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COUNCIL,[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]
PLEASE COME TO ORDER.UH, UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO RUN OUT FOR A FUNERAL, AND WE'LL BE BACK AS QUICK AS I CAN.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, IS GONNA DO A PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO I'M GONNA ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN TO PRESIDE, AND, UH, LET'S HAVE A GREAT SESSION.
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CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON TO HONOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EMERGENCY AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.HEY, HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON, WHEREAS THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT BY PURCHASING AND DONATING, DONATING LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE FOUNDATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH HFD AND FIRE CHIEF THOMAS MUNOZ TO IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT NEEDS AND PRIORITIZE PURCHASES THAT ENHANCE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND STRENGTHEN THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO SAVE LIVES, PROTECT PROPERTY, AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 96 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR RAISED BY THE FOUNDATION GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS PURCHASING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, THE FOUNDATION HAS DONATED A WIDE RANGE OF EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING RESCUE BOATS, HIGH WATER VEHICLES, EXTRACTORS, SPECIALIZED SAWS, FANS, DEFIBRILLATORS, ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT, AND THERMAL CAMERAS, HELPING FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE FOUNDATION CARRIES OUT, CARRIES OUT ITS MISSION WITH THE SUPPORT OF CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHOSE GENEROSITY HELPS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FOR HOUSTON'S FIREFIGHTERS.
AND WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2026, THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL, KEEP OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFE FUNDRAISING EVENT AT 51 15 RESTAURANT IN THE GALLERIA TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED BY HFD.
AND WHEREAS ON THIS OCCASION, THE HOUSTON, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, JOINS HFD IN RECOGNIZING THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON FOR 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND COMMENDS THE FOUNDATION AND ITS SUPPORTERS FOR HELPING TO EQUIP HOUSTON'S FIREFIGHTERS TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH COURAGE, COMMITMENT, AND COMPASSION.
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 15TH, 2026 AS FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND, UH, MAYOR PROTI, UH, CAST TATUM.
I THINK I KNOW MOST OF YOU FOLKS.
AND I CHAIR THE FIREFIGHTER FOUNDATION FOR, SINCE, SINCE 2013.
UH, I TOOK OVER FROM BILL KING, WHO WAS THE FOUNDER OF OUR FOUNDATION ORIGINALLY 20 YEARS AGO.
SO, UH, WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS BEEN VERY, UH, DILIGENT IN RAISING MONEY AND, AND, UH, KEEPING EXPENSES DOWN.
WE'RE A TOTAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION, UH, AND WE, IN 96 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S DONATED, GOES DIRECTLY TO BUY EQUIPMENT THAT IS, UH, DESIGNATED BY THE, THE CHIEF.
AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH HFD TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE THAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST IMPACT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND THOSE ARE A WIDE RANGING, UH, GROUP, UH, LIST OF NEEDS.
SO WE, UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNUAL EVENT, UH, THIS THURSDAY, AND SOME OF YOU ARE GONNA BE JOINING US.
UH, AND, UH, WE HOPEFULLY WITH THAT WE'LL BE BUYING MORE EQUIPMENT, UH, AS WE GO TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
UH, AND SO WE THINK ALL OF OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS, UH, THERE A LIST IS VERY LONG.
I WON'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST, BUT, UH, WE WILL BE, UM, UH, ANNOUNCING SOMETHING FROM CHENE ENERGY JUST REALLY, REALLY RECENTLY AND LIKE NEXT WEEK, UH, OF SOME ITEMS THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED.
UH, BUT THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THAT HAVE STEPPED UP AND HELPED OUR MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY AND CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN PROTECTING ALL OF US.
SO WITH THAT, I HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS HERE WITH US TODAY, JONI BAIRD
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AND MELINDA FROM JODY'S RETIRED, AND MELINDA IS WITH, UH, CIGNA.AND SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO'S ON OUR BOARD THAT THEY, THEY GIVE OF THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR, UM, AND THEIR TIME TO MAKE SURE ALL THIS WORKS OUT WELL FOR US.
SO WE, WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT.
UH, WE, UH, WE, WE LOOK FOR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUR FIREFIGHTERS, UH, THE 4,000 BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANKS LEE, SO MUCH, UM, FOR THE, THE GREAT WORK YOU AND THE FOUNDATION DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU.
AND FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE.
MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION.
YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO DO GOOD WORK, BUT I MEAN, IT TAKES GREAT LEADERS.
AND LEE, WE MET BACK IN 2013 WHEN YOU HAD JUST TAKEN OVER THE FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION, AND I SO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP US SAFE EVERY DAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTY ON THURSDAY.
ALRIGHT, CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JANE KENNEDY.
WE'VE GOT A MOVIE STAR IN OUR MIDST, RECOGNIZING HER, HER GROUNDBREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS AS A PIONEERING SPORTS BROADCASTER, ENTERTAINER ADVOCATE, AND TRAILBLAZER.
SO, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND TO ALL OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS TODAY, IT IS QUITE AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE A TRUE AMERICAN TRAILBLAZER.
SHE IS DEFINITELY A CULTURAL ICON, A HISTORIC PIONEER, MS. JANE KENNEDY, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF HER ACCOLADES.
IN 1978, JANE MADE HISTORY ON CBS, THE NFL TODAY AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO CO-ANCHOR A NATIONAL SPORTS BROADCAST.
SHE WENT ON TO BECOME THE FIRST FEMALE RINGSIDE COMMENTATOR AND PRO BOXING, THE HOST OF THE GREATEST SPORTS LEGENDS IN THE FIRST BLACK MISS OHIO USA.
HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT CELEBRATES DIVERSITY, RESILIENCE, AND BARRIER BREAKING LEADERSHIP.
JANE KENNEDY EMBODIES THESE VALUES COMPLETELY.
SHE HAS DEFINITELY PAVED THE WAY SO THAT YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR ACROSS HOUSTON AND OUR NATION KNOW THAT NO SPACE IS OFF LIMITS TO THEM.
AND IT IS OUR HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND CELEBRATION OF HER EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY.
TODAY WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A RECEPTION WITH, UH, JANE KENNEDY TODAY.
THE MAYOR CAME BY AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER.
UM, SO WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 13TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WELCOMES JANE KENNEDY TO HOUSTON CITY HALL IN RECOGNITION OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A BROADCASTER, ACTRESS, AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR, AND ADVOCATE, AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO REPRESENTATION, OPPORTUNITY AND ACHIEVEMENTS.
AND WHEREAS IN 1970, KENNEDY BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE CROWN MISS OHIO AND WENT ON TO COMPETE IN THE MISS USA PAGEANT.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE 1970S, KENNEDY SHOWCASED HER ACTING TALENTS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW, THE $6 MILLION MAN, SANFORD AND SON, AND STAR SKIN HUTCH, AND WHERE SOME OF Y'ALL REMEMBER THOSE SHOWS,
AND WHEREAS IN 1978, KENNEDY MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO ANCHOR A NETWORK TELEVISION SPORTS PROGRAM WHEN SHE JOINED CBS, THE NFL TODAY CO-ANCHOR THE SUNDAY PREGAME SHOW UNTIL 1980 AND EXPANDING REPRESENTATION IN A TRADITIONALLY MALE DOMINATED FIELD.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HER SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN, KENNEDY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO EFFORTS TO EXPAND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING APPEARANCES AT EVENTS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, ARTHUR SHOWCASE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH
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AUDIENCES ON SOCIAL MEDIA FURTHER REFLECT HER COMMITMENT TO SHARING HER EXPERIENCES AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS.AND WHEREAS PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER, 2025, KENNEDY'S MEMOIR, PLAIN JANE OFFERS REFLECTIONS OF HER LIFE AND CAREER SHARING LESSONS THAT SPEAK TO VALUES EMBRACED BY HOUSTON, INCLUDING RESILIENCE, DIVERSITY, AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WHEREAS ON THIS OCCASION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS JANE KENNEDY FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND HER LASTING IMPACT ON BROADCASTING AND REPRESENTATION, RECOGNIZING A CAREER THAT HAS HELPED INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO PURSUE THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 13TH, 2026 AS JANE KENNEDY DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO THANK YOU.
I AM TRULY HONORED TO BE IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU.
AND, UM, MY CAREER STARTED OUT WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL AND I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND I HAD PALM TREE SHORTS, AND I HAD THOSE CAT EYE GLASSES WITH THE RHINESTONES ON THE CORNERS.
AND I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY I WAS GONNA GO TO HOLLYWOOD AND BE A MOVIE STAR AT FOUR YEARS OLD AND EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, STOP, STOP PRANCING AROUND.
AND MY GRANDMA WOULD SAY, DON'T LET ANYBODY STOP YOU.
YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO.
AND I HAVE KEPT THAT WITH ME THROUGHOUT ALL MY CAREER, THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE, NOT JUST IN MY CAREER.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I'M GLAD YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE THINGS THAT I DO THAT'S NOT ON THE TELEVISION, THAT'S NOT ON THE BIG SCREEN, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR ME, THAT YOU CAN USE THAT POWER TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF MANY.
I'VE WORKED FOR, UM, SO MANY FOUNDATIONS AND THINGS.
I, WE RAISED, UM, $9 BILLION FOR THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK TELETHON.
WE'VE RAISED WITH LOU RAWS OVER 25 YEARS, MONEY FOR KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE.
AND I HAVE NOT ONLY DONE THAT, BUT I'VE COMMITTED MYSELF.
I I WAS THE COACH OF A SOCCER TEAM THAT STARTED AT EIGHT YEARS OLD AND WENT ON UNTIL THE TIME THEY GRADUATED AT, AT, AT 17 YEARS OLD.
SIX OF THEM ENDED UP WITH FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO MAJOR UNIVERSITIES.
SO IT'S MORE THAN WHAT WE DO ON TELEVISION.
IT'S WHAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IT'S WHAT WE DO FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M COMMITTED TO.
I, A MOVIE STARS IN THE HOUSE.
WHEN YOU SAY $6 MILLION, MAN IN SANFORD SUN STYLE, WE CAN, WE CAN RELATE TO THIS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH, BUT YOU'VE DONE IT WITH SUCH GRACE AND SUCH STYLE AND I'VE OVER YOUR CAREER, UM, NOT JUST A LITTLE UNDER YOUR AGE, BUT I'VE WATCHED YOU AND YOU, YOU'VE JUST DONE SO MUCH IN SUCH AN ELEGANT WAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR JUST REPRESENTING THE BEST OF THE BEST AND CONTINUING TO DO GOOD WORK.
SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
MA'AM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PAVING THE WAY AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND IT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL THE YOUNG WOMEN WHO DREAMED AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, AND I TOLD EVERYONE REACH FOR THE SKY.
I WANTED TO PLAY SPORTS SO BADLY.
SO MY REVENGE WAS THE NFL TODAY,
SHE COULD HAVE DEFINITELY PLAYED BASKETBALL.
'CAUSE I WAS IN A PICTURE EARLIER WITH, WITH ALL THREE OF US.
AND WE COULD HAVE MADE A GREAT TEAM BACK THEN.
WE'RE SO HAPPY YOU'RE IN HOUSTON AND JUST WHAT A GREAT LIFE YOU'VE HAD.
ARE YOU STILL, ARE YOU STILL HAVE BOOKS AROUND? OH, YES, YES.
WE SOLD, WE SOLD OUT DOWNSTAIRS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET YOUR BAR.
AND I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET THE MAYOR, SO PLEASE GIVE HIM MY BEST REGARDS AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.
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I REMEMBER SALINAS FOR A PROCLAMATION HONORING ST.JOHN'S SCHOOL'S 80TH ANNIVERSARY.
UH, I HAVE THE ESTEEMED PLEASURE OF RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR, OUR MOST INCREDIBLE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, ST.
UH, WE'RE GONNA READ A WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION ABOUT THEM, BUT THE REASON THEY CAME TO MY ATTENTION RECENTLY IS SOME OTHER STUDENTS SIGNED UP FOR MY OFFICE HOURS AND I WAS SO BLOWN AWAY BY THEIR, UH, PASSION AND EXCITEMENT FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, THEIR IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THE CITY BETTER.
AND WE GOT TO HAVING A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION.
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.
AND I SAID, WE GOT TO LEARN THAT ST.
JOHN'S WAS CELEBRATING ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT BEFORE I DO, I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
JOHN'S SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1946 AND WELCOMED ITS FIRST 344 STUDENTS ON SEPTEMBER 27TH OF THAT YEAR, ESTABLISHED AS A SCHOOL OF EXACTING STANDARDS, IT HAS MAINTAINED A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND LEADERSHIP.
JOHN'S SCHOOL CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES THROUGH A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM AND EXPLORE THEIR INTEREST THROUGH ITS FINE ARTS AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. WHEREAS THROUGH MORE THAN 120 STUDENT CLUBS AND NEARLY 30,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, REFLECTING THE SCHOOL'S MISSION OF BEING DEDICATED TO THE ENHANCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF FUTURE LEADERSHIP FOR HOUSTON AND THE COUNTRY.
WHEREAS WITH ITS GO REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE AND ALUMNI WHO INCLUDE NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS, OLYMPIANS, BESTSELLING AUTHORS, UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES, AND OSCAR EMMY, AND GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS, ST.
JOHN'S SCHOOL HAS BECOME AN ESTABLISHED HOUSTON INSTITUTION.
JOHN'S SCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS ITS CONGRATULATIONS AND RECOGNIZES THE VISION OF ITS FOUNDERS, THE DEDICATION OF ITS EDUCATORS, AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS CONTINUE TO ENRICH COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND.
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM TODAY AT ST.
JOHN'S SCHOOL DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SALINAS FOR VISITING, UH, WITH OUR ST.
JOHN'S STUDENTS TO SPEAK WITH AND LISTEN TO EARNESTLY.
UH, LIKEWISE, WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S SUPPORT OF THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ST.
JOHN'S SCHOOL'S 80 YEAR COMMITMENT TO ITS MISSION, IN PART DEDICATED TO THE ENHANCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF FUTURE LEADERSHIP FOR HOUSTON AND THE COUNTRY.
WHILE MUCH IN EDUCATION IN HOUSTON AND IN THE COUNTRY HAS CHANGED, THE SCHOOL'S MISSION HAS REMAINED THE SAME FOR 80 YEARS.
IT'S WELCOMED, INDUSTRIOUS, IT, MOTIVATED AND INTELLIGENT YOUNG PEOPLE INTO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CELEBRATES THE
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MIND'S LIFE AND ITS ENSUING ACTION.JOHN'S STUDENTS HERE TODAY, ARIS HANNAH, BOB BLANTON, WILLIAM BYERS, AND ELLIOT DAVID, ARE WONDERFUL EXAMPLES OF THE HARDWORKING AND BRIGHT STUDENTS WITH WHOM ST.
JOHN'S TRADITION HAS BEEN BUILT.
AND THEIR OPEN DISCOURSE COLLECTIVE IS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE TYPE OF EXPRESSION THAT HAS ALLOWED ST.
JOHN'S TO THRIVE FOR 80 YEARS.
THESE YOUNG MEN UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCOURSE, THAT IS THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BEFORE DEBATE, A PROCESS THAT DETERMINES WINNERS AND LOSERS AT A TIME WHEN OPEN DISCOURSE SEEMS HARDER TO COME BY.
THEIR EFFORT TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING FIRST, THEN TO TAKE INFORMED ACTION IS ONE THAT HAS A LONG HISTORY AT ST.
JOHN'S AND GIVES ME CONFIDENCE.
WE ARE DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS WITH THE EMPATHY TO LISTEN AND THE COURAGE TO ACT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF ERIS BO WILLIAM AND ELLIOT, ALONG WITH THEIR SPONSORS, DR. DAVID CASTILLO, MS. ELEANOR CANNON, MS. CALLIE CARNAHAN, AS WELL AS THEIR CLASSMATES IN THAT OF ST.
GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M ARIS HANNA.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE OPEN DISCOURSE COLLECTIVE AT ST.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING US FOR OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE OPEN DISCOURSE AMONG STUDENTS.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS FOR RECOMMENDING OD DECK TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR.
I BELIEVE THAT CONVERSATIONS AROUND POLITICAL, UH, TOPICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT YET SIMULTANEOUSLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE.
AND I FOUNDED THE OPEN DISCOURSE COLLECTIVE BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE MORE COMMON.
WE AS AN ORGANIZATION, STRIVE TO BRING STUDENTS TOGETHER AND TO PROMOTE THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.
AT ODAC, WE DON'T CROWN WINNERS, WE DON'T FORCE CONSENSUS.
OUR MISSION IS PURELY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND TO PROMOTE THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.
JOHN'S SCHOOL FOR PROVIDING SUCH A NURTURING, A NURTURING ATMOSPHERE FOR OUR CLUB TO TAKE ROOT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK DR. CASTILLO, MS. CARNAHAN, AND MS. CANNON FOR SPONSORING US AND GUIDING US AND HELPING US GROW ALONG THE WAY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK WILLIAM AND BEAU, MY PARTNER SINCE I FOUNDED THE OPEN DISCOURSE COLLECTIVE.
I MEAN, WITHOUT THEIR WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT TRULY WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS TODAY.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ELLIOT DAVID, WHO ORGANIZED THE ORIGINAL MEETING WITH COUNCILMAN SALINAS, WHICH LED TO THIS WHOLE EVENT.
ELLIOT, IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, WE LITERALLY WOULD NOT BE HERE.
UM, THE OPEN DISCOURSE COLLECTIVE STRIVES TO PROMOTE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLITICS AND THE CONVERSATIONS WHICH HAPPEN IN OUR MEETINGS, I THINK WILL BE SHAPING THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING IN THIS ROOM IN 20 YEARS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED MORE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS IN HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION.
AND THE OPEN DISCOURSE COLLECTIVE'S MISSION WILL BE TO ENCOURAGE THAT IN EVERY WAY THAT IT CAN.
THIS COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION, RECOGNIZING THE RECEIPT OF A JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION IMPACT AWARD.
CAN WE HAVE SOUTHERN SMOKE? WALK ON UP.
HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU TO BEING PLEASURE FOR HAVING CONGRATULATIONS.
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OKAY.IF YOU GUYS WANNA KIND OF FILE IN, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED HERE.
I AM REALLY EXCITED TO SPOTLIGHT AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION, TODAY'S SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION, UM, WHO ALL GOT TO GO TO THE SOUTHERN SMOKE EVENT THIS PAST WEEKEND? RAISE YOUR HANDS.
ANYONE? OH, WELL, OBVIOUSLY ALL Y'ALL.
UM, THE ANNUAL SOUTHERN SMOKE FESTIVAL FIRST HELD IN MONTROSE HAS BEEN HOSTED EACH YEAR SINCE 2016, WITH THIS YEAR MARKING THE 10TH SOUTHERN SMOKE FESTIVAL.
NOW HOSTED DOWNTOWN AT DISCOVERY GREEN.
SOUTHERN SMOKE HAS SUPPORTED LOCAL BUSINESSES, CHEFS, BEVERAGE PROFESSIONALS, AND OUR COMMUNITY BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND RAISING FUNDS FOR IMPORTANT CAUSES.
THIS YEAR, OVER 95 CHEFS AND INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN SOUTHERN SMOKE, RAISED OVER $2 MILLION TO PROVIDE CRISIS RELIEF GRANTS AND ACCESS TO NO COST MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS NATIONWIDE.
THIS IS REALLY AWESOME AND AMAZING WORK THEY ARE DOING.
AND SO NOW I'M GONNA READ DE'S PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED IN HOUSTON IN 2015 BY CHEF CHRIS SHEPHERD, AFTER LEARNING THAT HIS FRIEND AND FORMER SOMMELIER ANTONIO OLA HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE FOUNDATION RAISED $463,000 FOR THE MS SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS IN 2017, AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY LEFT MANY HOUSTON HOSPITALITY WORKERS WITHOUT WAGES, SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION EXPANDED ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING $501,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 139 INDIVIDUALS HELPING ESTABLISH A SAFETY NET FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT REMAINS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HOUSTON'S CULTURE, ECONOMY, AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION HAS SINCE GROWN INTO A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY RELIEF AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THROUGH ITS ANNUAL SOUTHERN SMOKE FESTIVAL AND OTHER FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES, THE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT THESE WORKERS AND HAS DIS AND HAS DISTRIBUTED NEARLY $17 MILLION IN RELIEF TO HELP COVER ESSENTIAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING MEDICAL CARE, MEDICATIONS, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE AND RECOVERY FOR NATURAL DISASTERS.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF ITS IMPACT ON THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO FOOD CULTURE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND EQUITY, SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION IS A RECIPIENT OF THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION'S 2026 IMPACT AWARD.
AND WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2026, THE ANNUAL SOUTHERN SMOKE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON CELEBRATING CULINARY EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORT OF A MEANINGFUL CAUSE.
THE FESTIVAL FEATURES MORE THAN 90 CHEFS, BARTENDERS AND MASTER SOMMELIER FROM ACOS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MORE THAN 25 FOOD AND WINE, BEST NEW CHEFS, AND MORE THAN 30 JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING CHEFS WITH PRO WITH PROCEEDS SUPPORTING SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION'S MISSION.
DO I SAY THE LAST ONE FOR YOU? I'LL PASS IT OVER.
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THE MAYOR PRO TIM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 3RD, 2026 AS SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
I'M A CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION.
WE ARE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THESE DAYS, BUT THE ROOT OF WHERE WE CAME FROM IS HOUSTON.
WE STARTED THE EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HARVEY AND BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SAW IT DUE TO THIS CITY, WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS FUNDRAISING HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNEW THAT THE BARTENDERS, THE DISHWASHERS, THE SERVERS, THE BARISTAS WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE A DIME OF THE MONEY THAT WAS BEING RAISED.
SO WE REALIZED WE COULD DO IT OURSELVES.
AND THAT'S WHY THE COMMUNITY OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO, TO HELP EVERYONE ELSE.
WE'RE THE FIRST PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES WHEN THERE'S A NATURAL DISASTER.
BUT ONE THING THAT WE ALWAYS SAY IS, WHO TAKES CARE OF US? AND WE DECIDED THAT IT'S GOING TO BE US.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY.
SO WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GRANT $501,000 TO THOSE FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY, WE KNEW THAT HOUSTON WAS NOT UNIQUE TO CRISIS.
AND WE KNEW THAT NO ONE IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY HAD A SAFETY NET.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE BECAME, UH, SLOWLY WE BECAME A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION UNTIL WE LITERALLY SHOT OUT OF A CANNON DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GRANT $6 MILLION IN 2020 ALONE.
UM, THE HEART OF OUR SECOND PILLAR IS ALSO IN HOUSTON, WHICH IS OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
WE KNEW THROUGH MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY THAT IT WAS A NEED, THAT PEOPLE NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT WAS
[00:30:01]
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, AND WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.AND SO WE TOLD EVERYONE WE KNEW FOR YEARS, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN? AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE PANDEMIC THAT LED US TO OUR SOLUTION.
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA CONNECTED US TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE THEIR PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM WAS SHUT DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THEY SAID THEY NEED THEIR PHD, STUDENTS NEED HOURS, YOUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS NEED THERAPY.
AND WHAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME IS THAT THERE ARE UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE VERY SIMILAR PROGRAMS. SO WE FEEL CONFIDENT IN PROVIDING A CONSISTENT LEVEL OF CARE TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTNERING AND GRANTING UNIVERSITIES FOR THEIR SERVICES.
SO AS OF THIS MONTH, WE ARE NOW IN 17 STATES IN WASHINGTON, DC UM, PROVIDING 20 FREE SESSIONS TO ANY FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKER THAT QUALIFIES.
BUT STILL TO THIS DAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S DR. VINCENT AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
THAT WAS OUR GUIDING LIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND HE STILL WAS AT, YOU KNOW, FESTIVAL LAST WEEKEND CHEERING US ON.
SO, UM, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IN THIS WAY.
WE'RE VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT HOUSTON ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
UM, WHEN OUR CHEFS AND BEVERAGE PARTNERS COME TO HOUSTON EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR OUR FESTIVAL, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING OUR HOTELS, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING OUR BARS AND OUR RESTAURANTS.
UM, IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE THAT WE LIVE IN AND WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY THAT IT'S OUR HQ HERE AT SOUTHERN SMOKE.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AND THE BOARD THAT ARE HERE, BECAUSE THEY ARE CRUSHING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ZA FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS, UM, SOUTHERN SMOKE.
WHEN HE SAY HE WAS GIVING A PROCLAMATION TO SOUTHERN SMOKE, I JUST STARTED SMILING
AND WHEN I SAY THE FOOD IS SO GOOD, I MEAN, YOU LEAVE LIKE SWEATING FROM EATING SO MUCH.
THE MEAT, SWEAT, I'M LIKE, IT'S, IT'S INTOXICATING.
SO I, I WASN'T INTOXICATED, BUT IT, THE FOOD IS INTOXICATING.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THE FESTIVAL TO HOUSTON.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN DURING DISASTER, UM, DISASTER.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP GETTING THEIR, PAYING THEIR RENT.
AND SO YOU GUYS ARE ANSWERING THE CALLING.
YOU ARE ANSWERING THE CALL FOR FOOD, SO JUST KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
AND I'M LOOKING, DID I MISS THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR? YEAH.
WHAT A WONDERFUL, UH, OBJECTIVE AND MISSION, UM, TO, TO WORK TOWARD, YOU KNOW, IN, IN NORMAL TIMES.
THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IS A REALLY TOUGH BUSINESS TO WORK IN.
BUT AS YOU MENTIONED HERE IN HOUSTON ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD HARVEY AND THEN WE DEALT WITH, UH, THE PANDEMIC AND IT REALLY HIT THE INDUSTRY HARD AND, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN IT.
SO I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING THIS AND THAT IT STARTED HERE IN HOUSTON.
I GOT TO HANG OUT WITH THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CROWD A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THEY'RE SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE, UH, TO ASSOCIATE WITH.
AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME WELL-PUBLICIZED LOSSES IN THE LAST YEAR, AND, UM, I JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
[00:35:06]
THE INVOCATION.FOR EVERY SEAT THAT'S BEEN FILLED HERE TODAY, AND EACH MIND AND HEART THAT HEARS HIS PRAYER, GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOUR WISDOM WILL GUIDE US.
WE BRING THE NEEDS OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, AND OUR GOVERNMENT BEFORE YOU.
FATHER, ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD.
YOUR PLAN IS OFTEN DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND.
BUT PLEASE SHAPE US TO REFLECT YOUR WILL.
HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T NEED FULL CLARITY TO WALK IN THE UNIQUE PATHS THAT YOU HAVE LAID FOR EACH OF US, OR PREPARE US TO SERVE WHEN WE ARE CALLED.
I PLEDGE THE MAJOR TO THE FLAG AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ]
MOVE TO THE ROLL CALL.MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER.
COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT IN THE WORLD COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 7TH.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES PROCEDURAL MOTION.
OKAY, WE HAVE PROCEDURAL MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, UH, UH, PUT JENNIFER WALEY TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
AND JACOB CLEMENTE TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS?
[2:00 P.M. – PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF NOT, MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER.STEVEN SIEGEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHEILA TURNER.
WE STEP BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE 1200 BLOCK OF ARLINGTON STREET IN THE HEIGHTS.
TO ASK CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE OUR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT REQUEST, OUR STREET IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAYTIME NON-RESIDENT PARKING.
BECAUSE OUR STREET HAS OPENED DITCHES RATHER THAN CURBS AND GUTTERS, THE ROADWAY IS ESPECIALLY NARROW WHEN CARS PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BLOCK.
TWO-WAY TRAFFIC BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THIS IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY SCHOOL BUSES USING OUR STREET.
THE CITY'S PARKING SURVEY CONFIRMS THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM.
OVER 90% OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES WERE OCCUPIED AND MORE THAN 80% WERE BEING USED BY NON-RESIDENTS.
THESE FIGURES EXCEED THE CITY'S STATED 60% THRESHOLD FOR PERMIT PARKING.
THIS IS NOT JUST A CONVENIENCE MATTER FOR OUR BLOCK.
UH, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2025, A HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT TRUCK COULD NOT NAVIGATE DOWN OUR BLOCK TO REACH A HOUSE THAT WAS ON FIRE AT THE END OF THE STREET BECAUSE OF THE PARKED VEHICLES.
MORE RECENTLY, IN MARCH OF 2026, AN AMBULANCE RESPONDING TO AN EL ELDERLY RESIDENCE MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON OUR BLOCK COULD NOT PARK IN FRONT OF HIS HOME.
BECAUSE CARS WERE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
WE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION AND THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY TRASH LAWN DEBRIS.
BECAUSE NON-RESIDENTS PARK TOO CLOSE IN FRONT OF DEBRIS OR CANS, PREVENTING CITY TRUCKS ACCESS AND CAUSING THE CITY TO DEFER SERVICES.
OUR RESIDENTIAL STREETS CANNOT SAFELY ACCOMMODATE THIS VOLUME OF NON-RESIDENT PARKING, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, SCHOOL BUSES, AND ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES.
WE ARE THEREFORE ASKING FOR REASONABLE SOLUTION THAT PRIORITIZES RESIDENTIAL ACCESS AND PROTECTS PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE SUBMITTED OUR REQUEST FOR THE DESIGNATION OF A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT, THE 1200 BLOCK OF ARLINGTON IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025, AND HAVE COMPLETED THE CITY'S REVIEW PROCESS MEETING ALL CRITERIA.
[00:40:01]
ASK CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE OUR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT REQUEST.I KNOW THIS IS AN ITEM ON OUR AGENDA FOR TOMORROW, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, UH, WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
SHEILA TURNER TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEITH GRANT, ONLY ONE PERSON.
I AM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INSPIRING COMMUNITIES, AK THE HEART PROGRAM.
UM, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CAN, THAT PROVIDES CONTINUING EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND YOUTH TRANSITIONING SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
AND WE CURRENTLY SERVE 140 INDIVIDUALS IN TWO LOCATIONS.
UH, ONE AT OUR MAIN CA, OUR MAIN CAMPUS AT 7 0 7 LEHMAN IN GARDEN OAKS.
IN OUR SECOND SITE AT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK.
WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ALWAYS.
AND WE'VE WANTED TO COME HERE AND THANK YOU IN PERSON FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US AND THAT AND OUR TRAINEES.
AND I HAVE HERE KEITH KEITH GRANT THAT WAS GOING TO BE SPEAKING, AND HE ACTUALLY, UM, DID A SPECIAL, SPECIAL PORTRAIT OF COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS.
SO, AND HE, AND HE CAME HERE WITH US TO GIVE IT TO HIM.
AND I, I JUST WANTED TO, TO READ ONE LITTLE, UH, APPARENT ASKED ME TO, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE.
AND SHE WANTED YOU TO HEAR IT FROM HER WORDS.
AND SHE GOES, AS A PARENT, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THE PARK PROGRAM TRANSFORM TRANSFORMS LIVES.
WHAT MAKES HEART EXCEPTIONAL IS NOT JUST ITS MISSION, BUT ITS HANDS-ON WORK.
PROJECTS THAT PREPARE PARTICIPANTS FOR REAL EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING HEART DOES MORE THAN BUILD SKILLS.
MY CHILD COMES HOME PROUD TALKING ABOUT THE CA TASKS THAT THEY COMPLETED AND THE CONTRA CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE.
THEY FEEL CAPABLE, VALUED, AND INCLUDED IN MANY WAYS DIFFERENTLY.
ABLED INDIVIDUALS RARELY EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT.
THAT SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE IS PRICELESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO, FOR ALL SAY SOMETHING.
BEFORE I GET MY PHOTO, LET ME THANK YOU FOR, UH, CERTAINLY MY GOOD FRIEND FOR THE PORTRAIT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
YOU GUYS, I MAKE IT A POINT, I TRY NOT TO EVER MISS THE LUNCHEONS THAT THE HEART PROGRAM DO EVERY YEAR.
JUST EXCELLENT WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
AND SUCH A GREAT EFFECT ON THE LIVES OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE VERY, VERY GIFTED AND TALENT.
AND I'M DEEPLY, UH, SUPPORTED AND I'M CERTAINLY HONORED TO RECEIVE MY PHOTO, MY PREACHER.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY AN, A CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAM TODAY.
SO THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.
KEITH GRANT, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD?
WHAT WE DO, WE DO VENDING SITES.
WE DO TOYOTA CENTERS, AND THE CHINESE WORKING REAL HARD.
WE WENT, THEY WENT TO MVPS BECAUSE THEY, THEY WORK REAL HARD.
WE DO VENDING SITES AND STUFF, AND THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE THE CHINESE WILL WORK REAL, REAL HARD.
AND, UH, FOR THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE CHINESE HEART, THEY SAY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT OF THE HEART PROGRAM.
KENNETH GRANT TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOUGLAS PEZ.
[00:45:03]
WE, WE HERE TO, UM, TO, UM, TO SUPPORT THE HAR PROGRAM.AND, UM, AND WE, WE WORK SO HARD TO GET AT THE, WE, WE AT THE HAR PROGRAM.
AND, UM, AND, UH, WE, WE, WE LIKE TO Y TO SUPPORT US MORE AND IT WON'T NEED MORE, UM, VENDING MACHINES.
IT WON'T NEED, UM, WHAT WE, WE NEED MORE STUFF.
SO, AND, UM,
AND, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I SAY SOMETHING, UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, THE HEART PROGRAM IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND MAKE MONEY.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL SUPPORT.
KENDALL, WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? GRANT? KENDALL.
GRANT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
CLEMENTE PORTER TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADRIAN CLARK.
THIS IS ADRIAN CLARK FROM THE HEART PROGRAM.
SO THE HEART PROGRAM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR TRAINEES WITH, UM, IDD OR ELECTRICAL, UM, DISABILITY TO HELP US WORK AND LEARN LIFE SKILLS.
SO I'VE BEEN IN HEART PROGRAMS FOR AT LEAST 15, MAYBE LESS THAN THAT YEARS.
AND I'VE DONE AT THE FOOD BANK WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THE HISD FOOD BANK.
AND THAT WAS A RECEPTION THERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND, UM, OUR EDUCATION, UM, WILL HELP US TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, IN OUR HEALTH PROGRAM.
UM, THE HEALTH PROGRAM BE, BE, UM, TO SUCCESSFUL TO OUR TRAINEES, UM, TO LEARN SKILLS, WHAT THEY NEED, UM, BE, BE, UM, BE, UH, MORE RESPONSIBLE AND KINDNESS, GOODNESS TO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
UM, WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS BE AT HIS FOOD BANK, UH, ON CAMPUS.
WE, UM, UM, WE HISD, UM, WE HAVE OUR BIN MACHINES THERE ALSO.
SO WE HAVE OUR KITCHEN, UH, ADHE FOOD BANK AND ALSO, AND ARE YOU CLEMENTE PORTER? UH, YES.
WE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH CONVERSATION ABOUT KINDNESS AND GOODNESS.
KENNETH ZAPATA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEAGE.
I'VE BEEN DOING
SO IN THE HAR PARK WE DO, WE CLEAN UP ON THURSDAY AND WEDNESDAY WE DID COOKIE CLASS.
WE'LL RIDE, WE READ, WE DO A BEANING MACHINE.
WE WORK TO ORDER CENTER, LIKE WE SELL HOT DOG BURGERS WITH A PENCIL, DRINK WATER.
AND THE LAST THURSDAY WE HAD A, A JOB FAIR WHERE WE APPLIED FOR DIFFERENT JOBS AND WE GET THE RESUME.
AND THEN I, AND THEN I LOVE THE HEART PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE, WE DO TOUR IN THERE.
WE DO GOLF, WE DO CONCERTS, WE DO THE PICNIC, WE DO THE
WE DO A LOT OF STUFF AND YEAH.
AND I LIKE ALL OF ALL MY STAFF.
THEY'RE S EVERYTHING TO GET A JOB.
[00:50:01]
REAL LIFE.AND THEN WHEN I GROW UP, I WOULD BE A CHEF.
I HEARD YOU SAY Y'ALL HAD A COOKING CLASS.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO COOK? WE COOK BREAKFAST TOMORROW.
WE'RE MAKING TOAST, TOAST, TOAST AND A, AND A MISSHAPE TOMORROW.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING, SHEILA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, YOUR GROUP DOWN.
COULD WE GET A PICTURE, MAYBE ALL OF THEM TOGETHER? SURE.
UM, JUST, WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER FOLKS IN THE QUEUE.
LET'S, UH, HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN, THEN WE CAN GATHER AND GET A PHOTO.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, SAY I'M SO PROUD OF YOU ALL FOR COMING FORWARD.
I'M PROUD OF THE WAY THAT YOU'RE EXPRESSING YOURSELVES.
I'M PROUD OF YOUR POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND THE HARD WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
UM, YOU ALL MAKE US VERY PROUD AS A CITY COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE HARD WORKERS AND HARD INDIVIDUALS WITH GREAT HEARTS THAT IS MAKING OUR CITY THE GREAT CITY THAT IT IS.
SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE POSITIVE ATTITUDES, TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AND KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF YOU.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHAVE.
UH, IN MY OTHER LIFE, BEFORE I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I AM, I WAS AN EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN.
UM, AND CERTAINLY I WORKED WITH SPECIAL POPULATIONS.
YOU ALL MAKE ME SO VERY, VERY PROUD.
AND TO SAY THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN THAT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.
AND YOU ALL HAVE, HAVE SHOWN US THAT.
I KNOW YOUR PARENTS ARE VERY PROUD.
AND KEITH, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR ME TO POSE.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN AND CERTAINLY SHEILA, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, Y'ALL WANT TO GO DOWN AND TAKE A PHOTO? MAYBE WE'LL PUT THEM IN THE HORSESHOE.
YOU WANT THEM TO COME IN THE HORSESHOE? YEAH.
CAN YOU HELP 'EM GET, CAN YOU GET THAT DOOR, THAT GATE SO THEY CAN GET IN THE HORSESHOE? COME ON, COLLEAGUES.
[00:55:27]
ALL RIGHT, MR. SECRETARY, WE'RE READY FOR OUR NEXT SPEAKER.JACOB CLEMENTI TO BE FOLLOWED BY REGINA GARCIA.
JACOB, WHAT TIME IS IT TEXAN TIME? IS IT ASTROS? ROCKETS, TEXANS.
SO I GOT THIS HAT, AND THEN IT IS BEEN AUTO GRABBED BY, UM, CLUTCH AND, UH, OKAY.
AND, UM, TWO CHEERLEADERS, UHHUH AND GRETCHEN HERE.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE EASTERN MARKETS.
I LIKE THAT PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE, UH, OH, WELL,
AND HEY, NO AKI JOKE, BECAUSE MY AUDIENCE ISN'T HERE.
REGINA GARCIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY PETER GARCIA.
UH, PETER GARCIA WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK.
HE COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, BUT, UM, THIS PAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON, A YOUNG LADY LOST HER LIFE WHILE CROSSING UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD IN A CROSSWALK.
UM, GOD BLESS HER SOUL, GOD BLESS HER FAMILY.
BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD IS SLATED TO BE RECONSTRUCTED SOON.
THE KINDER INSTITUTE HAS DONE A STUDY, AND AT THAT VERY INTERSECTION WHERE, WHERE SHE LOST HER LIFE, THEY'VE SUGGESTED RAISED CROSSWALKS TO MAKE THOSE CROSSWALKS MORE VISIBLE.
ANY OF Y'ALL THAT HAVE BEEN TO RICE UNIVERSITY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VERY HIGH, HIGH ACTIVE, UH, PEDESTRIAN AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, A A LOVELY AREA TO WALK AROUND IN.
BUT I SAW THAT IN THE FINAL DESIGN, THE RAISED CROSSWALKS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT.
I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT Y'ALL GET YOUR BEST ENGINEERS ON THE JOB, YOUR BEST DESIGNERS ON THE JOB.
SOME PEOPLE ON THE STREET WORKING TO MAKE THIS INTERSECTION AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THANK YOU, REGINA FOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND, AND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE YOUNG WOMAN, UM, WHO WAS KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND.
UM, WE HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE THROUGHOUT HOUSTON FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UH, HOUSTONIANS ARE KILLED BY CARS MORE THAN HOMICIDES.
AND THAT'S BEEN YEAR OVER YEAR NOW.
UM, AFTER REVIEWING THE REPORT, WE SAW THAT THIS WAS NOT NECESSARILY AN ISSUE OF SPEED, BUT RATHER VISIBILITY.
AND SO, TO YOUR POINT, UH, A RAISED CROSSWALK THERE WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL AS A MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS.
UM, I AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND HOPEFULLY, UH, WE CAN SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE TO, UH, PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO IT.
NEXT SPEAKER, PETER GARCIA IS NOT PRESENT.
MARK RODRIGUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN DUNN.
I WANTED TO FIRST BY THANKING MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HIS 50 YEARS AS THE LEGISLATOR, ALSO HIS 41 YEARS AS SENATE.
THAT'S WHAT I REALLY CAME ON PART OF TODAY'S SPEECH.
AND ALSO ON THE TOPIC ABOUT CHRIS BROWN, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T PAY PEOPLE ON AN HOURLY WAGE.
YOU PAY 'EM FOR THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
SOME, I KNOW SOME ATTORNEYS THAT MAKE $2,000 AN HOUR.
SOME OTHER ATTORNEYS MAKE A HUNDRED.
I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE, WHICH YOU'RE PAYING FOR.
SO I DON'T, I'M NOT OPPOSING WHAT THE MAYOR DID ON THAT.
ANOTHER TOPIC THAT I WANNA BRING UP.
LAST WEEK WE HAD A MEETING WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER, HPD METRO AND PRECINCT SIX.
I WAS SO ASTONISHED THAT A LIEUTENANT FROM HPD, LIEUTENANT ZAPATA SAID, MARK, THE ONLY REASON YOU GO TO CITY COUNCIL IS TO PUT A LIMELIGHT ON YOURSELF.
I SAID, NO, LIEUTENANT, YOU GOT THAT WRONG.
[01:00:01]
ON MY COMMUNITY.SECOND, HIS SERGEANT
HE'S A SERGEANT OF THE DRT TEAM.
WE'VE HAD A CIVILITY ORDINANCE FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN MY COMMUNITY.
HE'S, THE SERGEANTS BEEN GOING TO MY MEETINGS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE.
LAST WEEK, HE WAS LIKE, WELL, WHEN, WHEN ARE Y'ALL GONNA PUT ONE IN PLACE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? AND I THINK SERGEANT, YOU'RE THE SERGEANT OF THE DRT SIDE.
AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS.
I MEAN, I REALLY CAN'T BE MAD AT THE SERGEANT, BUT MAYBE THE LIEUTENANT OR MAYBE THE COMMANDER.
AND I REALLY THINK, Y'ALL, WE NEED TO PUT A LITTLE LIGHT ON SOUTH CENTRAL.
I, I HAD AN INCIDENT AT A DRUNK, PASSED OUT AT A CHURCH LAST WEEK, AND I CAUGHT HPD 30 MINUTES ON HOLD WITH DISPATCH.
THE OFFICER SHOWS UP, THE GUY WAS DRUNK, GOT HIS BEER POURED OUT, NEVER IDD HIM.
WELL, THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE WAS OUT THERE.
AGAIN, THEY WERE HAVING CHURCH SERVICE.
MY CONCERN WAS KIDS WERE GETTING OUTTA SCHOOL WHEN THIS WAS GOING ON.
IT'S REAL CLOSE TO BURNETT ELEMENTARY.
ANYWAY, WHEN I CALLED SOUTH CENTRAL TO ASK WHAT HAPPENED, THE MAN'S THERE SIX HOURS.
SOUTH CENTRAL, THE, IT WAS SERGEANT, UH, I'LL THINK OF HIS NAME.
BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS A SERGEANT THAT HUNG UP ON ME.
'CAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT I HEARD, WHAT HE WAS HEARING FROM ME.
WE, I CONTACTED OUR COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, AND IT'S PRETTY SAD THAT HE'S NOT HERE.
THE SOUTH CENTRAL DIDN'T JUST HANG UP ON ME THE WEEK PRIOR, THEY HUNG UP ON SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S PRETTY SAD WHEN YOU'RE CALLING A SUBSTATION FOR HELP AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU AND THEY HANG UP ON YOU.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE PUT A LIMELIGHT ON SOUTH CENTRAL SUBSTATION.
THAT ONE PHONE CALL TO YOUR OFFICE.
HP D'S IS A CENTRAL DIVISION, HAS BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB PATROLLING, DUAL, UH, WARDEN DUAL LANGUAGE.
OH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
HEY, MARK, GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.
I, I WILL CERTAINLY, UM, TALK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SOUTH CENTRAL DOES A GREAT JOB.
THEY, THEY DO, UM, SERGEANT LOVE AND OTHERS THAT ARE THERE DO GREAT WORK.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO IDENTIFY YOUR ISSUES AND YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK THAT CAN BE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED.
AND MANY OF US REACH OUT AND PUT THAT RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.
MY 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER DID THIS PICTURE THAT, THAT SHE HAD TO DO HER PROTEST IN SCHOOL.
FIRST GRADE, SHE PROTESTS HOMELESS PEOPLE IN TRASH.
AND THAT'S PRETTY SAD THAT A 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAS TO DO, HAS TO PUT THAT ON HER OWN LITTLE MIND.
I WAS SURPRISED WHEN SHE BROUGHT THAT HOME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL, CITY LEADERS, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB.
JORGE RUIZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER RY.
UM, THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE, UH, THE, UH, THE EXTREME, UH, NOISE ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, UM, I'M A NEIGHBOR.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST, UM, UNBELIEVABLE THAT THERE'S NO, UH, HELP OR, UM, ANY ACTION ON, ON THIS MATTER.
UM, IT, IT'S A SHAME THAT, UH, MY NEXT TWO NEIGHBORS ARE SELLING THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE OF THIS.
THEY USED TO, UH, ORGANIZE OUR NEIGHBORS TO, UH, DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.
NOW THEY'RE SELLING THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING FROM, FROM THE CITY.
UM, I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD, UH, DAUGHTER THAT SHE'S MISSED SCHOOL A FEW DAYS, I MEAN, SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.
AND IT'S JUST, UH, UNBELIEVABLE.
UM, I RESPECT MY NEIGHBORS, BUT I'M NOT RUNNING AWAY.
I, UH, I'M, THAT, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE.
I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MATTER, BUT I NEED HELP, UH, FROM, FROM YOU GUYS AND, UH, FROM THE CITY.
UM, RISE MILITARY AND, UH, WASHINGTON AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, IS BEAUTIFUL.
WE'RE NEXT TO, UH, A LOT OF, UH, NICE PARKS, BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS, UH, GREAT LOCATION.
AND THESE BUILD, UH, THESE BUSINESSES, UH, BUSINESSES, UH, BARS ARE DESTROYING THE, UH, UH, THE AREA.
I I DIDN'T REALLY PREPARE THIS SPEECH.
I'M JUST HERE OUT OF, UH, FRUSTRATION.
UM, I KNOW FOR SURE THAT, UH, SOME, SOME
[01:05:01]
BARS HAVE, UM, UH, LOUD SPEAKERS ON THE PATIOS AND THEY EVEN OPEN THEIR FRONT, UH, UH, WALLS JUST TO HELP ATTRACT MORE, MORE, UH, CLIENTS OR MORE PEOPLE.AND ALL THAT NOISE IS GOING THROUGH OUR HOUSES IS JUST, UH, UNBELIEVABLE THAT, UM, RIGHT THERE, WE'RE RIGHT THERE ON THE, UH, BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD OF A RIGHT MILITARY.
I'M HERE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND, UH, SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, I DUNNO WHAT TO SAY ANYMORE.
UM, AND, AND JORGE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HEARD OF, UM, FROM MANY DIFFERENT RESIDENTS.
WHAT WE WANNA SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
WE ALSO WANNA HOLD THE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.
AND SO I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.
UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH HPD ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT.
UH, I WANNA UPLIFT CENTRAL DIVISION'S WORK IN COMBATING THIS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO ESCALATE YOUR CONCERNS TO HPD TO MAKE SURE, UM, WE CAN HOLD THOSE BAD ACTORS TO ACCOUNT THERE.
NOW IT'S ARNOLD'S CHICKEN SPORTS BAR.
THEY OPEN THE FRONT WALL, THE WHOLE FRONT WALL WITH MASSIVE SPEAKERS GOING ALL THE NOISE OUT OF THE, UH, BUSINESS.
SO MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S HAVING HEADACHES, SHE'S MISSING SCHOOL.
MY NEIGHBORS ARE SELLING THEIR HOUSES.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
WHICH, WHICH BAR WAS IT IN PARTICULAR? COULD YOU, I'M SORRY, WHICH BAR WAS IT? IT'S A'S CHICKEN SPORTS BAR RIGHT THERE ON WASHINGTON AVENUE AND TC JESTER.
THE OTHER BAR NEXT TO ME, IT'S KANA KANA BAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FULL NAME IS, BUT IT'S, THEY HAVE, UH, HUGE SPEAKERS ON THEIR PATIO.
NOT INSIDE THE BUILDING, OUTSIDE THE, UH, THE BUILDING.
AND, UH, I, I'M REQUESTING SOME OFFICERS DURING THOSE TIMES FROM THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH MONDAY TO BE PRESENT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WHEN THERE'S MASSIVE, UH, NOISE, THEY GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION.
MY OFFICE WILL DEFINITELY BE IN CONTACT AND, AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, YOU'LL SEE ME HERE AGAIN, PLEASE.
THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TODAY.
YOU SUBSTANTIATED THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH.
I WAS LOOKING BACK AT, AT A POST BACK WHEN I, UM, ACTUALLY DID THE, THE NOISE MONITORS, UH, FOR HPD.
AND OF COURSE THE, UH, THAT'S A WASTE OF MONEY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE DOING THAT AND WHATEVER, BUT YOU ARE A TESTAMENT.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, THEY DON'T WALK IN YOUR SHOES.
AND SO CERTAINLY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO LIVE IN YOUR HOMES AND HAVE SOME QUIET ENJOYMENT.
AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SOMETHING WE MAY EVEN NEED TO REVISIT IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT CERTAINLY, WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND.
AND I GET CALLS ALL THE TIME IN DISTRICT D, SO MY FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ARE PAYING FOR IT.
SO WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND, AND, AND WE ARE ALL WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING MORE, MAYBE PUT MORE TEETH INTO THE ORDINANCE.
SO THAT PEOPLE WILL BE, KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEY NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
NEXT SPEAKER, JENNIFER WRY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC BROWN.
MY NAME'S JENNIFER BARRI AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT A RP TEXAS AND THE MORE THAN 600,000, UH, A RP MEMBERS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
A RP IS COMMITTED TO HELPING PEOPLE AGE WITH DIGNITY, SECURITY, AND INDEPENDENCE, WHILE, UH, BUILDING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES CAN THRIVE.
BEFORE BEGINNING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE COUNCIL OFFICES THAT HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO MEET WITH A RP VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF DURING A RP HOUSTON'S ADVOCACY DAY.
IF YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER OR A STAFF, PLEASE STAND AND THANK YOU
UM, WE APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS AND DISCUSS THE ISSUES THAT MATTER THE MOST TO UNDER, UH, TO OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TODAY I'M HERE TO BRING ATTENTION TO A GROWING THREAT AFFECTING OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON.
WHEN A RP TALKS ABOUT LIVABLE COMMUNITIES, WE FOCUS ON HELPING PEOPLE CHOOSE HOW THEY LIVE AS THEY AGE.
FINANCIAL SECURITY IS AN ESSENTIAL
[01:10:01]
PART OF THE, OF THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE PROTECTING RESIDENTS FROM FRAUD AND FINANCIAL EXPECTATION CAN HELP THEM CONTINUE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES, AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.CRYPTOCURRENCY KIOSKS, OFTEN CALLED BITCOIN ATMS, HAVE BECOME A PREFERRED TOOL FOR SCAMMERS.
THESE MACHINES CAN BE FOUND IN CONVENIENCE STORES, GAS STATIONS, GROCERY STORES, AND OTHER EVERYDAY LOCATIONS.
BECAUSE THEY OFTEN RESEMBLE TRADITIONAL ATMS. MANY CONSUMERS ASSUME THEY ARE OFF OFFER, THEY OFFER SIMILAR PROTECTIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE A CRYPTOCURRENCY TRANSACTION IS COMPLETED, THERE'S OFTEN NO WAY TO RECOVER THAT MONEY.
THE IMPACT ON TEXANS IS SIGNIFICANT.
TEXANS OVER AGE 60 LOST MORE THAN 396 MILLION TO CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAMS. IN 2025 ALONE, OLDER ADULTS CONTINUE TO BEAR A DISPROPORTIONAL FORTUNATE SHARE OF THESE LOSSES.
BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS ARE REAL PEOPLE.
IN ONE TEXAS CASE, A 79-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS MANIPULATED THROUGH AN IMPOSTER SCAM AND DEPOSITED MORE THAN $250,000 INTO CRYPTOCURRENCY KIOSK BEFORE REALIZING SHE HAD BEEN DEFRAUDED HER LIFE SAVINGS WERE GONE.
A RP IS WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS AND STRENGTHEN CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.
WE HAVE HELPED ADVANCE LOCAL CONSUMER PROTECTIONS ORDINANCES IN COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO, AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING IN EL PASO, WHERE FRAUD AWARENESS, WARNINGS AND OTHER SAFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AROUND CRYPTOCURRENCY KIOSKS TO HELP EDUCATE CONSUMERS AND PREVENT SCAMS BEFORE MONEY IS LOST.
TODAY WE ARE ASKING FOR PARTNERSHIP.
WE ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, FRAUD AWARENESS EFFORTS, AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONSIDERATION FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURES.
A RP IS NOT OPPOSED TO, UH, CRYPTOCURRENCY OR INNOVATION.
CAN I CONTINUE? GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP.
OUR FOCUS IS ENSURING THAT CONSUMERS HAVE APPROPRIATE PROTECTIONS AND INFORMATION TO HELP PREVENT CRIMINALS FROM USING THESE KIOSKS.
TO FACILITATE, FACILITATE FRAUD AWARENESS REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS WE HAVE TO STOP THESE SCAMS. BEFORE HOUSTON RESIDENTS LOSE THEIR RETIRE RETIREMENT SAVINGS TODAY, WE, TOGETHER WE CAN PROTECT OLDER HOUSTONIANS, REDUCE FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION AND CONTRIBUTE, CONTINUE BUILDING A SAFER AND MORE LIVABLE CITY FOR EVERYONE.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
THANK YOU JENNIFER, FOR COMING.
AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO, UH, EXTEND, UM, MY, UH, APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF WHAT A A RP DOES, AND REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT WE SHARED TODAY IN OUR MEETING, DISCUSSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CENTER AROUND OUR SENIORS.
AND, UH, WE CERTAINLY TOOK NOTE OF IT AND RECORDED IT AND, UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE ALL OUR SUPPORT TO IT, PARTICULARLY THE ISSUE AROUND THE CRYPTO, UH, CURRENCY FRAUD THAT'S GOING ON.
BUT, UH, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MOSTLY EVERY TOWN HALL.
WE'VE DONE A A RP HAS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE COURTS AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK WITH A RP.
QUESTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING IN.
YOUR INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE TEAM.
UM, REALLY ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION TODAY, AND I HOPE ALL MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO PASS THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED IN SAN ANTONIO TO CREATE MORE AWARENESS ABOUT THESE KIOSK.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO STOP INNOVATION, BUT WE NEED TO PROTECT ALL HOUSTONIANS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR COMING AND THANK YOU A A RP.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTNERSHIP AT THE ST.
MARY'S GUMBO FEST, UH, ON OCTOBER 24TH AND 25TH.
I'LL CERTAINLY COME BY THE TABLE.
AND JUST THE BENEFITS THAT YOU ALL BRING TO THE COMMUNITY ARE JUST IMMEASURABLE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU AND THE VOLUNTEERS, AND YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR A A R
WELL, THANK YOU VERY, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE, UH, 50 TO JOIN, BY THE WAY.
SO JUST FYI,
UH, AND, UH, A RP ACTUALLY TOOK A, TOOK A GOOD ONE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA JUST, UH,
[01:15:01]
LIFT YOU UP AS WELL FOR ALWAYS PARTICIPATING IN SEVERAL OF OUR, UH, EVENTS AS WELL IN DISTRICT HIGH SPECIFICALLY.UM, BUT THE EDUCATION THAT YOU BROUGHT ABOUT THE CRYPTOCURRENCY, UH, ATMS, I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IT.
UH, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I THINK IT'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES AT THE STATE LEDGE.
I KNOW Y'ALL GONNA BE WORKING ON YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND YOU KNOW, MYSELF AND, UH, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER, WE SIT ON A CAC AND ONE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IS AGING SERVICES.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE, UH, BIGGER IMPACTS ACROSS THE STATE, UH, WITH YOU ALL AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I ENJOYED VISITING WITH, UH, A A RP REPRESENTATIVES THIS MORNING AND, UH, AM COMMITTED TO TRYING TO, UH, HELP THE CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAM PROBLEM THAT EXISTS TODAY.
I ATTENDED A HOUSING, UH, COMMUNITY MEETING LAST NIGHT HOSTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM IN COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, AND AT THE TABLE THAT I WAS AT, UH, A LOT OF THE CONCERN CENTERED AROUND SENIORS AND WHAT KIND OF SERVICES THEY'RE RECEIVING AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP PROTECT OUR SENIORS.
AND CERTAINLY THE CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAM PROBLEM, UM, GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH THAT.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH A A RP ON THIS.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE TEAM MEMBERS.
WE HAD A, A GREAT DISCUSSION TODAY IN THE OFFICE.
AND, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, HOUSTONIANS ARE INFORMED ABOUT ALL THAT A RP IS PROVIDING IN OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY TODAY.
HELLO, MS. JENNINGS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH ELIZABETH WATKINS.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY? DOING WELL, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA PASS THESE AROUND TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A TIME.
NOW, I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU BEFORE.
AND THIS WAS REGARDING A CITY OF HOUSTON MANHOLE THAT OPENED UP UNDERNEATH OF, UH, THE FEET OF MY TENANT WHO WAS WEEDING THE YARD.
AND HE FELL IN, THANK GOD HE WAS ATHLETIC ENOUGH TO GET HIMSELF OUT OF THAT HOLE.
AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A 25 FOOT CITY OF HOUSTON MANHOLE THAT OPENED UP UNDER HIS FEET.
NOW, THE CITY WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT KEEPS SAYING, OH, NO, NO, NO.
THIS IS A PRIVATE, WELL, NO, IT IS NOT.
PLEASE TAKE THE MATERIAL OUT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS.
UH, THE FIRST LITTLE QUESTION I HAD ASKED WAS, UH, ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO IT SAYS, WHEN THIS HOME WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1926, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS AGGRESSIVELY EXPANDING ITS CENTRALIZED MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM TO KEEP PACE WITH RAPID INNER CITY GROWTH.
IN FACT, 1926 WAS THE EXACT YEAR HOUSTON CONSTRUCTED ITS MASSIVE BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN TO ACT AS THE PRIMARY RESERVOIR FOR CITY DRINKING WATER.
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE ALAMEDA PLACE SUBDIVISION WERE SYSTEMATICALLY TIED INTO THESE EXPANDING CITY WATER MAINS RATHER THAN BEING LEFT TO DIG PRIVATE BACKYARD WELLS.
ALRIGHT, I WANT YOU TO FLIP OVER.
THE QUESTION WAS, DOES THE STATE RECORD SHOW THAT 1610 WHEELER STREET IN THE ALAMEDA PLACE SUBDIVISION IN HOUSTON, TEXAS HAD A SEPTIC TANK OR WATER? WELL, STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC RECORDS INDICATE THAT 1610 WHEELER STREET DOES NOT HAVE A SEPTIC TANK OR A WATER.
INSTEAD, THE PROPERTY IS CONNECTED TO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THAT FOR YOURSELVES, BECAUSE AT THE VERY BOTTOM, THE ALAMEDA PLACE SUBDIVISION SITS WELL WITHIN THE HOUSTON'S URBAN CORE.
ZIP CODE 7 7 0 0 4 HAS BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON CENTRALIZED PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE.
[01:20:01]
OVER ONE MORE PAGE, PLEASE.I, I AM RESEARCHING 1610 WHEELER STREET, HOUSTON 7 7 0 0 4.
DID IT HAVE A WATER? WELL, NO.
THE PROPERTY AT 1610 WHEELER STREET LIKELY NEVER RELIED ON AN INDIVIDUAL WATER.
WELL, PUBLIC RECORDS FROM HR.COM AND COMPASS REAL ESTATE SPECIFIED THAT THE MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURE BUILT IN 1926 UTILIZES PUBLIC WATER AND PUBLIC SEWER.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THIS BENEFIT.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALAMEDA PLACE SUBDIVISION, WHICH WAS AN ALL WHITE AFFLUENT URBAN COMMUNITY THAT WAS DEVELOPED INNER CITY FROM ALAMEDA, TEXAS.
AND PEOPLE SAY, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ALAMEDA, TEXAS? I WAS IN THANK YOU.
AND THEY SAID ALAMEDA, TEXAS IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET ON 5 21.
IT WAS RURAL, HAD SEPTIC TANKS, IT WAS A FARMING COMMUNITY AND THEY HAD COWS AND CITY WELLS.
THIS IS AN INNER CITY, INNER CITY URBAN COMMUNITY.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALAMEDA PLACE AND RURAL ALAMEDA.
16, MS. JENNINGS IS, DOES NOT HAVE A WATER WELL NOR A SEPTIC SYSTEM.
AND I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO PAY 5,000 OR $10,000 FOR A CITY MATTER.
OKAY, MS. JENNINGS, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE SHOWS THAT THIS IS A, A PRIVATE WELL, AND I KNOW YOU'RE DISPUTING THAT.
I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY, HAVE Y'ALL LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE? HAVE Y'ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER ON THIS ISSUE? I'M NOT AWARE OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
HAVING SEEN THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE, THE MAYOR SAID WHEN I WAS HERE THAT THEY WOULD PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH MR. SANDOVAL.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO MR. SANDOVAL IS 'CAUSE I HAVE NEVER MET MR. MR. SANDOVAL.
I'M, I, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHO YOU SHOULD TALK TO.
TODAY IS GONNA BE SAL UM, SAL IF YOU'LL MEET WITH HER, WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, EVANS SHABAZZ'S TEAM.
UM, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN KIND OF COME UP WITH A, A GAME PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
MS. JENNINGS, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
PAULA, DID YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT? I DID.
I KNOW THIS IS, I THINK YOUR SECOND TIME COMING MM-HMM
AND, UM, I THINK THE CITY SAL IS GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW SOME PROOF OF IF THERE IS A PRIVATE WILL OR NOT.
IT CANNOT BE ASSUMPTION OR SPECULATION BECAUSE SHE HAS DOCUMENTATION SHOWING OTHERWISE.
SO IF THE CITY CANNOT, UH, PROVE THAT, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MINDSET, JUST LIKE IN PRIVATE PRACTICE THAT THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT.
SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISPROVE WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THOSE ASSERTIONS.
IF WE CANNOT DO THAT, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE HER INFORMATION AS VALID.
AND SAL, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE, THE MEMO THAT WE HAVE? OKAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, ELIZABETH WATKINS TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDNA.
IF YOU'LL TALK IN THAT MICROPHONE.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF 7 7 0 8 8 PARTICULARLY ACRES HOMES.
UH, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS BURNED OUT BUILDINGS AND ILLEGAL DUMPING AND HOW THESE TWO ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER.
UM, I WAS APPRECIATIVE TO SEE THE OCTOBER 7TH PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE SHOWING THAT ZIP CODE 7 7 0 8 8 HAD 279 ILLEGAL DUMPING VIOLATIONS, UH, CALLS THAT CAME IN.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH DANGEROUS BUILDING PROCESSES.
UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR 77 20 WEST MONTGOMERY.
THE AUGUST 25TH HEARING ORDER FOUND THE COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE TO BE DANGEROUS, VACANT, AND UNSECURED.
I MYSELF CAME BEFORE COMMITTEE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THAT BUILDING.
UM, THIS IS A BUILDING WHERE AKERS HOMES HAS THEIR JUNETEENTH PARADE.
UH, A BURNED OUT ABANDONED BUILDING.
THERE ARE THREE DANGEROUS BUILDING ORDERS, ONE FOR BUILDING ONE, ONE FOR BUILDING TWO.
AND ON JULY 28TH, ALL OF THOSE ORDERS, INCLUDING THE ONE ON UM, BUILDING THREE, HAVE PASSED FOR THE ORDER TO HAVE THAT BUILDING SECURED.
SINCE THE BUILDING HAS NOT BEEN SECURED, IT HAS BECOME A HAVEN FOR SQUATTERS AS WELL AS ILLEGAL DUMPING.
[01:25:01]
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS EYESORE IN THE AKER HOMES COMMUNITY.AND GIVEN THAT WE ARE RANKED THIRD IN THIS NEW REPORT, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE MORE ATTENTION GIVEN TO AKER HOMES, UM, AS WE DO FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES.
AND I DO WANNA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, PROGRESS, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT I HAVE BEEN JUST AS DILIGENT IN CONTACTING THEM AS I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING HPD IN THE CITY.
UM, ON THE SEVEN 50 FAIR, THEY TOOK THE INFORMATION WHERE I, MYSELF AND OTHER HOMEOWNERS ACTUALLY WENT OUT.
WE FOUND WHO THE ILLEGAL DUMPING BELONGED TO HPD OFFICERS WENT TO THEIR HOUSE.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE IS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM TO MAKE ARRESTS.
WE ALSO HAVE OTHER HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA WHO HAVE PROVIDED THE CONSTABLES WITH PICTURES AND OTHER, UM, LICENSE PLATE INFORMATION.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THEY ARE GONNA MAKE ARRESTS ON THOSE TWO.
UM, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE CITY HAS APPROVED $3 MILLION FOR DUMPING, INCLUDING CLEANUP, CLEANUP, CAMERAS, SIGNAGE AND ENFORCEMENT.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IF ACRES HOMES IS RANKING THIRD IN VIOLATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME PRIORITY GIVEN TWO ACRES HOMES BEFORE THOSE FUNDS GET SPENT ELSEWHERE.
SO I'M BASICALLY ASKING FOR THREE THINGS.
I WOULD LIKE A WRITTEN STATUS AND ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE FOR 77 20 WEST MONTGOMERY AND SEVEN 50 FAIR, SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WHEN THESE DEADLINES ARE MISSED.
ALL THIS INFORMATION IS, UM, PUBLIC RECORD, SO YOU'VE PROBABLY ALREADY SEEN IT, BUT, UM, THE DEADLINES TO SECURE THOSE BUILDINGS HAS ALREADY PASSED.
BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE OPEN AND, UM, AVAILABLE FOR SQUATTERS AND CONTINUE DUMPING.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO JUST SAY I LIVE IN DISTRICT A UNDER, UM, AMY PECK'S OFFICE, AND I TRULY ENJOY WORKING WITH HER.
WHENEVER I HAVE A ISSUE WITH SOMETHING IN ACRES HOMES, I KNOW THAT I CAN EASILY CALL HER OFFICE.
I'M GOING TO GET A RESPONSE FROM HER OR HER STAFF.
I'VE ALSO HAD, UM, AT LARGE WILLIE, UH, COUNCILMAN WILLIE DAVIS COME TO MY OFFICE.
UM, HE'S AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AS WELL.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE OUR DISTRICT B GIVE THE SAME TYPE OF ATTENTION TO A ACRES HOMES.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I KNOW YOUR CONCERNS ARE, UM, IN THE ACRES HOMES SECTION OF 7 7 0 8 8.
BUT JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE, IN THE INWOOD SECTION OF THAT ZIP CODE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED ON A LOT OF, OF DIFFERENT ISSUES OVER THE YEARS TOGETHER AND JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK THERE, UM, INCLUDING A ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT WE'VE WORKED ON IN INWOOD.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, COUNCILLOR JACKSON HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THE AKER HOME SECTION OF THAT ZIP CODE AS WELL.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES THERE.
SO I KNOW THAT SHE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU TO I HOPE SO.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND, AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND JUST TO ECHO ON, ON THE $3 MILLION BUDGET AMENDMENT, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE DIRECTOR SAY THAT THEY ARE GONNA HA CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY TO OFFER INPUT BEFORE THEY MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS ON WHERE CAMERAS AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WILL BE PLACED.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOP YOU IN.
UH, PLEASE CONNECT WITH MY POLICY DIRECTOR, BRYCE RANDALL, WHO I KNOW IS AROUND HERE, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S OFFICE ON THE REPORT ON THE PARTICULAR SITE.
BUT I KNOW HER AND HER TEAM ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB TO TACKLE WHAT IS JUST AN UNACCEPTABLE PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
TIM, THANK YOU MS. WHITE FOR COMING AGAIN AND, UH, CERTAINLY TO HAVE YOU HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE ADVOCACY YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WAS GOING TO REITERATE THAT AS WELL, AND THE BUSINESS THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S TAKING AN ACTIVE APPROACH, UH, TO DOING THIS.
SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUALLY WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IN ORDER TO SOLIDIFY THAT, BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THAT IS GOING ON AND IT'S REALLY WAY, WAY OUT CONTROL.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, BY THE WAY.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MS. WATKINS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
THE ONLY WAY WE GET THINGS DONE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, BY YOU ADVOCATING THAT'S HOW WE CHANGE THINGS AND OF COURSE, WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN OUR OFFICE.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE IF YOU SEE ILLEGAL DUMPING, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE HOT TWO HOT TEAMS THAT WE COVER WITH OUR DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
WE SPEND CLOSE TO $300,000 ANNUALLY ON ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND SO THE WAY WE TACKLE IT IS IF YOU GUYS REACH OUT TO US AND LET US KNOW THAT THE DUMPING IS THERE.
WE'LL GET THE HOT TEAM OUT THERE.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD, IF I MAY, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD IS WHY THESE, UH, ABANDONED BUILDINGS CANNOT BE,
[01:30:01]
UH, DEMOED ON A QUICKER TIMEFRAME IS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE, UM, AVAILABLE CONTRACTORS.I GUESS WE DO HAVE SEVERAL, UH, COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS IN ACRES HOMES WHO CAN PERFORM THIS WORK, RIGHT? SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE COULD REACH OUT TO YOU WITH YOU ON THAT, BECAUSE WHAT WE DID, EVEN WITH THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, WE CONTRACTED WITH COMPANIES WITHIN DISTRICT B THAT HAVE THAT WRAP A TRUCKS MM-HMM
AND SO THEY PARTNER WITH OUR HOT TEAM.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN LIKE REALLY MOVE FORWARD IS BY COLLABORATION.
I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT CALL AND YOU NOT, DON'T GET THE ANSWER THAT YOU WANT, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING EVERY DAY, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT B IS CLEAN.
MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE FLOODING IS TAKEN CARE OF, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED WITH JOBS, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD, BUT HOW WE MOVE THE DISTRICT FORWARD IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS.
SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, APPRECIATE, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THINGS CHANGE THROUGH ADVOCACY.
AND WE DO HAVE A, A MEMO THAT SAYS THAT, UM, SOLID WASTE IS SCHEDULED TO REMOVE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING FROM BOTH OF THOSE PROPERTIES BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY.
SO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS IF YOU SEE THAT HADN'T BEEN DONE.
ROBERTO COELLO TO BE FOLLOWED BY RUBEN GARZA.
ROBERTO, HE'S GIVING HANDOUTS TO RENEE.
OH, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, JUST FIRST OF ALL, I'M PASSING OUT SOME PAPERS.
THE FIRST THING THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WAS THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK Y'ALL.
YOU GUYS HAVE A HEAVY WORKLOAD, SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, AMAZING FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT ON THE HUTCHINS STREETS COMMUNITY PROJECT IS COMPLETED.
I CAME OVER HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT A THREE YEAR LITTLE FOLLOW UP, BUT IT'S COMPLETED.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE FOLKS FROM DISTRICT D, DR.
AND THEN, UH, JESUS ALSO FOLLOWED UP WITH THAT.
IT'S BEEN, IT IS BEEN, IT WAS A STRUGGLE, BUT IT GOT DONE.
NOW, WITH REGARDS TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I HAVE MENTIONED, WHICH IS NOW THAT THAT'S DONE, I'M, MY GOAL NOW IS TO TRY TO SUPPORT Y'ALL WITH INFORMATION.
NOT TO THROW IN EXTRA THINGS AT, BUT JUST INFORMATION.
UH, NOTICE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE.
YOU THERE ARE CITY FUNDING ISSUES.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE MODEL CITIES INITIATIVE THAT YOU GUYS SHUT DOWN, WHICH I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THAT NOBODY WANTS.
THE, THE $150 MILLION IS GONNA CREATE MORE PROBLEMS AND RESOLVE POTENTIALLY.
AND THEN, UH, BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN WITH REGARDS TO WHERE THE HUNDRED $50 MILLION THEY'RE GONNA COME FROM, THE MORE THEY'RE GONNA SOLVE THAT.
ALSO, ADDITIONALLY, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL FUNDS USING SALES TAX FROM THE WORLD CUP.
AND IF I HAVE A LIST, I HAVE A, HAVE A NEW RETAINER ON, SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE WORLD CUP, THE TWO MONTHS THAT THE CITY WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, UH, AN UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE GOT MOST OF THAT.
THERE IS, THERE WERE LIKE HALF A MILLION PEOPLE EXTRA IN THE CITY WHEN THEY ALL BOUGHT A BUNCH OF STUFF.
SO THERE, YOU GUYS SHOULD LOOK INTO THOSE REPORTS.
I WOULD CONSIDER THERE TO BE LIKE A, LIKE A SPIKE IN THE FUNDS THERE.
IF YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY, UH, WHAT IS THE GAP? AND WHERE WE, I ALSO FOUND THAT NOTICE ONLINE THERE'S, UM, SOMEBODY DONATED $40 MILLION OR SOMEBODY DID $40 MILLION TO HELP HOMELESSNESS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A COOL EFFORT.
I'VE NOTICED, UM,
I'M PROMOTING THE EFFORTS WITH REST OF THE CITY AND I'M ALSO JOKI MARTINEZ AT ADVANCE, SO THAT'S GREAT.
I'M, I'M TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF ACTIVE.
I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE SEE IT AS WELL.
WITH REGARD TO MATH AND EDUCATION, THAT'S, UH, AN UNDERLYING EFFORT TO EDUCATE MORE PEOPLE DYNAMICALLY SO THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT NUMBERS DO AND HOW THEY'RE CONNECTED TO, TO, TO, TO SOCIETY, REALLY.
AND SO THIS IS MEANT TO, IT'S MEANT TO CONNECT.
AND THIS IS A HISTORIC SITUATION BECAUSE THIS HAS, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN HISTORY BEFORE.
THIS, THIS NUMBER HAS NEVER BEEN DIGITIZED IN SUCH A MANNER AND IT'S HAPPENING IN HOUSTON.
SO I I, I FELT IT'S NECESSARY FOR YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WITH THIS NUMBER GLOBALLY, UH, THROUGH A HOUSTON PILOT AND A GLOBAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER AS SCHEDULED WHO ARE IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS.
'CAUSE IT TAKES TIME FOR THAT.
WHAT ELSE I GOT HERE? ISSUES WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THE ISSUES WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE'S, THAT COMES WITH, UH, SOME, SOME, SOME GOOD BENEFITS, BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I NOTED WAS THAT IT'S DILUTING THE COIN, UH, BY CREATING SCAMS LIKE CRYPTO, CRYPTO SCAMS, AND CRYPTO SITUATIONS.
SO BE MINDFUL AS YOU GUYS GO THROUGH THOSE LEGAL SITUATIONS THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SHOULD BE REGULATED BECAUSE IT'S, THANK YOU.
YOUR THANK YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
[01:35:01]
VERY MUCH.THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VERY GOOD THAT YOU CAME BACK, UH, TO SAY THAT THE JOB WAS DONE.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR THE COMPLAINTS, THANK YOU, AND WE GET OUT THERE AND WE REALLY TRY TO MAKE IT WORK, BUT THEN WE DON'T GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
SO I, I DO PRIDE MYSELF ON MY, MY STAFF AND CERTAINLY SAL AND ALL THOSE THAT, THAT COME OUT AND, AND DO THESE THINGS.
AND SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO, TO LET US KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL AT THE HELM OF TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND I'LL TRY TO KEEP COMING BACK EVERY, MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH MORE UPDATES AS THINGS DEVELOPED.
RUBEN GARZA, NEXT SPEAKER, FLORIDA.
SHAR COOPER TO BE FOLLOWED, TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRUCE JOHNSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
WE HAVE OUR BATTLES, BUT WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
WE MINISTER TO THOSE WHO GO THROUGH THE STORM OF EVERY FORM OF CANCER.
UH, WE WERE DIAGNOSED IN 1988, MD ANDERSON CLARK CLINIC SURVIVOR NUMBER 2 2 8 5 8 3.
GET THE NUMBERS, IT'S IN THE MILLIONS NOW, BUT I WAS NUMBER 2, 2 8 5 8 3.
AND I SHALL NEVER FORGET THE CAREGIVING TO ME BY DR.
D SELLERS, WHO WOULD ALWAYS ASK ME, WHY DO YOU WANNA GO TO THE PINK CASTLE
I SAID, I'M GOING TO THE PINK CASTLE
BUT WITH THAT BEDSIDE MANNER HE HAD, HE SAID, OKAY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANNA DO.
AND HERE I AM TODAY, 37 YEARS LATER, HANGING TOUGH AND HELPING TAKE OTHERS THROUGH THE STORM OF CANCER EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
PASTOR WILLIE DAVIS
AND THE WORD SAYS, I WAS OVERCOME BY TROUBLE AND SORROW.
THEN I CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD, OH LORD, PLEASE SAVE US.
WELL, I KNOW OUR GOD IS FULL OF COMPASSION.
THE LORD PROTECTS THE SIMPLE HEARTED.
WHEN I WAS IN GREAT NEED, HE SAVED ME.
AND I'M HERE TODAY, 37 YEARS LATER, TO BE ABLE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA TURN OVER THE LEADERSHIP TO THE HANG TOUGH GARDEN COTTAGE AND RESOURCE CENTER.
CHARLES SAVAGE, WHO'S ORIGINALLY WITH, ORIGINALLY WITH THE FIFTH WARD ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, WILL BE ONE OF THE LEADERS.
AND HE'S ALSO ONE OF THE GUYS THAT WE'VE HONORED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AS BEING POSITIVE INFLUENCES IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO, WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, DR. BRUCE JOHNSON, WHO IS ALSO GONNA TAKE A LEAD ROLE IN HANGING TOUGH AND ENSURE THAT FOREVER, FOREVER, EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A WAY TO MAKE A CALL, GET SOME HELP, GET PLACED IN TEMPORARY HOUSING, WHATEVER IS NEEDED.
I THANK GOD FOR ALL OF YOU THAT MY LIFE HAS GONE THROUGH PETER BROWN IN THE SPIRIT OF PETER BROWN.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO COME FORWARD, SAY, I GOT YOU.
AND THEN CHRIS, HIS SON, CAME ALONG HONORED ME 2020 AS A COMMUNITY LEADER.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO EACH OF YOU WHOSE LIVES WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH.
THANK YOU MAYOR TIM, AND THANK YOU, MS. COOPER.
THE DEVIL HAS TRIED TO COME, UH, AGAINST US A FEW TIMES.
BUT CERTAINLY, UH, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO NAVIGATE.
I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN ME AND I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION.
AND I URGE ANY OF YOU THAT CAN TO CERTAINLY REACH OUT, UM, SHE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH HELPING TO ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THOSE STRUGGLES.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, AND CERTAINLY, UH, WE KNOW THE DEVIL IS A LIAR,
[01:40:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, MOTHER COOPER, COOPER, AS MANY KNOW AS MOTHER FLO.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, I, FOR ONE CAN SAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS LEADER FOR SO MANY YEARS, MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE EVEN IMAGINE, EVEN UNDER WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH WITH CANCER AND BECOME AN OVERCOMER.
AND, UH, THERE'S CREDITED TO YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY ASPECT.
UH, IF IT WAS A BOOK TO BE WRITTEN, IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH PAGES FOR THE LIFE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY SUPPORTING ME, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU'RE UNDERTAKING, AND OF COURSE, ON WHAT IS THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH, YES.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION, UH, FOR YOU.
AND, UH, I HOPE OTHERS WILL, UH, CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE HANK TOUGH, UH, YOU REPRESENT EVERY ONE OF THOSE, UH, LETTERS AND, UH, CERTAINLY COMMEND YOU.
AND THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER, UH, AS YOU CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO.
AND CAN I SAY COUNCIL MEMBER? THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL HARRIS, WHEN I WOULD SEE YOU YEARS AND YEARS,
THEY CAN SEE, UH, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR POSITIVITY, WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE RESONATES WITH THEM AND IS A BLESSING TO THEM.
AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND LIFT YOU UP AS YOU GO DOWN THIS PATH.
YOU HAVE A PURPOSE, AND GOD, AS YOU KNOW, DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.
AND THERE WAS A REASON THAT YOU HAD TO UNDERGO THAT EXPERIENCE AND A REASON THAT HE'S BROUGHT YOU FORTH TODAY TO CONTINUE ON MAKING SURE THAT THAT MESSAGE GETS PASSED ON TO OTHERS.
SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU, LIFT YOU UP, AND GOD BLESS YOU IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO GET A PICTURE WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IF I CAN.
THE ONES DON'T WANNA GET ON THE PICTURE WITH ME.
[01:45:02]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN CAB.FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY GOOD MORNING.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS COMING TO TER TODAY.
HE HAVE LITTLE TEARS COMING OUT MY EYES A LITTLE BIT HERE.
BUT BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO NOT ONLY HONOR THE LEGACY AND THE VISION OF MAMA FLO, UH, TODAY, MAMA FLO CHAGOS COOPER, A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, A WOMAN OF FAITH AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE WHO TURNED HER PERSONAL STRUGGLES INTO HOPE FOR OTHERS, HER SERVICE EARNED RECOGNITION AS AN INTEGRATIONAL WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENTS.
IN 2000 SPECIAL RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS, MICHAEL BERRY 2002 ACKNOWLEDGED HER FOR THE SUSAN G. COLEMAN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FOR SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS THROUGH HER MISSION, HANGING TOUGH EVEN WHEN THE ROAD IS ROUGH.
MAMA FLO REMAINED US AND REMIND US OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT ADVERSITY DOES NOT HAVE TO DEFEAT US.
WITH FAITH, COURAGE, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WE CAN OVERCOME LIFE'S GREATEST CHALLENGES.
I WANNA ALSO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO THIS CHAMBER.
1000 MEN IN PALMER GROUP WAS BORN IN 2013.
WE ARE A BASE NONPROFIT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING PEOPLE AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE, EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING JINGLE BELL JAM FOR 500 KIDS OVER 26 YEARS.
WE'VE SERVED OVER 13,500 CHILDREN THAT ARE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING AS OF TODAY.
TODAY ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES IS FOOD AND MEDICINE.
THROUGH OUR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DEFENDER ACADEMY.
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, WE ARE WORKING TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TEAM AND LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITION, HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES, AND BETTER HEALTH.
WE WELCOME THE SUPPORT OF CITY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND NEIGHBORS AROUND THE WORLD AS WE BUILD THIS WORK.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR FOOD MEDICINE INITIATIVE, PLEASE VISIT THE 1000 MEN EMPOWERMENT.COM WEBSITE.
WE'RE NUMBER ONE ON GOOGLE, THE NUMBER 1000 MEN EMPOWERMENT GROUP.
I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY MENTOR FOR ALMOST A DECADE, MR. STEPTON GRAHAM, WHO HAD GIVEN ME THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO STAND AND TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK ENTITLED THE POWER OF YOUR LIFE COMING OUT IN 2027.
I WANT THIS CHAMBER TO LOOK AT IT.
I WANT YOU TO EMBRACE IT, AND I WANT YOU TO FOLLOW ME THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY.
YOUR LEGACY CONTINUES, AND GOD BE TO THE GLORY.
AND ALSO OUR PARTNER, CHARLES SAVAGE OF THE FIFTH WARD, ENRICHMENT TO EXPLORE WAYS TO CARRY ON YOUR VISION AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO BRINGING AND HONOR YOUR LEGACY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE LAB BLANCHE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND HIS STAFF GRACIOUSLY CONVENED A MEETING WITH ME WITH THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND WITH THE EXECUTIVE POLICE CHIEF.
THE GROUP DETERMINED THAT OUR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM MEMORIAL SOUTHWEST HOSPITAL, IS A MAJOR GATEWAY BECAUSE PEOPLE COME TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND THEY ARE DISCHARGED.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO.
EVEN IN THE NIGHT, THEY COME KNOCKING AT OUR DRAWER, REALIZING THE NEED.
THE, AS AS EXECUTIVE POLICE CHIEF TO ASSESS OUR FACILITY.
AND HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE
[01:50:01]
A CONTRACT TO SERVE THE HOMELESS IN OUR FACILITY.THEY ALSO, UH, TOLD US AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WERE NO FUNDS AVAILABLE.
OVER THE PAST WEEKEND, THEY HAVE HAD SIX PEOPLE.
ONE OF THEM CAME IN AS LATE AS EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING, NEEDING A PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.
THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT THE COUNCIL APPROVING FUNDS OR HOMELESS SERVICES, AND SO THEY WILL WANT FOR ME TO COME AND JUST BEG SO THAT YOU ALL CAN GET SOME MONEY FOR THEM TO HELP PLACES TO SPEND THE NIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS DONE THIS.
WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS AND LIKE I MENTIONING, THE ONLY SNAG HAS THE LACK OF FUNDING ON BEHALF OF THOSE SIX INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP IN THE NIGHT.
AM PLEADING FOR THE CITY TO MAKE SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 15 BEDS AVAILABLE.
OUR COMPANY, PARADISE LIVING, HAS BEEN PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AND PAPERWORK DISABILITY SINCE 1995.
MR. ARTHUR, THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING FORWARD.
UH, I KNOW THIS IS MAYBE YOUR THIRD OR FOURTH TIME HERE, BUT, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO VISIT, LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR FACILITY, UM, THE CAPACITY THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO HOUSE.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH MR. ARTHUR, HIS TEAM, AND, UM, MR. SATTERWHITE, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, AS WELL AS WAS IN TOUCH WITH, UM, DIRECTOR NICHOLS.
AND SO HIS FACILITY IS SOME PLACE THAT COULD REALLY BENEFIT THE HOMELESS POPULATION, ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF HOUSTON AND JAY CITY.
AND, UH, NOW WE JUST HAVE TO LOCATE THE FUNDS AND THERE ARE SOME PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE CITY.
I'LL REACH OUT TO, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CHIEF SATTERWHITE ABOUT WHAT POSSIBILITIES SOME OF THOSE PRIVATE DOLLARS COULD BE FOR, UH, PLACES LIKE YOURSELF THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS OPTIONS THAT HAVE CAPACITY AND AVAILABILITY.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING TO BE DILIGENT IN OFFERING YOUR SPACE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY.
AND I'M CONFIDENT AND OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
I HAVE A NOTE HERE THAT, UM, YOU WERE PROVIDED THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO OFFICIALLY SUBMIT FOR FUNDING.
WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT? AND IS THAT WHEN THEY, YOU WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO FUNDING, WERE YOU ABLE TO SUBMIT FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE HCD? YES, AND I HAD INDICATED MY PREVIOUS APPEARANCES THAT I APPLIED IN AUGUST OF, UH, 2025.
AND, UH, THE REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST, UH, WE DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE.
I CAME OVER HERE AND THAT IS WHERE, UH, HONORABLE, UH, POLAND STEPPED IN UHHUH
AND THAT IS WHAT LED TO THE, SINCE THEY LOOK AT OUR PROFILE, THEY LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN IN SERVICE CONTINUOUSLY.
SO YOU, YOU DID APPLY, BUT THEY WOULD, WE DID APPLY.
YOU WOULD TELL THERE WAS NO FUNDS AVAILABLE.
IT'S A NEW NOFO THAT, SO WE HAVE A, A, A NEW NOFA THAT CAME OUT.
SO I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT YOU APPLY AGAIN.
UM, BUT RENEE, CAN YOU HELP HIM MAKE SURE HE HAS THAT INFORMATION FROM HCD, UM, TO APPLY FOR THAT LATEST NOFA? SURE.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU AS WELL.
NEXT SPEAKER GEORGE LAB BLANCHE.
KIKI TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHERRY BROWNING.
[01:55:15]
THANK YOU.SO MY NAME IS BERNARD DE KIKI AGAIN.
AND, UH, REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE, I TOLD YOU ALL, I'M NOT GOING AWAY BECAUSE THE TOPIC AND THE, UH, INFORMATION I BRING IS GROWING DAY BY DAY ACROSS THE WHOLE EARTH.
AND SO, AND WE WILL NOT IGNORE.
AND THAT MESSAGE, I BELIEVE ALL OF US HAVE HAD LEADERS AND PASTORS IN HOUSTON.
THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, THE GLORIOUS CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SAVIOR WHO DIED ON THE CROSS OF COVER FOR OUR SINS, WHO HAS PROMISED THAT HE'S COMING BACK AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORD, HE'S ABOUT TO BE HERE.
AND THE, THE MEGA ASIAN PROPHET IS TELLING US THAT SOON THE CHURCH WILL NOT BE ON THE AIR.
SOON, THERE WILL BE NO MORE GOING TO CHURCH.
AND SO SINCE YOU HAVE RECEIVED THAT MESSAGE, UH, THE PAPER YOU, YOU ARE RECEIVING TODAY, BLESSED COUNCIL MEMBER IS AN INVITATION FOR YOU.
BECAUSE TO OUR GREATEST GOOD NEWS PATIENT, PROPHET IS COMING FOR A MISSION IN MONTEREY, MEXICO, WHICH IS JUST AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF AWAY, MONTEREY, MEXICO.
AND IF THE ITALIAN, UH, PARLIAMENT WILL INVITE THEM TO SPEAK TO THEM, UH, THE, THE, THE ISRAELI CANES SAY THEY SPEAK THERE, AND THE BRAZILIAN NET JOINT JOINT, THE NATIONAL, NOT JUST US AS THE CITY WILL INVITE THEM, THEN IT BEHOLD US FOR US TO PLEASE.
I PLEAD TO SEND A DELEGATE OR SOMEBODY TO DECIDE.
LET ME GO SEE IF YOU NEED ME TO BUY THE TICKET, I'LL BUY THE TICKET.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS MEETING IN, IN MONTEREY, MEXICO.
IT'S A THREE DAYS EVENT TO HEAR, BECAUSE YOU KNOW I HAVE ACCENT.
YOU ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING ME WELL.
BUT THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR FOR YOURSELF AND BRING THIS BACK TO HOUSTONIANS.
NO, HOUSTONIAN SHOULD GO TO HELL OR MISS RAPTURE WHILE MAMA KIKI IS IN THIS HOUSTON.
I'VE BEEN HERE 37 YEARS AND I KNOW WHAT GOES IN THE NAKED HOOD IN THIS HOUSTON.
I, I DRIVE AROUND MIDNIGHT AT NIGHT, GO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR YOUTHS.
GO SEE MANY OF THEM LATER OUT THERE WITH FENTANYL.
THE BIBLE SAID RIGHTEOUSNESS OF A NATION.
THE SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.
AND I CAME HERE AND I MENTIONED ALSO THAT WE IN GOOGLE, HOUSTON STANDS AS THE NUMBERS TWO MOST SIMPLE CITY IN AMERICA.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, WHICH SHOULDN'T BEEN THERE ANYMORE.
PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, THEY'VE DISTRIBUTED THE PAPERWORK.
UH, LOOK AT THE, YOU HAVE THE INVITATION, YOU HAVE THE DATE.
PLEASE LET SOMEBODY BE TOUCHED BY THE GLORIOUS GOD ALMIGHTY TO APPEAR TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION, TO COME BACK AND GIVE TO US.
AND WE PREPARE AND RECEIVE THEM.
AND THANK YOU MS. KIKI FOR BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU.
UM, CAN PEOPLE CHECK THIS OUT ONLINE? IS THERE A VIRTUAL WAY TO LOOK AT THE, THE, THE SERMON, THE, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE WEBSITE OF THE PROPHET IS THERE? THE THE THE LAY RADIO IS THERE FOR YOU TO HEAR EVEN ABOUT THIS? YEAH.
SO WOULD IT BE, WILL IT BE BROADCAST LIVE? HUH? WOULD IT BE BROADCAST LIVE? YOU MEAN THIS ONE? YEAH.
OH, THIS ONE ALSO WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE.
BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD SINCE THEY JUST AN HOUR AND A HALF FIGURE AWAY, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN RUNNING, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WENT TO BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND IN FRONT OF US, THE WHOLE WORLD, THEY PROPHESIED THE EARTHQUAKE OF COLOMBIA ASKING COLOMBIA TO REPENT.
THREE WEEKS LATER, Y'ALL ARE AWARE THE THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPENED BECAUSE WHY GOD SEND THEM, SEND THEM TO ME AND YOU SEND THEM TO THE, ALL THE NATIONS OF THE ED, IN FACT THAT THE ONES ADMINISTERING
[02:00:01]
THE ENTIRE AIR AND YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION.'CAUSE YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY PROBABLY CAN'T DRIVE DOWN THERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF.
BUT IF YOU KNOW, IF IT'S AVAILABLE, FLY A FLY.
YOU CAN'T BUY THE TICKET AND YOU'RE GONNA BUY THE TICKET.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
JESUS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
NEXT SPEAKER, SHERRY BROWNING.
WELL, IS IT GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING? IT, IT IS STILL AFTERNOON.
UM, WELL, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE MAYOR HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
UH, HE, HE GOES EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOME KIND OF WAY WHERE WE CAN KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY TALKING ABOUT
SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HURRICANE.
I HEARD THAT THE, THEY HAD THE HURRICANE IN, UH, LOUISIANA.
AND, AND I WAS GOING LIKE, OH, REALLY? AND I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD'VE ATTENDED BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE OF THE FIRST, UH, RESPONDERS TO EVEN GO TO EVEN GET IT STARTED.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT STARTED.
AND, AND SO, UM, SO THE LADY FROM THE RED CROSS, SHE SAY, WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE WE HAVE 10, UH, HURRICANES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU LATER.
AND I'M GOING LIKE, OH MY GOD, I NEVER DID THIS BEFORE.
SO I WENT TO, UM, WHAT IS IT, UH, YOUR TIME TO THE STADIUM.
I WENT TO THE RELI STATE AND THE MAN WAS NOT NICE ENOUGH TO LET ME BRING THE, UH, KATRINA PEOPLE TO, UM, FROM LOUISIANA TO HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND IT WAS ALSO HOUSTON PEOPLE AS WELL.
AND, UM, IT REALLY WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL TURNOUT BECAUSE PRESIDENT CLINTON CAME WHEN I CALLED ON HIM, AND HILLARY CLINTON, OPRAH WINFREY CAME AND SHE BOUGHT SOME HOUSES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN BECAUSE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR HOMES WERE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND MR. GOOD TROUBLE, JOHN LEWIS.
HE CAME AND THEY, THEY, THEY WAS DOING SOMETHING LIKE THE PETTI, UH, BRIDGE THING.
AND THEY WAS BRINGING ALL THE PEOPLE FROM LOUISIANA TO HOUSTON.
AND I CALL IT THE HOME AT THE DOME.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO PARTY.
THEY KNOW HOW TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
AND WE DID THANK YOU MS. BROWN, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU DID.
AND MS. SUSAN TAYLOR CAME TO AS WELL.
AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL DONATIONS.
AND UH, CAN WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE? YES, WE CAN.
I'LL BE, THANK YOU MS. BROWN, MAKING THE HALLS.
HAVE A SUPER EVENING NEXT SPEAKER.
UM, I JUST SPENT OVER 30 MINUTES WITH HPD.
UM, THEY WANT ME TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I'LL BE FAST.
OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? UH, I JUST SPENT WITH HPD OVER 30 MINUTES.
UH, THEY WANT ME TO CLA CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THAT LONG, BUT IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES, UM, MY NAME IS AS CHORI.
UM, I ASKED COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS A QUESTION.
AND THE PREMISE OF THAT QUESTION WAS WHETHER IMMIGRATION AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY RECEIVED THE SAME URGENCY FROM OUR LEADERS AS BLACK COMMUNITIES.
THAT WAS NOT ABOUT RACISM, IT WAS ABOUT EQUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
INSTEAD OF ANSWERING, UM, MY QUESTION, I WAS ASKED, UH, CODE A RACISTS AND A CLOWN THEN CAME COPE.
THE STREET LOVES ME AND THE WARNING, THE GO TO OPPOSITE DIRECTION QUICKLY.
GO AHEAD AND WRAP, WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
[02:05:01]
THEN CHRISTIAN MANIF, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MANIF NAME WAS MENTIONED IN THE SAME CONTEXT.AND I BELIEVE, UH, IT CREATES A, IT CREATES UNNECESSARY, WELL, SORRY, IT CREATES UNNECESSARY CHAOS THAT I DON'T THINK HIS NAME SHOULD BE MENTIONED.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, SUCH ACT, IF PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD DONE, WE WOULD CONDONE IT OR WE WOULD SAY SOMETHING AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HOLD, I THINK WE SHOULD HOLD EVERYONE AT SAME RESPONS LIKE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTION.
AND THE THING IS, UH, SOME PEOPLE ASK WHY I'M TALKING OR WHY I'M SPEAKING OR I MEAN IT'S OBVIOUS THOSE ARE GETTING KILLED AND MURDERED.
THEY CAN SPEAK AND ESPECIALLY ALSO THE STUDENTS.
THE EMPLOYEE THAT WORKS FOR YOU GUYS, THEY'RE SCARED TO TALK WITH AGAINST POWERFUL PEOPLE.
AND THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS, COLLEAGUES.
[5:00 P.M. – RECESS ]
WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM HARRIS COUNTY[READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA]
REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY NORTH FORT BEND WATER AUTHORITY, WEST HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY, AND CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT.THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 12, ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE AND $234,000 AND $200,000 FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM.
ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON LAND BANK.
ITEM 16 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 2,400 TO 2,500 BLOCKS OF ROSEDALE STREET BETWEEN EMANCIPATION AVENUE AND LIVE OAK STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 17, ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 4,400 TO 4,500 BLOCKS OF WALKER STREET BETWEEN EASTWOOD STREET AND SOUTH LOCKWOOD DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 18 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 4,400 TO 4,500 BLOCK OF RUSK STREET BETWEEN EASTWOOD STREET AND SOUTH LOCKWOOD DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 19 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE.
OF THE 4,100 TO 4,300 BLOCKS OF CLAY STREET BETWEEN CULLEN BOULEVARD AND EASTWOOD STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 20 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIZE OF THE 4,100 TO 4,300 BLOCKS OF CLAY STREET BETWEEN CULLUM BOULEVARD AND EASTWOOD STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 6,900 BLOCK OF VAN ETTEN STREET BETWEEN LOCKETT STREET, PAYSON STREET AND OLD SPANISH TRAIL WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK.
ITEM 22 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 54 POINT 20 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 14.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 15.3148 ACRES OF LAND TO DALE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT.
ITEM 24 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 73.794 ACRES OF LAND OF FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 1 3 4 C ITEM 25 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF A 70 SQUARE FOOT GROUND EASEMENT AND AN 854 SQUARE FOOT AERIAL EASEMENT BOTH OUT OF THE ROBERT VENT SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER 77, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
VACATING AND ABANDONING THE SAID EASEMENT EASEMENTS TO CENTER POINT ENERGY.
HOUSTON ELECTRIC LLC ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,812,515 48 CENTS AND $1,730,779 84 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
ITEM 27, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 5 0 9 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH BRINKS INCORPORATED.
ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH MORRIS AND MCDANIEL INC.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH COMMERCIAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS INC.
ITEM 30, ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST
[02:10:01]
IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE GROUNDWATER REDUCTION PLAN, CONVERSION WATER LINES GROUP B PROJECT ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,040,406 63 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC.ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,207,842 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVED APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC.
ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $9,031,494 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH RD DURA GROUP INC.
ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AIMS COMPANIES.
ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,150,000 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH NEIL SCHAFER INC.
ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,091,541 69 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH TOMAX CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 37.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 1,194,800 $184 4 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH LOPEZ UTILITIES CONTRACTOR LLC ITEM 38.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $712,045 94 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH LOPEZ UTILITIES CONTRACTOR LLC ITEM 39 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ENVIRONMENTAL 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.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 40 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ANY TIME SEPTIC SOLUTIONS.
LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE W RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 41 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DSAC CLEANING SERVICES 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.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 42 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO GREECE SOLUTIONS LLCA, TEXAS LI 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.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 43 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO R AND D PORTABLE SANITATION SOLUTIONS.
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.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 44 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SLICK RESPONSE SERVICES LIMITED, A TEXAS CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 45 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO STALLION INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED, A TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT HALL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 46 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SUPREME SITE SERVICES, LLCA TEXAS CORPORATION, THE WRIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 47 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAN WASTE SERVICES INC.
A TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 48 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS INC.
A TEXAS CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT CALL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTION, CAPTIONS OF TODAY'S AGENDA.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT HAPPY HUMP DAY
[RECONVENE]
IS MELISSA[02:15:01]
HERE? WHERE'S MELISSA? SHE'S HERE.SHE'S RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT.
[HEARINGS - 9:00 A.M.]
FIRST THE MAYOR'S REPORT.UH, ONE OF OUR ITEMS TODAY IS SETTING THE TAX RATE AND I WANT TO HAVE A, UH, HEALTHY DISCUSSION AND INVITE COUNCIL CERTAINLY TO PARTICIPATE AND UH, THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
THE PROGRESS MEANING WE'RE NOT GONNA RAISE TAXES EVEN WITH THE NEW NUMBERS.
WE'RE SO FAR AHEAD OF THE PROJECTIONS WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON OUR 27 BUDGET.
ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE? NO, THAT'S GONNA TAKE MORE TIME.
BUT WHEN WE STARTED WORKING LAST SUMMER ON THE 27 BUDGET, THE SHORTFALL WAS PROJECTED AT $209 MILLION.
WE HAD IT DOWN TO 25 MILLION AND THEN APPRAISAL DISTRICT KIND OF SURPRISED US WITH THEIR NEW VALUES.
WE LOST AROUND $60 MILLION IN APPRAISED VALUE OF PROPERTY.
UM, BUT EVEN WITH THAT, OUR SHORT FOR SHORT FALL, NOW IT'S PROJECTED AT 88 MILLION, WHICH IF WE CONTINUE THE EFFICIENCIES AND CONTINUE TO ELIMINATE THE DUPLICATION, CONTINUE TO FIGHT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND CORRUPTION, WE WILL HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL NEXT SPRING.
THAT DOES NOT RAISE TAXES TODAY.
THE TAX RATE AS MR. DSKY WILL REPORT, WILL BE CONTINUED AT ITS CURRENT RATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELF AND OUR NATION FINDS OURSELF IN AFFORDABILITY IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF EVERYONE WE REPRESENT.
AND I COULD START DOING COMPARISONS OF OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND THAT THEY TURNED TO RAISING TAXES FIRST BEFORE ESTABLISHING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EFFICIENCIES AND BETTER OPERATIONS THEY'VE UNDERTAKEN.
I'VE COMMITTED TO NOT RAISING TAXES AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN PLACE.
JUST RANDY'S REPORT ON SOLID WASTE LAST WEEK SHOWED THE PROGRESS OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ADMINISTRATION FEE.
IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION, BUT IT MADE A DIFFERENCE REALLY.
DO Y'ALL REALIZE SOME OF THE SOLID WASTE DRIVERS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ROUTES? THAT'S NOT HYPERBOLE.
SO NOW ESTABLISHING AN EFFICIENT, SOLID WASTE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE ARE SO SENSITIVE AND I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE SHARE OWNERSHIP OF THIS, OF IMPROVING CITY SERVICES AND DOING MORE WITH LESS.
AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
WE STILL HAVE SOME STRUCTURAL FUNDING CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AS A GOVERNMENT, WE MIGHT ACTUALLY DO MORE INCENTIVES FOR THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT.
WE STILL HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES IN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA PER CAPITA, BUT I'M PROUD TO SAY WE'RE NOT RAISING THE TAX RATE BECAUSE OUR TEAM WORKING WITH COUNCIL
[02:20:01]
ARE GOING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.WE'RE GONNA DO THIS THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA.
THEY'RE ALL RUNNING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN SHORTFALLS.
CHICAGO, A BILLION DOLLARS, AMAZING CHICAGO, LA, NEW YORK, BILLIONS OF SHORTFALL.
THEY POSTPONE ALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR EMPLOYEE FIRE AND POLICE PENSION FUNDS FOR 10 YEARS, WHICH WILL POSTPONE THAT OBLIGATION, WHICH AMOUNTS TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, THAT'S THAT IS THE CONCERN.
COST OF GAS, COST OF RENT, FOOD.
THIS IS NO TIME FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO RAISE TAXES.
AND I'M COMMITTED THAT WE WILL NOT DO SO AS WE MEET OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING HOW SUCCESSFUL WE'VE BEEN, CERTAINLY IN COMPARISON TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS, EVEN INCLUDING LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
BUT YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT 'CAUSE WE'RE DOING IT QUIETLY.
WE REALLY DON'T TOOT OUR OWN HORNS MUCH.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PR MACHINE LIKE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
AUSTIN LOST A TAX RATE PROPOSAL BY 63% BECAUSE NONE OF THESE JURISDICTIONS HAVE ESTABLISHED A CREDIBILITY THAT BEFORE YOU TURN TO RAISING TAXES, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR COST SAVINGS.
BUT LET ME JUST ALSO EMPHASIZE, WE MONITOR VERY, VERY CAREFULLY THE 3 1 1 CALLS THE CALLS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THERE IS A SERIOUS REDUCTION IN CALLS OF COMPLAINTS STARTING WITH SOLID WASTE.
WE'RE ALSO NOT RAISING TAXES AT THE SAME TIME.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL TIME, ALL TIME.
HIGH ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS OVER A THOUSAND SINCE WE WERE ALL SWORN IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, GOT GOT ONGOING CLASSES, NEVER HAD SO MANY APPLICATIONS FIRE, SAME MANNER, OVER 800 FIREFIGHTERS EMS. THEY'RE NOT RETIRING, THEY'RE NOT LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS THAT THIS COUNCIL PROVIDED.
SO WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
NOW OUR, WE DO HAVE CRITICS, BUT IT IS SO EASY TO BE A CRITIC WHEN YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO SUBMIT A PLAN, WHEN YOU JUST BECOME A CRITIC AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SUBMISSION OF A BUDGET.
SO TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION, I HOPE THE COUNCIL, IF YOU CHOOSE, WE'LL TAKE PRIDE.
OWNERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT RAISING TAXES.
THAT IS WHAT THE MESSAGE IS THIS MORNING.
WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES, WE'RE DOING MORE WITH LESS.
WE HAVE MORE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE GONNA IMPLEMENT, CUTTING OUT WASTE, DUPLICATION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND CORRUPTION.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, WORKING WITH AUSTIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE WE RECEIVE REVENUE FOR PARTS, WATER TREATMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING, UH, MS. DEBOWSKI THIS MORNING, A PROFESSIONAL FINANCE DIRECTOR THAT WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE,
[02:25:01]
BUT THE RATE WILL REMAIN THE SAME.WE'RE SO MUCH IN BETTER SHAPE THAN WE WERE THREE MONTHS AGO, FOUR MONTHS AGO, 209 PROJECTED SHORTFALL.
AND NOW WITH THE NEW VALUES BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, IT'S 88 MILLION, WHICH WE WILL VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLY HANDLE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
AND IT STARTS TODAY WITH NOT RAISE THE TAX RATE.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
UM, I HEAR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE SAYING AND, UH, I THINK IN A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CENTER CHAIR SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR VISION FORWARD ON HOW THEY BELIEVE, UH, THE CITY SHOULD HANDLE, UM, THESE MATTERS.
AND FOR THE ONE WHO PROPOSES THE BUDGET THAT WE VOTE ON, TO BE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE VERY CLEAR INSIGHT, UH, ON THE STRATEGY THAT THEY HAVE, AND APPARENTLY YOU DO.
WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE, I LOOK AT A FEW THINGS.
ONE, AS YOU KNOW, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS UNDER THE TIGHTEST PROPERTY TAX CAP IN THE STATE.
AND FOR YEARS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT PROPERTY TAX CAP HAS HINDERED US IN BRINGING IN DOLLARS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY, HOPEFULLY BENEFIT OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SO WHEN WE DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO REACH THAT CAP, UH, MANY CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THE CAP, UH, NOT ONLY IS NECESSARY, BUT THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK ABOUT EVER REMOVING THAT CAP.
UM, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO ASK THE PUBLIC, AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW, IF WE DID RAISE THE TAX RATE, WHAT ESTIMATE WOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY EACH YEAR FOR, FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSTONIAN, WOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $50 A YEAR, AN ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR, AN EXTRA $200 A YEAR? AND THEN ONCE, ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT, THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS, OKAY, WHAT DO THEY GET? IF WE WERE TO RAISE THE TAX, WHAT SERVICE WOULD THEY GET? WOULD THEY GET BETTER TRASH SERVICE? WOULD THEY GET BETTER HOMELESS OUTREACH? WOULD THEY GET MORE PUBLIC SAFETY? AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY NEEDS AS A CITY.
WE DRIVE AROUND IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES, AND THE ONLY WAY TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES IS THROUGH DOLLARS, RIGHT? AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PUT PROGRAMS OR SERVICES IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
AND SO WHEN WE RUN A DEFICIT WITH THE BUDGET, THE QUESTION BECOMES, OKAY, WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY? AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE TAX RATE, IT WILL HAVE TO BE A SHARED SACRIFICE AMONGST ALL OF US, EVERYONE LIVING IN HOUSTON THAT PAYS WITHIN THAT TO SAY, OKAY, I'M WILLING TO PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT TO GET, YOU KNOW, EXPECTATION OF SERVICE.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE, UM, SOME PROS AND CONS THAT COME WITH THAT.
BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT RAISING TAXES OR MONEY THAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SPEND, THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE ANSWERED ARE, ALRIGHT, HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING ME TO SPEND IF I NEED TO SPEND MORE? AND WHAT DO I GET FROM THAT? AND THEN WHEN YOU COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC, THEN YOU LET THEM GIVE THE FEEDBACK.
IF THEY WANT TO PAY THAT, THEN WE WORK FOR THEM.
IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO PAY THAT, THEN WE WORK FOR THEM.
AND THEN WE MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THOSE TWO QUESTIONS HAVE TO BE ANSWERED.
AND SO, UH, IF THE DIRECTOR EVER DOES COME UP TO SPEAK, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, UH, SPECIFICALLY IF WE WERE TO RAISE THE TAX RATE, UM, TO MEET THE CAP ON AN ESTIMATE, HOW MUCH WOULD EACH HOUSTONIAN HAVE TO PAY? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, MY RESPONSE IS, WE COULD DO ANY KIND OF PROJECTIONS THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND, BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
MY LEADERSHIP IS ONE, WE DO NOT NEED TO SHOW PROJECTED POSSIBILITIES.
'CAUSE I'VE DECIDED, MY POSITION IS WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES.
THEY MAY COME A TIME TO DO THAT, BUT TODAY THERE IS NO NEED TO HYPOTHESIZE ABOUT, WELL, IF WE RAISED IT
[02:30:01]
THIS MUCH, YOU WOULD PAY THIS MUCH.UH, YOU CAN DO IT, UH, YOU CAN ASK MS. DEBOWSKI.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES.
AND SO THAT DECISION'S CERTAINLY MY RECOMMENDATION, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY, THAT IS A REAL FAIR QUESTION.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IMPROVEMENTS WITH SOLID WASTE, SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS ARE NOT THE FINAL SOLUTION.
WE STILL HAVE HEAVY TRASH, UH, CERTAINLY ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS IS WORKING, UH, WITH PROPOSALS, WHAT WE ALL SHARE ENFORCEMENT.
BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE GET FOR OUR MONEY, UH, AND LIVING WITHIN THE CURRENT RATE THIS YEAR, UH, WE PAID OVER A THOUSAND MILES OF STREET LANES THE MOST IN OUR HISTORY.
WE'VE SPENT $500 MILLION ON DRAINAGE IN STREETS, THE MOST EVER.
IT'LL GO TO 750 MILLION AS A RESULT OF THE JONES WATSON LAWSUIT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE.
THE SIMPLE PART OF IT IS YOU LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS.
YOU HAVE TO BUILD A CREDIBILITY WITH THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING, AND THAT YOU'RE USING YOUR, THEIR MONEY WISELY.
THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING YOU CAN.
AND THAT'S WHEN I WOULD KICK IN THE PROJECTIONS OF, IF WE DO THIS, IT'LL RAISE THIS AMOUNT.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE CONCERN THAT WE DO MORE FOR PARKS.
WE'RE SPENDING MORE ON PARKS THAN EVER, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.
BUT I JUST BELIEVE THAT WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC, THE TAXPAYERS TO DEMONSTRATE EFFICIENCIES, CUTTING OUT THE WASTE AND DUPLICATION, AND PRIMARILY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR POCKETBOOK.
AND IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE HOW SOME JURISDICTIONS FACING THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE CONTINUE TO RAISE TAXES, NOT JUST ONCE SOME RAISE TAXES REPEATEDLY WITHOUT ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU RAISE.
WHAT DO YOU GET FOR THAT MONEY? WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO RAISE IT TO THAT LEVEL? SO WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE.
UH, AS I SAID, MOST MAJOR CITIES ARE RUNNING HUGE DEFICITS.
CERTAINLY OUR FELLOW MAJOR TEXAS CITIES.
WE'RE DOWN HERE DOING IT THE PROPER WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE A PR DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, DURING THE CAMPAIGN, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY FINANCES? YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT CITY FINANCES TILL YOU GET AT CITY HALL.
AND, UH, I'VE WORKED WITH SEVEN MAYORS AS A STATE SENATOR.
IN FACT, RECENTLY I SAW LEE BROWN AND HE SAID, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE? I SAID, FINANCES.
AND OTHER MAYORS HAVE TAKEN DIFFERENT APPROACHES, SELL OFF CITY PROPERTIES, LAYOFFS.
BOB LANIER GOT 500 MILLION FROM METRO TO RUN THE CITY.
SO DIFFERENT MAYORS HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
PREVIOUS MAYOR WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO GET ARPA MONEY THAT WAS USED FOR ONGOING EXPENSES.
MY POSITION IS WE'RE NOT GONNA RAISE TAXES UNTIL WE CAN DEMONSTRATE WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND SEEK OUT ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES.
I'M GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE WILL BE SOME.
WE'RE PRESENTING TO AUSTIN AN URBAN INITIATIVE AS A STATE SENATOR.
I'VE WATCHED WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE RURAL COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE THE BEST FARM TO MARKET ROAD IN THE NATION.
WE HELP RURAL TEXAS WITH THEIR, EXCUSE ME, BRUSH CONTROL WATER RESOURCES.
IT'S TIME FOR AUSTIN TO TURN ITS ATTENTION TO THE CITIES,
[02:35:01]
ALLOW THE CITIES TO HAVE RESOURCES TO PLAY CATCH UP ON INFRASTRUCTURE.WE'RE TALKING TO WASHINGTON ABOUT HOW SENSITIVE OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS TO NATIONAL SECURITY.
90% OF THE NATION'S DOMESTIC AND MILITARY JET FUEL IS PRODUCED IN THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL.
NOBODY'S MADE THAT A HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUE.
AS WE SEEK FUNDING FOR WATER TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION, WE FURNISH ALL THOSE PLANTS WATER FROM THE HOUSTON SUPPLY.
SO THERE'S A LOT GOES INTO THIS.
AND AS I SAID A MOMENT AGO, IT'S EASY TO BE A CRITIC WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUBMIT A PLAN.
BUT WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A PLAN.
WE'RE GONNA BE EFFICIENT, CUT OUT THAT WASTE, BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT GONNA RAISE TAXES AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THE CURRENT TAX RATE.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC WILL RECOGNIZE IT.
WILL I BE ABLE TO ASK THAT QUESTION TO, UH, SURE.
WHAT CAN I HEAR FROM OTHER COUNCILS? OR YOU WANT TO DO IT RIGHT NOW? I JUST, I JUST HAD THAT ONE QUESTION.
UM, MELISSA, YOU WANNA COME FORWARD FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER DIRECTOR? THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING FORWARD.
IF WE WERE TO REACH THE CAP WITH THIS CURRENT, UM, WITH THE CURRENT DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE, HOW MUCH WOULD EACH HOUSTONIAN HAVE TO PAY ON IT AS AN ESTIMATE? MM-HMM
SO ON AN ESTIMATE OR AVERAGE? YEAH, FOR, ON AN AVERAGE HOME, IF WE ADOPTED A TAX RATE TO COLLECT THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE PROPERTY, UH, UH, PROPERTY TAX, THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX CAP PROPERTY, ONE CAP, THE TAX RATE WOULD BE ABOUT 55 CENTS.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 55 CENTS AND THE 51 9 1 9 THAT WE'RE PROPOSING WOULD TRANSLATE, UM, FOR AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER ABOUT $9 A MONTH.
AND THAT'S BASED ON A HOME THAT'S ABOUT 340,000 IN VALUE.
SO ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR, ROUGHLY.
SO AN ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR ESTIMATED PER USE STONE IN PER HOUSEHOLD.
AND THEN THAT WOULD GET US AN ADDITIONAL, WHAT ABOUT $87 MILLION? 87 MILLION? MM-HMM
UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR PROTE PAC.
UM, I, I'LL MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND THEN I THINK, UM, THE DIRECTOR WILL COME UP AFTER WE'VE ALL MADE COMMENTS BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE SAID.
UM, I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MS. DEBOSKY THIS MORNING.
UM, MAYOR, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH YOUR MESSAGE OF WE'RE NOT GONNA GOING TO RAISE TAXES AT THIS TIME.
I WANT TO LOOK UNDER ALL THE ROCKS.
AND THEN WHEN I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE ALL THAT WE COULD DO, UM, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HOUSTONIANS.
UH, AS A TAXPAYER, I LIKE THAT APPROACH.
UM, I ALSO SIT ON THIS SIDE OF THE DESK AND I ALSO SEE, UH, NEEDS IN THE CITY.
AND I ALSO SEE WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE STATE ALLOWANCE WOULD ALLOW US TO BRING IN AS A CITY AND AS A, A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS TAXPAYERS.
AND, AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE MANY OF US ARE PUSHED FOR MORE PROJECTS, I ALSO SEE, UM, WHAT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS CAN DO FOR US AS A BODY.
UM, WITH, IN MY CONVERSATION WITH MS. DEBOWSKI THIS MORNING, I, I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO SHARE WITH HOUSTONIANS WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY? BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF NUMBERS.
IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A BIG PROCESS TO UNDERTAKE THE, THE BUDGET.
AND WHAT, WHAT I'M THINKING IS, AND MR. BOSKY CAN, UM, LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY THAT I WANT TO SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH HOUSTONIANS, IS WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT OUR FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, WE WERE AROUND A 209 MILLION OR SO DEFICIT.
UM, WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE, UM, WE WERE TOUTING A $25 MILLION DEFICIT.
WE LOOKED UNDER ALL THE ROCKS, WE MADE SOME CHANGES IN OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE CONSOLIDATED SOME EFFORTS.
THERE WAS SOME PROS AND CONS TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
UM, AND THEN WITH THIS TAX RATE, WE ARE ANTICIPATING
[02:40:01]
A DEFICIT OF $88 MILLION.UM, I THINK FROM A $209 MILLION DEFICIT TO AN $88 MILLION DEFICIT, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A WIN.
UM, THIS, THIS WORK IS VERY FLUID.
UM, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT PRIORITIES.
IT IS ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THE VERY BEST FOR HOUSTONIANS? I THINK WE CAN AGREE.
WE HAD A GREAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UH, FINANCIALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR THE CITY.
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS AGAIN IN JANUARY.
UH, MAYOR, WE ARE ANTICIPATING, YOU KNOW, BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND I'M, I'M HOPING THAT, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE SOME, UM, OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AS A CITY TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL MONEY.
UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, MY DREAM AS A, AS A TAXPAYER WOULD BE FOR EVERY TAXING ENTITY TO GET TOGETHER.
BECAUSE WE ARE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR REGION, WE'RE, WE'RE THE SHARED CONSTITUENCY OF EVERY TAXING ENTITY.
UM, AND I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE EVERY TAXING ENTITY IS WORKING IN A, IN A SILO, LOOKING AT ONLY THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR MONEY.
BUT HOUSTONIANS ARE LOOKING AT THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR MONEY, AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH EVERY TAXING ENTITY.
I WOULD LOVE A COMBINED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADDRESS EVERY TAXING ENTITY, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO THAT IF THE COUNTY HAS RAISED TAXES THE LAST THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN SAY, LOOK, COUNTY, WE, WE'VE DONE THAT WITH YOU FOR THREE YEARS NOW, YOU GOTTA CHILL YOU.
IT'S LET ANOTHER TAXING ENTITY HA HA HAVE A, HAVE A HAVE A, A PULL AT IT.
UM, I MEAN, SO BECAUSE IT, IT, IT'S TOO MUCH.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTRY.
UM, AND WE HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH ALL OF THESE TAXING ENTITIES TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HELD STEADY TO TRY TO HELP ADDRESS THIS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, BUT THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN WE, WE DO HAVE TO FIX THESE ROADS.
WE, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING AS WELL.
I MEAN, WE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR TAX BILL, ALMOST 50% OF WHAT YOU'RE PAYING GOES TO SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TO SIT WITH OUR, OUR, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THESE TAX DECISIONS IN OUR ISDS AND SAY, HEY, LET'S, LET'S SIT TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE AS TAXING ENTITIES ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT IN A SHARED MANNER.
AND REALLY DISCUSS WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE TAXES THIS YEAR.
WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE TAXES NEXT YEAR? EVERYONE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER, UM, TO HELP US THROUGH THIS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
BECAUSE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES.
WE ALL STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES.
AND SO IT IS A, YEAH, AND IT'S A PUSH AND PULL BECAUSE YOU SEE IT FROM THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO PAY IT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.
UM, AND, AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO, I MEAN, QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE MAKE.
UM, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT OUR SALARY IS ON CITY COUNCIL.
I MEAN, WE ARE IN THE SAME POSITION AS EVERYDAY WORKING PEOPLE.
UM, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND WHAT WE CAN'T AFFORD.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSISTENCY IN NOT RAISING TAXES UNTIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THIS IS THE LAST RESORT.
UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE NEEDS IN THE CITY.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DIRECTOR'S PRESENTATION BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY HAVE AS, AS A CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE HAS BEEN IN A GOOD DIRECTION.
WE HAD A GOOD LEGISLATIVE, UM, SESSION.
WE'VE DONE SOME CONSOLIDATION.
WE'VE MOVED SOME, UM, DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAD THE, UM, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTARY, UM, RETIREMENTS.
AND, AND IT'S NOT ALL PERFECT.
AND I, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T CARE WHO SITS IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SET THEIR
[02:45:01]
PRIORITIES, AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR HOUSTONIANS.UM, THE GOOD THING FOR US IS WE DON'T DO DEFICIT SPENDING.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, WE CAN'T SPEND IT.
UM, SO IT, IT, IT'S A FLUID CONVERSATION AND WHETHER WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH A YEAR, OR $500 A YEAR, IT STILL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
I, I THINK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WITH THE $5 FEE.
I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE UP IN ARMS ABOUT THE $5 FEE.
SO IF WE SAY, NOW, WE WANT YOU TO PAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR, I MEAN, OF COURSE THERE ARE GONNA BE PEOPLE WHO THAT IMPACTS MORE THAN OTHERS, AND IT, THERE'S NOT A MAGIC WAND TO MAKE IT RIGHT FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
UM, SO I'M, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A COUNCIL, UM, MAYOR, UM, YOUR CONSISTENCY WITH, UH, KEEPING THE TAX RATE, UM, STEADY UNTIL WE ARE 100% SURE THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO AS A WIN, AS A TAXPAYER AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I MEAN, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR, OUR BFA CHAIR, AND, UM, I KNOW WE STARTED OUT WITH A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEAVING A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ON THE TABLE BY JUST GOING TO OUR STATE ALLOWED, UM, TAX RATE.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I'M PUTTING THIS OUT THERE.
IT WOULD BE MY DREAM TO HAVE ALL OF THE TAXING ENTITIES COME TOGETHER AND FACE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ELECT THEM TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE AND ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN OUR CITY AND, AND IN OUR REGION.
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS CONVERSATION, AND I THINK MORE PEOPLE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT AS A CITY, WE, WE HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO DO OUR VERY BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO SAY, OKAY, HERE WE ARE.
WE'VE MOVED PEOPLE, WE'VE MOVED THINGS, WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN DO.
WHERE DO YOU WANT US TO GO AS A CITY? THANK YOU.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN VERY EASY TO RAISE THE TAX RATE, BUT IT'S MUCH HARDER TO DO THE WORK AND STREAMLINE EACH DEPARTMENT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY EACH MONTH FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IF WE'VE RAISED THE TAXES.
UM, BUT IF THE MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS A BROKEN SYSTEM, WHAT'S THE POINT? YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A RETURN ON INVESTMENT, UM, IN THAT CASE, AND PEOPLE WOULDN'T SEE REALLY THE BENEFITS OF THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT THEY WOULD PAY INTO THE SYSTEM.
SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT HARD WORK FIRST.
AND I THINK THAT WE ARE GETTING THERE, UM, EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL UNTIL YOU BECAME MAYOR, I'VE OFFERED THE BUDGET AMENDMENT TO DO THESE EFFICIENCY STUDIES AND WAS TOLD YEAR AFTER YEAR THAT WE WOULDN'T FIND ENOUGH MONEY TO EVEN PAY FOR THE STUDIES.
AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR NOT ACCEPTING THAT AS THE ANSWER THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT DOING THESE EFFICIENCIES.
WE'VE FOUND A LOT OF MONEY, AND THAT HAS HELPED US TO NOT HAVE TO RAISE THAT TAX RATE.
UM, IT WAS A RIGHT DECISION TO KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME.
WELL, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, I DON'T HAVE A BIG SPEECH THIS YEAR.
SO, UH,
I MEAN, LET'S JUST BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
YOU CAN'T WALK IN A ROOM, YOU CAN'T SHAKE A STICK WITHOUT HEARING THE WORD AFFORDABILITY.
I GET THE, THE WILLINGNESS AND, AND THE DESIRE TO STAY AT 51 CENTS.
AND I, AND, AND I'M GONNA EVEN AGREE WITH IT THIS YEAR.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS WE CAN'T IGNORE THAT THE COUNTY HAS RAISED THE TAXES 7.6% JUST RECENTLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY GET THE FIRST SHOT AT EVERYTHING.
WHY CAN'T WE MOVE IT AROUND? SO WHY DO THEY GET TO HAVE ALL THE FUN? AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, UM, THEY RAISED IT 7.6%, THEY RAISED IT AT 8% AFTER THE DERECHO AND BARREL.
UM, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD IF WE TURN RIGHT AROUND RIGHT AFTER THAT HAPPENS AND RAISE THE TAX RATE.
BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY WE ARE A LOW TAX, LOW SERVICE CITY.
THE ONLY THING I'LL TAKE, UM, ISSUE WITH MAYOR THAT YOU SAID IS WE'RE DOING LESS WITH MORE.
WE'RE DOING MORE WITH MORE, WE'RE DOING MORE WITH TRASH BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE MONEY COMING INTO TRASH.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE SUBSIDIZING IT WITH OUR WATER WASTE WATER RESERVES, WE'RE DOING WAR WITH PARKS THAN WE HAVE BEFORE.
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN MONEY FROM THE STATE.
WE'VE HAD COUNT THE COUNTY TAKE THINGS OVER BARK STILL WAY UNDERFUNDED, LOWEST CAPITA SPENDING ON PARKS, LOWEST CAPITA SPENDING ON BARK.
WE HAVE TRUE NEEDS THAT ULTIMATELY
[02:50:02]
AT SOME POINT, YOU CAN'T KEEP SAYING, I HAVE TO LOOK UNDER EVERY ROCK.I HAVE TO PROVE TO EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS THAT I DESERVE THE, WE DESERVE THIS MONEY.
BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE TAXES.
BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT AT SOME POINT.
IT'S, I'VE ALWAYS SAID, IT'S JUST THE MATH.
I SAID I WASN'T GONNA MAKE A BIG SPEECH, BUT HERE I GO,
WE HAVE VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONTRACTS, WHICH I SUPPORTED, WHICH HAVE ALLOWED US TO, TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL.
WE FACE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS IN YEARS TO COME.
THAT'S ONE OF THE DRIVERS, NOT THE ONLY DRIVER.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT MOST RESIDENTS, WHILE THEY DON'T WANNA PAY EXTRA TAXES, UNDERSTAND THAT, UNDERSTAND THAT A THOUSAND MORE COPS COST MONEY, MORE FIREFIGHTERS COST MONEY.
I THINK THEY WILL UNDERSTAND IT.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR DEBOSKY WHEN SHE COMES UP.
I UNDERSTAND THE TIMING OF IT.
I DO THINK A LOT OF, UH, GOOD STRUCTURAL CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.
THE, THE MOVING THINGS TO THE CUS, WE'VE GOTTA WATCH THE CUS, BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE SMART THING TO DO TO, TO LOWER THAT DEFICIT.
UH, BUT, BUT I, I JUST THINK, UH, THAT AT SOME POINT YOU JUST WILL HAVE TO HAVE THAT HONEST CONVERSATION WITH, WITH VOTERS AND, AND SAY, YOU KNOW, LOOK, WE DON'T, WE DON'T, I DON'T, AS A TAXPAYER, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANNA LIVE IN A LOW SERVICE CITY.
I WANT MORE, MORE, MORE STUFF DONE.
I WANNA SEE BETTER ANIMAL WELFARE.
I WANNA SEE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
FIRST OF ALL, THAT $5 ADMINISTRATION FEE DID NOT FIX SOLID WASTE.
THAT WAS REALLY BY REDESIGNING THE OPERATIONS OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND THERE REALLY WASN'T THAT MUCH PUSHBACK IF YOU, UH, GET WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, IN TERMS OF VOTING FOR TAXES.
IS, IS EVIL A WORD AS THAT IS BECAUSE OF MY LONGEVITY AND SENIORITY IN THE SENATE, I'VE PROBABLY VOTED FOR MORE TAX INCREASES THAN ANY LIVING PERSON.
I THINK WE, WE, UH, SURVEYED, UH, STARTING BACK IN THE HOUSE AND CERTAINLY 40 YEARS IN THE SENATE, THERE IS NO QUESTION PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NO FREE LUNCHES.
BUT THAT CAN'T BE THE FIRST OPTION.
AND THAT'S BECOME THE PRACTICE AT SO MANY LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
YOU HAVE TO BUILD CREDIBILITY.
YOU KNOW, THE HISD BOND ISSUE WENT DOWN SO SOLID BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT CONVINCED THE PUBLIC THAT THEY'D DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO CUT COSTS SCHOOLS WITH LOW ENROLLMENTS.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND EXAMINE OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T THINK THAT WAS DONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF MY PRIORITIES TO LET PEOPLE KNOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS HONESTLY AND LIVES WITHIN ITS MEANS BEFORE YOU ASK FOR MORE.
AND I THINK THERE ARE STILL SERIOUS ISSUES ABOUT OUR GENERAL EFFICIENCIES.
WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN PLACE.
IN FACT, THE DISCUSSION'S MORE ABOUT THE TEAM MORE THAN IS ABOUT ANY ONE OF US.
RANDY AND PUBLIC WORKS ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB, UH, BARK.
AND IT REALLY ALMOST GETS BACK TO THE MAYOR PRO TEMS DISCUSSION ABOUT WORKING WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
THAT'S WHERE THE COLLABORATION COMES IN.
WE STILL HAVE MUCH IMPROVEMENT ON COLLABORATION.
I DON'T THINK GOING FORWARD IN 2027, IN FUTURE YEARS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE TWO OF EVERYTHING, A COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AND A CITY.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT DR. TRAN AND DR.
POSO ARE WORKING MORE AND MORE WITH HARRIS HEALTH
[02:55:01]
IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.ONE OF 'EM ARE THE COLLABORATION WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, WE NEED TO NOT WORK SO INDEPENDENT.
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS, I WAS AT MOODY PARK LAST WEEK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.
HE'S TAKEN OVER MANAGEMENT OF THAT ICONIC PARK.
METRO'S TAKEN SECURITY TO THAT PARK.
SO ONE WAY WE CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN IS WE DON'T HAVE TWO OF EVERYTHING.
TWO LIBRARY SYSTEMS, ONE COUNTY, ONE CITY, TWO PARK SYSTEMS, ONE COUNTY, ONE CITY.
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH MORE TO DISCUSS AND ACCOMPLISH BEFORE YOU SAY, WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN.
I DIDN'T VOTE FOR TAXES IN AUSTIN WITHOUT CONSOLIDATION AND EFFICIENCIES.
THERE'S LIFE AFTER VOTING FOR TAXES, BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND, AND THE PROBLEM IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE NATION, ANY CITY, MAJOR CITY, THEY NEVER DO EFFICIENCY STUDIES.
WE'RE WE'RE TRAILBLAZERS IN DOING AN ERNST AND YOUNG FORENSIC AUDIT.
NO OTHER CITY THINKS ABOUT IT.
INSTEAD, THEY CONTINUE TO BUILD CITY GOVERNMENT THAN THEY RAISE TAXES TO PAY FOR IT.
SO THAT COMES FROM MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND MY COMMITMENT TO COME DOWN HERE, FIX HOUSTON, AND WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, EVEN WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE WE'RE KEEPING OUR COMMITMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
I JUST CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE REDUCTION IN CALLS ABOUT SOLID WASTE.
AND IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG SINCE WE WENT TO A DIFFERENT MODEL.
BUT ANYWAY, I'M PRETTY EXCITED AND CERTAINLY PLEASED THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMITMENT OF NOT RAISING TAXES BEFORE WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.
UM, AND I, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THIS CONVERSATION.
I THINK THIS IS, UM, PROBABLY, AND AS A STAFFER, THE MOST, UH, OPEN TRANSPARENT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE TAX RATE SHOULD BE.
USUALLY IT'S, IT, YOU KNOW, IT GOES BY A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CITY AREN'T DISCUSSING IT TOO MUCH.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A REVENUE CAP.
WE KNEW WE NEEDED A TRASH FEE.
I'M, I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE THAT WALKS US INTO A TRASH FEE EVENTUALLY.
UM, BUT I, AND I CAN AGREE WITH A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
UH, ONE THING THAT, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MENTIONED, UH, I, I SAY THIS TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU CAN'T FIX ON BROKEN.
SO IT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO MAYOR.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, UH, TO ADDRESS INEFFICIENCIES, WASTE, UH, REDUNDANCIES.
AND I'M, I'M ON AND I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT.
SO I'M GOOD WITH KEEPING THE TAX RATE WHERE IT IS UNTIL WE CAN BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN BRING IN REVENUE SIMILAR TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
UH, MOST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE, UH, FEES, SPECIFICALLY, LIKE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS FEES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1990S.
UH, WE REALLY NEED TO REVISIT THOSE, UM, PRIOR TO WHATEVER THAT TAX RATE SHOULD BE, OR TALKING ABOUT THE, THE REVENUE CAP, WE SHOULD ADDRESS A LOT OF, UH, THESE ANTIQUATED, UH, FEES THAT WE DO HAVE.
UM, THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL, WHETHER IT'S, UH, BRINGING A SCOOTER VENDOR THAT COULD BRING IN, UM, REVENUE OR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS THAT COULD BRING IN REVENUE PRIOR TO US BRING, UH, DISCUSSING, UH, WHAT THE TAX FEE KILL ME, WHAT, WHAT THE, WHAT THE TAX RATE WOULD BE.
UM, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL HONEST OPEN CONVERSATIONS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, PRIOR TO, UH, YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT TRASH FEE WOULD ULTIMATELY BE.
HOW CAN WE BRING IN MORE REVENUE FROM SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT WITH OUR TRANSFER STATIONS? UM, AND SO TO THAT, TO THAT POINT, AND TO THAT END, UH, I'M, I'M ON BOARD WITH KEEPING THE TAX RATE WHERE IT IS.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, UH, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IN, UH, THOSE EFFICIENCIES OR INEFFICIENCIES.
UH, BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME, HOW DO WE FIND MORE REVENUE? UH, UM, AND IT COULD BE A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS HERE AND THERE FROM DIFFERENT, UH, DEPARTMENTS OR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. UH, ULTIMATELY, UH, REDUCING THIS 88 MILLION, UH, UH, UH, DEF, UH, DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE, UM, THAT MAKES IT EASIER, UH, ON THE TAXPAYER BECAUSE SOME OF THESE FEES, THEY DON'T GO TO EVERY HOUSTONIAN.
THEY GO TO FOLKS THAT ARE UTILIZING EXTRA SERVICES OR SERVICES THAT, THAT THEY, THEY, UH, ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THE CONVERSATION, UH, IT'S, IT'S OPEN, IT'S TRANSPARENT.
IT'S PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT THIS.
[03:00:01]
HAVE 'EM, BUT WE CAN'T FIX ON BROKEN.AND THEN FROM THERE, HOW DO WE START ADDRESSING ANY REVENUE PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE TAX RATE? WHAT WE KNOW, ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO SEE A CHANGE AS WELL.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO LOWER THE, THE TAX RATE OR KEEP IT WHERE IT'S AT, UH, WITH A GROWING NEED OF SERVICES FROM, UH, A GROWING HOUSTON ACROSS THE BOARD, WHETHER IT'S FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN, UH, FROM OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON ON A DAILY BASIS, OR THE HOUSTONIANS THAT LIVE IN HOUSTON AS WELL.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.
SOME OF THE FEES AND COST OF SOME CITY SERVICES HAVEN'T, QUITE FRANKLY, HAVEN'T BEEN INCREASED IN 20, 30 YEARS.
UH, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THAT IN A REASONABLE FASHION.
MANY OF US WOULD SAY A FEE IS, IS A TAX WITH JUST CALLED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO, UH, THAT'LL BE A, CERTAINLY AN EXAMINATION GOING FORWARD.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE REASONABLE WITH THE PUBLIC.
AND CERTAINLY I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CITY'S, UH, OPERATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO RAISE THE COST OF GETTING IN THE ZOO.
AND I COULD NAME OTHER CITY SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED, WHICH, UH, IS A CONCERN OF MINE AS IT RELATES TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS TO GET TO USE SOME OF OUR GREAT CITY ASSETS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT TAX RATES REMAINING THE SAME.
I, I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT DECISION AND, UH, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE MAKING THAT.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT GOES BACK TO IS INFLATION VERSUS WAGE INCREASES.
I MEAN, IF INFLATION'S AT 3% AND MY SALARY ONLY GREW BY 2%, I CAN'T AFFORD WHAT I AFFORDED THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND I THINK WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN IS THAT YOU GO BACK TO 2021, THERE WAS 25 MONTHS IN A ROW WHERE INFLATION OUTPACED WAGE GROWTH.
SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A BUMPY ROAD.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS OR SO WITH THE, UH, PRICE OF GASOLINE SPIKING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE, ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME.
SO I THINK KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT SOME OF THE OTHER ENTITIES AROUND HERE HAVE RAISED TAXES.
I MEAN, THEY'VE, THEY'VE ALREADY GONE TO THE TROUGH AND THEY'RE GETTING ALL THEY CAN GET.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND AS FAR AS DOING MORE WITH LESS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ON OUR GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS MEETING LAST WEEK, SOLID WASTE HAD THE PRESENTATION THAT I THOUGHT WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
UM, MISSED GARBAGE PICKUPS, THEY WERE DOWN 10%, RECYCLING PICKUPS WERE DOWN BY LIKE 30%, WHICH TRANSLATED INTO THE SATISFACTION OF HOUSTONIANS WITH THE SERVICE GOING FROM A SCORE OF 38 TO 70, IT ALMOST DOUBLED.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, OVER TIME HAD BEEN REDUCED BY ALMOST 30%.
AND TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, THE GARBAGE FEE HADN'T EVEN KICKED IN YET.
I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED COLLECTING THAT MONEY.
SO IT WAS NOT LIKE WE THREW A BUNCH OF MONEY AT THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT.
UH, THAT WAS FIXED BECAUSE WE'RE MANAGING IT BETTER.
UH, THE, THE WHOLE TURN THE CURVE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY JUST A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND I LIVED IN THAT WORLD FOR 27 YEARS WHERE, YOU KNOW, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING WORKSHOPS EVERY YEAR ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
WE WERE TASKED WITH IMPROVING 10% EVERY YEAR ON ALL OUR METRICS.
THERE IS A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT WE CAN DO HERE.
THERE'S A LOT THAT'S ALREADY GOING ON.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE GET THE PHONE CALLS ABOUT MISS TRASH IN MY OFFICE, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER IN HERE.
AND THOSE CALLS DECREASED GREATLY.
I MEAN, WE KNEW IT IMPROVED BEFORE RANDY CAME AND GAVE THE PRESENTATION.
UH, SO YEAH, WE ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS OR MORE WITH THE SAME, OR MAYBE EVEN MORE WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM WHERE WE CAN DO THAT IN, IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.
I, I THINK THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IDEA, YOU, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE RUN LIKE A BUSINESS 'CAUSE IT'S NOT A BUSINESS.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESS PRINCIPLES THAT CAN BE UTILIZED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CITY RUN BETTER AND TO DO MORE WITH LESS, OR AT LEAST DO MORE WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND, AND YOU'RE GOING BACK TO, WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAX CAP, FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S A MISNOMER.
THERE'S A CAP ON THE INCREASE.
AND THAT'S EVEN A SOFT CAP, BECAUSE AT ANY TIME, WE WANNA GO TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, WE'D LIKE TO INCREASE IT MORE THAN THE CAP.
[03:05:01]
CAN MAKE THAT ARGUMENT AND THEY CAN VOTE ON IT.THE CITY'S ONLY DONE IT ONCE SINCE THAT THE, THE CAP WAS INSTITUTED AND THE VOTERS APPROVED IT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT RAISING UP TO WHAT THE LIMIT IS THIS YEAR DOES NOT PRECLUDE US EVER IN THE FUTURE IF WE'VE GOT A STRONG CASE AND CAN TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS AND HAVE THE VOTERS APPROVE IT.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GREAT.
UH, LIKE I SAID, I WAS REALLY THRILLED AT THAT PRESENTATION THAT RANDY GAVE LAST WEEK, AND I, I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
AND THERE'LL BE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE SIMILAR REPORTS.
UH, KENNETH ALLEN, I CAN NAME OTHERS.
UH, DR. TRAN RECEIVING REVENUE FROM OTHER, UH, THIRD PARTIES.
SO, UH, LIKE I SAID, IN UNTIL WE CAN HAVE CREDIBILITY THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING.
AND EVEN WHEN I MEET WITH THE DIRECTORS AS A GROUP, YOU KNOW, REVIEW YOUR OPERATIONS, DOES EVERY DEPARTMENT NEED A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORS? EVERY DEPARTMENT NEED GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTS WORKING IN SILOS.
SO THERE ARE EFFICIENCIES I KNOW FOR A FACT.
AND SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS.
I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT AS WELL.
SO, ANYWAY, IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT REPORT, GREAT DIALOGUE.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, RAMIREZ.
UH, I TOO WANT TO, UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HOLD A LINE ON THE TAX RATE.
IT'S, UH, NOT AN EASY DECISION.
WE'D ALL WANNA SEE MORE MONEY FOR PARKS AND, UH, IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT, UM, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, UH, TAKEN AS A WHOLE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE INCREASES WE'RE SEEING FROM OTHER ENTITIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, PRICES HAVE INCREASED.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER MENTIONED HOW, UM, INFLATION HAS OUTPACED WAGE GROWTH.
WE KNOW THAT HOUSING COSTS HAVE OUTPACED, UH, UH, INCREASES IN INCOME AS WELL.
UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY THAT, THAT YOUR TEAM HAS SHOWN, AND THE COMMITMENT TO FINDING WAYS TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.
UM, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT DIRECTOR MACKAY MADE LAST WEEK, AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
I THINK, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL.
THERE ARE SO MANY HOUSTONIANS WHO LIVE ON THE EDGE.
THEY'RE JUST A BIG CAR BILL AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY LOSING TRANSPORTATION AND A JOB OR A BIG MEDICAL BILL AND GETTING FACING EVICTION.
AND SO, UH, THESE ARE DIFFICULT CHOICES.
BUT, UH, BUT, UH, I'M, I'M SUPPORTING YOU ON THIS ONE.
YOU JUST REMIND ME OF THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THAT WITH LIMITED RESOURCES.
THAT'S THE REASON WE WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS COMING FORWARD LAST WEEK WITH THE $48 MILLION, UH, GOAL OF PLACING IT IN THE RIGHT REENTRY LOCATIONS.
AND EMANCIPATION IS CERTAINLY PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD.
SO THERE AGAIN, WE WILL FIND ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION AND OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHERS.
AND THE HOMELESS STILL CONTINUES TO BE, UH, A HIGH PRIORITY, UH, AND WE'RE SEEKING OUT RESOURCES FOR THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, UH, THAT TRUST IS VERY MUCH A PREREQUISITE PRIOR TO GOING TO HOUSTONIANS TO RAISE TAXES.
AND, AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, THE DECISION HERE TODAY.
THAT BEING SAID, PROPERTY TAXES IS THE KEY LEVER FOR REVENUE OF THIS CITY.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS YEAR WE APPROACHED, UM, MORE REVENUE FROM A DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVE, IN THIS CASE, SOLID WASTE.
UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ADMINISTRATION BEING VERY CREATIVE AND FINDING MORE REVENUE IN THIS CASE, LANDING ON A, UH, UH, SOLID WASTE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, UM, THAT WILL GO TOWARDS FINDING EFFICIENCIES AND MAKING, UH, FINDING IMPROVEMENTS FOR SOLID WASTE.
THAT BEING SAID, I DO THINK IN THE COMING YEARS, WE NEED TO BE THINKING VERY CRITICALLY ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE REVENUE FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS IN CITY HALL, NOT JUST SOD WASTE.
UM, BUT THAT BEING SAID, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND CERTAINLY, UH, I APPRECIATE
[03:10:01]
THIS DISCUSSION.AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND I, WE DID HAVE A ROBUST PANEL AT THE BLACK CAUCUS REGARDING AFFORDABILITY.
UH, AND THE TRUTH IS, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET PEOPLE IN THE HOMES, BUT, UH, AFFORDABILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES BECAUSE THAT CAN BE A FACTOR THAT CAN PUT THE, THE NOTE OUT OF THEIR REACH.
BUT WHAT I AM HEARING AND HAVE HEARD FOR YEARS ABOUT THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, SO AT WHAT POINT DO WE MOVE FORWARD TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT? AND I, I'M GONNA BE HONEST, I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, BUT WHEN DO WE PUT THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AT THE FOREFRONT AND REMOVE ALL OF THESE PERSONAL FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER, UM, TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD? A COUNCIL MEMBER, PECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, HAVE SPOKEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ABOUT THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND HOW THAT IS NOT THE BEST WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO MY QUESTION, AND I GUESS IT'S RHETORICAL, IS HOW ARE WE GONNA ACTUALLY GET TO, I'M A SOLUTION BASED PERSON SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT DUPLICATED.
AND THAT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO GO.
AND AGAIN, I'VE HEARD THIS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND PROBABLY BEFORE, BUT WHEN DO WE ACTUALLY MAYBE GET A COMMISSION OR SOMEBODY TO COME TOGETHER TO ACTUALLY REALIZE THAT THAT IS THE BEST MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN WORK FOR THE BEST BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CITIZENS OF BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY? THANK YOU.
I, UH, I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT, UH, THE TIMING IS, IS, IS VERY CRITICAL.
AND I THINK THAT WE OFTEN, OFTEN TO ALWAYS CONSIDER THE TIMING OF DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
UM, IN MY FEW YEARS, I'VE LEARNED MUCH BY BEING HERE, LISTENING TO COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS WHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCESS OF HOW OUR CITY WORKS AND MONEY.
BUT, UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT LEADERSHIP MATTERS.
ONE THING I'VE LEARNED, LEADER LEADERSHIP MATTERS.
WE OFTEN HEAR THE PROBLEMS AND THE COMPLAINTS, UH, BUT NEVER THE SOLUTIONS AND ACTIONS THAT ARE ADDRESSED WHEN WE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. A LOT OF OUR DOLLARS AND DEFICIT CAME FROM OVERSPENDING.
UM, SOME BY CORRUPTIONS THINGS HAVE GONE OUT, AND WE CAN'T IGNORE THAT EITHER.
WE DO HAVE NEEDS THAT WE MUST FACE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR CITY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER SOME OF THE WASTEFUL SPENDING AND MONIES THAT WENT OUT OF OUR CITY DOLLARS.
AND SO, UM, FOR ME COMING ON AND, AND OTHERS, OTHERS HAD MORE KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS.
I WILL SAY THAT, MAYOR, I HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE COULDN'T DO.
AND TO YOUR, UH, TO YOU, YOU WENT AFTER MONEY AND YOU GOT IT.
THAT WAS DOUBTS ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WE COULDN'T DO, AND THE LEADERSHIP DID IT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT DESERVES, YOU KNOW, SOME APPLAUDS ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
EVERY ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL HAS TO FACE CHALLENGES, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THE UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO FACE, STUFF THAT THE CITY DON'T COUNT FOR STORMS AND OTHER THINGS.
SO IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE, TO SAY THE LEAST.
BUT, UM, I COMMEND, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION AND MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES FOR US TAKING THESE APPROACHES.
BUT I THINK TIMING IS ESSENTIAL.
AND, UH, WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY ABOUT HOW, UH, OUR COUNTY HAS RAISED, UH, TAX THREE TIMES OR, AND, AND, AND THE RESPONSE TO THAT.
SO WE, IN THIS WORLD, WE CAN'T HAVE THINGS BOTH WAYS, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE IN CONSIDERATION.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL SAY IN MY CLOTHING, I NEVER SAY NEVER.
IF WE CAN DO OTHER THINGS TO AVOID IT, THAT'S TAKING CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT GOING FORWARD, UH, I THINK OUR CITY IS GOING TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
[03:15:01]
OF NOW, I, I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE APPROACH, MAYOR, THAT WE DON'T RAISE THE TAX AT THIS AT THIS MOMENT.AND SOME OF THOSE YOU SAID UNEXPECTED, SOME OF 'EM WERE EXPECTED THAT HAD JUST BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD, SUCH AS A FIREFIGHTER'S LAWSUIT, UH, BEEN PENDING FOR YEARS.
WHEN YOU AND I GOT ELECTED, UH, THE JONES WATSON LAWSUIT, I COULD GO ON AND ON.
CERTAINLY ALSO, UH, YOU CAN'T OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT WE WERE SEVERELY SHORT OF POLICE AND FIRE, UH, THREE, TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS AGO.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND, UH, NOT TO MENTION OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, YOU KNOW, IF EVERYTHING HAD BEEN WORKING REAL WELL, I'D PROBABLY STILL BE IN THE SENATE.
UH, I WAS RECRUITED BY HOUSTONIANS TO COME ADDRESS THESE AND BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
IT'S SO, IT'S SO EASY TO BE A CRITIC WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN THE ARENA AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUBMIT A PLAN.
SO HOUSTONIANS ON A REGULAR BASIS, UH, ARE TELLING ME THEY'VE NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE.
CERTAINLY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR STREETS.
WE HAD 1900 BROKEN WATER MAINS WHEN WE WERE SWORN IN.
I COULD GO ON AND ON HOW WE ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS IN MANY INSTANCES, CERTAINLY AS IT RELATES TO, UH, PEOPLE GETTING THEIR WATER BILLS, 10,000, $20,000.
REMEMBER THOSE DAYS, 10 AND $20,000 WATER BILLS WITH NOWHERE WHERE TO TURN.
THOSE DAYS ARE SOLIDLY BEHIND US.
AND, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, I WAS, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING EVERYONE'S FEEDBACK ON THIS.
AND I THINK IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION.
UH, I DO LOOK AT THINGS AS, AS A BUSINESSMAN.
I, I, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT, UM, I SEE THE CITY AS A SERVICES CORPORATION, AND WE ARE BASICALLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THEIR SERVICES CORPORATION.
THE TAXPAYERS ARE THE SHAREHOLDERS.
THEY INVEST IN THE COMPANY, THEN THEY WANT TO GET A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.
AND SO US AS, AS, AS THE, AS THE BOARD OF THIS SERVICES CORPORATION, I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY TO THE SHAREHOLDERS ON WHAT THEY GET FOR THEIR INVESTMENT.
AND MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WITH THE SAME DISCUSSION AND THE SAME ARGUMENTS PEOPLE WERE MAKING AGAINST THE $5 FEE WHEN THEY CAME HERE, UH, THROUGH PUBLIC SESSION.
AND NOW WE'RE USING THOSE SAME ARGUMENTS ON WHY WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THE NON-DOLLAR A MONTH INCREASE, UM, WITH THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK IT COMES DOWN TO RAISING TAXES OR KEEPING IT THE SAME, OR A PROPERTY TAX CAP.
IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR INVESTMENT? WHAT DO YOU GET FOR THE MONEY THAT WE'RE HAVING YOU PAY? SO FOR THAT ADDITIONAL $9 A MONTH, WHAT ARE YOU GETTING? ARE YOU GETTING BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY, BETTER PARKS, BETTER LIBRARIES? ARE YOU GETTING BETTER ROADS? WHAT ARE YOU GETTING? AND THEN YOU COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND ALLOW THEM TO THEN GIVE FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE HAVE SOME ROOM TO IMPROVE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH DISCUSSION REGARDING WHERE THE DOLLARS ACTUALLY GO AND WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET FOR THOSE DOLLARS.
'CAUSE MANY PEOPLE WOULD PAY AN ADDITIONAL $9 A MONTH IF THEY KNEW FOR SURE THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE SAFER IF THEY KNEW FOR SURE THAT THEIR PARKS WOULD BE CLEAN AND, AND, AND IMPROVED.
PEOPLE WOULD PAY AN ADDITIONAL $9 A MONTH FOR BETTER STREETS.
PEOPLE WOULD PAY AN ADDITIONAL $9 A MONTH FOR BETTER LIBRARIES.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THIS SCARY, UM, YOU KNOW, TERM THAT, OH, WE'RE RAISING TAXES.
YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IT AS THIS IS IMPROVEMENTS FOR YOUR DAILY LIFE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DO HAVE VERY MUCH RESPECT FOR THE, THE POSITION OF THE MAYOR AND THE STRATEGY AND THE VISION FOR THE MAYOR.
AND EVERY MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, UH, IS ALLOWED TO PUT OUT THEIR OWN VISION AND THEIR OWN PLAN FOR THEIR OWN LEGACY FOR THE CITY.
AND, UM, IF THIS IS THE PLAN AND THE VISION FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION, THEN, THEN I CAN SUPPORT THAT AND I WILL SUPPORT THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT ULTIMATELY IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT DO PEOPLE GET FOR THE MONEY THAT THEY PAY? AND IN, IN JC HOW WE TRY TO REALLY, UM, HIGHLIGHT THAT IS WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
[03:20:01]
THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEE TANGIBLE IMPACT BASED ON THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.AND IF PEOPLE ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENT BASED ON THE DOLLARS THAT THEY PAY, THEN THEY'LL GIVE YOU A PAT ON THE BACK.
THEY WON'T SAY, HEY, YOU RAISED MY TAXES.
THEY'RE GONNA SAY, HEY, WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU ASKED ME TO SPEND, I'M SEEING VAST IMPROVEMENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK, UH, HOUSTONIANS WANT TO BE.
UH, I'LL FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ON THIS AND, UM, YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
WELL, WELL THANK YOU AND I'LL BE GLAD TO DISCUSS.
CERTAINLY WE CAN GET TOGETHER, UH, ANY DEPARTMENT AND, UH, DEMONSTRATE TO YOU THE IMPROVEMENTS.
HPD HAS NOW 5,400 OFFICERS ALL TIME HIGH WITH THE ADDITIONAL THOUSAND, UH, THAT WE'VE SWORN IN SINCE I TOOK OFF, IS THE RESPONSE TIME FOR CODE ONE.
THE MOST SERIOUS CALLS IS DOWN TO 5.6 MINUTES, ALL TIME RECORD NUMBER.
OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS ARE MUCH, MUCH HIGHER.
DALLAS, ALMOST TWICE THE RESPONSE TIME.
SO WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS.
I'LL BE GLAD TO EXAMINE DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT.
UH, IT GETS BACK TO THAT TEAM.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL WITNESSED THE TEAM AND THE DIRECTORS THAT COME BEFORE US.
THEY'RE TOP NOTCH, PROFESSIONAL, HONEST, AND ARE REALLY HERE.
MARLENE, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE ER, IRVINE TRAN IN PLANNING, AND DR. TRAN AND A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF TEAM DIRECTORS.
SO I'M, I'M PLEASED AND I'LL CLOSE BEFORE I CALL MISS, UH, OUR DIRECTOR.
DEBOWSKI IS, YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING, IF WE CAN DO IT AND TAKE THIS APPROACH, ANYONE CAN, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, CHICAGO, NEW YORK, LA WE'RE BREAKING THE MOLD OF JUST SPENDING MORE AND MORE TAXING, MORE AND MORE WITHOUT SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, IS THERE A BETTER WAY OF DOING THIS? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
AND THE PUBLIC RE IS RESPONDING VERY FAVORABLY.
ANYWAY, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRANSPARENT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EVER BEEN DONE IN RECENT HISTORY THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GOT A, THIS INVOLVED OR WE'RE EVEN ALLOWED TO BE DIS INVOLVED IN THE TAX RATE.
COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ JU UH, MAYOR, JUST TO, JUST TO NOTE THE COMPARISON OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE AND, UH, A TAX RATE HIKE IS NOT EXACTLY APPLES TO APPLES.
THE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IS KIND OF LIKE A USER FEE, RIGHT? SO YOU PAY IT IF THE CITY PICKS UP YOUR GARBAGE, UM, A TAX HIKE WOULD FALL ON ALL HOUSTONIANS SURE.
WHETHER YOU OWN A HOME OR RENT, BECAUSE IT'D GET PASSED ALONG IN THE RENT.
SO THERE IS A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE.
I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS DON'T HAVE A, A, A CHOICE REALLY, UH, FOR PRIVATE PICKUP BECAUSE THOSE ARE ORGANIZED ON, ON A LARGE SCALE.
BUT, BUT THERE IS, UH, A DIFFERENCE THAT I WOULD NOTE.
THANK YOU, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5 1 9 1 9 0 ON EACH $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE.
UM, SO I WILL, UM, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
UH, SO THIS FIRST SLIDE, UM, SLIDE TWO SHOWS THE HISTORICAL PROPERTY TAX RATES AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOING BACK, UM, TO THE MID NINETIES.
UM, YOU COULD SEE THAT WHEN WE HIT THE, THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX CAP BACK IN 2015, WE BEGAN LOWERING THE TAX RATE FROM THE RATE AT THAT TIME, WHICH WAS 63, UH, 63.88 CENTS PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUATION.
UM, FOR THE PAST, UM, THIS YEAR, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 51 9 1 9, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S THE SAME RATE THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE, UH, FISCAL YEAR 24.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THIS GIVES THE PROPERTY TAX RATE COMPARISON TO SOME OF OUR OTHER, UM, PEER CITIES IN TEXAS.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
OUR TAX RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN OUR PEERS, UM, AND WILL REMAIN THAT WAY BASED ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
SO WHAT IS CAUSING, UM, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING ABOUT THE, UH, ON THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? WHAT IS CAUSING THE, UM, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING ABOUT
[03:25:01]
THE NEED TO LOWER OUR REVENUE ASSUMPTION? THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, UM, RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES.IT'S NOT JUST THE RATE THAT WE ADOPT, BUT IT'S ALSO THE VALUE WHICH IS SET BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, HCAD, FORT BEN CAD, AND MONTGOMERY CAD THAT WE WORK WITH ON OUR ASSESSED VALUATIONS.
MOST OF OUR VALUE COMES THROUGH THE, UH, HCA, UM, BUT LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER VARIABLES THAT GO INTO, UH, COMING UP WITH A REVENUE ESTIMATE BASED ON THE VALUE WE HAVE AND THE RATE WE HAVE, UM, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, UH, WITH PROPERTY TAXES, UM, AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR DRIVERS.
UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE COLLECTION RATE.
SO, UM, TO GET TO THE NUMBER WHERE WE SAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REDUCE OUR PROJECTION BY $63 MILLION, PART OF THAT IS THE COLLECTION RATE OR, UM, WHICH YOU SEE HERE.
UM, AND OUR PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS, OUR COLLECTION RATE HAS GONE DOWN AT THE CITY.
UM, THIS IS PARTIALLY A FUNCTION OF PEOPLE PAYING THEIR BILLS TIMELY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THIS GETS TO THE AFFORDABILITY, RIGHT? SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PEOPLE'S BILLS THAT THEY'RE GETTING, UM, CAN THEY AFFORD TO PAY THEIR BILLS? AND WE KNOW THAT OUR, UH, COLLECTION RATE HAS GONE DOWN, UM, SLIGHTLY, UM, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
HEARING LOSS IS ANOTHER BIG ITEM THAT WE TALK ABOUT.
HEARING LOSS IS WHERE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE PROTESTING THEIR VALUES THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THEM BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT HEARING LOSS, UH, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
LOOKING AT FISCAL YEAR 22, OUR HEARING LOSS WAS AROUND 3.7 BILLION.
UH, LAST FISCAL YEAR IS ABOUT $5.8 BILLION.
SO THAT HEARING LOSS HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE ULTIMATELY END UP COLLECTING.
UM, AND THEN THE VALUATION GROWTH, AS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, UH, OUR VALUATION GROWTH THIS YEAR IS AROUND 2.92%.
UM, BUT IN, UH, THE PAST FIVE YEARS, YOU SEE THE SNAPSHOT THERE.
IN 23 AND 24, WE HAD PRETTY HIGH ASSESSED VALUATION GROWTH.
AND OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, 25, 26, AND NOW 27, IT'S IN THE VERY LOW SINGLE DIGITS ANYWHERE BETWEEN, UH, 1.7% IN 25.
AND WE'RE, UH, HOVERING RATE UNDER 3% RIGHT NOW.
SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THIS SHOWS THE REFUNDS.
SO THE VALUE LOSS THAT I TALKED ABOUT WILL ULTIMATELY TRANSLATE INTO REFUNDS THAT TAXPAYERS END UP GETTING WHEN THEY PROTEST THEIR VALUE.
SO THEY MAY INITIALLY PAY THEIR BILL, BUT IF THEY'RE PROTESTING THEIR VALUE, A REFUND IS ISSUED TO THEM.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT REFUNDS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE GROWN DRAMATICALLY, UM, FOR TAX YEAR, UH, 26, UM, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
REFUNDS ARE ALMOST AT $70 MILLION A YEAR.
UM, AND LOOKING BACK, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO TAX YEAR 21, THEY WERE AROUND ONLY 25 MILLION A YEAR.
SO THAT'S A $40 MILLION IN REVENUE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE DUE TO REFUNDS BECAUSE OF PROTESTED VALUES.
THAT IS OF COURSE, OUTSIDE THE CITY'S CONTROL, BUT SOMETHING WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE DO OUR REVENUE ESTIMATES.
UM, SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE SIX, UM, THIS IS THE ONE THAT GETS TO, UM, SOME OF YOUR QUESTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.
UM, AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GOT FROM OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES LEADING UP TO TODAY OF HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL REVENUE COULD WE HAVE IF WE WERE AT THE LOCAL CAP OR AT THE STATE CAP.
UM, THIS GIVES YOU THE REVENUE IMPACT BASED ON THOSE DIFFERENT RATES.
SO BASED ON THE PROPOSED RATE IN THE RIGHT COLUMN, YOU SEE, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SAYING IT'S $63 MILLION BELOW OUR BUDGET BASED ON OUR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT COLLECTION RATE AND HEARING LOSS, THAT AT THIS POINT, OUR ASSUMPTIONS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT THAT'S THE ESTIMATE WE SEE NOW IS ABOUT A $63 MILLION IMPACT COMPARED TO THE BUDGET.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER TAX RATES WE HAVE TO CALCULATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW OR SOMETHING CALLED THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, THAT RATE'S ABOUT 54 CENTS, UM, AND WOULD ALLOW US TO COLLECT AROUND OUR BUDGET AMOUNT OF REVENUE.
OUR LOCAL CAP, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE RATE WOULD BE ABOUT 55 CENTS, AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 24 MILLION ABOVE THE BUDGET.
UM, OR ABOUT $87 MILLION MORE THAN WHERE WE THINK WE'RE GONNA END UP, UM, BASED ON OUR 51 UH, CENT RATE.
AND IF WE WERE ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STATE CAP, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, THAT'S ABOUT $117 MILLION ABOVE THE BUDGET.
BUT AGAIN, FOCUSING BACK ON THE FIRST LINE, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THE, UH, KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME AT 51 CENTS.
SO ON SLIDE SEVEN, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE THAT WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE FOR CONTEXT PURPOSES ONLY.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT THIS OCCASIONALLY.
UM, A ONE PENNY INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE WOULD MEAN, UH, IMPACT TO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER OF ABOUT, UH, $3 A MONTH FOR AN OVER 65, ABOUT 74 CENTS A MONTH.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA GENERALLY OF WHAT ONE PENNY OF TAX RATE TRANSLATES TO FOR, UM, FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.
AND THIS IS BASED, UH, ON THE AVERAGE HOME
[03:30:01]
VALUE OF $349,000, UH, INCLUDING THE OVER 65 EXEMPTION OF $260,000.SO WHAT DOES THIS TRANSLATE INTO FOR OUR BOTTOM LINE FUND BALANCE FOR THE CITY? ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, BASED ON OUR AUGUST MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT PROJECTION, UH, WE SAW OUR FUND BALANCE LOOKING IN THE FIRST COLUMN, WE, UH, HAD A PROJECTION FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 27 ENDING FUND BALANCE OF AROUND 13% OF EXPENDITURES, NOT INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY.
AS YOU GO AND REMEMBER, OUR MINIMUM IS 7.5%.
SO WITH THIS CHANGE, UM, BASED ON OUR REVISED PROJECTION FOR PROPERTY TAX, IT WOULD BRING OUR PROJECTION DOWN TO ABOUT, UM, 11.6% OF FUND BALANCE.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, AT THE TIME WE ADOPTED THE FISCAL YEAR 27 ADOPTED BUDGET, UH, THE ASSUMPTION OR WHAT WE SAW AS OUR ESTIMATE AT THAT TIME WAS THAT THE FUND BALANCE WOULD BE AROUND 10.45%.
SO WE'RE STILL RIGHT IN LINE WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, AROUND 10.5% OF FUND BALANCE THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA HAVE, UM, AT THE TIME WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET BACK IN JUNE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UH, APPRECIATE THE, UH, REPORT.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION EARLIER, UM, DURING THE MAYOR'S REPORT ABOUT THE INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE, FROM MY RECOLLECTION, MAJORITY OF THOSE DOLLARS WERE DESIGNATED FUNDS EARMARKS FOR PARTICULAR THINGS.
DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF, UH, FUNDING APPROPRIATIONS THAT YOU CAN RECALL THAT? CAN YOU DO THAT FIRST? I KNOW SOME OF THE MAJOR ITEMS FROM THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UM, WERE RELATED TO THE WATER SYSTEM.
SO THERE WAS SOMETHING, UH, FROM THEM THAT WAS A SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WATER WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
UM, ON THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, WE GOT $10 MILLION TO PURCHASE, UM, ADDITIONAL POLICE VEHICLES.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE REST OF THE BULK WAS RELATED TO THE PARKS.
UM, SO IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 10 OR SO DIFFERENT PARKS THAT HAD, UM, A LINE ITEM FOR THEM IN ADDITION TO DISASTER RECOVERY.
THERE WAS AN ALLOCATION FOR THAT.
SO, UM, AFTER, UM, THE DIRETO AND HURRICANE BARREL, WE WORKED WITH THE, UH, STATE LEADERSHIP TO TAP INTO THE, THERE'S A SPECIAL FUND THAT THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TCEQ HAS.
AND THEY COVERED OUR LOCAL SHARE ON THE DEBRIS REMOVAL.
UM, SO THAT WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN US AND THE STATE THAT ULTIMATELY ENDED UP IN ABOUT $25 MILLION OF REVENUE FROM THE STATE, UM, THAT WE WOULD'VE OTHERWISE HAD TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT'S WHAT I, I RECALL BRIEFLY.
UM, AND SO BECAUSE OF THOSE EARMARKS, IS IT THE POSITION THAT WE WERE THEN ABLE TO USE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FROM GENERAL, GENERAL FUND TO RELIEVE OUR OBLIGATION FROM THOSE DEPARTMENTS OR RESPONDING TO THE PARKS BECAUSE WE HAD THE EARMARKS? IS THAT ACCURATE? IT'S, IT'S THINGS THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE HAD TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, WILL WE TAKE THE SAME POSITION WITH THE UPCOMING WATER RATE STUDY NOT TO INCREASE WATER RATE FEES? THE RATE STUDY IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY WHEN IT COMES, I DUNNO THE RESULTS OF THE RATE STUDY YET.
SO $63 MILLION JUST KIND OF, BECAUSE OF ALL THE STUFF AT HA, THE, THE HEARING LOSSES, ALL OF THAT 63 MILLION FROM THE TIME WE DID THE BUDGET PROJECTIONS.
AND THEN THE, THE KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME, UM, THE 87 MILLION, EXPLAIN THE 87 MILLION.
THE 87 MILLION IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE AND THE MAXIMUM THAT WE COULD GO UP TO UNDER THE LOCAL CAP.
SO IF WE COLLECTED THE, THE PROP ONE AMOUNT OF REVENUE, WE WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE OUR TAX RATE TO 55 CENTS.
BECAUSE ASSESSED VALUATION WASN'T VERY HIGH.
SO 63 MILLION, THEN THAT'S 87 MILLION.
AND THEN BECAUSE WE BUDGETED, WE DIDN'T BUDGET ALL THE WAY AT THE PROP ONE CAP, AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE DID THAT.
UM, BECAUSE WE SAW THAT ASSESSED VALUATION WASN'T GONNA BE THAT DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
SO THEN THAT DIFFERENCE IS WHAT, UM, WE BUDGETED ABOUT $24 MILLION BELOW THE CAP.
SO HOW DOES THIS IMPACT, AND FROM OUR, FROM OUR, UM, FROM OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, THE FY 28 ESTIMATED BUDGET GAP WAS $114 MILLION.
CAN CAN YOU SAY THAT WHEN YOU DID THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST? OH, OKAY.
UM, SO YOU HAD THE FY 28 BUDGET GAP.
WE KNOW OUR NEXT BUDGET THAT WE'LL DO IT BUDGET CAP STANDING AT 114 MILLION MM-HMM
UM, WILL THIS KIND OF BE A WASH
[03:35:01]
AS THINGS EVEN OUT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS? OR ARE WE, ARE WE DIGGING A DEEPER HOLE HERE FOR THAT, LOOKING AT OUR FY 28, UM, GAP, IT DE REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW ASSESSED VALUATION COMES IN NEXT YEAR.SO THE WAY WE PROJECT PROPERTY TAX IS GENERALLY IN THAT FIVE YEAR FORECAST IS GENERALLY A PERCENTAGE INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
THE LOWER YOUR AMOUNT YOU COLLECT IN 27, YOU'RE STARTING FROM A LOWER BASE.
THAT BEING SAID, IF WE KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME THIS YEAR, AND IF WE KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME NEXT YEAR, IF ASSESSED VALUATION HAS A LARGER GROWTH, WE'LL COLLECT MORE REVENUE.
IF IT'S A LOWER GROWTH, LESS REVENUE.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY A LITTLE BIT TO TELL DEPENDENT ON THAT, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A POSITIVE MOVE, YOU KNOW, ON THAT.
AND, AND ON THE SHEET WHERE YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, IT'S THREE BUCKS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE RAISED IT A PENNY, WHAT, WHAT REVENUE IS GENERATED FROM A PENNY INCREASE? IT'S ABOUT 20, IT'S ABOUT $28 MILLION.
OVER 28 MILLION PER, PER PENNY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ABOUT THE HEARING LOSS? BECAUSE I, I'M, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AROUND THE HEARINGS.
THAT 5.8 SLIDE WAS ON THAT SLIDE SLIDE.
IS THAT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL? YES.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS COMMERCIAL? UM, AS A PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL ROLL.
LET ME SEE IF I HAVE ANY, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE HEARING LOSS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, BUT JUST FOR CONTEXT PURPOSES, WHEN OUR TAXABLE VALUE GROWS, RESIDENTIAL TAXABLE VALUE GROWTH IS AROUND 4.6%.
AND COMMERCIAL VALUE GROWTH IS AROUND 1%.
SO DEFINITELY IT'S MORE LOPSIDED ON THE ROLE IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH YOU SEE ON RESIDENTIAL VERSUS COMMERCIAL.
AND THOSE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PROTESTS, YOU KNOW, A SINGLE ACCOUNT COULD BE A HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLAR RIGHT.
SO IT'S ONLY 1%, BUT I'M, BUT THE, THE ACTUAL COST OF IT CAN STILL BE A LOT SIGNIFICANT.
SO THAT'S WHY I WANNA KNOW WHAT PERCENT OF THE 5.8 IS ACTUALLY COMMERCIAL.
WE HAVE, 'CAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE GO AND PROTEST THEIR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND THEY DON'T GET WHAT THEY LIKE, THEY GO TO TRIAL.
SO WHO DEFENDS THE CITY PER SE? OR THE WHO DEFENDS THE OTHER SIDE? IS THAT A CITY ATTORNEY OR AN HCA ATTORNEY? I SAY HCA, IT DEPENDS ON THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, BUT IT WOULD BE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE A, SO THE CITY DOESN'T PLAY ANY ROLE IN THAT.
I THINK MOST TIME IT'S SETTLED.
UH, THE, THE PRACTICE IS THE COMMERCIAL CAN AFFORD TO GO HIRE PROFESSIONAL MM-HMM
UH, APPRAISERS, UH, THAT ROUTINELY GO BEFORE THE APPRAISAL BOARD.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD PROTEST IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR, THEIR VALUES IS, IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
I MEAN, I, I'M, I'M, I'M FOR THAT, BUT I, I WAS THINKING THAT, DID WE, DID THE CITY EVER PARTICIPATE IN THAT HEARING IN ANY WAY? NOT THAT I ARTURO.
DO YOU KNOW? NOT THAT I RECALL.
DO WE HAVE, I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE A, DON'T WE, WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON THE BOARD.
BUT WHEN THE, THE BUSINESS PERSON GOES TO TRIAL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY WANTED IN A HEARING, WHO IS THE OPPOSING COUNSEL? UH, WELL, THE, UM, THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL ENGAGE THEIR OWN PRIVATE ATTORNEY.
UH, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS ITS OWN ATTORNEYS, THE CONTRACTS WITH THE LAW FIRM TO REPRESENT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
UM, I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE CITY WOULD HAVE STANDING TO INTERVENE IN THAT HEARING.
DO WE KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE TRIALS THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WINS AND WHAT ATTORNEYS THEY USE? BECAUSE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IF THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ATTORNEYS TO ACTUALLY FIGHT THOSE CASES, IF I'M A A BUSINESS OWNER, I'M AUTOMATICALLY GONNA GO TO TRIAL BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GONNA WIN.
AND SO CONSEQUENTLY WE LOSE AS A CITY, EVEN THOUGH WE AREN'T PARTICIPATING
[03:40:01]
IN THAT TRIAL.BUT IF THERE'S NOT A, A REAL CONSISTENT KIND OF FIGHT PER SE LEGAL RIGHT.
FIGHT PER SE, ON BEHALF OF THE MONEY THAT WOULD COME TO THE CITY, I THINK WE STILL LOSE.
WE DON'T HAVE A, WE DON'T HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE.
I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE, BUT WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE COMMERCIAL TRIALS DOES HCA WIN VERSUS LOSE MOST? AND IF I COULD INTERJECT THAT'S CORRECT.
THE, THE, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS MULTIPLE CLIENTS, US, IN EVERY TAXING JURISDICTION.
AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE STANDING.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE ENTITY THAT THE STATE IS GIVEN TO, UM, HANDLE THE APPRAISALS.
AND OF COURSE, NO ONE LIKES THEIR APPRAISALS.
AND ON THE SAME STREET, COMPARABLE HOUSES WILL HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES, BUT IT'S THE BUSINESSES, UH, THAT ARE CHALLENGING.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES, THEY HIRE PROFESSIONALS AND THEY GO THERE ON A RECORD BASIS.
AND I GET THAT THEY HIRE PROFESSIONALS AND I KNOW, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT COURT IS WHAT I, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH SETTLED AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
BUT IF THEY DON'T GET WHAT THEY WANT AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THEY GO TO COURT.
VERY FEW OF 'EM DON'T GET WHAT THEY WANT.
SO I'M SAYING AT THE PANEL LEVEL YEAH.
THEY GO TO PANEL, THEY GET, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
IT'S REALLY PRETTY MUCH HANDLED AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
I'D WANNA KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ARE HANDLED AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
VERSUS THE, THE NUMBER THAT GO TO COURT.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT TOO.
I WANNA BE ON THE RECORD OF SAYING, I, I HOPE, I HOPE THE PEOPLE FIGHTING THEIR APPRAISALS WIN EVERY, EVERY TIME,
UM, WHAT I, WHAT I LOOK AT IS, AND WE ALL FEEL THIS AND WE ALL SEE IT, AND WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE COST EACH YEAR GO UP.
COST PER SERVICE, COST FOR EMPLOYEES, COST FOR CONTRACTORS, RIGHT.
VENDORS, EVERYTHING GOES UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO WHEN YOU STAY FLAT OR YOU STAY THE SAME, THEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SPEND LESS BECAUSE THE COST OF SERVICE, THE COST OF GOODS, THE COST OF EMPLOYEES, EVERYTHING GOES UP.
SO THEN YOU HAVE TO THEN HAVE LESS MONEY AND WITH LESS MONEY, TRY TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE.
AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND I THINK NO BUSINESS WOULD RUN THAT WAY.
I'M A PROPONENT OF RUNNING THE CITY LIKE A BUSINESS.
UM, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY TO THOSE WHO ARE INVESTING IN THAT COMPANY ON WHAT THEIR RETURN IS.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO, UH, HAVE ENOUGH DOLLARS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE.
BUT IN THE CURRENT CONSTRUCT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, WE HAVE A MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, AND WE'RE CHOOSING NOT TO.
SO WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE THOSE DOLLARS, THERE'S GONNA BE EVEN MORE SCRUTINY ON US TO ENSURE THAT THE, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE ARE ADEQUATE.
WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, OR WE'RE BROKE OR ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THOSE DOLLARS.
AND THAT WILL, THAT WILL FALL ON ALL OF US.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT THAT THERE'S NO WAY WHEN COSTS GO UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THAT IF YOU STAY FLAT, THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE BASED ON THOSE DOLLARS.
IT'S, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT.
AND WE CAN CRITICIZE OTHER JURISDICTIONS FOR RAISING, BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO, AND TO GET THOSE DOLLARS TO PROVIDE SERVICE, THEN THERE'S SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
THE ONLY THING THAT THE PUBLIC CARES ABOUT IS, AM I GETTING BANG FROM MY BUCK? DO I ACTUALLY GET REAL IMPACT, REAL CHANGE, REAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THESE DOLLARS THAT I'M PAYING? IF THEY DO, I THINK THEY'LL BE SATISFIED.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN THEY WON'T.
AND THAT SATISFACTION IS RELYING ON US AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ON PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
AND SO, UH, WE'LL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION NEXT YEAR TO SEE WHERE WE LAND.
BUT, UH, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR DILIGENCE IN THIS PROCESS TO KEEP US WELL INFORMED.
[03:45:01]
INTERJECT THIS AFTER AND SHARE THAT I'VE REVIEWED THOSE COMMERCIAL REDUCTIONS IN VALUE, MOST OF 'EM ARE DOWNTOWN.THAT'S THE REASON WE'VE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING A TURNAROUND, UH, DUE TO SOME TRANSACTIONS AND CERTAINLY DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE GEORGE BROWN IS BRINGING ATTENTION DOWNTOWN, BUT DEALING WITH THE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE HOMELESS ISSUE, AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY FACTORS, UH, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT REJUVENATION OF DOWNTOWN, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE VALUES.
UM, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS, IS VERY INDEPENDENT, BUT IT ALSO IS INFLUENCED BY, UH, LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
SO, AND WE DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, UH, MS. NORIEGA IS, IS SERVING AFTER THIS COUNCIL MADE THAT, THAT VOTE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, DIRECTOR, UH, APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION YOU HAD YESTERDAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S GONNA BE $7 MILLION ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES WE'LL COLLECT THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR AT THE SAME RATE.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FROM, UH, PROPERTY VALUATIONS? YEAH, THAT ONE'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO DISSECT.
UM, BECAUSE WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH NEW VALUE WAS ADDED TO THE ROLE THIS YEAR.
THEY, THEY BREAK IT DOWN BY HOW MUCH IS NEW PROPERTY.
I THINK THERE'S ABOUT, IS IT 5 BILLION, 5 BILLION OF VALUE OF NEW PROPERTIES THAT'S ON THE ROLL THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR.
SO THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO ABOUT $25 MILLION OF REVENUE FROM THOSE NEW PROPERTIES.
UM, SO IT'S KIND OF A MIXED BAG.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT'S NEW VALUE, BUT ARE THEY GONNA PROTEST THAT VALUE? WHAT'S THE COLLECTION RATE ON THAT VALUE? SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO OKAY.
IS ANYONE ELSE PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY ON OUR, IN OUR HEARING ON, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE CAST THAT, SORRY TO MOVE TO MARIAN WRIGHT.
SO I JUST WANNA GIVE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TAXES IN HI MEAN, HOW, UM, HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT DOES THE TAXES.
HA SO, UM, EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST FIVE TO SIX YEARS, I'VE GONE AND PROTESTED MY PROPERTY TAXES.
AND THEY'VE BEEN LOWERED ABOUT A THIRD OF WHERE THEY ARE.
O'CONNELL AND O'CONNELL IS, OR OCONNOR, UM, CAROLYN, TO THE LADY WHO HA ALWAYS HAS, IS THE ATTORNEY FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ATTORNEYS.
SO IF YOU BRING IT THROUGH WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ARBITRATION OR GONNA, SO A HEARING, MOST OF THE TIME THEY FORM THAT OUT TO A DIFFERENT ATTORNEY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THAT PARTICULAR FIRM DOES IS HCAD, YOU KNOW, HEARINGS OR WHATEVER.
UM, THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE JUST SO BASIC THAT THEY SHOULD LOOK INTO.
'CAUSE IT'S THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT I USE EVERY YEAR.
AND MY ARGUMENT IS, I LIVE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
MY HOUSE WAS REMODELED IN 2003, BUT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN REMODELED, THAT'S IT.
THEY LISTED IT AS BEING REMODELED.
HOUSES THAT ARE REMODELED THIS YEAR ARE GIVEN THE SAME VALUE, THE SAME RATING, AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO IT YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE BASIC PROBLEMS THAT THEY NEED TO FIX.
IF THEY WERE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE.
BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO IT, AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND I HONESTLY THINK IT'S THE FIRMS THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND YOU HIRE AND THEY GET YOU 10% OFF EVERY YEAR.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL DO, THAT IT'S ALL PLAYS IN THE SAME NAME.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME UP HERE AND MESS UP YOUR APPROACHES.
I JUST, I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
SO DO I APPRECIATE THAT? DO I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PROTEST? WHAT IF THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEIR VALUE IS RIGHT? MM-HMM
A MOTION TO CLOSE CASTEX TATUM.
MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[03:50:01]
ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.[CONSENT AGENDA – NUMBERS 3 through 48]
NOW, MR. SECRETARY, LET'S MOVE TO CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS THREE AND FOUR NEED A MOTION.THOSE OPPOSED ANY MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASE AND TABULATION OF BIDS.
NEED A MOTION? ALL IN CASTEX, TATUM.
THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
ITEMS 15, 26 AND 33 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, ITEMS 15, 26 AND 23 REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? 33, YOU SAID, I SAY 23.
15, 26 AND 33 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
UH, MEMBERS, LET'S RECOGNIZE OUR HEART.
FRIENDS, THE DELEGATION REPRESENTING HEART.
Y'ALL GOTTA SEE SOME REAL LIVE GOVERNMENT IN ACTION THIS MORNING.
AND WE DID JUST PASS THE ITEM.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE.THOSE OPPOSED TO ANY MOTION PASSES.
EVAN SHA, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.
AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR MOVING THIS IMPORTANT ITEM FORWARD.
UH, MY OFFICE HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
FROM OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP TO COMMUNITY LEADERS, RESIDENTS, AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, WE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH ALL PARTIES, ASK THE NECESSARY QUESTIONS, AND DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT ANY DECISION REGARDING THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS LONG OVERDUE, ARE THOUGHTFUL, INFORMED, AND REFLECTIVE OF THE NEEDS AND LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
THIS ITEM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN DETERMINING THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF APPROXIMATELY 240 ACRES OF LAND, AND IDENTIFYING THE RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT COULD BENEFIT THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT DOING THE NECESSARY GROUNDWORK, EVALUATING THE POSSIBILITIES, AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE BEFORE DETERMINING THE FUTURE AND BEST USE OF THIS PROPERTY.
I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK THE SUNNYSIDE TURS, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK AND COLLABORATION.
AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO SUNNYSIDE AND MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK TOGETHER AND ENSURING THAT THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY REMAINS AT THE CENTER OF THE CONVERSATION.
UM, NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE.
VICE MAYOR PROM PECK, VICE MAYOR PRO.
THIS ITEM IS FOR THE TANNER ROAD DRAINAGE AND PAVING PROJECT.
AND MAYOR, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS PROJECT DONE.
THIS HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE EVEN BEFORE I WAS A STAFFER AT CITY COUNCIL.
SO, I MEAN, GOING BACK BEFORE 2014, UM, I KNOW IT'S NOT ALL OF TANNER ROAD, BUT THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS PROJECT DONE, AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THIS.
UM, JUST SO MANY EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING FOR CARDALE YESTERDAY.
COUNTY ATTORNEY ABBY CAYMAN ANNOUNCED THE LAWSUIT TO CLOSE THE LANDFILL ON TANNER ROAD.
UM, AND SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
THE PARK IS LOOKING GREAT, JUST ALL KINDS OF GREAT INVESTMENTS HAPPENING IN CARDALE.
UH, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS, UH, UH, EDINGTON LIFT STATION.
THIS IS IN THE EAST END EASTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
FIRST, UH, THIS IS ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THE CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN, UH, BRINGING
[03:55:01]
UP.SO THOSE CONTINUOUS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS INCREASES IN YOUR WATER BILL.
THESE ARE THE, THIS IS A JOB THAT ENDS UP HAPPENING.
UH, THIS IS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $96 MILLION.
UH, THE PACKAGE FIVE IS ALSO AN ESTIMATED $22 MILLION.
SO THIS IS, AGAIN, THE GOOD WORK THAT HAPPENS, UH, THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET TO SPEAK ABOUT.
UH, WHAT I, THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON THIS, BUT JUST, UM, AS WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF, UH, CONSTRUCTION, A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE IN EVERYBODY'S NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS WILL START NEXT YEAR, UH, SUMMER.
UM, AND SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EASTWOOD RESIDENTS AND EAST END RESIDENTS ALIKE JUST KNOW THAT, UH, THE GOOD WORK DOES, UH, CAUSE CONSTRUCTION PAINS.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING THIS COME TO FRUITION.
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE BETTER, UH, WASTEWATER, UH, SERVICES, UH, SANITARY, UH, LESS SANITARY OVERFLOWS, UM, INCREASED CAPACITY.
AND SO I APPRECIATE, UH, COLLEAGUE SUPPORT ON THIS.
MOTION PASSES AND THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER.UH, WE HAD OUR TOWN HALL IN CLEAR LAKE LAST WEEK.
WANTED TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT, UH, CAME OUT THERE AND ASSISTED WITH THAT, AND ESPECIALLY WANTED TO GIVE A THANKS TO BOTH THE POLICE CHIEF AND FIRE CHIEF.
UM, WE HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION THAT WE DO AT ALL OF THEM, AND IT GOT A LITTLE CONTENTIOUS ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES, AND THEY BOTH JUMPED IN AND HELPED OUT WHERE THEIR EXPERTISE MATTERED QUITE A BIT.
UH, NEXT WEEK WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING, UH, OUR LAST TOWN HALL OF THE YEAR, AND IT'S GONNA BE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE DISTRICT AT ST.
AUGUSTINE CHURCH ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.
UH, THE DOOR'S OPEN AT FIVE O'CLOCK AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL START AT SIX.
AND AGAIN, UH, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, THAT ARE GONNA BE OUT THERE, UH, THE NORTH SIDE OF THE DISTRICT IN KINGWOOD.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR BOPA EVENT THIS SATURDAY, THE 24TH AT THE KINGWOOD METRO PARK AND RIDE.
UH, THE EVENT WILL BEGIN AT NINE O'CLOCK AND GO UNTIL NOON OR UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL.
AND, AND LASTLY, I DID WANNA COMMENT AGAIN ABOUT THE, UH, SOLID WASTE PRESENTATION THAT WAS DONE TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS AN ABSOLUTE HOME RUN.
UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS THEY HAVE MADE ALL WHILE REDUCING OVERTIME.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THESE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE PUT INTO PLACE THROUGH THE STON YOUNG STUDY IS, UH, SORELY NEEDED.
AND, UH, I, I DO THINK, TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF, UH, CHARTING A NEW PATH, UH, AMONGST GOVERNMENT.
AND, UH, I THINK WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT'LL BE FOLLOWING THAT AS, AS WELL.
I SAW WHERE, UH, THE AUSTIN VOTERS WERE TRYING TO, UH, GET THIS PASSED.
AND APPARENTLY, UH, THERE'S SOME INTEREST IN THERE THAT DON'T WANT TO DO AN EFFICIENCY STUDY.
SO IT WAS, UH, KIND OF INTERESTING TO SEE THAT.
BUT, UH, I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT COURSE AND, UH, PLEASE KEEP DOING THE SAME THING.
UH, JUST WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO COTTAGE GROVE.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, OUR OFFICE TEAMED UP WITH TREES FOR HOUSTON AND COTTAGE GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HOST A TREE REPLANTING.
UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD WORKED TO PLANT TREES ALONG TC JE NEAR THE BRIDGE, BUT DURING A ROUTINE CITY MOWING, THE TREES WERE MOWED DOWN ACCIDENTALLY.
THANKFULLY, OUR OFFICE WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO ENSURE THE CITY COVERED THE COST OF REPLACEMENT.
AND THIS PAST WEEKEND, 15 TREES WERE SUCCESSFULLY REPLACED, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
HUGH, SHOUT OUT TO KATIE NEIMAN, DREW WILEY IN 40 FORTNEY TREES FOR HOUSTON WITH, UH, BARRY, CATHERINE AND THEIR TEAM, AND THEN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR REALLY SUPPORTING AND ALL THAT.
UM, COLLEAGUES ON YESTERDAY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN MAYOR WHITMAR MAYOR, UM, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, GWEN TILLERSON, UM, AT A DEMOLITION KICKOFF IN GREENS POINT.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HEARD ME TALK ABOUT GREENS POINT QUITE, I MEAN, CONSTANTLY.
AND SO I'M GONNA SAY IT WAS VERY EXCITING FOR ME.
UM, GREENS POINT HOLE, A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE I GREW UP THERE.
UM, IT, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE THAT THE, UM, FACILITY FACILITY, UM, WAS DETERIORATING, BUT EXCITED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT YEARS.
UM, THE SITE WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A CITY, NAT INDUSTRIAL PARK, UM, $150 MILLION DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED TO CREATE APPROXIMATELY 300 CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
UM, AND APPROXIMATELY 112, I MEAN, 1200 FOUR-TIME JOBS.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY, WE DIDN'T WANT INDUSTRIAL, WE WANTED SOME TYPE OF INDU, UM, ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX, BUT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT JUST THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE TURS, THE NEW DEVELOPER, UM, THE MAYOR, UM, UM, GWEN AND HER TEAM AS, AS THIS PROGRESS PROJECT PROGRESS.
SO, UM, YESTERDAY WAS A REALLY EXCITING DAY.
THAT WAS A OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE TO GET TO SEE A DANGEROUS ABANDONED MALL
[04:00:02]
DEMOLISH AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY, UH, VITALIZATION.AND YOU ALSO ADD THE COMBINED POLICE AND FIRE STATION ON THE NORTH BELT, CERTAINLY GIVES GREENPOINT A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE VIBRANT, PROUD CITY THAT WE KNOW IT CAN BE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED ON IT FOR YEARS.
COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN, THANK YOU.
ON SATURDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND I WILL BE HOSTING MORNING AT THE MARQUEES.
SO COME OUT AND JOIN US FROM NINE TO 11.
THERE'S GONNA BE FOOD AND A LOT OF, UH, FUN THINGS TO SEE, SO JOIN US.
JUST A REMINDER TO HOUSTON RESIDENTS THAT, UH, WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP EARLY.
VOTING STARTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, AND WE'LL RUN THROUGH SATURDAY OCTOBER THE 30TH.
AND ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE THIRD.
I'D ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND PICK THE BEST CANDIDATES.
UM, THERE ARE A FEW GUIDES OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DOES A GUIDE WHERE THEY INTERVIEW OR GIVE THE CANDIDATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, PRESENT INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, UH, WHERE THEY STAND.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE JUDICIAL RACES, AND WE PROBABLY HAVE 60 OR 70 OF THEM.
UM, THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION DOES A JUDICIAL PREFERENCE POLL, AND THEY LIST THE RESULTS OF THAT ON THEIR WEBSITE.
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWS, I THINK HAS A GUIDE.
UH, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, UM, HAS INFORMATION AS WELL.
SO JUST ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, HAVE A SAY IN IN YOUR GOVERNMENT.
UM, MY TEAM AND I ARE COMING OFF A HIGH FROM SATURDAY, FROM HOSTING THE THIRD ANNUAL FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT AT THE COLLECTIVE.
I WANNA THANK, UM, OUR MAYOR, PRO TIM AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN, UH, FOR JOINING US.
WE HAD OVER 150 ATTENDEES, VOLUNTEERS.
MY STUDENTS, UH, WERE REQUIRED TO BE THERE, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL.
UM, BUT OUR SPONSORS, OUR PARTNERS, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MENIFEE, AND COURTNEY JOHNSON ROSE, WITH SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, MADE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF A $1.2 MILLION EARMARK, UM, DEDICATED FUNDS TO TRAIN FAITH LEADERS, UM, IN THE DEVELOPMENT REAL ESTATE PROCESS.
AND ONCE THEY COMPLETE THAT TRAINING, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $50,000 IN PRE-DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.
UM, IT WAS AN INTENSE DAY OF LEARNING COLLABORATION AND MANY OF OUR FAITH INSTITUTIONS ASKING OF HOW CAN THEY LEVERAGE THE LAND THAT THEY OWN TO HELP US MEET OUR MISSION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I WILL TELL YOU FROM THE SURVEY THAT WE HAVE CAPTURED OVER THE YEARS, UM, WE IDENTIFIED AN ADDITIONAL 25 ACRES, UM, RIGHT THERE IN THE ROOM, UM, UM, WILLING FOR THE, THE FAITH LEADERS TO, TO DEVELOP.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IN TOTAL, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE, UM, UPWARDS OF 450 ACRES OF LAND OWNED IN THE HOUSTON AREA BY FAITH INSTITUTIONS AND OR THEIR NONPROFITS, WHICH EQUATES TO ROUGHLY 1500 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND 7,200 MULTI-FAMILY HOMES.
AND I DEFINITELY WANTED TO JUST, UH, THANK MY TEAM FOR LIFTING UP A VERY LARGE VISION AND FOR EVERYONE WITH TRUSTING ME WITH PROVIDING WITH THEM WITH THE INVITATION, UM, FOR THEM TO JOIN US ON SATURDAY.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR PERSONAL THANK YOU NOTES.
AND ON, ON FRIDAY, WE'RE GONNA SEND EVERYONE A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND THE RESOURCES THAT YOU RECEIVED AS WELL.
OUR NEXT HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE IS ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH AT 10:00 AM AND COUNCIL'S CHA COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THE AGENDA WILL BE POSTED SOON.
LOTS OF INFORMATION RELATED TO SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT AND JUST BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE FOR CONSTITUENTS.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, PARTICULARLY IN THE SUMMER, COUNCIL PASSED A $3 MILLION CONTRACT TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
AS I REPORTED IN DISTRICT F, WE HAD 24 PROJECTS DELAYED OVER THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.
UM, THE, THE MOST RECENT NOTICE TO PROCEED WAS FOR A SIDEWALK REPAIR, UM, IN WEST HOUSTON.
UM, UH, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY MET WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY HAVE GIVEN, THE DIRECTOR HAS GIVEN ME HIS WORD THAT THEY ARE MOVING QUICKLY TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS ON THE STREET, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED.
WE ALLOCATED, UM, CLOSE TO $700,000 HAVE ALREADY BEEN BOOKED IN TERMS OF MOBILITY FROM SIDEWALKS, CONCRETE PANELS, AND SPEED CUSHIONS.
SO I KNOW I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT IT'S COMING, BUT IT'S COMING.
AND I WILL LET YOU BE THE FIRST PERSON TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE PROJECTS HIT YOUR STREET, BECAUSE AS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE CITY IS INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT ON THE WEST SIDE.
IF MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY
[04:05:01]
FOR YOU, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT AT DISTRICT F AT HOUSTON.CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT GREAT EVENT ON SATURDAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I, UM, THOUGHT IT WENT VERY WELL.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, MAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON GREENS POINT.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT HAPPENED FOR YOU.
UM, LOTS OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY.
I'M JUST GOING TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER.
WE HAVE LOTS OF PROJECTS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, UM, AND LOTS OF EVENTS COMING UP IN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE.
Y'ALL CONTINUE TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN MENTIONED MORNING AT THE MARQUIS.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, INVITE EVERYONE TO ATTEND.
IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT FREE FAMILY EVENT.
JOIN US, UM, NINE O'CLOCK TO 11:00 AM AT THE MARQUEE, AND GET TO KNOW YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS.
SO WE'LL HAVE H-P-D-H-F-D, BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS COMING, SO PLEASE JOIN US.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ.
UM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, ALL THINGS INCREASING WITH THE TAX RATE CONVERSATION, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BECOMES AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT WE DISCUSS.
IT CREATES STRONGER CITIES, AND IT HELPS GET PAYING JOBS COME TO THE CITY.
IT CONTRIBUTES TO A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE TAX BASE.
UH, AND, AND WITH THAT, I'M, I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME, UH, GALVESTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DOOGIE, UH, WHO ALSO SITS ON HGAC.
WE'LL BE MEETING WITH THEM TODAY AND THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE SOLUTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, JULIUS STAPE TO DISCUSS, UH, THE WORK THAT HAPPENS AROUND, UH, THE GULF COAST WORK BOARD.
UM, AS A MEMBER OF HGAC BOARD, I LOOK FORWARD TO LEADING SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO PARTICIPATING AT FULL CAPACITY.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY HAS NINE VACANCIES ON THE BOARD AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TO IDENTIFY LEADERS, UH, FROM A DIVERSE INDUSTRY TO FILL THESE SEATS.
I WANT TO THANK OF COURSE, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER, WHO SITS ON HGAC BOARD.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT WITH, UH, COUNT, UH, COMMISSIONER DOOGIE PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP ACROSS THE REGION, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, LASTLY, UH, I JUST WANT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS FRIDAY, THE DISTRICT OFFICE IS HOSTING CNET AT THE PARK AT MASON PARK.
IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY MOVIE NIGHT.
UH, WE'LL BE FEATURING MINIONS AND MONSTERS.
UH, IT'S STILL IN THEATER, SO IF YOU WANNA SEE IT FOR FREE, COME OUT.
UH, WE'LL HAVE POPCORN, COTTON CANDY, SNOW CONES, FACE PAINTING, AND COSTUME CONTESTS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET STARTED AROUND SIX 30, UH, WITH, WITH, UH, AT THE GAZEBO WITH THE COSTUME CONTEST.
UH, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO COMCAST.
UH, NICO JIMENEZ, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNOR AFFAIRS FOR HIS SUPPORT.
WE ALSO HAVE STUDENTS FROM RASA STUDENT ALLIANCE AT MILBY, UH, AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME THROUGH TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE A, A GOOD, UH, FUN NIGHT THIS FRIDAY.
I HAVE A ISSUE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UM, YESTERDAY I SAW YOU WITH BEYONCE, AND, UM, I HAVE A, I HAVE A ISSUE WITH NOT GETTING PROPER NOTICE.
I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD ANYTIME AT ANY TIME YOU GET NOTICED.
I, I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M BLAMED FOR.
BUT, UM, I DID SEE THE, UH, I, I KNOW YOU'RE HALFWAY SERIOUS.
WELL, HOW ABOUT I GET NOTICED FIRST,
JOHN'S DOWNTOWN PUT ON A WONDERFUL EVENT THAT BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER, INCLUDING MS. KNOWLES, TINA, AND, UH, BEYONCE'S.
I, I WAS STANDING NEXT TO HER AND, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUB.
IT WASN'T EVEN, WASN'T EVEN, WASN'T EVEN HE SAID THOUGH, WAS I WAS IN SUCH AWE, WE DIDN'T EVEN TAKE PICTURES, YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
NEXT TIME SHE'S IN DOWN FIVE COMMON GROUND ON THAT.
UM, NOTE TO THE KNOWLES FAMILY, THE ROLAND FAMILY, UH, THE WHOLE ST.
UM, THAT WAS, I WAS GREAT TO SEE FROM AFAR.
UH, SO SHOUT OUT TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, AND, UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO THAT AREA FOR THE SUPPORT OF HOUSING.
ALSO, WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR AND TO YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF.
UM, WE TOO HAVE BEEN SEEING MOVEMENT WITH OUR CDSF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING DORMANT FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
WE HAVE NINE PROJECTS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT ARE SLATED FOR, UM, TO START.
AND THIS IS GONNA HELP WITH SIDEWALK SPEED, HUMPS, A DA RAMP, STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT TO
[04:10:01]
THE RESIDENTS OF JAY CITY WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS WILL BE.UM, I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROJECT ELEVATE URBAN ENERGY PROGRAM INITIATIVE THAT MY OFFICE IS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE AND CAREER GEAR HOUSTON.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE $20,000 FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY.
AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY THAT YOU JUST NEED A CERTIFICATION, UH, WE HAVE WALK-IN APPLICATIONS THAT ARE ACCEPTED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM NINE TO 3:00 PM AT THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE DOWNTOWN, NO MATTER OF FACT, AT THE, UH, GRIGGS LOCATION, UH, 5 2 6 0 GRIGGS ROAD.
UH, YOU CAN ALSO CALL 2 8 1 2 2 0 6 0 2 2 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT PROGRAM.
UM, AND ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR JUST EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN GENERAL, UH, GO TO MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM.
YOU'LL SEE A UPDATE OF JOBS EVERY SINGLE WEEK, UM, ALL AROUND THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
ANYTHING FROM AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION, ALL THE WAY TO THINGS THAT REQUIRE A POSTGRADUATE DEGREE.
UH, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS ON THE MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM WEBSITE.
SO GO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW OPPORTUNITY.
EVERYBODY'S DECORATING FOR, UM, HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING.
SO IT'S THE FIFTH ANNUAL PUMPKIN COMPOSTING PROGRAM WITH THE, WE'RE DOING WITH SOLID WASTE.
UM, YOU CAN DROP OFF YOUR PUMPKINS FROM OCTOBER 24TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 28TH AT THE REUSE WAREHOUSE ON NORTH MAIN, OR AT THE WEST PARK RECYCLING CENTER.
UM, IN FIVE YEARS, WE'VE DIVERTED OVER 63,000 POUNDS OF PUMPKINS, NOT GOING TO THE LANDFILL, GOING BACK INTO COMPOST THAT WE USE AT THE HOUSTON PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.
SO, GO PUMPKINS,
UH, SO AS FOLKS KNOW FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE UNSUNG HEROES, UM, OF OUR CITY.
AND TODAY, UH, I HAVE THE IMMENSE PLEASURE OF RECOGNIZING SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT KEEP OUR OFFICES SAFE AND CLEAN, WHICH IS OUR REMARKABLE CUSTODIAN STAFF.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST RECOGNIZE YOUR NAMES, UH, MARIA, IRIS, ES JULIA, YVONNE AND YOLANDA.
THESE ARE THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT KEEP US SAFE AND CLEAN EVERY DAY.
AND I KNOW THEIR SMILES, THEIR SMILES AND KINDNESS ARE SOME OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY DAY.
I'M SURE IT'S THE SAME FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEM, UM, AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICES.
I'M GONNA GIVE MY TIME TO MY NEIGHBOR, COUNCILOR EVAN SHABASH
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD ALWAYS SPOKE ABOUT.
AND I HAD THE ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING YESTERDAY, THE GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING OF THE KNOWS ROLAND HOUSE AT ST.
AND AFTER THAT, UM, AFTER I GOT UP TO SPEAK, AND I WENT TO GO TO MY SEAT WHEN, UH, RUMMY, SHE SAID, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
AND THEN LATER SHE SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.
AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD, I'M JUST THRILLED.
BUT CERTAINLY THAT WAS A HIGHLIGHT TO, TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF HOUSTON'S ROYALTY, WHAT I CALL THEM.
UM, AND CERTAINLY, UH, TO KNOW THAT THE FAITH FAMILY AND, UH, THE FAITH COMMUNITY IS A PART OF THAT, UH, WAS REALLY, REALLY A GOOD THING.
AND WHICH KINDA LINES UP WITH, WITH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND.
AND SO WHAT MAKES IT MEANINGFUL WAS THAT, UM, THE LEGACY OF SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE HAD HAS GROWN IN THE 31 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED QUAL CHRONIC CHRONICALLY BEING UNHOUSED, UH, PROVIDING NOT ONLY A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, BUT ACCESS TO RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
JOHN'S CHURCH, UH, PASTOR RUDY RASMUS BREAD OF LIFE AND ALL THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS WHO HELPED THIS VISION TO COME BECOME A REALITY.
AND IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS IS THE CHURCH THAT THEY WERE RAISED IN, AND THEY WERE TAUGHT, UM, BY THEIR MOTHER AND THEIR PARENTS, UH, THAT THEY NEEDED TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT, AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM COMING AND BLESSING THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
UM, FRIENDS OF THE FRONT SUMMIT IS ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT
[04:15:01]
WE HAVE COMING FORWARD, WHICH WILL BE FRIDAY, OCTOBER THE 17TH, FROM EIGHT 30 TO FIVE, UH, AND EIGHT 30 TO NOON ON SATURDAY AT EMANCIPATION PARK CULTURAL CENTER, 30 18 EMANCIPATION AVENUE.THIS TWO DAY SUMMIT HOSTED BY FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP AND THE COLI COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND RESILIENCE WILL BRING RESIDENTS, ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON'S PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES.
UH, THE CONVERSATIONS WILL FOCUS ON PARK IMPROVEMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO CARE ABOUT OUR PARKS, TRAILS, AND PUBLIC SPACES TO COME OUT AND GET INVOLVED AND BE A PART OF THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.
I, I'M, I HAVE AN ISSUE JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT JANE KENNEDY BEING HERE AND YESTERDAY, AND SHE IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
AND SO I, I HATE THAT I MISSED THAT EVENT WITH THE ALL, WITH THE TALL GIRLS
UH, SMARTEN UP BLACK MALE SUMMIT WILL BE SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE FIFTH, THE 18TH, RIGHT? UH, DOORS OPEN AT 1230 AND, UH, THE LOCATION WILL BE THE SHRINE CULTURAL CENTER, 53 0 9 MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.
AND ALSO ON SATURDAY, THE SMART AND UP BLACK MALE SUMMIT HOSTED BY DERRICK MUHAMMAD.
MINISTER DERRICK MUHAMMAD WILL BRING BLACK MEN AND YOUNG MEN TOGETHER AROUND THE THEMES OF EDUCATION, SURVIVAL, AND SUCCESS.
THESE ARE SOME IMPORTANT, SUCH IMPORTANT PROGRAMS, UH, BECAUSE OUR YOUNG MEN NEED TO SEE EXAMPLES OF LEADERSHIP, HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND KNOW THAT WHERE THEY START IN LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO NECESSARILY DETERMINE WHERE THEY FINISH.
UH, THEN WE HAVE THE, TOGETHER WE SURVIVED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, A FAMILY READINESS WORKSHOP, ALSO ON SATURDAY AT 2:00 PM AT THE MUHAMMAD MO NUMBER 45, THE WEATHER WATCHMAN HOUSTON LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE WILL HOST A COMMUNITY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FAMILY READINESS WORKSHOP UNDER THE THEME SURVIVING WHEN THE GRID GOES DOWN.
I GOT ME A GENERATOR AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT, AND, BUT THEY ARE QUITE COSTLY.
AND SO, UH, WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR WHEN THE NEXT STORM COMES, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER STORM.
AND I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS FOR HOSTING HER THIRD ANNUAL FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, SEVERAL DISTRICT EFA LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED.
AND THE FEEDBACK THAT CAME TO OUR OFFICE WAS TREMENDOUS.
THEY SHARED HOW WELL ATTENDED, INFORMATIVE AND IMPACTFUL THE SUMMIT WAS, AND HOW VALUABLE IT WAS TO HAVE FAITH INSTITUTIONS, HOUSING PROFESSIONALS, FINANCIAL PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TOGETHER IN THE SAME ROOM, HAVING MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOUSING.
OUR FAITH INSTITUTIONS HAVE LAND RELATIONSHIPS, HISTORY, AND DEEP ROOTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND BRINGING THEM INTO THE CONVERSATION BY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT CAN HAVE A LASTING IMPACT.
SO, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR CREATING THE SPACE, FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND FOR MAKING SURE OUR FAITH COMMUNITY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
AND I KNOW THE DISTRICT D LEADERS WHO ATTENDED APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS ACKNOWLEDGED.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME, BUT WASN'T IT SO INFORMATIVE? AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
OH, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY AS WELL.
HAD A GREAT SURPRISE PARTY LAST NIGHT.
UM, AND THANK YOU ALL JUST, JUST FOR THE, THE WONDERFUL WELL WISHES AND JUST FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THAT WE GIVE EACH OTHER.
I THINK SHE, I THINK SHE USED YOUR TIME.
WANTED PARDON? I THINK SHE USED YOUR TIME.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.
I MUST SAY THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL, BUT, UH, ON MONDAY, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, I WANNA SAY I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, ON MONDAY THE HARVARD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR NICHOLS, UH, WAS WELL ATTENDED.
UH, I WAS, UH, PROUD TO HOST WITH OUR MAYOR PRO TEM.
UH, IT WAS SUCH AN EXCITING EVENT WITH, UH, WITH, WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM IN DISTRICT K.
IT WAS AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE, WELL OVER 150
[04:20:02]
AT ATTENDANTS AND WITH VOLUNTEERS.AND I LIKE TO, UH, SEND SOME THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS.
WHICH, UH, ON RECORD, THEY SAY THAT'S BEEN, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, OF THE MANY, MANY OF THE LARGEST ATTENDANTS, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM AND HER STAFF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLS, UH, PASTOR REMA WRIGHT.
CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK HIM OF THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE AND HIS STAFF AT THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE CENTER.
SOUL FOOD BY CATHERINE HARRIS COUNTY, VOTER REGISTRATION.
ANNETTE RAMIREZ, OFFICE, CIGNA, UNITED WAY, RED CROSS METRO, A A RP, THE HARRIS TAYLOR FIFTH WARD, CRC HOUSING ALLIANCE, H-T-X-O-E-M-O-B-O 3 11 3 1 1, AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HTV FOR COVERING THE EVENT.
WE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, UH, NOT ONLY, UH, STOCKHOLDERS, BUT CERTAINLY FAITH LEADERS AS WE'VE DONE FOR TWO YEARS.
UH, MANY OF THESE PASTORS AND FAITH LEADERS HAVE, UM, NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR PROPERTIES AND THINGS.
AND SO, UH, ALSO WITH THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD, WE'VE COLLECTIVELY BROUGHT ALL THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER, UH, AND TO, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR TWO YEARS, AND A LOT OF THEM NOW SEE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO THEM.
AND, UH, SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES TOOK THE ADVANTAGE OF ADDRESSING AND FACING OUR MINISTERS GROUP THAT WE COLLECTIVELY PUT TOGETHER.
AND SO THAT IN ITSELF, UH, I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR FAITH LEADERS FOR WELL OVER YEARS, UH, HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST.
UH, I'M PERSONALLY WORKING WITH FIVE AS OF NOW, UH, IN PROJECTS.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THAT THROUGH THE MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR.
ALSO, IN ADDITION, UH, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THE, UM, UH, THIS COMING ON TOMORROW.
UH, THE OLIVE, THE, THE, UH, OLIVE WOOD FALL FEST, WHICH WILL BE, UH, HOSTED BY THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22 AND OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY.
UH, LOCATED AT 1300 COURT STREET, UH, THURSDAY THE 15TH AT SIX TO 8:00 PM WE CERTAINLY, THEY EXTENDED THIS INVITATION OUT TO EVERYONE, AND WE CERTAINLY, UH, HOPE THAT ALL TO BE THERE.
THERE ARE MANY SPONSORSHIPS TO THIS, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL TO GET OUT AND TO PARTICIPATE.
UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK, AND I THANK MY STAFF AGAIN FOR SUCH A SUCCESSFUL, UH, TURNOUT.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, FOR ALLOWING US TO HOST TOGETHER TO, UH, PUT DISTRICT K, UH, OUT THERE.
ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, THANK Y'ALL FOR A GREAT SESSION AND WE STAND ADJOURNED.
DID, DID YOU GET ENOUGH TIME COUNCIL MEMBER UPON YEAH.