Good evening.

FC Council will come to order.

The Chair recognizes Councilmember Flickinger, who will present a proclamation to the San Jacinto College to honor them for being named an Aspen Prize finalist with distinction.

And Councilmember Thomas will take over as chair.

Thank you.

All right, order the script.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Really thrilled to give this proclamation to San Gioceno Community College.

I think many of you are aware my mom was on the board for 30 years.

32 years.

And I think the last time was it tied for second?

Yes.

Yes, so one of the top two in the in the country of over a thousand institutions that are available.

So with that, I want to read this out.

Whereas San Giceno College has served the question.

Therefore, I, Amy Peck, on behalf of John Whitmeyer, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaimed September 16th, 2025 as San Jacinto College Day in the City of Houston.

Congratulations.

Thank you for speaking.

So Councilmember Flickinger, we're we're truly honored.

And to all the the City Council and to Mayor Pro Tim, we are really honored to receive this recognition.

San Jacinto College serves around 42,000 students annually.

And our board's focus has been around making sure that all students are driven for success and that we eliminate all barriers to make sure that they can do to achieve that.

We look at workforce credentials, we look at associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and we take anyone who comes to us and we find out the real path they need to lead.

And so we're truly honored to have this recognition by the Aspen Institute, and it means a lot to have the city recognize us.

And with us with me tonight is Dan Mims, who is our board chair.

Dan has served on our board for 22 years.

And then Michelle Cantu Wilson serves as our vice chair, and she's been on our board for four years.

And again, just thank you.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Yes, sir.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Councilmember Flickinger.

We do have Councilmember Ramirez in the queue for a few remarks.

Um, Chancellor, if you'll allow us to share.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Councilmember Flickinger, for bringing this forward.

It's great to see excellence recognized.

Um people in Houston may not know about the great things that are happening at San Gicento College, but we certainly do, and we appreciate you so much.

The workforce development that you guys do, in addition to the education that that is offered, is critical to our economy remaining strong.

And uh I just want to say thank you for all that you you guys are doing at San Gicento College.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And Chancellor Hell, you allow me as a former uh public school trustee.

I know San Jack is an anchor in the region.

Um Councilmember Flickr, thank you for presenting them before this body, uh, not just uh the city of Houston and the county, but really the region in terms of workforce and um academic access.

Um, and thank you for for leading and creating a pathway for people to choose um their career or their college readiness.

So thank you for your commitment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you again.

Thomas, who will recognize the human resources department in recognition of HR Professionals Day.

Let's turn it up.

Thank you, Councilmember Alcorn and Vice Mayor Pro Tim, uh colleagues.

We all know that nothing happens in the city of Houston without the human resources department.

Um y'all allow us to onboard, you allow us to off board a man when when necessary, amen.

Um, but thank and then you allow us to train the workforce in this city to make sure that Houston remains um the wonderful city that it is.

And so I'm honored to present to you our human resources department, and you can see that Director Cheeks is flanked by some of the best and brightest in the city of Houston, all right.

They help process those checks, they help process that PTO, they help process those benefits.

So y'all make sure y'all take care of these people and in this department.

So if you'll allow me, the city of Houston's human resources department was originally established by City Council as the Department of Civil Service in 1968, and later as the Department of Personnel personnel in 1982.

HR was established under its current name in 1996.

Since its beginnings, the department has transitioned and evolved to staff and support a workforce capable of providing vital programs, services, and facilities for Houstonians in an ever-changing landscape, including during a global health crisis.

Human Resources Professional Day was established in 2001 to pay tribute to those working in HR departments around the world.

It's a day to raise awareness and celebrate the contributions of HR team members who play an integral role in ensuring the success of organizations by sourcing, supporting, and developing human capital.

In recent years, the city's human resources department has focused on shifting operations from transactional to transformational.

This has been accomplished through a strong commitment to innovation, collaboration, analytics, transparency, and responsiveness.

As a result, the department has received both national and international recognition for excellence in human resources.

On September 26 of 2025, we celebrate the contributions that each of the city of HR's professionals make every day to ensure the city has a skilled and diverse workforce supported by sound compensation practices, a strong benefits program, a safe working environment, and opportunities for learning and professional growth and sound fiscal practices.

The opportunity of to, of course, be heard.

So the City of Houston extends its extends its success appreciation to the professionals in the human resources department for their service, and we joined them in celebrating Human Resource Professionals Day.

Vice Mayor Pro Tim.

Therefore, I Amy Peck.

On behalf of John Whitmeyer, mayor of the City of Houston, I hear the proclaim September 26, 2025, as Human Resources Professional Day in the City of Houston.

First of all, first of all, I want to thank you so much.

Thank both of you all for acknowledging us.

And Council members, let me say to you all, thank you so much for the support that means so much to us as a department.

I always say you don't really want human resources until you need human resources.

Amen.

So you know you it's what just one of those things.

I would be remiss to not thank not only the people that are behind me, but the people that are not here.

I want to say that our department is resilient.

It's doing a lot of work, and we're doing it with what we have.

And we're doing it with what we have.

I want to just say thank you publicly to all of the HR professionals.

And I and I sincerely appreciate this.

Hold on just a moment.

Congratulations, James.

We have Councilmember Cayman.

We have Council Member Cayman in the queue.

Oh, yes, ma'am.

Great.

Uh Director, you know.

Since I have been in this seat, you're right.

We don't need HR until we know we need HR.

But y'all are behind the scenes working every single day.

And what I can say about your department is you and the hundreds of others, I'm looking out, and in a moment, we're gonna ask everyone to stand.

Y'all treat everyone like you would your own family.

And it's not always easy trying to find that balance, but the care that you give to every single employee uh, we see, and I want to make sure that that is said publicly as well.

So whether it was working with us on paid parental leave, whether it was having to deal with how we accommodate uh employees during the pandemic, right?

Virtual was a big big task, whether it was with the voluntary retirement this past year.

But you all do so much every single day to make sure that the city is operating and functioning and that employees are taken care of.

So I just want to say thank you on behalf of District C for everything.

Uh and I don't know, are there any other council members in queue?

No, but I'll add, I'll add to that.

City employees.

It's not like a small group, and you guys do an amazing job.

So congrats.

As y'all can't come for your picture, though, could you all just please stand so we can recognize you as well.

And we'll see you at Labor Committee.

It's a y'all holiday foot party, y'all fun.

Thank you so much.

And by the time holiday party.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you all.

Thank y'all for hanging out with us tonight.

Thank you all.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Everyone come up.

As Councilmember Alcorn said, uh, every year we do this in recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which is in September.

Um, I am joined, of course, by Run C Sen, who founded Overcome in honor of her mother Atachi, who left a lasting legacy after passing away peacefully, eleven months after first being diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.

In this country, over twenty thousand women a year are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and the survival rate is staggeringly less than fifty percent right now.

And part of the problem is there is no formal screening for ovarian cancer, which seems incomprehensible, but is still the reality.

Their awareness and outreach campaigns reach more than 2.5 million people worldwide annually.

And I'm also joined by Zareda, who is the program director.

Betty White, one of our incredible survivors.

Let's give Betty a round of applause.

And Craig White, who's a care partner.

It's great to have he's also filming today.

Through their over care program, they have provided tangible help for women in treatment and thousands of patients, including grants, which I think is an important component.

So today we are so proud to join in this effort as we are every year.

Overcome is whereas overcome is an ovarian cancer foundation with a mission to raise global awareness, fund research in search of a cure, and provide financial assistance to underserved ovarian cancer patients in need.

Founded by Run C Sen in 2012 in memory of her mother.

Thousands of women and families across the nation have benefited from the information, education, and empowerment provided by Overcome in raising awareness of this deadly disease, which currently, like I said, has no available screening.

Several women have also been beneficiaries of the Overcare Patient Assistance Program, which offers lifestyle packages and grants to cancer patients in need.

On September 23rd, 2025, so everybody in the audience, get out your calendars.

Tell Talk Day was created to engage a larger audience in raising awareness about ovarian cancer, encouraging conversations with friends and family, and hosting events.

Therefore, I, Amy Peck, on behalf of John Whitmeyer, mayor of the city of Houston, hereby proclaim September 23rd, 2025 as Overcome Teal Talk Day in the city of Houston.

Congratulations.

Yeah, please.

Much gratitude to you both for um honoring us on um and the Teal Talk Day for ovarian cancer awareness month.

So as um as Councilmember member came in uh mentioned, uh September is ovarian cancer awareness month, and ovarian cancer is as uh she also mentioned does not have a recommended reliable screening yet available.

So we uh my t shirt says it all.

It's it says um no show and grow.

So we invite you to know and remember the beach, which is the five key symptoms of ovarian cancer.

And we have a few cards to distribute uh to you as well, which talks about the five key symptoms.

And when you show awareness by recognizing these warning signs, you empower yourself and others to seek care sooner.

And as a community here and worldwide, we can grow stronger by sharing knowledge and also breaking the silence of this so-called silent disease, which is ovarian cancer.

So when we know the signs, when we show our support and we grow awareness together, we amplify impact and we change outcomes.

So I invite you all to show that awareness is power, support is strength, and advocacy is action.

And together we can overcome turning awareness into action, action into support, and support into hope for a world without ovarian cancer.

Thank you so much.

And Ren C, where can people go online to find out more information?

Yes, uh so um our website is a treasure trove of information and also our all our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, um, Twitter, YouTube.

We are very active, so please visit us on our social media as well as our on our website to learn more about our programs and services and um the ways you can support our organization.

What's the website?

It's WW.overcome.org.

There you go.

Thank you.

Councilmember Cayman, thank you so much for bringing this every year.

And I always read through these, and I'm just gonna read them because I feel like we need to.

Please thank you.

Um B is for bloating, E is for early satiety, which is trouble eating or feeling full quickly.

A is abdominal pain, C is changes in bowel and bladder habits, and H is heightened fatigue.

So thank you.

I learned this.

We have to relearn this every year.

Um, very important work you're doing.

We're so glad you're highlighting this, and thank you for all the good work you're doing in our city.

I just want to mention one quick thing and bring Betty to the focus because she is a 28-year survivor of ovarian and breast cancer.

And so and she continues to be that hope that we all look forward to to, you know, in a world without ovarian cancer.

So she represents what we stand for.

Do you want to say anything?

No pressure.

No pressure.

H day is a gift.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Alcorn.

Um, thank you for joining us as we swear in youth to be a part of the mayor's youth council for the 2025-2026 cohort.

This evening we are recognizing some very special and remarkable youth from all over the city of Houston.

The Mayor's Youth Council provides high school youth the opportunity to learn about city government, share issues of concern with city officials, and gain civic leadership skills throughout community service activities.

The council is modeled after the elected city council, with members representing eleven single member districts and five at large districts and three council aides.

As a member of the mayor's youth council.

I will treat fellow members and those who address us body and those who address this body with dignity and courtesy.

It is a universe.

And I will be a respectful of you and opinions.

And the community in which I live.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

And I'd like to bring up the director of the Department of Neighborhoods who runs the show on the Mayor's Youth Council, and congratulations to everyone.

I wish I ran that show as well as Miss Jackson, who's our advisor for the Mayor's Youth Council.

Thank you, Jahar, as well as Paul Green, her division manager, and we want to congratulate and welcome our new cohort.

I see some familiar faces from um from the last cohort, but I want to welcome any new faces, and I hope you perform and really really represent your communities as young people in your community, especially during these times.

We need young people to be inspiration to help our community communities to improve as well as bridge gaps of um issues that maybe we aren't hearing from the residents that are your age and your issues are just as important as anybody else's.

So welcome and congratulations.

Thank you.

Councilmember Martinez.

Wait, hold on one.

Thank you, Councilmember Corn.

Uh, just wanted to just say congratulations as well.

I've had the opportunity of being able to sit down and speak to some of y'all in the past years, and so um, but also those that are coming in you just represent your community if you're in district I know that my office is always open to you.

Thank you.

Wonderful.

Okay, we'll probably take a picture.

Thank you, um, Vice Marm.

I would like to invite up Kathy Lynch Gunther, who will be leading us in the invocation this evening.

Um, Kathy Lynch Gonza, a lifelong Houstonian and a proud graduate of Cashmere High School, embodies the spirit of service and faith.

She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Paul Quinn College, where she pledged Delta Sigma Delta sorority.

Delta Sigma.

Delta.

You can okay, Delta Sigma.

Okay, thank you.

Um, Councilmember Thomas for that correction.

Okay.

In 1983, and was crowned Miss Senior.

She furthered her education and teaching certifications from the University of Houston and earned a master's degree from the University of St.

Thomas in 2011.

For 28 years, Kathy dedicated herself to education, serving in the North Forest, Aldean, and I and Houston ISD, and retiring from the Winham School District within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Her work with diverse populations taught her resilience, compassion, and the power of second chances.

A resident of Trinity Houston Gardens community since 2009, Kathy founded founded the Houston Garden Civic Club Association in 2016 to fight for environmental injustice and unlift uplift her neighborhood.

As a principler for 581, she led relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey, delivering food, water, clothing, and hope to those in need.

Kathy's tireless advocacy in District B is in partnership with organizations like Super Neighborhood 48 and 5950, Union Pacific, Union um Super Neighborhood United, Target Hun Hunger, and City Council Environmental Justice Committee that she served for the District B office.

She has been part of Transformative Change.

Now she serves on the Houston Community College ACC Advisory Board.

And in a and is a candidate for HCC District 2, champion education and opportunities for all.

A woman of the Christian faith, Kathy Fears God, loved fiercely and forgives freely.

She is a beacon of hope in her community.

Thank you, Kathy, for joining us and leading us in prayer.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Jackson.

Father God, I want to thank you for this opportunity today.

And Father, I want to let you know that we come to you in the most humblest way we know how with a bow head and a humble heart.

Father, I'm asking you to bless each and every council member today.

Bless them in the way that they can continue to serve their community.

I'm asking you also, Father, to bless the mayor in his absence.

Coming in and going out.

I'm asking Father God that you replace hatred with love.

I'm asking you to replace anger with peace.

Peace for our city.

Peace for our state.

Peace for our nation.

I'm asking you, Father, to protect us from gun violence all over the nation.

And I'm asking you, Father, that we learn to forgive one another.

You are Father, which you are in heaven.

Hollow be thy name.

Thy kingdom come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Forgive us our daily bread.

Forgive us, Father.

Give us our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive each and every person that trespass against us.

I'm asking you to heal the nation, Father God, the people that have cancer and any other illnesses that may be upon them.

I'm asking you for healing.

All children, including ones that have autism and any disabilities, Father.

I'm asking you to give them the resources that they need.

And I'm asking you to bless our communities, each and every community in all of the districts, all over the city, all over the state, all over the nation.

We need you.

And we ask these blessings in your sweet son.

Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

Please stand for the pledge.

Mr.

Secretary, please call the roll.

Mayor Whitmire will be absent.

Councilmember Peg?

Here.

Councilmember Jackson.

Here.

Councilmember Cayman.

Present.

Councilmember Evan Shabazz will be absent.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Councilmember Thomas.

Present.

Councilmember Huffman will be absent.

Councilmember Castillo.

Here.

Councilmember Martinez.

Here.

Councilmember Pollard.

Councilmember Castex Tatum will be absent.

Councilmember Ramirez.

Here.

Councilmember Davis.

Councilmember Carter.

Councilmember Plummer will be absent.

And Councilmember Alcorn.

Need a motion to adopt the minutes of September 3rd and September 9th and 10th.

Martinez move.

Came in second.

Any discussion?

All in favor, those opposed, motion carries.

Now for a procedural motions, the chair recognizes Councilmember Martinez for a motion.

Thank you, Vice Member Protect.

Um I'd like to suspend the rules to add Willie Gonzalez to the top of the three-minute non-agenda uh list.

Cayman second.

All in favor, those opposed, motion carries.

Chair recognizes Councilmember Carter for a motion.

Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Pro Tent.

Um move to suspend the rules and uh add joke, Jacob Clemente to the bottom of the three-minute list.

There's been a change.

Came in second.

All in favor, those opposed, motion carries.

We are going to pause for just a second.

People are still coming in from the overflow room.

Good evening, and thank you, Vice Mayor Pro Tim.

I'd like to suspend the rules.

Uh make a motion to add the following names to the speakers list in this order.

Scott Singleton, followed by Richard Gilmore, Sarah Hirsch, Bruce Ferrar, Cam Kirkland, Kyle Rogers, Tom Tice, Alexander Caranza, Emily Olin, Robert Gallegos.

Oh, I'm just going in order.

You you all can do with this what you please.

Rebecca Longstroth, Marcy, Heisinger, Ian Havil Havelchick, Amy, Erickson, Lindsay Williams, Clay Dipple, Chris Wright, Kelly Sadler, Roy Hirsch, and Lisa Hunt.

If they're already on the list, we want them to be put on the list in this particular order.

So this is the this is the list uh the order of the list that these speakers would like to go in.

Okay.

Point of inquiry.

At the very beginning.

Yes, Councilmart came in.

Under three minutes, most of these people were listed under three minutes.

So can you specify the minutes that they wanted to speak under?

So we'll go on to the the non the one-minute non-agenda.

Once we do this, we go over 150.

All right.

We'll put them on, we'll put this list for the non-agenda one-minute list.

We're gonna put them at one-minute non-agenda list.

Okay.

At the top.

Everybody gets one minute.

So that's not fair.

And you mean it all the time.

That's a piece of power.

And that's the problem.

That's the problem.

See, I'm here for the people that's outside.

The people that's homeless.

And guess what?

I'm showing you what homeless look like.

I use a power.

Somebody legally stole my house from me.

And they made and they put me in a mental hospital for 35 days now.

All right, we are going to start this evening.

Good evening, everyone.

I'm Vice Mayor Pro Tem Amy Peck filling in for Mayor Whitmeyer tonight as he is out on city business with Chief Diaz.

If you are new to the chamber, welcome to your city hall.

Let me take a moment to inform you of the rules of the chamber.

There's no clapping, snapping, or any other noises.

It makes it very difficult for us to hear you speaking.

If you agree with the speaker and want to show your support, please instead wave your hands so we can see you.

Or you can stand up as well.

Also, since we are here at night, I want to make sure that everyone in the audience gets out at a reasonable time.

So I'm not extending time.

Please stay within the time frame that you signed up for.

When the bell rings, your time is up, and I respectfully ask that you wrap up your comments.

If you have more comments to add that you didn't get to tonight, please email all of the council members, or you can email my office and we'll be sure to distribute it to everyone.

My email is district A at Houston TX.gov.

Also, Rhonda Souter is here with the mayor's assistant's office to assist as well.

Rhonda, if you could wave your hand.

Finally, the city secretary will read the next two names on the speaker's list.

So if your name is called and you hear that you are coming up soon, please come forward and sit.

There are two chairs on my left or right for the next couple of speakers so that we can move everyone along.

Mr.

Secretary, please call the first speaker.

We are still adding those names to the list.

Give us just a moment.

Scott Singleton.

To be followed by Richard Gilmore.

Which side?

Okay.

Uh hello, I'm Scott Singleton.

Good evening, Council.

Tonight you'll hear from numerous speakers, residents, business owners, and other community stakeholders united by one message.

Keep Polk open.

You'll notice this sea of blue shirts behind me.

These are Houstonians who care deeply about transparency, equity, and the future of our neighborhoods.

In front of you is a packet circulating around that follows the flow of our speakers, how we got here, what's at stake, why this matters to our city's values, and the solutions we're offering.

We've done our homework, we've built tools, gathered data, and shown up again and again.

All we ask is that you listen with open minds and open hearts.

Let's do the right thing for Houstonians.

Keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Richard Gilmore, to be followed by Sarah Hirsch.

Good evening.

I'm Richard Gilmore, and I would like to review page three to walk us through the erosion of East-West connectivity through the years.

In 1978, we had 13 through streets in blue.

These are streets that extend beyond five blocks on either side of the highway divide, six interrupted connected streets that extend less than five blocks on one side of the highway divide in yellow, and four disconnected streets that no longer offer connectivity in red.

In 1989, the opening of George R.

Brown, we have 11 through streets, six interrupted connected streets, and six disconnected streets.

In 2017, with both previous expansions of the GRB, in addition to the ballpark and soccer stadium, we have seven significant through foot through streets, four interrupted connected streets and twelve disconnected streets.

These further impact connectivity when you consider the number of one ways.

Looking into the future, if this council chooses to abandon Polk and convert Leland, we will have six through streets, of which four interact with trains at great, three interrupted connected streets, and fourteen disconnected streets.

Put Houstonians first, keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Sarah Hirsch.

To be followed by Bruce Ferrar.

Um City Council members.

As you just heard, our East End connectivity has been degraded over decades.

Now two multi-billion dollar projects that will further impact that connectivity are proceeding without a public integrated plan.

Text dot's North Houston Highway Improvement Project was approved by the federal government in 2021 after years of intense public scrutiny, technical analysis, and community engagement.

That process involved thousands of comments, dozens of meetings, and real commitments to mitigate harm and restore connectivity.

Now Houston First is undermining that work.

Their GRB expansion wasn't public until February.

It has not been coordinated with Text Outs Plan.

Yet they plan to close Polk in October 25 and divert people to Leland, despite no timeline for conversion and no public process to evaluate the impact.

Page four of your handout makes this clear.

Both Text Dots promise U-turn and a bike ped bridge previously proposed by the city depend on Polk staying open.

This isn't just a missed opportunity.

It's a reversal of hard won progress.

Let's honor the work that's been done.

We need to put Houstonians first and keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Bruce Ferrar.

To be followed by Cam Kirkland.

I'm Bruce Ferrar, and I live in Eastwood on February 1st.

Residents of Polk Street.

Discovered that it was slated for abandonment.

After we it was a bait in switch after 14 years of trust.

We didn't hear it from Houston first.

We didn't hear it from the mayor's office.

We didn't hear it from our council member.

We saw it on small roadside signs.

They had a number you could call, but it was the wrong number, if you had anything to say about it.

Days later, more neighbors found out at the Eastwood Civic Association meeting.

Proof that in Houston, when our institutions fail us, we have to work together.

Now, this is how Houston First treats communities that are in the way.

No notice, no time has expired.

Since then, we've been model citizens, meeting with Council Martinez, offering alternatives, reaching out to all officials.

Thank you, sir.

With Mayor Whitmeyer five times, all denied.

Tonight represents our last resort.

Thank you, next speaker.

Camden Kirkland.

To be followed by Kyle Rogers.

Good evening.

My name is Camden Kirkland.

I'm a resident of East Downtown.

When Houston first failed to provide transparency, we built it ourselves.

We launched a comprehensive website that included maps, economic data, timelines, and a whole host of other information that just wasn't presented to the public.

We made it accessible to those living in the East End and to the rest of Houston.

Only through our advocacy did Houston First at that point deign to have a public meeting with us back in March, at which uh we were able to finally raise a few questions that weren't actually partially answered until July of this year.

Uh some of those questions still outstanding as well.

Uh in that format that in which they did give those responses, residents were not given the opportunity for follow-up.

Uh and Text Dot themselves was also not present uh to resolve any of the incongruencies that may have been raised by Houston first presented plans.

We've offered our technical skills to help the city do better, but instead of partnering with engaged citizens, uh they chose secrecy.

Please keep Polk open.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Kyle Rogers.

To be followed by Thomas Tice.

Hello, Council.

Hello, Council.

Thank you.

Um my name's Kyle Rogers, and uh my statement is such.

Thousands of workers who are the bedrock of Houston's hospitality industry, housekeepers, food service workers, security guards live east of 59.

Many are striking here today with Unite Here 23, demanding fair treatment.

Yet the uh Polk closure makes their commutes longer, harder, and more expensive.

We're punishing the very people who make downtown thrive.

East End families will lose access to Discovery Green, downtown parks and civic programs.

Children who walk or bike to events will be cut off.

This creates two Houstons, one with access and one without.

We're isolating the workers who serve downtown while also denying families the joy of participating in its activities and attractions.

Let's do the right thing for Houstonians.

Keep Polk open.

Thank you.

Thank you, next speaker.

Thomas Tice.

To be followed by Alexander Carranzo.

Good evening.

Emergency access isn't optional.

It's life and death.

Yet Houston First never studied how closing Polk would impact emergency vehicle access to the GRB, Toyota Center, Discovery Green, or even our own police headquarters on Polk at Travis.

And when the Pierce elevated is removed by Text Dots in HHIP project, East Inn residents will lose a critical evacuation route.

Texta is planning to put the highways underground, and they will be vulnerable to flooding when we need them the most.

Polk is the last reliable path across downtown to event to additional evacuation routes from many East Eighborhoods.

We must put the lives of Houstonians first.

Keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Alexander Carranza.

Hello, I'm Alex District Eye, and um I take bus 40 every day to get to work or to get to where the places that I want to visit, whether that's E or just visit, or you know the connections that I need in order to get to work.

And I use the Polk bike lanes to get safe into downtown and enjoy the beautiful ride from my neighborhood in the East End.

And after speaking with my neighbors, they also share the same sentiment where they drive bike or uh ride transit through Polk.

And after speaking with my neighbors, they also share the same sentiment where they drive bike or uh ride transit through Polk.

The street is literally the most important connection that we have to downtown.

If y'all approve this closure, which is going to happen in just a month, there would be no time for us to be able to figure out new routes or how they would affect us, and it would be a devastating blow to the transportation needs of many of us.

Public transit ridership could plummet as the distances and types of downtown increased dramatically, and people depending on buses like myself could lose access to jobs, healthcare, and services.

Public transit only works if our destinations and our um places that we're coming from are located.

This closure will break those connections.

So please um if you could just listen to us and keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Emily Olin.

To be followed by Robert Gallegles.

Hi.

My name is Emily Olin.

We moved to Eastwood almost 10 years ago because of its proximity to downtown and because it was one of the few air affordable areas to live inside the loop.

Our neighborhood is flourishing.

Young families and professionals are moving in.

People who grew up in the East End have moved back to raise their kids here.

We have the potential to be a thriving area similar to the Heights, but not if we are cut off from the heart of our city.

The Polk Street abandonment will stifle the growth that is happening in the East End.

Our city's urban planning feels near-sided, leaving us with a patchwork of infrastructure projects and no cohesive vision for the future.

This way of planning and thinking isn't sustainable.

To our city councilman, I'm disappointed that you are putting corporate interests above the needs of your constituents and neighborhood.

We trusted you to fight for us when we voted you into office.

To the rest of City Council, please fight for us.

Fight for the future of our neighborhood.

Fight for the future of our city.

My name is Emma Olin and I'm 10 years old.

I don't want Polk Street to close because I like biking and I feel safe riding in the bike lanes to get to Discovery Green downtown.

Put Houstonians first, keep Polk open.

Thank you both for being here.

Next speaker.

Robo Gallegos.

Just for the record, I have three minutes on my that's what I called in, and that's what they gave me.

So again, I'm former Councilmember Robert Gallegos.

I'm also a lifelong East End resident.

I'm also president of Houston Country Club Civic Club.

Uh, but here tonight I'm also reading a letter on behalf of uh Director Badamero Garza the third director of LULAC uh district eighteen.

Dear Mayor Whidmeyer and Council members.

I am writing on behalf of Lulak District 18 to oppose the abandonment of Polk Street for the expansion of the George R.

Brown Convention Center.

The current plan perpetuates the marginalization of the Latino community by segregating the neighborhoods of the East End from the rest of downtown and beyond.

Perpetuating historic economic separation.

Disclosure violates Houston's commitment to equity and abandon our balance of economic development with quality of life.

Low-wage workers and people of color will be disproportionately affected.

While wealthy convention goers enjoy expanded facilities.

Your time has expired.

I called in and I was given 30 minutes.

Councilmember, if you could hold on just one second, we have Councilmember Kaman in the queue.

Councilmore Why the welcome back.

It is great to see you.

Uh while there each person was given one minute.

You can have my one minute to finish up the letter.

Thank you.

Low-wage workers and people of color will be disproportionately affected while wealthy convention goers enjoy expanded facilities, workers who serve, serve from uh serve them, face longer commutes and reduce access.

This is environmental justice in reverse.

Concentrating benefits for the privilege while imposing costs on the marginalized.

True economic development enhances life for all residents, not just convention center visitors.

We can expand the GRB without destroying the East End connectivity.

This project prioritizes corporate interests over community well-being, abandoning Houston core values.

Lulek District 18 urges you to keep Polk Street open sincerely, Badamero Garza the third, blue Lake District 18 Director.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

Rebecca Longstroth.

The transportation principle.

If you could step in front of one of the microphones, thank you.

Okay.

The transportation principles of this administration are clear.

No lane reductions, no narrowing, and no harm to emergency access.

Yet the Polk Street closure violates all three of these standards, undermining your own mobility standards.

This is a direct contradiction of your stated commitments.

And East End residents are left wondering why these principles are enforced elsewhere and not here.

We urge you to uphold these principles and protect the East End from damaging precedents.

As I have mentioned previously from this stand, you were elected to put Houstonians first.

Keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Marcy Heisinger.

To be followed by Ian Lavache.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Marcy Heisinger.

It is my honor to share another point of concern for all districts.

And this topic is precedent.

Did you know that the stretch of Polk Street that we're discussing is deemed by the city to be a major collector street?

If the city allows a major collector street to be quote unquote abandoned in district I, it sets a legal and practical example that could be applied anywhere.

Tomorrow, it could be a street in your district.

When viewed through a legal lens, this isn't just about one street.

It's about the principle that public streets can be taken out of service without clear limits and without regard to significant public outcry that is backed up by facts.

Once this door is open, no district and no streets will be secure.

Thank you, next speaker.

Ian Lavichek.

To be followed by Amy Erickson.

Good evening, everybody.

It's always good to see y'all.

Um thank y'all for being here tonight.

Since February, officials have called Polk a done deal.

That's what we heard from day one in February.

We had never heard about this prior.

And we were told as residents to find a compromise.

Resident volunteers to find a compromise.

We didn't balk, we rolled up our sleeves, and we got to work.

We got engineers, volunteers, transportation volunteers to look at other convention centers.

You'll see that on which page six, how they keep all of their streets open.

We looked at other options and compromises that could keep Polk or re-establish Lamar and or McKinney in the short term and the long term.

That's all that's on page seven.

We even assessed a Polk bridge from an engineering point of view that requires changes to the NHHIP that the engineers need to discuss, because it's possible if those changes are made.

Thank you, next speaker.

Amy Eric.

Amy Erickson.

To be followed by Lindsay Williams.

Good afternoon, Council.

Um, Houston First and the city have an opportunity to do this project differently.

A community benefits agreement to ensure could ensure uh communication, transparency, accountability, while addressing um the impacts on nearby neighborhoods.

We've seen what's possible.

The ION district didn't close streets, it enhanced them.

It didn't isolate communities, it connected them.

The same can be done with the GRB expansion.

Community benefits agreements require developers to uh reinvest through local hiring, ongoing dialogue, and mobility mitigation.

If that's not your path, amendments to the ordinance could achieve similar goals, but we need leadership to move this forward.

Finally, the hot tax dollars should be you could be used within a three-mile radius to mitigate these negative effects, not just on convention um visitors and the PFZ.

Let me let's make this expansion a model of collaboration and balance for Houstonians, put Houstonians first and keep Polk open.

Thank you.

Thank you, next speaker.

Lindsay Williams.

To be followed by Clay Dipple.

Hi, everybody.

My name is Lindsay Williams.

I am president of Super Neighborhood 64 and 88, which is Greater Eastwood Mondale Wayside.

I'm also the president of the Eastwood Civic Association.

Making Leland a two-way is an all as an alternative to Polk Street is a fiscal risk irresponsibility, a 20 million dollar band-aid that won't solve connectivity.

The Accgrade Railroad crossing on Leland blocks traffic for daily for roughly five and a half hours per hours per day with the trains moving, let alone stopping, and a great separation would require years of construction and accessibility.

We don't even know if a Leland grade separation is feasible.

The city is creating new problems down the road while claiming to solve old ones.

Leland and Bell already function as a one-way pair downtown, and Leland is frequently blocked by trains, which are basic facts Houston First ignored when their traffic study.

The city asks us to accept immediate hardships on vague promises about an inadequate solution with no defined timeline and no desire to put these promises in writing to assure the community that promises will be fulfilled.

This timeline deception compounds a connectivity crisis Houston Houston First is creating.

Thank you, next speaker.

Clay Dipple.

Thank you, everyone, and thank you for these evening sessions.

My name is Clay Dipple.

I'm a resident of District I.

I'm active with the Civic Association in Eastwood in the super neighborhood.

It's our job to listen and amplify the voices of our neighbors.

I'm concerned that this project is moving too quickly without meaningful community engagement.

Houston First has not asked residents what they want to see, nor offered true alternatives.

The city has suggested converting Leland into a two-way street to offset the closure of Polk.

Yet public works officers have told me that they would require additional engineering studies, bedrock sampling, restriping, all of which could take months with no guarantee of success.

Another city engineer admitted to me he wasn't sure a two-way two-way Leland was even possible.

Despite this uncertainty, residents and business owners along Leland have not been consulted about how these chan uh plans could affect their daily lives, but the plans are going full speed ahead.

If council chooses to abandon Polk, which I hope it does not, the process is already flawed because the community most affected again hasn't been invited into the conversation.

We've been here before, lessons haven't been learned, and once again citizens aren't being asked what works for them, even in regard to Leland.

I urge you postpone this decision.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Chris Wright.

To be followed by Kelly Sadler.

Hey, hey, great day.

The importance of Polk didn't just happen.

As a kid, my mom, a single parent with limited funds, would load us up on our bikes to ride to downtown Houston Library, right?

I would put my boom box and strap it on to my handlebars, and we would go down Polk Street.

Okay.

So you see, Polk isn't just pavement, it's heritage and connection.

Preserving it can create a cultural corridor that celebrates East End culture and draws in visitors.

Closing it risks isolating communities instead of showcasing the tapestry that makes Houston so unique.

The GRB expansion will supposedly bring 20 billion dollars over 30 years.

Surely a fraction of that should support the neighborhoods that are giving up public access.

Cities like Dallas balance growth and preservation.

Houston can do the same.

Honor Polk's history, keep the East West link strong, include East End voices, and keep Polk open.

So families like mine has for five decades can keep riding into the heart of our city.

Thank you.

Thank you, next speaker.

Kelly Sadler.

To be followed by Roy Hirsch.

Hi, good evening.

Um we need from you, Council members, is to remember that you have a fiduciary duty to ensure our public dollars serve public good.

That includes a duty of care, asking hard questions, demanding full transparency, and protecting taxpayers from hidden costs.

Houston First budget omits mitigation, delayed contingencies, and community impact expenses.

That's not oversight, it's negligence.

This project shifts private tourism industry costs on to taxpayers, while funneling public funds into a tourism expansion that isolates our neighborhood.

Voting against the Polk abandonment is not a vote against the GRB expansion.

It's a vote for responsible governance.

Houston First's job is tourism.

Yours is to protect Houstonians.

Defer this vote until real alternatives are presented.

Don't approve blank checks and broken promises.

Our community deserves better.

Put Houstonians first to keep Polk open.

Thank you, next speaker.

Roy Hirsch.

To be followed by Lisa Hunt.

Protecting public interest.

Houston first mission is tourism.

Neighborhood connectivity, equitable development, and long-term public benefit is a responsibility of the city council.

The guardian that ensures public money yields public benefit.

Right now, Houston First is abandoning streets without a complete study of East End economic impacts while asking you to approve a plan that benefits convention city visitors only.

Their flawed traffic study extended only one block into the East End.

They must provide a better East End transportation impact study.

Voting against the Polk abandonment pauses the GRB expansion and ensures the community values aren't left out.

Exercising your authority of oversight includes the communities and the community in decisions that will shape its future.

Your duty of care protects the entire city, not just the GRB expansion.

Put Houstonians first, keep Polk open.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Lisa Hunt.

Good evening.

I'm Lisa Hunt.

Tonight you've heard from numerous speakers, residents, business owners, and community stakeholders who've walked through this issue from many angles.

We began with the promises made in the master plan in 2011 and the betrayal uncovered on February 1st, 2025.

You heard about the economic harm, the social disruption, and the personal stories of those impacted.

We spoke to Houston's values, equity, transparency, and cultural heritage, and offered real solutions, not only opposition.

As members of City Council and as our mayor, you have a fiduciary responsibility not only for our financial resources, but for our trust.

You have a duty to care.

The packet you have in your hands reflects the realities of this decision, and the sea of blue behind me represents the people who believe in a better way forward.

Let's do the right thing for Houstonians.

Keep Polk open.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Ian Johnson.

To be followed by Peter Wayne.

Good evening, City Council.

I wanted to come here tonight to express my support for leaving Polk Street open.

In the events of this George R.

Brown Center expansion being finalized, the fact that Houston First dismisses this connection between two major parts of town as not important enough to try and work around is frankly just disrespectful to the residents on the east side who rely on it.

When I'm in downtown and I want to go over into Edo to enjoy their restaurants or the comedy club, Polk Street is the simplest and most comfortable connection, hands down.

Even TechStot of all people respects the importance of this connection and has presented a workaround that the community is trying to fine-tune and improve.

But with this closure, that replacement connection, just like the freeway cap would be another addition to the list of NHIP selling points that the city will not be able to follow through on.

Thank you.

Thank you, next speaker.

Peter Wayne.

Michelle Blackwell.

And just a reminder, we do have those two seats open, so for the next couple of speakers coming up, if you want to make your way up there, we would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

My name is Ms.

Blackwell, and I live in the Ned Northside area, District H.

I'm here tonight to talk about the Metro budget funds that needs to be used for projects to provide better quality services for those that depend on using this Metro Transit Center.

One is there's a need for the Metro Rail to run more frequently on the weekends, just like it's running on the weekdays.

The second is they need to monitor the elevator that's at the Burnett station to make sure it's working 24-7 so people can be able to access the elevator versus trying to climb seem like a thousand stairs to get to that platform.

And then the next one would be uh the community connector.

I'm the thing I know on technology challenge.

Somebody tell me, Ms.

Blackwell, why don't you use the the committee connector?

And I cannot.

They were saying you have to download an app.

I'm just behind the technology.

I wish they had some type of way of app talking to somebody to so I can schedule rides so I can be able to utilize the community connector.

And so that's all I have to say.

So I just appreciate y'all can take these requests into consideration.

I'm all about riding metro.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

Joe Jost Lundstruth.

To be followed by Ruben Garza.

Good evening.

My name is Josh Lundstruth.

I'm a native Eustonian, born and raised in Eastwood.

I currently live on Polk Street, right out of East Down, right out of downtown.

I refuse to say Edo.

So as a native Eustonian from the Eastwood, we don't say that word.

I understand that, you know, wait, I had a speech prepared, but I saw that.

And I realized I could dump my speech.

Right?

You guys look at that every time you meet.

And if this Polk Street closure passes, you should just change it.

The out-of-town conventiers and Houston first are the city, not us.

Because you're just giving us a big if you pass that.

Change the sign.

Thank you, next speaker.

Ruben Garza.

Kenneth Noblaza.

To be followed by Samantha Townsend.

Good evening, Council.

Thanks for holding this evening's session.

My name is Kenneth Noblaza, and I'm a resident of second ward.

I'm here to voice my opposition to the abandonment of Polk.

Polk Street is an important thoroughfare that provides my neighbors and I access to downtown and the area around Discovery Green.

It gets us to work and to the places where we can relax and have fun.

Polk is especially important to those that commute on bicycles.

I would know because I'm one of them.

It is the safest and fastest route that leads to downtown.

The protected bike lanes on Polk ensures that I don't have to compete with cars on the road and that I can get to work in one piece.

Please preserve Polk.

And I'd like to say two more things.

Unfortunately, the mayor is not here.

But Mayor Whitmire, please leave our bike lanes alone.

They're not hurting you.

Shout out to the Hilton Hotel workers in the back that's on strike for a living wage.

Let's stand with them in solidarity so that we can do and do what we can to help them get what they need.

That's it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Samantha Townsend.

To be followed by Robert Finland.

Good evening.

As can um as a concerned homeowner and resident of the historic and deed restricted Oak Manor Unit University Wood Subdivision and the historic third ward.

We are writing and coming here today to bring attention to the ongoing and blatant violation of the D restrictions and the city enforcement orders at our on our own street at 3800 Southmore and throughout the Third Ward community, as well as similar issues, like I said, in that community.

Despite multiple complaints filed with the city of Houston and the permit division, as well as the Office of the Mayor's Assistant, there's a predatory developer that continues to violate the restrictions and city regulations.

Although constructions have been paused temporarily on our street, this predatory developer continues to violate permit and deed restrictions to build um unsafe buildings throughout our community.

Their behavior is unlawful, it's belligerent, and it sets a dangerous precedent for the future development, threatening residential carrier.

Have you spoken with your council member about this yet?

We have made attempts to um communicate with her in special thanks to Senator Boris Miles' office as well as Miss Darlena Parker with the mayor's office.

Um the the um the actual building has stopped on our street, but this predatory developer has uh at least five other properties that have been built and that are built in this in our community without codes, and we we are responsible for for paying these expensive property taxes, but this person is able to get away scot-free, building these unsafe constructions, uh construction uh buildings, um meant to be Airbnbs, um halfway houses, and um it has to stop.

It has to stop.

Your council member staff, Councilmember Reverend Shabazz, her staff is right here, and she is going to talk to you afterwards.

Thank you for assistance.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

Robert Finland.

Three minutes, right?

To be followed by Jacqueline Aguilera.

Good evening.

In 2013, I pulled pulled a permit to do some repairs to my house.

When I was down there, one inspector commented that he found it unusual that I was seeking a permit because people in my area in South Park, he said, don't normally do that.

In the time since then, I've noticed that a lot of houses are being rebuilt, sometimes stripped down to the studs without getting permits, but the city doesn't seem to enforce it.

The building department says they need to enforce things.

It would be easy for them to do so.

One way would be just check when things go on the market, when houses go on the market, to have a program that searches where the permit's been pulled.

You can sell them the pictures, the windows.

If the windows have been replaced, they needed to have a permit.

There's lots of ways they could figure out to do it, but they don't care to enforce the law.

I guess it'd be too much work.

If they catch them after the fact, they charge double for the permit, so it'd create income for the city, but I guess it'd just be too much work for them.

Instead, they have a system that responds to Karen's calling in.

Whenever someone calls with a complaint, they come around.

And it seems like every two or three years, they come around and I have to deal with them to prove that I'm not doing anything wrong.

I've gotten two citations of the path.

Most when I go to court, they dismiss the citations because they don't even show up because they know when they're given the citations, they know they have no right to do so.

They're just harassing me.

Now I have a not-stop work order.

I've explained everything fully in this.

I filed a complaint with OIG, and I'm here.

I'm here because I called the Mayor Citizen's assistance, and the guy was evidently on his last day.

I called today, and he's not there.

But any rate, uh, I did have a good conversation with the mayor's citizens' assistance to explain to him what's going on.

But it's all explained here.

Uh you don't need a permit to build a shed when it's under 120 square feet, an accessory building.

It can be a pool house or an office or whatever, but you don't need a permit.

There is a precedent that you can build things without a permit.

As far as a motor vehicle, a motorhome or travel trailer, there is no permit process to rebuild or repair a motor home.

You can store one on your property indefinitely, and you can use one if there's a flood.

We're in a flood zone.

Everything's required to be built up on new permits.

My house was built in 1950.

It is going to flood.

I built an elevated shed, but that only provides 120 square feet, and it can't be a domicile.

However, if I have a motor home or a travel trailer, there I can't connect it to utilities or occupy it until there's a flood.

And then I have shelter when I sell it.

The time has expired.

Sir, thank you so much.

Yes.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for being here today.

We want to make sure that all of your um concerns are addressed.

Rhonda over here is with the mayor's citizens assistance office, and I believe Sal from Public Works.

Oh, Julie Garcia is here with Public Works, and so they are going to speak with you out in the hall to make sure that all of your concerns are addressed.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

Jacqueline Aguilera.

Good evening, Vice Prote Mayor and Council Members.

I'm here today in recognition of National Education and Family Literacy Week.

Thanks to the blueprint for community action and the Houston Adult Literacy Blueprint, both sponsored by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.

We are the only city in the country with coordinated strategic plans to address education gaps.

The work is urgent.

Research shows that the strongest predictor of a child's educational and workforce success is the literacy level in their home.

In Harris County, many homes have one in three adults who are struggling with functional literacy.

That means difficulty filling out job applications, reading prescription labels, following budgets, and even helping their children with homework.

These individuals are underutilized workers, caregivers, and community builders, ready to contribute more if given training and tools to pre-skill and upskill to meet evolving employer needs.

A few days ago, Governor Abbott issued a proclamation affirming that adult education is essential infrastructure.

And it is.

Let's be clear.

Literacy is more than reading.

Reading is the gateway to a system of literacies, financial, digital, civic, that shape contributing members of the city.

Adult education and family literacy are the dynamic duo for workforce mobility, financial stability, health access, and higher education.

Low literacy costs Houston billions.

But together we can turn this around.

In each of your districts, there is at least one adult education provider.

And you can check a map that's on the mayor's office for adult literacy, that while I serve there as project manager, is available to you and to the public to coordinate your districts with providers.

How can you help?

Champion funding investment in adult family education and intergenerational out-of-school programs.

Help people understand that when we say adult literacy, we mean a series of skills training to empower families and and industries.

Elevate the providers in your districts, invite them to your civic events, and most importantly, recognize adult education and family literacy as a lever for economic recovery and community resilience.

Let's make Houston not just a national model but a movement.

Literacy for all ages in light is a light by which we build strong cities.

Thank you for allowing me this time with you on the third day of National Adult Education and Literacy Week.

Thank you so much, and thank you for everything that you do with that so important.

Adult education and literacy is just crucial to our city, so thank you so much.

Um, Councilmember Alcorn.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Pro Tem, and thank you for your very passionate speech.

Great speech.

Do you work for our office of Mayor's Office of Adult Literacy?

Is that what I heard you say?

I was a former project manager.

Uh, my tenure ended on September 3rd, and I'm now serving the community as provider liaison with uh network called the Houston Area Adult Literacy Collective.

Okay, great.

And I'm trying to ask um Vice Mayor Pro Tem, kind of what the status of our mayor's office.

I know that it has shrunk.

Uh and uh I used to be on the board of the Houston Reed Commission before way back when.

Yes, I remember I was there.

Before it came that got pulled in.

This is important work.

I know it was grant funded, and I'd just kind of like to know where um and I can certainly ask the library system where where our uh stands the blueprint that we worked on was so good and instructive and it's still a national model.

In fact, I'm uh going to be in California next month speaking on how the blueprint impacts communities because they want to learn from Houston.

So do you know who is left at the mayor's office?

Uh do we still have staff there?

Currently, you have Ana Frade, who is in charge of the ARPA Digital Literacy Grant with the Digital Literacy Labs.

Okay.

And it's my understanding that they are looking for a manager for the office, which is really a program of the library now.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

And Councilmember, we'll get more information.

I think we all want that information.

Um, Councilmember Martinez.

Yeah, no, uh, just gonna say that uh if you can share that as well, Jacqueline.

Thank you for the work you're doing.

Um we definitely uh need that kind of uh uh initiative program from my office right now.

We've been focusing on a lot of youth youth focused uh initiatives, but I think the intergenerational conversations that you're speaking to is important as well.

Um I used to run manage youth programs uh out of neighborhood centers for about 11 years, and so understanding that that the work that you're doing, uh we'd love to you know sit down with you and see um what how we can get involved.

I have somebody from my office, Juan Pablo, if you can sit with them and also looks like you're a Glimberg Valley resident as well, a neighbor.

Um but you know, again, just wanted to say uh we can connect with Juan Pablo.

We would love to sit down and have a meeting with you as well.

My pleasure.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, everyone.

One more speaker.

Councilmember Carter.

Thank you, uh, Vice Mayor Pro Tim.

I just wanted to say thank you, Jacqueline, for all you do.

I've you know had the pleasure of of seeing you in action for a number of years, and uh certainly your passion for literacy and also the financial literacy, as you know.

I just love that that book that that you have a book club model, you're gonna be able to do that.

I love it, love it, love it.

And that's really great.

And um, you know, I'll continue to to reach out to you and see how we can work together because I I know that you do make a difference in our community, so thank you for what you do.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

Rebecca Pavliko.

Justin Silhavi.

To be followed by Willie Gonzalez.

Thank you for your time.

My name is Justin Silhavi.

I live in the Washington Heights area, District C.

Houston already has bare bones solid waste collection, as we all know.

We all know it's a problem and it has been for a while.

But my area has been missed 10 percent of the time since last summer.

That's garbage.

That's not recycling that we hear on the news, it's garbage.

It continues to be an issue.

Our streets are 10 foot wide when bins sit out for weeks on end.

They just set out for two weeks solid because garbage was missed twice and recycling was missed.

What are you guys going to do about it?

Are we researching whether good cities are doing about this?

Are we getting creative?

The mayor says get to work.

Well, let's do that.

I'm tired of this problem.

And I know I'm not the only one, but it affects our neighborhood really hard because we can't drive through it.

It becomes an obstacle course when bins sit out forever.

It's a health hazard.

Christmas trees didn't get picked up until March this last year.

That's a fire hazard, guys.

It's ridiculous.

Let's do something about this problem once and for all.

Does it take another revenue source?

Figure it out.

Let's do it.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for being here tonight.

We appreciate it.

Next speaker.

Sir.

Sir, if you can come, sir, if you can come back.

Sorry, we have a council member in the queue to speak with you.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you.

And thank you for coming in.

I'm talking about the issue with trash.

So I'm just curious, would you be open to a trash fee?

Absolutely.

Start small.

Other cities are $30, $40 a month.

A dollar a month, start it there.

I don't care.

Do something.

Yeah, because we are the only city that don't have a trash fee.

And we're constantly growing and growing, and so more revenue is what we need to address the thing.

But if it comes out that we need to actually implement a fee, let's do it.

Yeah, people are going to gripe.

No one wants that.

Who wants that?

Yeah, I think Councilmember Martinez um proposed that as well.

So thank you, sir, for coming in.

Thank you so much for listening to me.

Council sorry, one more.

Councilmember Alcorn.

I don't sir, thank you for coming.

And I don't want you to think we're not doing anything about the trash thing.

We have been complaining about I I'm embarrassed.

It is a good thing.

I go to neighborhoods all over town.

I'm out of excuses.

We we this council paid for a study that's that was to look deep into the operations.

We have yet to see that study.

We um are uh resources are a huge problem.

We have a new director that we're giving grace to for a period of time to see about logistics changes that he's made making.

We are sick of it too.

And we uh we we want to see change.

Um I did a budget survey, 60 percent uh or more said that they would pay a fee for better service.

So um I have been advocating for such as have others on council, and um we're I'm ready to see change.

Thank you so much.

And also, if there's an issue with my neighborhood specifically, because we have such narrow streets, poor infrastructure, get creative.

Could these routes be different?

I don't see what I'm saying.

And that's what they're looking at now.

That's what they're that's what the legit it's really the guy ahead in it is a big logistics guy, and so we're giving him time to really work out you know the new routes, the logistics, and you know we don't want to throw money at a problem that isn't gonna operate correctly, so we want we need to get that in order, and then I certainly will be advocating for additional resources.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Willie Gonzalez.

To be followed by John Nixon, good afternoon, Council.

Um before we start, let me just say, and God knows I'm having a battle with Houston first, and I hear what they're saying, but and I appreciate all the support.

But on this issue, I know our name was mentioned a couple of times.

I just want to clarify it was brought up to me.

I had some conversation with Councilmember Martinez, and I think he resolved any questions we had, and we felt comfortable with this expansion plan he talked about.

So I just wanted to put that officially on behalf of you now here, local 23.

That's our position on this.

We're comfortable with what councilmember Councilmember Martinez is on this.

We've talked to him about it.

Um our particular very particular issue with Houston First and the Hilton.

I don't have great news.

We were at this council a week ago.

Um there have been some conversations with Hilton, while there was some movement on language on non-economic things.

Just to be very clear, it is without question that Houston First has dug in here.

Houston First is the owner of this hotel.

And when you negotiate with an operator, the owner has a lot of say in what happens in that hotel.

Generally, it has to be run through the owner before an agreement is done.

And I think it's become apparently clear that Houston First has dug in and is not concerned to the fact that workers that opened that hotel have not been on strike for 16 days.

It's unfortunate.

This is not what we're looking for, but we're not going to run from it.

If it's what it takes to win fair wages and living conditions for these workers, we will continue.

So in the next few days, you will be hearing about some announcements, some updates on the campaign.

We're not going away.

These people lived in Houston their whole lives.

And they're good people.

They got up every morning and went to work every day.

And at the end of the day, what Houston First is saying, I don't care.

They just announced at the last Houston First Economic Board meeting that the Hilton surpassed revenue expectations.

And yet still they can't take care of the workers.

So I the message to Houston First is we are always ready to sit down and work out a fair agreement.

But we ain't going away.

So you're going to hear about a lot of other steps happening here.

It's unfortunate with FIFA coming, with everything coming, you would think this be the moment for Houston First to step up and say, let's all work together.

Let's get a room and work it out.

But that doesn't seem to be where they're at.

So unfortunately, that's the update I have for you.

We will have more updates subsequently.

We tried.

We came for a day and a half.

We had conversations with them.

It was just apparently clear they weren't even willing to be here very long.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Flickinger.

It's my understanding that Houston First contractually has no say in what the Hilton does.

I don't believe so.

As the owner, um I I will say two things.

It has been leased to the Hilton, correct?

Yes.

And it's the Hilton's business.

The Hilton pays you.

Actually, well, can I explain how Houston First does have say in it?

Because Hilton is the operator.

Okay?

They don't lease the building.

The building belongs to Houston First.

Correct.

The building belongs to them.

So the employees are employees of Hilton.

But in any hotel negotiations, we have the Marriott down the street.

Their ownership ultimately has the final say on contract negotiations.

The operator will negotiate, but the owner has final say because they are the owner.

And so Houston First doesn't directly negotiate with us.

But the Marriott is is branded.

That hotel operator has branded it a Marriott Hotel.

No, he was talking about the mayor.

No, but it's the same the brand is irrelevant.

It's the other.

But it's not the Houston First brand.

Yeah, it's the first.

It's the Hilton brand.

Yeah.

But as an example, just using the hotel as an example, that ownership group of the Marriott is very, you know, they don't sit down and negotiate, but the mayor will tell you, just like Hilton will tell you, we have to run this by the owner.

The owner has to say yes or no.

Hilton cannot just assume and accept and negotiate a contract without Houston First approval.

And so they do talk to Houston First.

So Houston First signs off on the union agreement.

Whether it's in a formal signature or a yes on a phone, yes, they do.

Yes, they do.

Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Viceman Pro Tem Woody.

I just want to say thank you for your leadership.

I know it's I've been there several times, several of my colleagues have been out as well.

It is a tough situation for a lot of the individuals because they are not working right.

Um I know that there's been a GoFundMe as well.

And uh I just want to make sure that as these negotiations continue, and my hope is uh I know that there was a day and a half that Hilton can see the value of everyone that is standing behind you.

Right?

These are working families, so folks that are making sixteen dollars an hour and maybe not even hitting eight dollars.

I mean eight hours, they're getting cut to six hours, and so um you'll continue to have my support.

I'll continue to voice this uh publicly.

I will continue to have the conversations that I'll that I need to have to make sure that whether it is at the Houston First Board meeting coming up or again around this horseshoe that I'm with you all, and I think a livable wage is not hard to ask for whenever you are doing well here in the City of Houston, whether it is visitors or conventions.

I know it has been difficult the last 16 days.

Someone that grew up in a family of 12 and one income was uh was a difficult thing to live off of, uh what y'all are doing, uh just it's exceptional.

I appreciate you and just know that I'm with you as well.

Thank you.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Pro Tem.

Willie, thank you for coming down here to give us an update, and I I appreciate it and I do support what you all are what y'all are out there doing.

You mentioned some stuff and it raised some questions for me.

So right now, unite here, your negotiations with Hilton.

Is Houston First in the room?

Are they a part of those negotiations?

They're not in the room, but Hilton is in communication with Houston First as the owner.

Like Hilton will make it clear, we can't final, you know, we have to get the owner has to sign off on an agreement.

So they don't do the actual negotiations, but the owner has a huge say in what gets agreed to.

And so they have said that to you all.

Yes.

Okay.

So your last contract that y'all negotiated.

Houston First signed off on that?

The last I'll give you an example.

The last extension, yes, they had to sign off on it.

Okay.

This is this is news to me.

So um they didn't like physically sign the contract, but as the ownership group, they have to get the ownership group to say yes.

If the ownership group says no, then they can't agree to it.

Okay.

I'm gonna I'm gonna have some follow-up conversations with with Houston First, but I appreciate you being here and giving us an update.

Thank you.

Yeah, and I think that we're all gonna maybe have those conversations because to our knowledge that Houston First doesn't sign off on this, so I think we need to clarify that with Houston First and get some more information.

So we'll make sure to do that.

And again, to clarify, it's late, I have been out picketing too, so I might be off a little bit.

They don't like actually sign it.

But what happens in the negotiation, any hotel negotiating, because they're all franchised.

Hilton, Hyatt and Mary I own almost no hotels anymore.

They're like fast food, or they franchise them all.

They have to get the ownership to say, okay.

And if or if the ownership says no, I don't want to do this, then they're gonna they're not gonna make a certain proposal if the ownership says no, don't do it.

So the the ultimate in negotiations, I will tell the ultimate decision maker is the owner.

Um we we organized another hotel here in Houston.

See Baldwin.

We negotiate that contract.

The owner had to sign off on the ultimate deal, because they are the owner.

Councilmember Carter.

Sorry about that.

Thank you.

And I I certainly appreciate your position, but um, you know, it is my understanding that Houston First is not involved in your in the conversations and negotiations.

And while you are suggesting that they need to sign off, they may have a knowledge and leverage, but they're not part of the negotiation.

And you know, last last week I believe you all were talking about $23 per hour.

You know, at some point I had understood that Hilton came with a $21 per hour, and that was not brought to the table.

I'm sure there are many conversations, but Houston First does not sign off on the Hilton negotiation.

And if they're not in the room, you know, I think in all fairness you're working for the hotel and in any business when it's, you know, whether it's franchised or leased, I don't know that the owner has a say over negotiations within the business model.

So, you know, around the horseshoe, we can certainly get more information, but you know, I uh to counsel Councilman uh Flickard Councilmember Flickrage point, um Houston First is not part of your negotiation, and you have said that.

So maybe we just need to clarify what your expectations of Houston First really are, as opposed to what your dealings with Hilton might be.

I understood.

May I ask a question?

You said Hilton made a $21 an hour proposal.

What negotiations have you have has Hilton brought to the table for you in the past in the past few weeks, what do you think?

Hilton has never come close to $21.

What are what are their what is their latest offer been?

Do you know?

The official offer was $17.50.

Okay, so there was never a higher point.

They have not made any official offer.

There have been some discussion points.

They've never come close to $21.

I just want to clarify, because I heard this from someone else.

I am perfectly fine in front of this dais to sit with whomever from Hilton or Houston First.

At no point in time in the negotiations, has Hilton ever come close to that?

Matter of fact, their their proposal wouldn't even come, wouldn't even get their in a four-year proposal to me.

There was never, and because I heard this before.

I want to clarify if you're hearing this, you are getting misinformation.

So we was never a proposal like that from Hilton anywhere near it.

So we just need to clarify, and certainly we'll get the information from Hilton.

Yep.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

John Nix.

To be followed by Dale Singletary.

Howdy, fellow city council members.

My name is John Nix.

I have several things I'm going to discuss today.

It's kind of disappointing.

My mayor's not here.

First thing is I don't like the idea how I we have I was in the council chambers and had to go to the overflow room before coming back up here.

And I'm autistic and it kind of throws me off with my autistic structure being in the same room.

It kind of is a I didn't like it at all.

If they need to restructure it, or if I'm in the room until it's my time to go, that's what I want to talk about.

Other things I want to talk to y'all about.

We need Hero to a Hero 2.0.

I know the voters voted it down back in 2015, but Houston's a lot more progressive and a lot more open-minded.

And people are still getting discriminated against, like myself, even in 20 35 years after the ADA was released.

So that's one of my big issues that I want to see, you know, brought back because it happens in a lot of different things still today.

Another thing, too, I'm gonna see the my mayor and the fellow city cancel the contract, do whatever it can to stop supporting the VOG shuttles or golf cart shuttle things.

It also has the metro branding on it.

It is far from ADA compliant.

You know, it's not just that they not only do they refuse to transport people in wheelchairs, even during my photo wheelchair could fit in the back of one of their vehicles.

You know, they also it's also not air conditioning, so people with heat tall intolerance that can't be around the heat or suffer on it, being app only means people that are like blind or low vision or like this other lady, they can't use the service at all.

We need to get rid of the service, move everything to a curb to curb service on that issue as well.

We need to restructure also Metro Metros as well, budget because it's so much full of fluff on it, doesn't give enough or proper transportation with not enough buses.

They need to have way more budget for buses and to stop building for road construction with the part that they get for the city on that sort of thing on that issue.

There needs to be a lot more changes with that.

And there could be a lot of more things that I could totally talk about, but I don't want to stay around here all night.

So I would kind of like to do that.

My main thing is here Ope 2.0.

Oh, yeah, another thing too.

We need to adjust the fire department to give the EMS more training on how to handle wheelchairs.

I was transported by EMS from my lived in the heights over to St.

Joseph, and my wheelchair got like lost or like a theft happened by HFD, and I have to go through my own renters insurance is an off-premise theft because of it, and it was a very expensive custom wheelchair for me to get it as a problem with it.

So we need to have better training with our you know, our EMS transfers wheelchairs as well, along with the many other things that I could say that's issues that are issues wrong.

Of course, Houston's a very Houston itself is very hard and uh very hostile for certain people with people with disabilities as it is.

So I hope you know you get a chance to listen.

Of course, I explain more, but I know I'm about out of time.

So thanks so much.

Have a great day, and God bless I mean, and go whatever team you're rooting for.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

God bless Texas.

Yeah!

Thank you, next speaker.

Dale Singletary.

To be followed by Spencer Falwarrell.

20 plus years in public works wastewater division.

I came here two years ago, I witnessed a criminal activity.

I talked to uh John uh Whitmire, he said he's gonna sign somebody to me to get down to the bottom of it.

OIG failed me.

Um IG ran some kind of game on me, didn't investigate it, and I don't know what happened, but ever since that day I've I've been hunted by these same individuals.

I still work with them.

My mom's in the hospital right now having a major heart surgery, and I have FMLA with them, and they're threatening to move me as we speak, and they're they're they're running my supervisor down, wondering what's going on with this FMLA.

They have the paperwork.

It's self-explanatory.

They don't respect the situation.

I'm expected to move next week.

Wait a south side of Houston.

I live on the north side of Houston.

And it's it's it's just disrespectful.

I need help.

I asked for help two years ago, haven't heard anything, didn't hear from OIG for a year.

Walk back in OIG after a year, and the guy said, Oh, I'm so sorry, we forgot about you.

This is the finest.

We didn't see nothing wrong.

Goodbye.

That guy has, I think, been fired since then, or he resigned.

I still need help.

These people will not stop.

I need someone to stop these people.

I I can't do any more.

I've been going to classes through the through the city of Houston.

It ain't helping.

I need help.

My mom's in a hospital right now.

I don't even know if she's gonna live.

And these people are asking me to work a weekend route, an overtime route.

Like, what is that about?

They don't respect anything here.

I need somebody to stop this.

Please stop it.

Someone please stop it.

Councilmember Alcorn.

Thank you for coming, sir.

I'm happy to look further into this and try to get you some more information.

Um, so I'll I'll follow up with you.

I've got your your phone number here, or do I have it?

I'll get it from you.

And um you you I have to give this back to you, but I'm happy to look further into what the situation is.

Oh, I can keep it.

Okay.

All right, we have a job.

Thank you.

Thank you, next speaker.

Spencer Farwell.

Peter Eckless.

Eccles.

To be followed by James Arthur.

Good evening, members of City Council.

My name is Peter Eccles, and I'm here representing Link Houston.

We work to elevate the voices of people who walk, bike, and take public transit to help decision makers such as yourselves shape better outcomes for your constituents.

I'm here today to talk about Metro's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, which will start on October 1st.

Metro is currently proposing to spend 100 million dollars repaving city streets.

This is in addition to and outside of the roughly 150 million Metro already returns to the city through the General Mobility Program.

Metro's obligation is first and foremost to its customers, to people who ride its services, and to people who must be able to safely walk or cross the street to access them.

That 100 million dollars should be shifted towards other improvements that will directly improve the experience of transit riders.

Earlier this month, Link Houston released our sixth annual equity in transit report.

We surveyed over 300 transit riders and took a deep dive on Metro's performance data to understand what's working well and what can be improved.

We invite you to read the report in full on our website.

But to be incredibly brief on our findings, Metro has a lot to celebrate this year.

They built over 15 miles of sidewalk, made over two-thirds of their bus stops, you know universally accessible, and have increased frequency on 16 of their bus routes.

And they have the ridership gains to show for it.

On weekdays, one in three new riders come from just seven routes that have had increased frequency, and three in five new riders on weekends come from just four routes that are running more frequently.

Considering this success, one might expect that every available dollar would be invested in things that riders truly value.

Things like more frequent service, complete sidewalks, and safe crossings.

Yet Metro is poised to spend less on these things.

Despite increasing ridership, Metro is only proposing to increase service by 2.3%, down from over 4% last year.

Metro is proposing to reduce spending on accessibility by 40%.

Street projects can help transit riders, but only if they are designed with riders in mind.

That means building complete sidewalk networks and safe crossings every 500 to 720 feet as required by the city's infrastructure design manual.

But it's not clear how much, if any, of this 100 million dollars proposable street for streets will go towards sidewalks and safe crossings.

In the projects initiated so far, these elements have been scaled back.

Metro removed a raised crosswalk on Westheimer, high visibility crossings on Washington, and median refuge islands proposed for Montreal's Boulevard.

Features like these matter significantly more to Metro riders than the conditions of the asphalt.

Please urge Chair Brock and the Metro Board to redirect this 100 million dollars proposed for street repaving towards projects and programs that improve frequency, reliability, and accessibility.

And I'll close by thanking you all for hosting another session of the evening city council.

It's good for increasing access.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

James Arthur.

To be followed by Lauren Holmes.

I would like to thank City Council for allocating funds to address the issue of homelessness.

Homelessness is a very complex subject.

Hard categorizes homeless people into four groups.

The literally homeless.

Providing shelter to people will not guarantee that they will stay there.

There are a lot of people who are living in shelters in accessory facilities, and they choose to leave the facilities and come and sleep on the streets.

We have on average 2,000 people who are on the streets, sleep on the streets in the valleys forever.

Every day.

And therefore, we also have a medical team that will just uh do the provide the necessary medical nursing psych services that are needed.

I have mentioned how complex it is and the need for an interagency and inter discipline approach.

Therefore, I am recommending to set up a task force, a task force so that they can bring all the stakeholders under one umbrella.

Thank you, sir.

If you could wrap up your comments and hold on one second, um, Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you.

And I was going to let Mr.

Arthur um finish out your statement.

Um, did you have anything else to say or you were done?

Um, the creation of the uh homeless task force, okay.

So that uh we've already in consultation with the homeless coalition and some other agencies.

But because we don't have the mandate, they don't seem to be uh responding as much.

That is where the need for a task force is required.

Okay.

Okay, and I I was sitting here and I was looking back.

I know I saw Ms.

Cleo, and when you say her name, you can confirm that she was that was me, the Ms.

Cleo Johnson's good to see you.

Anything that my office can do to help and support um homelessness is a big uh big issue across the city and in our district, district B, and so I'm here to help.

Um whatever I can do.

Thank you.

Councilmember Pollard.

Thank you, and thank you for coming forward.

Look forward to seeing that proposal.

Ms.

Johnson, good to see you as well.

Uh if you could send that to us electronically, I know you have some uh paper versions, but if you can also send it to us on an email, uh that would be great as well.

Yes, uh I left two copies of the whole thing with uh at the mayor's office, and now the executive summaries, I can send uh the electronic um uh file.

Somebody should guide me where to send it to.

We will get you the emails uh for all the council members.

By the way, I spoke with Ms.

Okay.

Yeah.

He has contacted me.

I say one day to have a little discussion with me as to the next hits.

Great.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Next speaker, Lauren Holmes to be followed by Joseph Smith.

Good evening, Council.

Um thank you for having the evening meetings.

I know there's a lot of citizens that can't come during the day, and it's um very thoughtful and responsive of y'all to do that.

Um this is my third trip.

I tried to take six buses to get here, three to get and three to get back, and it's hard, obviously.

Um I tried to handle some of this on the phone, just uh FYI.

The last time I was here, there was a lovely lady who followed me in the hall and gave me the numbers of two staffers.

She told me exactly when to call them at the point of day when they would answer their phone, but if I didn't catch them to leave a voicemail, didn't get a call back from either one of them.

I have a complicated issue.

Uh it's specifically um for council member Peck and for Councilmember Um Martinez.

So um the first time I came, I didn't realize that I maybe should have separated it, but so I left 11 messages, voicemails, and spoke with the receptionist at Councilmember Peck's office.

No response.

Two messages to Councilmember Martinez, who has a lovely secretary.

She's wonderful.

She said she was going to speak to you about my issue.

Um, but I had didn't hear back.

Eli from Housing and Community Affairs called me three to four times, and he's been incredibly helpful.

This isn't just um about me and my family.

Um so I'm gonna separate the issues.

Um my husband and myself and my son who is our caregiver, we're all living at 2120 Capitol, 7703 lofts at ballparks apartments.

Um Tex Texas Department of Transportation came in, check it by eminent domain.

We became dislocated federally served, dislocated residents for the second time.

The first time was Hurricane Harvey, and then we moved to the lofts and then dislocated again.

Under the Uniform Relocation Act, as you know, um they're responsible, whoever TechSot or whoever gets dislocates the residents with um rehousing them.

My I was ill, I got more ill.

My husband contracted cancer.

We were in the loft during COVID, so when we moved in, we were both functioning and working, and when we came out, we weren't.

TechSt went to three different relocators, and they could not get us housed.

They gave us like a thousand dollars and dumped us in a dangerous extended stay motel.

Um they failed.

Text failed in their legal obligation.

I was trying to guess, my son and I were discussing it.

Um we're at the beginning of this.

We were right by George R.

Brown, and then it goes all the way up to Bellway 8.

So are we talking about 20,000 families?

Have you guys do you have a number on that?

How many people are gonna be affected by the interstate and north of the case?

Ms.

Holmes, if you could wrap up your comments.

Um we have Councilmember Martinez.

Yeah, I was gonna let you finish uh your your your comments, Ms.

Holmes.

I'm sorry.

I'll do let you finish your comments.

Um well that's all I'm gonna get out to.

I know we're my husband just passed, and now uh my son and I are gonna be homeless, but that's like another issue because there's a failure in the pathway um to access help for people that are homeless or going to be.

Um I have I'm oxygen dependent, I have medical devices that deliver my medication, and I have multiple injections, my medication has to be refrigerated.

In my younger days, I would have got a tent and I'd be camping out with the rest of the people, not in a zone that's you know, not you're not supposed to be on the sidewalk at night, but I'd find a tent.

I can't do that, I'm not gonna survive.

So my point is it's in your district now, it's going all the way to the Beltway 8, so we cannot allow TechSot to fail.

Yeah.

Um not once.

So Ms.

Holmes, uh, Christina from my office is the one that that you spoke to, and she's been working on this.

Uh we have Juan Pablo from my team right now.

Um you can meet up with him so that way you can see if there's any updates that we can share with you.

Um, and then from there make sure that we're connected to resources as well.

Okay.

Um I just I'm gonna say it again.

This is gonna go on for years.

And if you if you allow them to fail with one family, they're gonna fail with more.

Now we were a difficult relocation.

I understand that, but there's no excuse, and they have a legal obligation.

Um would you guys be interested in me keeping a log?

I'm a retired hospice nurse and I did social work because I work with medically underserved population, so all of my patients were poor.

Um, so I'm very aware of how to access help.

Would you like me to keep a log of a homeless person trying to ex to access help in the city of Houston right now?

Would a detailed log be helpful to you guys?

Would anybody be interested in that?

Because I'm finding failures in the system.

I haven't brought a recording.

Let us do everything by the book.

I have all of the paperwork.

Okay, and I'm called 311, get your referral.

I called him three times because I don't know if you guys are 211, 211.

I don't know if you guys have called, but sometimes you get a different operator, you don't always get the right thing.

So, you know, I'm finding mistakes.

Would you guys be interested in my log?

Miss Holmes, if you don't mind, we can have that conversation with Juan Pablo.

Just want to give you some background.

So the Coalition for the Homeless has has uh this uh a database that we do keep a lot of this information.

Um and be happy to see if there's any any new information that we could add to that, those that questionnaire that they have.

Uh they have the point in time count every year.

Uh myself and all several of my colleagues have participated as well.

Um, but if you can share some of those those uh that information that you think might be needed as well on that survey, we'd be happy to do that.

That's the recording I brought.

Was so 31211 referred me three times to the two, but they gave me different numbers, but it all went to the coalition for the homeless.

And then I I brought uh 45 second recording of what you get as a person calling them, and when you're homeless, it says really quick and and it's inaudible an email address.

I had to to play it six times to get the email address correct, and then you send an email and then you get an auto response.

And that was two weeks ago.

Can you share that with Juan Pablo if you don't mind?

Sure.

I'm just wanna I I mean I would do it for you guys if the council's interested in seeing that.

Yes.

Like has anybody else done that?

Like shared with the council what the process is for actual person trying to access.

We don't some of us have actually participated in actually asking those questions out.

I've participated the past two years uh for the point in time count.

I know Councilman Carter has asking those questions.

Yeah.

And the count is important because that's how you get your funding and you keep an idea of what's going on, and you're obviously going in the right direction.

Yeah.

But I'm just saying it's always helpful to have the information from someone who's trying to access help.

So any information that you can provide for us, I think would be very helpful.

So if you could talk about it.

Yeah, we're interested, Miss Holmes.

If you don't mind, uh Juan Pablo's waiting waiting for you as well.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

Joseph Smith.

Christopher Cato.

Sharon Marshall Hall.

Latoria Shaw.

Jacob Clemente.

To be followed by Kevin Strickland.

He left.

I was gonna tell the Aggie joke.

But I bring glad findings to all of y'all.

It's hispanic heads both.

So all of you have spending please send them let us applaud y'all.

That's you, Jolene and you too walking.

And Mario left.

I don't know why.

He just didn't want to get applause.

And I was gonna ask him for a date.

If he wanted to go to the baseball game with me Wednesday tomorrow.

Uh and television me hopefully getting the job with us.

Hopefully.

Oh, and um, what I want to do now is I want to read you two letters that uh notes that I received from uh Nicole Collier, uh shape rep for district ninety-five.

He said, Jacob, thank you for the University of Houston Memorabilia.

As a 1996 graduate, this gift is a wonderful reminder of my time there.

I truly appreciate it.

Thanks again, Nicole.

And then uh I received the other day this letter note from Texas House of Repernanus District 143.

She wrote in uh top brand form, dear Mr.

Klumitich, thank you for the University of Houston gift.

I really appreciate your thoughtful gesture and the pride that reflection our community.

Now it's Aggy time, joke time.

What is worse than ALS Turnaggy?

It's AMS.

Know what that chance for mental stagnation.

Thanks, Jacob.

Next speaker.

Kevin Strickland.

Wait.

He wanted to be my date tomorrow.

He wanted to be my date, key does gave me tomorrow.

Next speaker.

Kevin Strickland.

Joseph Omari.

The society must defend itself with strong armor, love, peace, justice, ethics, morals, righteousness.

The ethic committee and the honor code must be returned to the United States of America.

Politics of self-governments back into accountability and respectability.

The kidnappers of Big Mama, my dear, Uncle Jake, Granny, must face American justice.

Think tankers, bankers, jinkers, politicians.

It won't put my social security number on my bank account.

I was going to put your social security number on yours, but I already know how much money you got in your bank account.

They're kidnapping uh American American senior citizens for the social security benefits, Medicaid for ability to get their account.

These women don't look like criminals, but even criminals.

If they practice kidnapping senior citizens for the social security benefits, Medicaid, law enforcement agents must practice putting them in jail or prison.

For us, the FBI is not as good as it used to be.

Your time has expired.

Thank you so much.

Next speaker.

This completes the list of speakers.

We stand in the recess until tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

Approved spending authority in an amount not to exceed $4,200,000 for purchase of transportation vehicle parts and services through the cooperative purchasing agreement with the tips for the fleet management department from Defender Supply LLC.

Item 8, approved spending authority in the amount not to exceed $2,43,245 for purchase of professional support services to support the enterprise suite of Microsoft products through the Texas Department of Information Resources for the Houston Information Technology Services and various cities, city departments from Carasoft Technology Corporation.

Item nine, approved spending authority in the amount not to exceed 60 million one hundred twenty-four thousand four hundred and ninety-eight dollars sixty-five cents for purchase of enterprise agreement licenses, server cloud enrollment licenses and related software maintenance through the Texas Department of Information Resources for Houston Information Technology Services and various departments from SHI Government Solutions Inc.

Item 10 Safe Water Company for purchase of a water conservation program incentive.

Item 11 approved spending authority in the amount not to exceed $5,327,348 for pest control services through the interlocal agreement for cooperative purchasing with choice partners for various departments from Rent to Kiel, North America, Inc.

doing business as holders pest solutions.

Item 12 ordinance approving and authorizing in a local agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County for emergency rental assistance administrative funds to reimburse for third-party costs incurred for review of emergency rental assistance program case files and compliance support.

Item 13, ordinance approved and authorizing subrecipient agreement between the City of Houston and Wesley Community Center Inc.

of Houston, Texas.

Item 14, ordinance approving and authorizing subrecipient agreement between the City of Houston and Brentwood Economic Community Development Corporation.

Item 15, ordinance appropriating $3,409,000, $16,565,000, $1,571,000, $250,000 and $575,000 for purchases of various vehicles and fleet maintenance equipment for various city departments.

Item 16, ordinance amending cities master classification plan as most recently amended by ordinance number 2025-495 to create three new job classifications.

Change three and delete four job classifications.

Item 17, ordinance appropriating $449,000, $75,000, $409,000, $402,000, $150,000, $75,000, $484,000 and $684,000 for environmental services program.

Item 18, ordinance approving and authorizing contract between the City of Houston and Pump Solutions Inc.

Item 19, ordinance approving and authorizing contract between the City of Houston and Alpha Laval, Inc.

Item 20, ordinance altering maximum prima facie, speed limits in certain school zones in the city of Houston.

Item 21 has been pulled by the administration and will now be considered.

Item 22, ordinance accepting and authorizing grant agreement between the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

And the City of Houston for Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding Grant for the Denver Harbor Stormwater Improvements Project.

Item 23.

Community Project Funding Grant for EP Hill Multi-Use Park Project.

Item 24, ordinance accepting and authorizing grant agreement between the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Houston for the Edgewood Multi-Use Park Project.

Item 25, ordinance approving and authorizing for grant applications to the Texas Water Development Board for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for 99 home elevations.

Item 26, ordinance appropriating 17,67,114.75 cent.

Approving and authorizing professional engineering services contract between the City of Houston and Fries and Nichols Inc.

for Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements.

Item 27, ordinance appropriating $323,462 seventy-seven cent.

As a second additional appropriation for a professional engineering services contract between the City of Houston and H.R.

Green Inc.

for Arlington Heights Area Drainage and Paving.

Sub Project 2.

Item 28, ordinance appropriating $105,000.

As additional appropriation to contract between the City of Houston and Paradigm Consultants, Inc.

for forced main flow diversion from Sage Mont Lift Station to Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Item 29, ordinance granting to Arrowhead Asset Services LLC, a Texas Limited Liability 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, Texas.

Item 30, ordinance granting to Clearwater Recycling LLC, a 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, Texas.

Item 31, ordinance granted to FCC Environmental Services, Texas, LLC.

A Texas Limited Liability Company, the right privilege and franchise to collect, haul and transport solid waste and industrial waste from commercial properties located within the city of Houston, Texas.

Item 32, ordinance granting to Hallmark Mitigation and Construction, LLC, a 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, Texas.

Item 33, ordinance granting to hydroclear services LLC, a 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, Texas.

Item 34, ordinance granting to Texas Pride Septics Inc., 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, Texas, and Item 35, ordinance granting to Thermal Fluids Inc., a foreign 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, Texas.

This completes the reading of the captions for the agenda of City Council session September 17, 2025.

Stay tuned for the next session of Houston City Council schedule to begin at 9 a.m.

And as I close on a personal note, I would like to wish myself a very happy birthday on tomorrow.

And with that, I wish thank y'all.

Thank you, thank you.

And with that, I wish everyone a happy and blessed Wednesday.

Council, please come to order.

Mr.

Secretary, you please proceed with the consent agenda.

It wasn't in over there.

Under the miscellaneous category, items two and three have been removed for separate consideration.

Need a motion for item one.

Cast extatum move.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Next.

Under the property category, item four needs a motion.

Mayor Castum move.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Mayor Protein, do you want to be recognized?

Uh on item one.

I didn't know if any of our appointments for the sports park were here.

Um, Alan Leslata and Laura Velasquez.

If any of them are here, we'd like to thank you for being willing to serve.

If you are here, if you'll stand.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you very much for your willingness to serve.

Next.

Under the purchase and tabulation of bids category.

Items five, eight, nine, and ten have been removed for separate consideration.

Need a motion for items six, seven, and eleven.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay.

Motion is approved.

Under the ordinances category, items 12, 14, 6, 15, 20, 25, and 26 have been removed for separate consideration.

Again, those numbers are 12, 14, 15, 20, 25, and 26 have been removed for separate consideration.

Item 21 has been pulled by the administration, will not be considered.

And item 22 has not been received, but will be considered if it's received before the end of the meeting.

Need a vote on the balance.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay.

Motion passes.

Items removed for separate consideration.

Item two needs a motion.

Cast text data move.

Second.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay.

Motion passes.

And do three or sentence the same panel.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I want to uh congratulate and recognize some members from the Hardy near North Side Tourist 21 board that were just appointed.

If you could stand.

We have uh some new members.

We have some returning members and uh to the new folks.

Welcome to the board.

Uh your commitment to the area has led you to now serve on the tours to the returning folks.

Thank you for your continued service.

I look forward to working with all of you and uh appreciate y'all stepping up to serve your community in uh in an important capacity.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

We're gonna do item three, and then we can uh meet in my office.

Item three needs a motion.

Castext Tata move.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

And that's both of them.

Thank you.

Completed.

Completed, yes, sir.

Councilman Cassio.

I'll meet you in my office uh to meet and greet our new TURS members.

Uh and I'll ask Mayor Pro Tim to resign more.

All right.

Mr.

Secretary, ready for our next item.

Item five needs a motion.

Can we get a second?

It's been moved and second.

Any discussion?

If no discussion, all in favor.

Any opposed?

Item passed.

Next item.

Item eight needs a motion.

Martine second.

It's been moved and second.

Any discussion?

Any discussion?

If no discussion, all in favor?

Any opposed?

Item passes.

Item nine needs a motion.

Martinez second.

Councilmember Ken.

Councilmember Kamen.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

I just wanted to point out this is a very large package, 60 million as it relates to technology.

This is a great deal that the city is getting, and I want to thank Director Kent for reaching out to every one of our offices.

One of the asks have been on large packages like this that we are being brought up to speed before it comes to council.

So I appreciate the diligence on this item.

Thank you for your comments.

Next item.

Do we need a vote on one?

We did.

Okay.

Next item.

Item 10 needs a motion.

Tag.

Martin second.

I heard a tag.

Council Member Minnesota.

Item 10 has been tagged by Councilmember Ramirez.

Next item.

Item 12 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

All in favor?

Any opposed?

The item passes.

Item 14 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

I did have a comment.

On item 14.

We are working with Brentwood Economic Community Development Corporation.

Just wanted to uplift the great work that they are doing with HOPWA.

Brentwood was one of the very first organizations to start providing housing for people with AIDS, specifically men with AIDS.

And they do a tremendous job.

If you haven't had an opportunity to see the housing that they provide for people living with AIDS, you should see the the type of work that they are doing for a population for many years they've been providing this great service.

So any time I have an opportunity to uplift the great work that they are doing for this population, I think it's important.

And colleagues, I would ask for your support so that they can continue the programming and transitional housing at their property.

Councilmember Davis.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

I just wanted to add my support of this item because I've known Pastor Rightlift for so many years.

And I remember back in the years when this first started, Brentwood was one of the first one of the first churches in our local community that took this on where it wasn't very popular.

And so I certainly support this item.

All right.

Any further discussion?

If not, all in favor.

Any opposed?

The item passes.

Next item.

Item 15 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Councilmember Tim.

Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

I'm supportive of this item.

I just want to uh highlight something that I've experienced more recently.

Um we had uh station 61 in the hobby airport area that received the ladder truck.

Of course, we know that some of these ladder trucks are as they're bought.

It takes about three to four years to put them together, take them to the to the station.

And uh uh the ladder truck that was uh supposed to be assigned to station 61 did not fit, so we've been going through a whole bunch of permitting, figuring out what we can do get done, and so I just want to uh make sure that we bring this to the radar.

Uh you know, I've been able to talk to Chief Munoz.

I don't know where these ladder trucks that are gonna be uh approached are gonna be stationed, but I think we need to need to make sure that we do our our uh proactive uh work to make sure that once they're received that we can put them into service.

So just wanted to make sure that I highlight that.

All right, Councilmember Kmer.

Thank you.

Uh my remarks are not pertaining to ladder trucks.

Uh this is a very large appropriation for a wide variety of fleet vehicles throughout the city of Houston in the coming year.

Uh that includes multiple departments.

They will be coming back to council, but again, I want to emphasize uh and and put fleet on notice that I want to see why and how uh we are exploring opportunities specifically for fuel efficient vehicles and electric vehicles where appropriate.

And I would also point out that we should be putting why or why not we are able to use a hybrid or electric vehicle on cover sheet.

So what is the work that's being done to expand the pool and how are we moving forward to save money for the city and clean up the air and do everything?

It's a win-win-win for everyone, but we're not seeing the progress that we should hear.

Thank you for those comments.

And that will come back before council.

Next item.

Oh, did we vote?

We didn't vote.

All in favor.

Any opposed, the item carries.

Next item.

Item 20 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

Council Mr.

Huffman.

Councilmember Huffman.

Thank you.

This item is regarding adding and extending some school speed zones.

You know, anything we can do to help keep kids safer is a win.

Um and I know that the schools and the constituents really appreciate this.

So thank you for this item.

Any dis any other discussion?

If not, all in favor.

Any opposed, the item carries.

Item 25 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Councilmember Ken.

Thank you.

This is uh green applications for home elevations throughout the city.

I do want to note we have 45 elevation applications in District C alone.

So we will continue to do everything we can to support residents and keeping them out of the floodwaters.

Thank you very much.

I think the total was 99 elevations in several council districts, but um we know that um we definitely want to make sure that we can get those taken care of.

So thank you for your comments.

Uh all in favor, any opposed?

Item passes.

Next item.

Item 26 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Yeah, I just wanted to say thank you for this item.

Um this specific facility was under several feet of water in the uh during Harvey.

Uh it has been a problem ever since.

In fact, one of the first things I saw after getting elected was uh paying for temporary buildings out at this facility.

And I was kind of in shock that uh this was still temporary given how long ago Harvey had happened.

So I'm glad to see this, and it's sorely needed in the community.

Okay, if no other discussion, all in favor.

Any opposed?

Item 26 passes.

Next item.

This completes the items on the agenda.

All right, Council members.

That was pretty painless.

Uh, we're going to move uh to pop off, and we are starting today with Councilmember Davis.

Thank you, uh, Mayor Pro Tem.

Just wanted to uh highlight uh to uh want to thank I guess the Children's Assessment Center for the tour last week.

Our staff and I went there, and I certainly like to encourage everyone to um, if you have not been uh to go to the Trinity Assessment Center, they deal with a lot of issues involving uh children, young ages of children who have experienced some horrific, you know, challenges in their life, uh and well as violence and introduction.

And so this center is phenomenal.

They they are a one-stop shop when it comes to not only the children but the parents.

Uh so the Children's Assessment Center is doing a marvelous job, and we hope I'm praying and hoping that we're going to work with them by way of our Minister Advisory Board because they are looking forward to as many uh of uh my of you the city council members to come and tour the facility.

It is a first class facility, and uh I certainly want to thank them for receiving us for that.

And so for that reason, we are grateful uh and I certainly want to encourage my colleagues to participate.

Secondly, I I want to highlight our plan and and and certainly look forward to many of our colleagues joining.

We're putting together a financial symposium next month in October because the city only has so much money contractual.

We heard so much during the issue around the disparity and uh about who gets what and how much they get.

Well, first and foremost, the per the people that have got the money on the banks.

The banks got more money than the city, the county, and so we need to emphasize the power of the community reinvestment act and so that we can encourage.

We are hoping to have at least about 30 banks participating.

Uh it will be held at the um uh by you eventually on night road.

Uh it's a morning hour event, and uh so we've got some supporters, and as we work it with the Office of Business Opportunity, and we looking forward to expand it and hopefully to help every area of our city, no matter what district you in, no matter where you are, um, the monies need to be distributed equally fairly, and there should never be no red line of discrimination when it comes to people applying for loan.

And there should never be no red line or discrimination when it comes to people applying for loans.

So we want to help small businesses, minority businesses, and all businesses of the sort, and we have a pretty good team, and the office of OBO is going to work with us, and uh and we are looking forward to participating.

So with that, that's all I have.

Council members, item 22 uh has been received.

So if you can take a second to look back at item 22.

And Mr.

Secretary, if you'll call the item.

Item 22 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

If no discussion, all in favor.

Any opposed?

Item passes.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Flickinger.

Yeah, I want to give a special thanks to HPD and to HFD.

We had a situation in Kingwood last week where a warrant was being served on someone, and this had to do with the divorce and issues with that.

Um turned into a police standoff.

Uh apparently he said that uh he was not going to let his wife get the house and ended up burning the house down with him inside of it.

Um to prevent the neighboring houses from catching on fire.

Uh I mean I understand that putting out fires is their normal call of duty, but to do it when you are under the threat of being shot at, I think is way above and beyond.

Uh then we also had a uh fire down at the border of my district in Councilman Martinez's district on a church, had uh two firefighters hurt.

Uh one of them broke a femur, which being the largest bone in your body, it takes quite a blow to do that.

And uh, so obviously he took a big hit and had another firefighter, the broken ankle.

So, you know, we had uh a couple of incidents out here that uh just wanted to thank them for and everything that them and HPD did with the standoff as well.

Uh also I have got uh town hall uh September 30th in clear uh in Kingwood and in Clear Lake on October 14th and in Edgebrook on the 21st.

So hopefully you can come out there.

We've uh gonna have a question and answer session, and you are able to submit all those questions online so we can have them all ready to go.

And then uh lastly, we have got a new chip intern, uh Adrian Garcia, doing a stand-up, Adrian.

So I think many of you people know his father.

Uh but uh we are thrilled to have him on our team and uh look forward to spending the next semester here with you, Adrian.

So thank you very much.

Councilmember Kangman.

Thank you.

Uh tomorrow, 1030 a.m.

Uh we'll be convening the labor committee.

Uh we're going to have updates from HR.

There have been several revisions to um internal employment policies.

So we're going to be just reviewing and covering what those changes are to administrative policies.

And then we're also going to have a briefing on our local unions uh training facilities.

A lot of them are standing up with the help of other uh partners, uh state-of-the-art training facilities for their apprenticeship programs.

So again, I I don't know if y'all saw in the news, we were ranked um top most populous city uh with the most uh in terms of poor individuals in the city and apprenticeship programs are one way that uh we are able to help everyone.

Uh so we will have some important briefings on those.

I hope you will join us.

Uh I do want to thank Solid Waste uh in addition to the bin blitz that's taking place right now, and I encourage residents to take advantage of that.

Um we also were delivering bins to residents, and I want to thank Mark Anderson, Alfred Jones, and of course the director for helping us um coordinate those pickups uh on Monday and Wednesday last week.

We Families with Pride is back.

Uh tomorrow will mark one month uh till the celebration, which will be at Discovery Green October 18th.

Uh so mark your calendars.

Uh we'll be pushing that out.

Again, a very fun family-friendly event, a lot of activities for kids uh in the community and uh celebration for all.

Lastly, uh it would be very helpful.

I know the mayor is not here right now, but if someone in public works could work with our office this past spring, both MKT bridges experienced significant damage after Text out equipment uh had struck that infrastructure during construction.

Residents continue to reach out to our office for an update on when the bridge will be restored.

Previously, we were told that repairs would be completed this fall, and we communicated that to residents.

Since that time, we have been reaching out to get updates.

We have not heard anything back.

So it would be very helpful if we can get some information for constituents as to what the status of the MKT Bridge, at least the one in District C, where things stand with that.

Wishing everyone who is celebrating next week a very uh happy New Year.

Shenatova in the Jewish calendar, it marks the beginning of the Jewish high holidays.

Uh so I think we have a consolidated session on Wednesday and then that continues with those those holidays.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Um I am excited to announce that the work in Northwood Manor SWAT projects are about to begin.

As we all know, yes, Northwood Manor floods repeatedly.

And so finally these flood, the flood, the SWAT projects is going to cover the street Spotswood Drive, Vale View Drive, Tanvert Drive, Sunburn Drive, and Dalebrook Drive.

And so I know the folks in um Northwood Manor is going to be excited about that because as we know, again, it repeats it repeatedly floods.

So on October the 6th, expect the work to begin.

And the construction is going to end, expect it to end May 4th 2026, and then that's when phase two of the flood work will take place.

So we're really excited about that.

Um they're going to be upsizing the pipes, um, storm through inlets and um ditch, the ditches will be regraded.

So there you go.

Northwood Manor, congratulations.

We're very excited for them.

I know, right.

Councilmember Oh, is I'm sorry, I know I'm I got some more.

Oh, let's hear it.

I also want to announce last week we had to say goodbye to our policy coordinator, um Anthony Collier, the handsome man that's always in the nice suits that was standing up behind me.

So he left us to go to the Harris County Democratic Party.

And so um, as you all know, um Anthony graduated at UC Law School, and he just recently accepted a K.

Jewett organizer apprenticeship.

So we wish him all the best.

Um look forward to seeing him around town.

Last but not least, I want to thank my colleagues for the conversation um yesterday on the um Prop A at the property committee around defense ordinance.

Um look forward to getting feedback.

We will be contacting your office, giving um re-emailing the ordinance and just provide feedback and look forward to working with you, Chair, on um fleshing out the ordinance and creating a great product that's gonna help make sure our neighborhoods stay clean and safe.

Um but I also want to point out I wasn't gonna say this, but I'm gonna share it with folks.

But whoever people who have participated in our Be Successful Um job fairs, we will be having another job fair, a special job fair with Integra on next week, Friday, September the 26th from 10 to 2 p.m.

Um folks will be hired on the spot.

Um so you need to at least have a GED and be 18 years older.

Um these jobs start at $25 an hour at entry level, and so we encourage them folks who are looking for jobs, please reach out to our office and get more details.

And yeah, it's they're gonna be hiring 50 people every month.

So just for other council members, if you know people that need jobs, have them reach out to us and we'll get them connected to this huge project.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Jackson.

Councilmember Huffman.

Thank you.

On Saturday, uh Vice Mayor Pro Tim Peck and I hosted Morning at the Marquee, and Councilmember Pollard came by um to celebrate with us.

And I just want to say thank you to everybody who participated.

It was a great event.

We had HFD there, HPD, Spring Branch ISD police department, constables from Precinct Five, um, Spring Branch Management District, Commissioners from Precincts Three and Four, the Navy, Mounted Patrol, and then of course our sponsors who made it happen, Houston Tents and Events, Common Bond, Chick-fil-A, Love Corps, Memorial Management District, and then the Houston Department, uh, City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods were there assisting constituents with all sorts of questions.

So thank you so much for making that a successful event.

Councilmember, Mayor Pro Tem.

I want to highlight that we um kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a nice uh ceremony and celebration this past Monday in the legacy room, uh sponsored by the Mayor's Hispanic uh advisory board and Alma.

Alma is a group that is putting together a Latino Arts and Cultural Center.

It's in the planning and fundraising stage, so wish them uh success with that effort.

Also, uh there are other events that will continue this month.

Tonight there is an event put on by Gionda uh magazine that will be held at the Junior League.

Um relatedly this Saturday morning, there will be a community event where input will be uh received regarding the Hispanic Research Center and Archives building that the city is planning at uh that will be held at uh Houston City College, the Felix Fraga campus on the Southeast Side at 10 a.m.

And that is being organized by Councilmember uh Mario Castillo with the help from uh my office and the office of Councilmember Joaquin Martinez all are invited to offer input into that into that facility.

As well, uh Saturday there will be a Viet Cultural Fest that will start at 10 a.m.

and run until 7 p.m., presented by the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association that will be held at the NRG Center.

So thank you.

Councilmember Thomas.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

Um I want to highlight on Monday around 6 p.m., a 13-year-old was a victim of a hit and run while um exiting a metro bus off of Willcrest, um, which is problematic.

He was transferred to Texas children, and I believe he suffered a broken leg.

The um tension around this is the fact that the driver fled the scene.

Um, and he was actually leaving school, headed to a family member's home after school.

And I just want to highlight um that of course this is a tragic event, but it just really underscores that uh mobility is public safety.

Um every time that this happens, um, it erodes the uh the effort that we attempt to push forward around walkability in our communities, promoting public transit, investing in our crosswalks, our sidewalks.

Um I just want to also highlight that in District F we have 55 LPR cameras throughout the district, and it's my hope that the technology that we've invested in will um go to bring this driver to justice and accountability.

And I just want to encourage folks that have been paying attention to this store to continue to pray for the families.

Um, this is not the first time that this has happened on the West Side, and of course throughout the city, but I did want to punctuate that.

On tomorrow, Thursday, September 18th at 2.30 p.m., um, there will be a public hearing to discuss a replat of two residential lots into a commercial property um in Piney Point.

And if any of y'all have paid attention to me if for any moment in time, you've heard me talk about the historic Piney Point.

We are encouraging um our Piney Point Civic Club, our church, our area churches, um, and the Friends of Rasmus Park to sign up for public comments.

This area has um experienced um erosion over uh decades of commercial property.

They are surrounded by car dealerships and mechanic shops, and we have been working diligently with this community for a very long time and making very slow strides in preservation.

So I want to encourage you to participate in the public session, and I hope to share my remarks on record as well.

The Piney Point Civic Club this morning has shared their official letter um with the planning commission on record um in opposition of this proposal, which also speaks to reducing residential lots, reducing our opportunity to infield with housing.

Um which brings me to my last point.

I want to, as I mentioned earlier, the second annual Faith and Affordable Housing Summit is back.

We are excited to share that on October 11th.

Um we are hosting this in in District K at the KBC on West Orum.

Um excited to announce we have the confirmed uh morning speaker, Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver II, an ordained United Methodist Preacher, elder in the church, but he's also the ranking member in Congress on the subcommittee of housing, finance, and insurance.

He'll bring us morning remarks, and we'll also hear from um two or three panels that's from developers, practitioners, and our banking institutions focused on community leading uh lending.

If you are a faith leader with land, an appetite for development.

This is the opportunity for you to hear from the city's housing department, Harris County, and a host of others that are willing to match your mission with some with some funding in order to help the city achieve our goal of housing and community services.

More details today.

Our registration link goes live today.

Stay tuned for that.

If my office could be of any assistance, please reach out to District F at Houston TX.gov.

Thank you.

Councilmember Thomas, if you can send us the flyers, we'll definitely put it in our in our newsletters too, because I know that we've had several uh churches reach out to us about senior developments and things they'd like to do.

So definitely want to make sure they know about October 11th.

Vice Mayor Pro Tempeck.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Um Councilmember Huffman, thank you for highlighting our event.

It was um a really fun event.

I think a lot of people um were able to get their questions answered related to public safety and other items.

So I enjoyed um hosting that event with you.

And thank you, Councilmember Pollard, for attending, and um staff from Councilmore Carter's office as well.

Um Governor Abbott recently requested a disaster declaration for those impacted by the um fire at the Three Corners apartment complex last month, and that request has been approved by the small business administration.

So anyone uh impacted by the fire last month can now apply for home disaster loans, business physical disaster loans, and economic injury disaster loans, which provide low interest loans to those who qualify.

So beginning tomorrow, you can apply for that either online or in person at Memorial Assistance Ministries 1625 Blaylock.

It will be open weekdays from noon to six p.m.

and Saturdays from 10 a.m.

to 2 o'clock PM.

And thank you, Memorial Assistance Ministries, for opening your doors for that.

Thank you.

Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

I also want to highlight that we are in Hispanic Heritage Month, so uh September 15th through October 15th.

It's a time to honor and celebrate diverse culture of the Hispanic community, and that's not just the Mexican community, but it's also Central American, South American, and so throughout this month there's a lot of uh uh uh countries that are celebrating their independence, and I um want to make sure that we open that that opportunity for my colleagues to attend several different events uh throughout the city.

Uh one of them that I want to highlight is uh Mexico and El Corazón at the Discover at Discovery Green Saturday, September the 20th from 7 to 10 P.M.

Uh the Houston Symphony is having Fiesta Sinfonica at Jones Hall, Friday, September 26th at 730.

And then Noche Latina with Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium Saturday, September 20th.

And I also just want to quickly highlight uh how we kicked off uh Hispanic Heritage Month with the Mayor's uh advisory board and also Alma.

Um it was a great um great opportunity to uh uh showcase the city's contribution towards uh this endeavor.

So I want to publicly thank a few of my colleagues, uh Councilmember Peck, Councilmember Pollard, and Councilmember Castillo for joining in those efforts to contribute uh um tax dollars and showing that we are invested in this in this cultural center as well.

And of course, Councilmember Carter and Councilmember Ramidez for being there in attendance.

Um as as we and Councilmember Davis as well.

Um thank you.

And Alcorn.

That's right.

When you start listening.

I'm sorry.

Just uh just appre I really do appreciate uh the solidarity uh with my colleagues uh on this event um as we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.

Thank you.

Councilmember Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

Uh as you all know, um the BisNet Corridor, formerly known as the BisNet Track, BisNet between U.S.

59 and Bellway 8 uh has remained a high priority for our office.

Uh known for a lot of sex crimes and trafficking.

Uh but yesterday we got word that the self-proclaimed mayor of Bissinet, uh person who has been uh a pimp in the area, someone who has created a lot of issues for the BIS Net track area, was sentenced to 10 years federal time.

Uh so I do want to thank uh the local and federal federal authorities uh for all their work on that.

Um we want people to know that our attention is still very heavy on BisNet.

We've made some huge strides in transforming that street, but uh a harsh sentence like this for federal time uh sends a strong message to the individuals who may be out there or thinking about coming back about how serious we're taking it and how far we're gonna take a prosecution.

Um it was previously mentioned that Houston was named the top big city for most poverty, and I think recently I also mentioned that we popped up on the list for most uh for big cities for top ten in violent crime rates, and I continue to push the the message of of jobs and employment.

I think jobs is is correlated with public safety, with housing, with homelessness, with mental health, everything stems from jobs, and you can't have a a thriving city without a thriving workforce.

And so uh we've created more jobs, Houston.com.

I encourage you or someone you know who may be looking for a job to go to more jobs, Houston.com, thousands of new jobs every single week are posted to that website along with resources uh for interview techniques, how to prepare for an interview, resume building, updates on job fairs, um, and so uh councilmember, I know you have in your job fair next week, and uh we want to support that and the week after that.

Um Councilmember, I know you're having your job fair next week, and uh we want to support that.

And the week after that, so we want to support that and all of the efforts towards employment.

Employment is where I think we'll get the most bang for our book, not only for people to have money to provide for their families, but then they have money to then spend, which we get those dollars uh as a city to use for services back to the community.

So uh more jobshouston.com, check it out and uh pass it along.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Pollard.

Councilmember Alcorn.

Thank you, Mayor Potem.

Uh Monday, everybody is the first day of fall, and you know what that means.

It's don't fall down prevents falls prevention awareness day.

I'm partnering with Councilmember Evan Shavaz this year.

I think all in total, this is about the thirteenth year we've done that this.

So uh we'll be teaching seniors all kinds of tips and exercises and things they can do to prevent falls, because it's the number one cause of hospitalizations and deaths among seniors.

So see you Monday morning.

We have Breakfast Club coming too, so that'll bring them.

Those those grits will get them there.

Councilmember Carter.

How old do you need to be to participate?

Um that all just saying my gray hair says it all.

Um just wanted to highlight uh we're continuing to have conversations about with uh homeless uh resource providers about refining our local approach as we move forward with some of the projects um that you will be hearing about soon.

And in partnership with Fleet Feet and Anheuser Bush uh in July and sort of into August, we hauled a shoe drive.

Some of you participated by donating shoes, gently used and new shoes.

And so yesterday it was able to deliver right at a thousand pair of shoes to the navigation center.

And um, you know, spent about uh a couple hours over there talking with the staff and you know, jobs continue to be the the key uh on the re-entry side, but also to you know when you have when you come across resources, just think to reach out to uh places such as a navigation center, because there are so many needs.

Um it was it was very rewarding when we uh got there.

Um people lined up because they heard there were new shoes.

I mean, they were all set up in the room and you know, just talking to the uh clients there at the NAV Center and seeing them, you know, some of them needed work shoes, some of them just needed a pair of shoes, and um, you know, it was really no pun intended, but good for the soul to to be part of that.

Um secondly, just wanted to highlight uh on uh September 11th, the uh remembrance ceremony here at City Hall was as quite lovely.

Dr.

Jones always does a great job for our veterans, but also to our first responders.

So just wanted to thank her for uh really working, continuing to work on behalf of all of those that uh we need to thank every day.

So that's it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Carolyn Evans Shabazz.

Thank you, Mayor for Tim.

Uh we celebrated the 80th anniversary of Korean Recovery Resources at the Junior League of Houston.

I was pleased to join Councilmember Alcorn and Councilmember Martinez for this milestone occasion.

Korean Recovery Resources continues to do incredible work providing families with tools, services, and hope they need to succeed.

Congratulations to them and 80 years of impact.

We also had a huge turnout for the expunction clinic and job fair at the Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center.

Residents receive free legal resources, expunction support, and job opportunities.

I want to thank District Attorney Sean Tier, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and Constable Smoky Phillips, and all of the community partners for their collaboration and making this such a strong success.

There was an excellent virtual design update meeting for the Edgewood Park Detention Basin Project, hosted by Houston Public Works resid residents were able to hear directly from the design team, ask questions and provide input on this critical flood mitigation project.

And we had an outstanding community engagement event at Edgewood Park where neighbors gathered to talk about improvements and the future of this vital community space.

Upcoming events, there will be Grandparents' Day uh celebration on Saturday, September the 20th, from 8 a.m.

to 12 noon at St.

John's Downtown, 2019 Crawford Street.

On Sunday, we will be celebrating Bishop James Dick Dixon II, his 44th pastoral anniversary.

That will be Sunday, September the 21st at 10 a.m.

at the Community of Faith, the King's Dome Cathedral, 1024 Pine Mont Drive.

And again, to reiterate and thank uh Councilmember Alcorn Falls Prevention Awareness Day will be Monday, September 22nd at 9 a.m.

to 10 30 at the Sunnyside Health and Multiservice Center.

If you know uh the what happens when when the elderly break their hips, you would know that it's this is very important.

A lot of times they do not opt to have the surgeries.

It changes their quality of life, and ultimately usually Lynn uh ends in their demise.

And so we certainly want to prevent this.

And I want to give a shout out to my youngest sister, Charlotte Evans Williams, who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, who I visit visited this weekend to celebrate her birthday.

And so happy birthday to my sister Charlotte.

And that concludes what's going on in the District of Destination.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month.

Uh my colleagues have already highlighted the community meeting that we're holding on Saturday to seek input and provide an update on the Hispanic History Research Center at HCC Felix Fraga at 10 a.m.

I also want to highlight a lot a event that the Houston Public Library System is hosting on Tuesday, September 23rd.

It is a Hispanic Heritage Month Cultural Connection event at the Moody Neighborhood Library on Irvington, where they will have a celebration of uh in with activities, food that highlight cultures, local partners, different community centers and resources.

Um so be sure to check that out on Tuesday at the Moody Public Library.

I also want to thank our General Services Department.

We had a city owned uh vacant lot over in the East Sex Jensen area that was getting repeatedly uh dumped on with illegal dumping, nuisances uh popping up on that lot, and they've quickly responded to not only clear it but also fence it as we're figuring out uh what to do with this land and now uh we have some some potential partners in and bringing a community amenity to the area and what was uh just a vacant lot.

And so I appreciate their quick response and uh and their efforts to secure um that vacant land because it was becoming an issue for the neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you for those comments.

Um and I'll round it off with uh a couple of announcements from District K.

Um we are almost complete with the demolition at Spring Village Apartment Complex.

Uh once that site is fully cleared, the housing department is going to transfer that project to Houston Public Works and the TDO team will um build out the detention basin and then Harris County Flood Control District will be responsible for that continued maintenance.

So thank you to the residents of District K for their patience as we are making tremendous progress on the completion of that demolition.

And then I know that last night we were able to swear in our youth council members, um, the district K resident Ramya Ilongawan.

We are very excited to have her representing District K.

She's a senior at Carnegie Vanguard High School and has done some incredible research at a young age that has already been featured by U.S.

News and Endocrine News.

So uh thank you, Ramia, for representing District K on the Mayor's Youth Council.

And then want to remind everyone that we will have our Meet the Team event on Saturday, September the 20th from 9 to 11 at the Starbucks on Beltway 8.

We hope that um District K residents and any other um at large members or council members that would like to join us.

It's gonna be a fun time.

We'll have uh lots of networking and giveaways and just a time for us to get to know the new members of our district K team.

Reminder of our economic development committee meeting today at 2 p.m.

We will have an update from Integra, uh, one of our TZs, and then also Superintendent Miles will be here with an update on the progress um at HISD.

Be kind to each other and make it a great day.

Council members, we stand adjourned.