REMAIN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SECONDLY, THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OPEN HOUSE THIRD WARD, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 67 WILL BE TO, UH, THURSDAY, UH, TOMORROW NIGHT FROM SIX TO 7:30 PM AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM AT THE DUPRI ROOM.
THIS MEETING IS BEING HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE THIRD WARD, SUPER, NEIGHBORHOOD 67, AND RESIDENTS MAY ALSO PARTICIPATE ONLINE, AS I ENCOURAGE OUR THIRD WARD RESIDENTS, CUNY HOME RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO COME OUT, GET THE INFORMATION FIRSTHAND, ASK QUESTIONS, AND MAKE SURE YOUR VOICES REMAIN A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD ALWAYS INCLUDE THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THOSE COMMUNITIES HOME.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, THE OFFICIAL HOUSING ALLIANCE, HOUSTON THIRD WARD CHOICE PROGRAM PAGE.
ALSO LIST THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE AMONG ITS CURRENT SEPTEMBER, 2026, PROGRAM UPDATES.
AND I WANNA ALSO GIVE CONDOLENCES TO A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS A PHENOMENAL BASKETBALL STAR AT WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
NOW IT DOES, YOU KNOW, I'M JY FOR LIFE, BUT I DO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEATLEY HAD SOME PHENOMENAL ATHLETES TO, UH, GRACE THEIR HALLS.
AND I WANNA CERTAINLY GIVE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF GER BONNIE WHO PASSED, UH, LAST WEEK.
HE WAS ALSO A BASKETBALL STAR IN DISTRICT D, UH, FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COUGARS.
AND SO, UH, HIS SERVICES ARE PENDING.
I DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE AT WINDSOR VILLAGE CHURCH, BUT I'M NOT REALLY SURE OF THE DATE, BUT I WILL UPDATE YOU AS I GET THAT INFORMATION.
BUT CERTAINLY THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
SUNDAY NIGHT I PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION TO KICK OFF ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK HERE IN HOUSTON AT THEIR AWARD RECEPTION EVENT.
[02:30:01]
AND THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING EVENTS ALL WEEK LONG FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK.IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, YOU CAN CHECK OUT CLIMATE WEEK HOUSTON.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.
UM, BUT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER AND, AND INDUSTRY AND THOUGHT LEADERS AROUND HOW HOUSTON CAN CONTINUE TO BE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AS WE TRANSITION AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT ENERGY LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UH, IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT KICKOFF TO SOME GREAT HONOREES RECEIVING AWARDS.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING MORE TIME WITH THEM THIS WEEK.
I WANNA THANK PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND DIRECTOR TRAN AND HER TEAM FOR A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION MEETING.
WE HAD THIS, UH, THIS PAST WEEK, AND IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION PROCESS AND THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND HOW PROPERTY OWNERS CAN PURSUE THIS IF THEY WOULD LIKE.
UH, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICT, AND OFTENTIMES WHEN DEVELOPMENT COMES, UH, PEOPLE WANT TO TRY AND PROTECT THEM, AND THAT'S WHEN IT'S TOO LATE.
SO YOU, WE NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT THAT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
AND THIS WAS ABOUT GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT, UM, SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW THEIR OPTIONS AND START THAT PROCESS TOMORROW.
THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING HERE IN CHAMBERS AT 2:00 PM AND WE WILL BE GETTING AN UPDATE ON DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY AND, UH, PATHWAYS TOWARDS A DA TITLE TWO COMPLIANCE.
UH, THAT'S FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL INCLUSION FOR DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY, AND ALSO A COMPUTER AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES CONTRACT THAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THAT AWARD WILL BE COMING AND, AND THIS, UH, PRESENTATION WILL GO OVER, UM, THAT AWARD AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, 2:00 PM HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, LAST THURSDAY, COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN AND I WENT TO THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR VENUS AEROSPACE, WHERE THEY WERE, UH, INITIATING THEIR NEWEST TEST PAD.
UH, IT WAS REALLY, UH, QUITE THE EVENT.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR, I MEAN, THERE'S ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT MORE TO IT THAN, THAN WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONCRETE THAT GOES INTO PROTECTING EVERYBODY FROM, UH, THE ROCKET TEST THAT THEY DO OUT THERE.
UH, IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT.
I MEAN, UH, IT'S REALLY KIND OF A NEW STEP IN ROCKET ENGINES WITH THE ROTATING DETONATION ROCKET TECHNOLOGY.
UH, SOMETHING THAT I CERTAINLY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
UH, BUT IT WAS REALLY NEAT TO SEE, AND I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN AT SPACEPORT, ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON, UH, AIRPORT SYSTEM, ELLINGTON FIELD.
UH, THEY'RE REALLY GETTING TO WHERE THEY HAVE ENOUGH OF KIND OF THE NEW SPACE ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE THAT IT'S, IT'S ALMOST, UH, GETTING TO CRITICAL MASS TO WHERE THESE NEW COMPANIES THAT ARE WANTING TO GET IN ON THIS ARE GONNA BE LOCATING HERE SIMPLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS ALREADY HERE.
UH, SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY GETTING TO BE A BIG DEAL, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A, A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE HOUSTON ECONOMY AND TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, AS WELL.
UH, ALSO WE HAVE OUR, UH, TOWN HALLS COMING UP, UH, HERE SHORTLY.
THIS NEXT TUESDAY WILL BE THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE IN, UH, KINGWOOD AT THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING ALL THE RESIDENTS THERE.
AND, UM, WE HAD A BIT OF A, UH, TRAGIC EVENT YESTERDAY, THE ONE THAT WAS AVERTED.
UM, WE HAD A GENTLEMAN ON THE 1960 BRIDGE THAT, UM, DECIDED HE WANTED TO JUMP OFF THE BRIDGE.
UH, HPD GOT OUT THERE, ACTUALLY GOT HIM OUT OF THE WATER.
UM, SO WE WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, THERE WAS FIVE OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT WERE INVOLVED.
THREE OF 'EM FOR LAKE PATROL, UH, OFFICER MIKE MORAN, CHAD NICHOLS, AND RYAN SANDOVAL.
AND THEN, UH, FROM THE KINGWOOD STATION, OFFICER SCHAFER AND OFFICER WADE THOMAS, AND WANNA GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT TO, TO PREVENTING ANYTHING WORSE HAPPENING.
UM, AS PART OF MY POPOFF TODAY, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE CORINA VELASQUEZ TO THE STAND SO WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CMC.
AS MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL AWARE, EACH YEAR, COUNCIL PARTICIPATES IN THE COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN, WHICH SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY AND RAISES MONEY FOR LOCAL CAUSES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
THIS YEAR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COUNCIL SHARED WITH ME THAT THEY'D LIKE TO NOMINATE ME TO SERVE AS THIS YEAR'S CHAIRMAN TO SPONSOR THE CMC.
I'M EXCITED TO PARTNER ON THIS INITIATIVE, AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE SELECTED THE NONPROFIT GRACE PLACE LOCATED IN DISTRICT C THAT DIRECTLY SERVES UNHOUSED YOUTH OF ALL SEXUALITIES AND GENDERS,
[02:35:01]
AND SUPPORTS THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF MONTROSE.I'M EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THESE LOCAL NONPROFITS AND WORK TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE.
AND CORINA, I'D LOVE TO GIVE THE FLORIDA KINDA GIVE SOME UPDATES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CORINA VELAZQUEZ AND I WORK UNDER MS. BERNITA JONES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HONORED TO COORDINATE OUR CITY COUNCIL CMC CHARITY FUNDRAISER EACH OCTOBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER PELLA OF DISTRICT C WILL SPONSOR THE FUNDRAISER AND HAS ELECTED GRACE PLACE AS OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT.
AS WE PREPARE FOR OCTOBER, I WILL BE SENDING EMAILS WITH FLYERS WITH DETAILS.
THIS YEAR WE'RE ASKING FOR ALL HANDS ON DECK, WHETHER YOU VOLUNTEER, DONATE, PURCHASE, FOOD, OR HELP SPREAD THE WORD.
EVERY CONTRIBUTION MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
THIS IS ABOUT COMING TOGETHER AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON FAMILY AND GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER.
I'VE GOT JUST A COUPLE MORE UPDATES AND THEN, AND THEN I'LL PASS THE MIC.
UM, THIS SATURDAY, HUNDRED DAYS.
YEAH, UH, THIS SATURDAY, A HUNDRED DAYS TOWN HALL, 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT THE WEST GREEN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
WE'LL HAVE ALL KINDS OF CITY DEPARTMENTS OUT THERE, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AND, AND GIVING A GREAT UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE SUMMER.
WE'RE HAVING A DISTRICT C ERE RECYCLING EVENT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 1:00 PM ALSO AT THE WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, OLD COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, YOU KNOW, ANY TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU WANT, UH, RECYCLED IN A SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE WAY.
COMING UP TO THE WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.
AND THEN A DISTRICT C VOTER REGISTRATION EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF ANNETTE RAMIREZ.
AND, UM, THE BROWN CHAPEL, A ME ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
THAT'LL ALSO BE SEP, UH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT THE WEST END MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW EVENTS I ATTENDED, UH, OVER THE PAST WEEK ON SATURDAY, HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND A NINE 11 DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE, UH, AT THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
UH, WONDERFUL CHOIR PERFORMANCE.
A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE THERE AS WELL, BUT IT WAS VERY, UH, APPROPRIATE AND DIGNIFIED WAY TO REMEMBER THE, THE, UH, OCCASION AND ALSO TO, UH, GET THE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOWED UP.
ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, I ATTENDED A SCREENING OF A DOCUMENTARY, UH, CALLED LOS TEJANOS, A JOURNEY THROUGH FIVE CENTURIES, SPONSORED BY LULAC COUNCIL 60.
UH, VERY WELL DONE DOCUMENTARY.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT IN WIDE DISTRIBUTION IN THE FUTURE.
THEN SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I GOT TO ATTEND A CELEBRATION OF THE 82ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE LORRAINE STREET CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST TEMPLE, LED BY A PASTOR, LEON PRESTON, WHO HAS GIVE US, GIVEN US OUR INVOCATION HERE IN THE PAST.
UM, CELEBRATED AS WELL, THE LEADERSHIP OF PASTOR RW FULLER, WHO WAS THERE FOR 37 YEARS.
UM, COUNT MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WAS THERE AS WELL.
MAYBE THE NICEST THING ABOUT IT WAS I GOT TO SIT NEXT TO, UH, BISHOP EMMANUEL JACKSON, WHO I LEARNED IS THE FATHER OF COLLEAGUE TARSHA JACKSON.
BUT, UH, JUST A WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN WHO ALSO SPOKE, SPOKE AT THE SERVICE, UH, BUT REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
AND SO, WISHING EVERYBODY A GREAT WEEK.
A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, JUST WANT TO REMIND THE RESIDENTS IN WESTBURY THAT WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER SIX ON THE STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECT, UH, FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE OUTFALL AT 6,500 LUDINGTON DRIVE IN WESTBURY IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER THE 28TH.
UM, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT PROJECT CONCLUDED BY THE END OF OCTOBER.
UH, COLLEAGUES, OUR NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS AFTERNOON HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AT 2:00 PM WE'LL HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, THE FIRST ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 44, TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE, AND THEN ALSO AN UPDATE ON OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES.
UH, ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THE NEXT SOUTH GESNER DIVISIONAL PIP MEETING.
IT'S SCHEDULED FOR THIS EVENING AT 6:30 PM UH, THE MEETING WILL BE HELD, OF COURSE, AT THE SOUTH GESNER POLICE STATION, LOCATED AT 86 0 5 WEST PLACE DRIVE.
THIS MONTH'S GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT,
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CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.WE'VE RECEIVED LOTS OF GOOD, UM, FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
UM, SO THIS WILL BE A GOOD OPPORT OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UM, WE HAVE TWO UPCOMING EVENTS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
THE FIRST IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND.
THE, UM, HOUSTON PARK SPORT IS HOSTING A MEETING ABOUT THE SPRING BRANCH TRAIL EAST.
IT WILL BE AN OPEN HOUSE TO SHARE YOUR INPUT ABOUT THE NEW PORTION OF THE TRAIL THAT WILL CONNECT THE WHITE OAK BAYOU GREENWAY TO WART ROAD, UM, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, FROM FIVE O'CLOCK TO 7:00 PM AT 2 9 1 6 WEST TC JESTER.
THERE'LL BE FREE TACOS, REFRESHMENTS, AND GIVEAWAYS, SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT MEETING, UM, I AM HOSTING ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, UM, 23RD IS AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING ABOUT THE MAP NEXT FEMA MAPS.
AND SO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WILL BE THERE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE MAPS.
SO IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAPS OR THE PROCESS AND WHAT TO DO IF YOUR, UM, HOUSE, IT MIGHT BE WHAT YOU THINK IS INCORRECT ON THE MAP, UM, PLEASE JOIN US AT THAT MEETING.
UM, THIS IMPACTS INSURANCE RATE, SO SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT.
UM, IT WILL BE AT 8:30 PM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD AT TRINITY MINDEN HALL.
YESTERDAY, PRIOR TO THE MONTHLY HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL MEETING, I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER IN H G'S FIRST LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, UH, AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING 90TH LEG LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND DURING THAT COMMITTEE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES AND I, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WERE ABLE TO WORK AND DEVELOP THROUGH PRIORITIES FOR, FOR, UH, THE ENTIRE 13 COUNTY REGION.
UH, THERE WAS CONSENSUS ON THE PRIORITIES, THE PRIORITIES ADVOCATING, UH, TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR REGION.
THE TOP THREE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED WAS WATER, RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, LOCAL CONTROL AND COLLABORATION, AND DISASTER RECOVERY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORKING WITH OUR 13 COUNTY REGION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENGAGED AND PREPARED FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING UP IN AUSTIN AND WORKING WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.
MAYOR, UH, WE WANNA ALSO JUST, UH, THANK, UH, ALEXA FROM, FROM YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR BEING THERE, UH, AS WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAN REPEAT WHAT WE DID LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH FUNDING, UM, ACROSS THE REGION.
UH, LASTLY, JUST WANNA SAY HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, UH, FELICIS, UH, FRIAS.
THIS WEEK WE KICKED OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER THE 15TH.
IT'S A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR OUR DIVERSE CULTURES, UH, IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
UH, THIS MONTH LONG CELEBRATION, WE WILL BE FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE, UH, AS SOMEONE THAT, UH, IS A PROUD OF ME.
UM, JUST WANNA SAY THAT THERE'S EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH THAT YOU CAN, UH, JOIN.
UH, SO JUST LOOK OUT FOR THOSE EVENTS.
THIS SATURDAY, UH, WE'LL BE JOINING THE ANNUAL FIESTA PATIA PARADE.
IT'S SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 19TH AT 10:00 AM AT HOUSTON CITY HALL, UH, WITH A THEME ROOTED IN LEGACY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE THERE.
NEXT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND WILL BE MY ANNUAL FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS DAY AND DISTRICT B, I'LL BE CO-SPONSORING IT WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON AT THE ACRES HOME COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH IN SENIORS.
AND COME LEARN HOW NOT TO FALL ON THE FIRST DAY OF FALL.
IT'S A NATIONAL DAY, NATIONAL AWARENESS DAY.
WE'LL ALSO HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE THERE GIVING OUT FREE FLU SHOTS.
I'LL BE GETTING MY FLU SHOT THAT DAY.
SO, UM, NINE O'CLOCK AND ON TUESDAY, THANKS.
UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY WE HAD OUR AIR CONDITION GIVEAWAY, UH, AND WERE ABLE TO HELP 120 FAMILIES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A PORTABLE AC UNIT FOR THEIR HOME.
AND I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OVER ALMOST 650 APPLICATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE LIVING WITHOUT AC AND SO IT JUST REALLY DROVE HOME FOR ME AND MANY OF THE VOLUNTEERS, JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE AC ORDINANCE THAT WE PASSED IS.
IT IS A REAL PROBLEM AFFECTING A NUMBER OF HOUSTONIANS, AND I WAS GRATEFUL WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR PROVIDING, UH, SPACE AND SUPPORT FOR THE EVENT, THE INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS, AND, UH, ESPECIALLY MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, VERONICA ZILO, WHO IS JUST REMARKABLE IN PUTTING TOGETHER THE EVENT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP.
UM, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HELP SOME FAMILIES.