And we thank the first responders, city employees, and utility workers who work through difficult conditions to keep our community safe.

May our actions today be guided by integrity, fairness, and compassion, and may we leave this chamber having made our city stronger, safer, and more united.

Secretary Young Carl DeRow.

Mayor Whitmeyer.

Present.

Councilmember Peck?

Here.

Councilmember Jackson will be absent.

Councilmember Cayman will be absent.

Councilmember Evan Shabazz.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Councilmember Thomas will be absent.

Councilmember Huffman?

President.

Councilmember Castillo?

Here.

Councilmember Martinez.

Oh no.

Councilmember Pollard.

Councilmember Castex Table will be absent.

Councilmember Ramirez.

Here.

Councilmember Davis.

Here.

Councilmember Carter.

Councilmember Councilmember Salinas.

And Councilmember Alcorn.

Need a motion to adopt the minutes of January 21st.

Peck move.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

We have a long list of speakers sign up today because we have over 150 minutes worth of speakers.

The rules require us to only give each speaker one minute.

Even if you signed up for more.

Hadley Hollingsworth.

Maya Fletcher Bai.

Brent Sullivan.

To be followed by Joseph Panzerelli Panzerella.

ICE is not an immigration and customs enforcement group.

ICE are agents of chaos who destroy communities and violate the constitutional rights of citizens and people who are here everywhere they go.

They violate our first, our second, our fourth amendment rights.

Ice kills our brothers and sisters.

Ice disappears our brothers and sisters.

And yet you weaken our community by allowing ICE to operate in it.

How are we to trust you?

Show us you stand for Houston.

Show us what Houston Strong looks like.

Monica Hatcher.

Oh.

Who are you?

You are?

I'm American.

I'm Air Welcome.

As a first generation immigrant, should I be afraid that I would be denaturalized to the rapist that you been need to has joked about doing so?

As a CCW permit holder, should I be afraid that I will be looted and executed?

Should I be afraid that the people who look different than I do and speak different than I do, be abducted and put into concentration camps?

Should I be afraid?

And I am afraid.

You may not call yourself or a self-identify as a fascist, but your lack of action makes you one, makes you worse than one.

If I told you I wanted you to be treated exactly how ICE treats an individual, and you view that as a threat, that is part of the problem.

I'm asking you to NHPD collaboration with ICE and fund the Houston Immigrant Legal Services collaboration.

Councillor Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to suspend the rules to add uh Lindsay Williams to the top of the three-minute non-agenda.

Very good.

Motion may in favor say yes.

Those opposed to name.

Motion passes.

Thank you, sir.

Next.

Monica Hatcher.

James Author.

Ian Johnson.

Edward Barlow.

Ian Lavachek.

No, he won't come in.

Uh Sarah Hirsch.

Roy Hirsch.

Margaret Wittenmeyer.

Jordan Clark.

Jordan Clark.

Oh.

Jordan Clark.

My name's Jordan.

I'm a 28-year-old historian Houstonian, born and raised here.

My father's been a salesman across the Houston area my whole life.

While his industries has since changed, he was at Cisco Foods for the majority of my childhood when he wasn't taking me to work with things like opening Minute Made Park or taking the chef's orders at Magic Island.

I grew up in the kitchens of Houston's most iconic restaurants.

Even still, it doesn't take a childhood of exploring every inch of Houston from Galveston to Cady to the woodlands to tell you that the immigrant community is the backbone of Houston.

All it takes is looking at who's making the food you're going to post on social media later, and that's just one example.

We have the largest medical center in the world with some of the best doctors, nurses, researchers, and support staff doing life-saving work.

Just the other day, one of those doctors saved my mom's life, and he spent his holidays visiting family overseas, the stuff the family he leaves behind to help families like mine.

These are the people that ICE is targeting.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant HPD because they're synonymous here.

We've heard from Christy Noam and now the former head of border security that the reason we don't hear stories like Alex Predy is because HPD in Texas works with them.

Thank you.

Next.

Motion made in second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed.

No.

Motion passes.

Next.

Ayana Samuel.

Astrid Torres.

Knock win.

Elizabeth Bahalim.

To be followed by Christine Vaug.

Mayor Whitmeyer.

You are complicit in the murders of American citizens in broad daylight.

You are complicit in unleashing an army of untrained, unrestrained, wannabe cops.

Human beings are rotting in detention centers here, being treated like animals, including little children.

I don't want my mayor supporting the abduction of people in my city, whether they are citizens or not.

Having masked unidentified agents snatching people, including on their private property, is insane.

And you are responsible.

Fight back.

Tell dementia Don, Stephen Miller, and that dog killer lady to get out of our city and tell Governor Abbott, thanks so much for giving our voter data to the Trump administration.

You need to stand with the people, the people of this city.

Lindsay Williams.

To be followed by Jay Boost Bustos.

Hi everybody.

My name is Lindsay Williams and president of Super Neighborhood 64 and 88, and I'm here to talk about the Union Pacific Norfolk Southern merger.

Thank you to Mayor Whitmeyer and Council members Castillo and Ramirez for their strong letters to the Surface Transportation Board protecting Houston.

Here's what happened.

Union Pacific initially claimed only operational changes and no additional trains while soliciting letters of support through template campaigns before their application was even filed on December 19th.

On January 16th, the Surface Transportation Board rejected their application, citing major deficiencies, and our super neighborhoods letter requesting a full system evaluation helped guide that decision.

And let's make sure Houston voice is heard with a full weight of counsel.

Next Jay Bustos.

To be followed by Alandra Andrade.

Hello everyone.

Where is y'all's voices?

Where is y'all's outrage to this?

Are y'all not residents to Houston?

To this city, to this state, or even to this nation.

Y'all are supposed to be leaders, people that are supposed to be the uh best reflection of our cities, of the residents here.

We've just recently seen horrific acts done by ICE.

I mean, not just last year, but even just for this year.

Whitmeyer, you as well.

I've just recently announced that you're trying to run for a second term.

You just said, and I quote, I think it takes that long at least to correct some of the mistakes that gets us back on on the right path.

Do you honestly think that's supposed to take that long for you to take actions, what you could do right now?

Help protect the citizens here, help protect the residents, document it undocumented.

Your time has expired.

Thank you, Nick.

Nicholas Ron Hale Jr.

To be followed by Maya Fletcher by some of you may be aware that this Friday, seven states will recognize Fred Koromatsu Day.

If you're unfamiliar with Fred Koramatsu, Koromatsu versus the United States is a Supreme Court decision that many people who are concerned with jurisprudence and fairness and civil rights often point to as a stain on the American Republic.

Fred Koramatsu defied being herded up because he was Japanese American, because he was no longer part of the protected class of Americans.

After Gnome versus Verdugo, I am a member of a suspect class simply because of the way I look.

ICE does not operate under the same procedures that even HPD operates under.

When we cooperate with them, we are cooperating with an institution that does not follow the same rule of order that we have come to expect.

People who look like me should not be people of suspicion.

I have worked in higher education for 25 years.

I had one student self-deport after his father was abducted by ICE.

I have another student who came to my office in tears because she cries every night fearing she will be abducted.

Thank you.

To be followed by Jocelyn Soto.

I live in District C and I love this city.

I believe in the importance of community, and I've been a part of this one my whole life.

Recently, many of my friends, most of them citizens, all of them legal residents, have told me that they are worried for their safety, that they're at risk in public because of the actions of ICE.

I'm asking you to protect the people I care about.

Please protect the residents of this city by asking HPD not to collaborate with ICE.

No one in this city should have to fear being in public.

They are members of our community, and if they cannot participate fully in our community, that impoverishes all of us.

Make this city safe by protecting its people from the actions of ICE, not by collaborating with them.

Thank you.

Alandra Andrade.

I don't care if you're speaking up, you're not doing enough.

Okay?

What do you that feeling you look in the mirror, you gag?

I feel that too.

And I teach other people that too.

And this is the age of the internet.

I don't care where you think I'm from.

I was born here.

I don't care where you send me.

This is the age of the internet.

I'm still gonna keep on posting every single face here.

You're all complicit and sick.

This is community, these are your neighbors.

These are the people that serve you your fucking McDonald's with a smile on their face when you underpay them.

And they're so fucking nice to you.

They still say thank you.

They still say, please.

These are your neighbors.

Stop fucking saying there was a smile on your face.

I see you.

You're disgusting.

You disgust me, you disgust us.

You're your you are our leaders.

We elected you.

We respect you out of fear.

But what's wrong with you?

I hope you can sleep.

Thanks.

Aubrey Contreras.

Ruth Hoffman Locke.

No?

Yeah, son.

Kenneth Noblaza.

Mayor Woodmeyer.

You've confirmed that HPD officers are instructed to turn over individuals with ICE warrants that the agency jurisdictions to that agency's jurisdiction in accordance to state law.

But I'd like to remind you that some of these warrants are administrative warrants generated by ICE itself, an agency that's been instructed to get creative to increase its arrests and have shown its willingness to violate the law.

You've also said that speaking out against immigration policies elicits some response from the same response from the federal government that Minneapolis has received.

Though I respect your concerns, giving in to Trump's intimidation tactics is just as harmful.

Renee Good and Alex Petty stood up against ICE.

And in solidarity, so should we.

Thank you.

Oh, that was you.

Okay.

Gregory Mellon.

To be followed by Dale Story.

If you say you love freedom, but don't care if it applies to everyone, then what you actually love is privilege.

When it's election time, politicians like yourselves love to tell Houston's diversity has the source of its strength.

But now that you're in office, you're refusing to protect the very immigrant communities you are so eager to court during elections.

That's not leadership.

That's cowardice.

And your silence right now, it's not neutral.

Your silence is an endorsement of what ICE is doing to the people you're supposed to be serving.

Your inaction is an endorsement.

Your cooperation is an endorsement.

The city continues to share information and collaborate to put families directly in ICE's crosshairs.

Stop hiding behind claims of we're just following the law.

I have three minutes.

Your time has expired.

I was confirmed for three minutes.

Thank you.

That's it.

Next, Dale Story.

And my father would face substantial fines and even a prison term.

The truth is that ICE is a fascist organization, only answerable to a commander-in-chief who quotes Hitler in describing migrants as vermin poisoning the blood of our country.

ICE is bringing the war home.

An ICE applicant was quoted as saying, I learned all these skills in the Army.

Smash and grabs, site exploitation, and never got to use them.

So I'm here to do what I learned.

The Gospel of Matthew provides guidance.

I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.

The truth, there's no such guidance today.

So this mild mannered 75-year-old retired professor is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

My message to ICE is get the hell out of our city, our state, and our country.

Thank you.

Frida Adami.

Are you Friedo?

To be followed, followed by Vianna Trong.

Good evening.

My name is Frida Adame.

I am undocumented, and I've refused to be the humanized in the city that I call home.

Right now, across the United States, immigrants' communities are being terrorized.

Families are being hunted and treated like criminals.

People are getting killed by ice.

Five-year-olds are being detained.

ICE is tearing gas and six-month-old babies.

This is inhumane.

And elected officials keep doing nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

And that is unacceptable.

Houston needs to do better because let me remind you Houston is not innocent to this.

HPD is collaborating with ICE, and that collaboration is terrorizing our communities.

Workers are afraid to drive to work.

Families are afraid to call 911.

How do you sleep at night knowing what is happening across this country and still choosing inaction?

Must we wait until those things happen here in Houston into one is of your until it's one of your own, your neighbor, your friend, your family member.

As far as I'm concerned, if you don't condemn it, you condone it.

You have power, you have a platform, use it, do something.

I also put three minutes.

I mean, I'm a Vietnamese American US citizen born from two refugees from the Vietnam War.

But today I'm here to speak about my father that got deported two weeks ago.

His next check-in date was supposed to be February 5th, 2026.

But on January 11th, he got called into the immigration office and got wrongfully detained early.

I thought I had one more month from him.

But now he was ripped away from his three-year-old daughter.

But today I'm here to ask the city to take a stand to oppose deceptive immigration enforcement practices for HPD to limit cooperation with ice where possible and to protect immigrant families who call this city home.

And this is not a political debate.

This is a civil rights issue that is still happening today.

It would be easy to mock your inoxin.

It will be very easy to see each of your staring faces at me.

And at this city.

And to see you despite the inac despite the violence that is going on in this country.

But I came here to be serious with Meyer.

I came here to be serious with you.

I came here because I want to see this city free from ice.

I want to see the city liberated.

I want to see the smiling faces of each and every one of these people in this goddamn room to be free from ice.

Your time has expired.

And with the seriousness with Meyer.

Get us the fuck out of Houston.

Thank you.

And it's pleased collaboration with ICE.

Thank you.

Your time's up.

One more thing.

Taylor Brown.

Perry McCarey.

To be followed by Ismael Melendez.

Hi.

So I personally experienced a lot of confusion over what the law requires as far as the police and ICE.

So I would love to just outline my understanding of that situation, and then if you feel I have something wrong, maybe we can talk about it, and maybe that helps everyone.

So per SB4, this law that passed in 2017.

If the city or HPD uh passes any policy that prohibits or materially limits the enforcement of immigration laws, then uh they might get the dookie suit out of them.

Um and you guys don't have dookie to spare.

So this law, SP4, does not compel HPD to seek out undocumented people.

It doesn't compel HPD to carry out ICE operations on their behalf, and it does not it does not compel uh police officers to even ask the immigration status of people that they have in their custody.

Uh and in fact, if you're a witness to a crime, you're reporting a crime, or you're a victim of a crime, legally they cannot ask you your status.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Now, this law does require, however, that law enforcement uh comply with what's called an immigration detainer request, and they are also known as immigration warrants.

They are used sort of in conjunction with one another.

And I think it's important to note that these immigration warrants are not the same as a judicial warrant.

They do not, on their own, make a reason to arrest someone.

They do not provide probable cause.

Let me ask you to wind it up.

We're familiar with the law.

Right.

Thank you.

Not just for you, but for the people behind me.

Thank you, ma'am.

Um, can I read the part of the law that says a law enforcement agency that has custody of a person subject to an immigration detainer request issued by U.S.

ICE shall comply with, honor, and fulfill any request made in the detainer.

Um and I'm gonna read it one more time.

A law enforcement agency that has custody of a person subject to an immigration detainer request shall comply with that request.

Okay.

I think it's important for the public to understand as well as for our law enforcement officers to understand that the compliance with detainers in this law is contingent on already having custody of a person.

Lawful detention as defined in this law.

Lawful detention means the detention of an individual for the investigation of a criminal offense.

That's from this law.

Here's some things that are not criminal offenses.

Running a red light, not having a license plate, waving officers down to report a crash, non-moving violations, not wearing a seatbelt, trespassing in the park, past operation hours.

These not safety traffic stops have come up before.

And I understand that it is police practice to use these stocks as a pretext for discovering.

Okay, please cooperate with us.

We have a long document today.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next speaker, please.

Carlos Ismael Melindez.

What they have to do in order to be complying with the law, and I think some transparency measures follow.

Thank you, ma'am.

Isaiah Lopez.

Stephanie Padilla.

Angel Rojas.

To be followed by Davis DeRusman.

Houston is my home, and I worry for the future of this city.

Instead of investing in our future, you're investing in militarizing our cities.

We're flooded with stories of how violent immigrants are, but they couldn't be more opposite.

They come here to make a better life for themselves, to dream there are our co-workers, our neighbors, our nurses, our teachers, our street food vendors, and yet you treat them like garbage.

They come to dream and enjoy the rich culture that we have.

Lacking documentation is not a violent crime, and it hasn't been treated such throughout history.

It is a civil offense and should be treated as such.

As one man, all I can do is ask you to listen as a Houstonian, as an American citizen, and as a part of the next generation.

Please stand with us.

The people are what make this city Houston.

Thank you.

Davis DeRusman.

Hi, good evening.

Uh, my name is Davis Mendoza de Ruzman, and I'm here today to talk about non-safety traffic stops.

And as a candidate for Justice of the Peace in West Harris County from the Gallery to Katie, I know a lot about traffic offenses.

I'd like to ask the audience and even those around the horseshoe to raise your hand if you've ever been pulled over for a traffic stop.

Now keep your hand raised if it wasn't for speeding or running a red light or stop sign, but for a non-safety issue like expired registration or a broken tail light.

Yeah, what you're seeing matches the data.

Over the of the top five traffic offenses in our county court last year, only about one in three cases involved dangerous driving.

Nearly two-thirds of all cases were paperwork violations like registration, licensing, or insurance.

And I know what y'all might be thinking, but Davis, HPD already ended its one stop a day quota last year.

But HPD's transparency hub data shows that after that policy change, traffic stops didn't go down, they actually went up.

The share of non-safety stops stayed the same, and black and brown Houstonians continue to be disproportionately pulled over.

So I'd like to close by asking even those around the horse true if you're one of the seventy-eight percent of Americans who believe law enforcement should prioritize murder and violent offenses, and raise your hand if you attending non-safety traffic stops will help them better achieve that goal.

Next, please.

So it's my understanding you guys are elected officials, is that correct?

So as such, uh I just want to remind you guys that we Houstonians elected you guys.

And the message is pretty simple right now.

Get ice out of Houston.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I'm asking for the city to provide funding for homeless people who seek shelter at my residential care facility, which is across from Memorial Southwest Hospital.

When homeless people are released from the emergency center, they can't they come to our facility and obstacles say.

Fortunately, I submitted proposals in response to the city's REI to provide residential cash services.

I PS some of the homeless people emergency room to avoid the time has expired.

I'll say Sherlyn Temperatures.

Thank you.

Next Maria Del Carmen.

Maria Del Carmen, Medina D.

Gonzalez.

No.

Jason Evans.

To be followed by Carrie Johnson.

Good evening, everyone.

Uh to the mayor, city council.

Preface my comments by saying that we're hope local one two three, and if there's anyone that wants to sit with us with the solid waste workers, we're more than prepared to sit with you on a one-on-one basis.

But we're not here to be adversary pointing your fingers.

Public perception is a solid waste and their residents.

It's not picking up on their routes.

We meet with the director every month, but even him having his resources are unlimited to him.

There's only so much that he can do.

So that's why we're here today to make sure that the solid waste workers' voices are heard.

And again, we'd like to speak with each one of them want to speak with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The last speaker, please.

So hopefully we can come up with some ideas and do a little better with it.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Johnson.

Council member Ramirez.

Oh, present.

Council Member Maris.

Thank you, Mayor.

I have a procedural motion.

Move to suspend the rules to add Rain Eatman behind or after Michelle Egenbohr.

Motion made a second.

Second.

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Uh good afternoon, Mr.

Mayor, City Council members.

Uh my name is Kerry Johnson.

I've been with the city roughly about two and a half years.

Please don't hold that against me.

Um just real quick, I want to get to the metrics of the situation.

When I started this job, we work in four tens.

New administration, new leadership, move to five eights, five tens, and shortly after that now.

We're working six tens.

Um and at this particular juncture, we're still struggling to get the trash up.

Recently we were giving more trucks.

To this date, 22 of those 50 trucks are in outside services.

Basically, it requires more in order for us to do our job more.

And we're getting paid less, and we have less manpower.

We're driving more, we're putting more on the trucks, we're putting more strain on the trucks, more stress on the trucks.

Everything is requires more.

And this administration, our leadership, don't have a problem with asking us to do more.

I have a six-year-old son that I only see on the weekends.

Working six days a week makes that hard.

I see him maybe Sunday every now and again.

So with that being said, there's no balance right now.

It's work, work, work.

Sometimes work 13 hours, sometimes work 12 hours.

Just recently, we're working seven days a week.

Now we're making the money during overtime, but that money doesn't go towards our pension, doesn't go to our vacation time, doesn't go towards sick time.

So the money that we're making basically goes back towards Texas.

I work 80 hours inside of 80 hours.

That means I work the whole month inside of two weeks.

I'm averaging 90 hours, 100 hours, under 20 hours.

Just a struggle to get this trash up.

Very good.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Russell Harrison.

Residents need communication, need to communicate.

Drivers are often approached with negative comments by citizens.

Often they are in the wrong.

The rules are to make sure that solid waste and everyone works at their best.

And basically, we just want our department that get follow the rules and regulations as well as the citizens do too.

And we had ran a petition for solid waste drivers to sign.

We all signed them in a couple of days.

And we are standing all together and need more resources.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor.

City Council.

Um want to thank you so much for what you've done this past year, um, improving our department.

Um we are still having multiple problems.

Uh Northeast Center in 2025 had multiple break-ins.

Um thousands of dollars worth of equipment and uh tools were stolen um from our mechanics who have to pay for their tools out of pocket.

They have not yet recovered from that.

Um, let's see.

I'm trying to get all this in one fell swoop.

Are we still having problems with PPE?

We're not getting the equipment that we need for our personal safety um in a timely manner.

Uh everything from boots, um gloves, um, our boots are getting nails in them, and they're getting the chemicals from the transfer center into the boots, deeming them worthless.

It's getting into our feet.

Um we um were told by um retired uh um retired uh solid waste um by um Mr.

Hick, Mr.

Dix, long time ago.

Um your time has expired.

Have y'all uh talked to your president of hope?

Yes, we have.

We we've discussed this.

I have not heard from him.

I am speaking to your board next week.

Uh so we need to continue the line of communication.

Okay, because you know we have a lot of people that have been working for the city in cooperation with us that are not permanent employees, and that's going on up to six years, including Mr.

Edward Johnson on the hot team, he's working with us, and we do need these people to make permanent.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Craig Senior.

Good evening, everyone.

We always hear from the leadership that the workers are the experts, which I feel that's right.

So with that being said, appreciate you coming out and getting in one of the trucks.

We need more to do that.

So you all understand what we deal with on a daily basis.

We also need to make sure that we're educating the citizens more on uh trash being picked up the proper way.

Know that we supposed to be picking up eight cubic yards or less.

We need that to be enforced more into the public.

Also, I came and spoke with you all like seven months ago, pertaining to a city ordinance to get the cars off the street so it'll be safer for us to maneuver through the neighborhoods to give the citizens the proper services that they deserve.

So we need cooperation, not just with you all, but we need it from the public as well.

Have y'all made a decision on what we're gonna do pertaining to that city ordinance?

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you for coming forward.

Uh you make one really good observation that I think we really need to highlight and put some emphasis behind, and that is uh when property owners are putting more than the eight cubic yards of heavy trash and tree waste out on the curb.

Uh many times that's done by contractors, and these contractors are coming out, they're gutting the home, they're tearing down the fence or whatever they're doing, and they're putting all this yard waste on the front curb.

And then they expect the solid waste department to pick it up.

But it's not holding those property owners accountable.

And it's slowing up their their routes, which pushes everything behind.

So in J City, we have this private crew that goes out and tries to help with the heavy trash and treeways, but as that crew is even going out and seeing these piles, they're way over the amount that they need to be.

So as you said, I think one of the things we need to do is have better communication with the property owners on what is allowable and have heftier consequences for those who do not abide by that ordinance.

And so communication is key.

Yes, and I think we have to do a better job in communicating, especially when it comes to this issue.

So I want to thank you for coming forward.

Right.

We're not here to bash anybody.

I wrote out on one of the trucks several months ago, and I saw the issue with uh cars parked on the street.

Yes.

Uh one of the things we put out, and I think a couple of other council members put it out too is asking the residents not to park on the streets on the day that they have the the garbage pickup.

And I think that's certainly something we can try and communicate with the citizens again because you know I it was easy for me to tell that it would be a much more uh smoother process if there weren't as many cars out on the streets to be able to pick them up and you'd avoid damages and everything else.

And I think there's a lot of things we can communicate with the public to try and make y'all's job easier and more efficient to work.

And and I I'll certainly commit to doing that, and I think most everybody else will as well.

And if I can speak on a situation with myself, I must I'm a self-loader operator.

Situation I've had in a neighborhood which makes this a big deal, is I had a citizen mad because their trash wasn't picked up.

Try to get on the truck with me.

Yes.

So how are we supposed to defend ourselves?

We don't have nothing to defend ourselves other than a two-way radio.

These people are mad because of their trash not being picked up when they want it picked up, but they're taking the anger out on us out there.

So what are we supposed to do?

That helps us because if their cars are out the way, we're no longer pulling up, blowing a horn for them to come outside.

You know yourself, everybody in this building knows.

People work on the weekends or whatever, they're tired, they don't want to come outside and move a vehicle, and they worked all day.

So now that's situation where now they call in your office or they call in 311.

That's an SR.

Now we got to go back to that same address.

You see what I mean?

So it it's it's a constant problem throughout this whole city, everywhere we go.

And we with this being put in place, we would not be the only ones that would benefit with this.

You got the police and fire.

When they go into the neighborhood, they're trying to get to whatever they need to get to.

If cause are double fault, how can they save somebody?

You know when when a stroke victim has a stroke, seconds count.

When when they can't get to that person that needs that medical attention, I mean, what are they supposed to do?

It's a major issue in this city.

Kimberly Alexander.

Chidi Chupa.

To be followed by Serena Harding.

Yeah, good day, honorable uh um Mayor.

Uh new uh uh um distinguished um members of city council.

I have only one problem.

I'm a uh an operator of uh regular Tazakab in in in city, in in this city, and I uh I walk mainly at the airport.

And we are few number compared uh compared to Uber.

Now there's something that uh the airport authorities are trying to do.

If they do it, it will be very effective on us.

They want to bring Uber into our uh uh uh lot.

I want to I say our lot the the law of regular Tazikaba uh uh the other one to bring Uber into us.

I know that is very, very dangerous.

They want to bring the numeric strength of Uber to come in and push us out, so that we go out of business.

Why should we be sacrificed for in favor of Uber?

Now remember your your time has expired.

Please uh I'm I'm asking for you to help us.

Don't let them push us away from our lot.

If they push us away, we'll go jobless.

Um sleep on the bridge and eat from trash can.

Okay, thank you.

Please.

Yes, sir.

Thanks.

Sarita Harden.

She's here.

Michelle Igambore.

To be followed by Rain Eatman.

Go out there and find them.

Half the workers find us.

Five workers.

You pick and choose for your rules or speed.

Let them speak.

Let them see.

Last time I came, I stated the law.

How intelligence agencies cannot create and enforce their own private categories.

Today I'm here to explain how this category was created by the Bureau and how it's continued.

Outside the legal authority and statutory limits defined by Congress and the executive branch.

In 2001, FBI Director Robert Mueller issued an internal directive instructing field offices to embed a pre-criminal intelligence screening category inside the national crime information center.

And specifically inside the violent gang terrorist organization file.

Which, if you guys didn't know, is a violent persons file inside the national crime system.

Your time has expired.

Thank you, ma'am.

Can I continue?

No, ma'am.

That's we're on a very tight over a hundred people.

When what the FBI speaking now what the FBI is doing in this category gets exposed, it's gonna bring a great disgrace to our nation.

Okay Rain Eatman.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

First, I want to thank Mayor Whitmeyer for opening up the Northeast Multi-Service Center during the warming center issue over this past weekend.

Um it's very hard for that center to be open in the first place, but I'm very disappointed in the fact that you overlooked an issue that was brought up in a press conference regarding the concerns around ice.

They weren't concerned about whether or not they would get turned away.

They were concerned that they were going to be used as targets for going to public unopened spaces and not be protected by their mayor.

I understand that this is a very hard job, and I understand that you have a lot to balance, but if you're looking for suggestions on how to actually handle this issue with ice, may I suggest you look at examples like Mayor Frey of Minneapolis, Mayor Brandon of Chicago, Mayor Bomdani of New York.

They've all done the work to make sure that they uplift their communities first.

So if you are actually active in the conference, the U.S.

Conference of Mayors, may I suggest you speak to your colleagues and your fellow mayors and figure out how to actually stand up to a bully?

Because that's the only issue that we're dealing with with Governor Greg Abbott, then I can guarantee you that you have a cohort of mayors who will be willing to give you their playbook of how to actually fire.

Hello, good evening.

My name is Monica Hatcher.

I live in Spring Branch.

On Sunday, I was watching Meet the Press, that show, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was there defending the shooting death of an American citizen citizen in Minnesota.

And he was blaming their leaders for creating what he called a climate of violence around ICE operations.

He contrasted that with Texas, praising our state and local law enforcement for cooperating with ICE.

I don't know if he was right about all of Texas, but it was he was right about Houston, because our police department goes above and beyond the law, what is required by the law to hold undocumented persons for ICE, regardless of any criminal charges.

Given all the abuses of human and constitutional rights that we see ICE committing against both undocumented and citizens, this should really concern all of us.

I'm a Houston resident, and I'm asking you to end this practice.

Our city should not go beyond what the law requires.

In ways that put families at risk and erode trust in our public safety system.

Thank you.

Stephanie Padilla.

To be followed by Randall Callanan.

Amen.

I'm Steffi with IYT, immigrating youth Texas.

I'm not here to ask for reassurance.

I'm here to name what's happening.

Our immigrant communities are living in fear, not imagined fear, not political fear, lived actual fear.

I don't expect you to understand in your posh home in River Oaks, but this is reality in immigrant, undocumented communities.

Parents are afraid to send their children to school.

Students are organizing walkouts, disrupting education.

Families are avoiding shelters during freezes.

Children are watching their communities be profiled, stopped, detained, and asked and asking us, me, a mother of three, why no one in the city of Houston is protecting them.

At the same time, the city tells us undocumented families to come forward for help while accepting funding, allowing enforcement activities in our region, our region, and issuing statements that contradict one another.

The contradiction is dangerous.

It doesn't create safety, it creates confusion, silence, and terror.

We are watching other cities become headlines after leadership is ignored.

I urge you to reach out to me.

Randall Callan.

Thank you.

Randall Callanan.

I'm a following girl.

Camille Breaux.

Jeff Reese.

Brian Halligan.

Haley Rogers.

To be followed by Anthony Hubbard.

Alex Pretty, Renee Nicole Gregg, Keith Porter, say their names.

Their murders are horrific and disgusting, but they're not surprising.

ICE administration is quite literally murdering American citizens in broad daylight on American soil.

ICE isn't about protecting communities.

It's not about protecting this country.

It is a vehicle for fake violence and oppression.

If the admin is now the new Germany, Texas is its Poland.

ICE is kidnapping children and sending them here.

Liam Ramos is in Delhi, Texas at an ICE detention facility.

Have you no shame?

Every single one of you on this body needs to have political courage to put your positions, your reputation, and quite frankly, your lives on the line, like Renee and Alex did for their communities.

This administration will not stop.

They will continue to come here.

Your time has been.

He will come here after he terrorizes every single Democratic state.

Democratic city, and he will start doing it.

And we fucking not cowards.

To be followed by Kelly Sadler.

Where is opposition?

Houston is the number one city in this nation for ICE detentions and deportations.

We all here because we are not seeing opposition.

Your solution regards selling out our community members, our friends, and our families.

We're not seeing any peace here.

We've seen a lack of maybe tension in the streets, but we've seen our families and friends victimized.

That's not peace.

That's not justice.

I'm asking you and everyone here to do something.

Anything, really.

People are afraid.

The fear shows out in anger and loudness.

But people all afraid of what ICE is doing to our to our community.

Do something.

What will it take?

How many voices do you need to hear before you do something?

Kelly Sadler.

Hi.

And that is, again, the two uh interest groups, core civic and geo group.

Um PD uh helps make these arrests possible.

That's not law enforcement.

Uh that's human trafficking.

We have a choice.

We can we can cut all contracts with ICE.

We can ban ICE from our jails, our schools, and our streets.

We the people of Houston are not a client list for the private prison industrial complex.

We are your constituents, and we vote.

And what core civic and geo group want should not come first.

What the people of Houston want should come first.

Thank you.

Nora Pears.

To be followed by Arandi Travino.

Hi, my name's Nora Pierce.

I'm a member of the immigrant justice campaign for the University of Houston Young Democratic Socialists of America.

You, Mayor Whitmeyer, claim that we as a city aren't in turmoil, but I think it's more accurate to say that you are not in turmoil.

After the multiple televised murders perpetrated in Minneapolis by DHS agents these last few weeks, many of us in the immigrant justice space were stunned.

Something that stuck that struck me was that the mayor of Minneapolis after the murder of Renee Nicole Good said this.

To ICE get the fuck out of Minneapolis.

It feels so simple, especially af after having seen the DHS agent killer from multiple angles in broad daylight.

Yet I cannot imagine a scenario in which my mayor would ever make a statement so strongly advocating for my humanity.

You in an interview on January 7th said you are, quote, sorry about dividing families.

Is blaming those families who are terrified of losing loved ones of their children having no one to pick them up after school how you say you're sorry?

We deserve local government that clearly and enthusiastically is trying to fight back against the Trump administration.

Because we deserve a city that we are all included in and not at risk of being ripped away from all we know to hit a political checkbox for Republican Party.

If you refuse to play politics, get the fuck out of the game.

Not fall in line with fascist federal orders.

Thank you.

Now, mayor, you stated last week that no one could have seen what has happened with ICE coming, but I have to say many of us did see it coming, and that's the reason why we're speaking up and why so many people are frustrated, frankly.

So I'm asking you today to please consider what may be to come.

If you won't listen to us, I ask you to at least listen to the words of the president when he calls citizens terrorist when he says that he wants to take away birthright citizenship, when he says that he wants to take away um naturalized citizenship, and that he wants to create a new world order.

Thank you for Thomas Sutherland.

To be followed by Tuan Wien.

The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretty by federal agents are particularly heinous examples of the breadth and scope of the violations of law perpetrated by ICE and Border Patrol under this administration.

Renee and Alex were law-abiding citizens.

Their only crime was publicly opposing and documenting the presence and actions of federal agents in their neighborhoods.

However, we must also remember that these are just two examples of the kind of outrageous and violent behavior that we have seen from ICE and border patrol officials.

We have seen car windows smashed, we have seen people dragged from their vehicles and brutalized, and we have seen a car with an infant tear gassed.

ICE's very presence in our communities is a danger to our communities and to the well-being of our neighbors.

Now get off your phone.

Yeah, get off your phone.

People are talking to you.

You answered to us, not the other way around.

You're job is to be over the people.

I I would like to say that the mayor is right that Houston is a model for the rest of the country.

And that's because once we've defeated these aggressive attacks on blue states, blue cities, everywhere is going to look exactly like Houston, with the complacent mayor and basically a shadow war against our people every single day.

This is the real model they're looking for.

They don't want the real confrontations.

That's why they sent Greg Brevino away.

This is what's coming to every single city, and we have Mayor Whitmeyer to think for it.

The future of America, low-intensity warfare against every immigrant in this city.

I'd like to speak to some of the council members that have time and time again said that there's nothing to be done.

Imagine fundraising $500,000 for your campaign just to come to city council and say, we're talking to HPD.

There's nothing to be done.

It's illegal, and Greg Abbott is going to come after me.

Who cares about Greg Abbott?

Could you imagine being scared when a father was taken away from his family on New Year's Eve?

Could you imagine being scared when a mother got bullets put into her face?

Could you imagine being scared when a nurse had four bullets put into them?

Could you imagine seeing all of this and sitting in front of a constituent who's crying to your face and be worried about Greg Abbott coming to prosecute you?

Your time has expired.

The best we can all hope for is an asterisk in this city.

Jessica Dugan.

To be followed by Illy Montoya Reeves.

Everybody's had the same one except for that little more.

Excuse me.

I didn't order.

My list is really thick.

Everybody else's is two pages.

I'm Jesse Dugan, District C resident, member of Houston C VPE, and member of Houston DSA.

Tonight I'm asking Houston City Council to take immediate concrete steps to support an orderly end to the HISD takeover.

That's what this uh that's what these papers are about.

Everyone gets the same one.

Uh in there you will see that uh, and if everyone wants to get their phones out, there will be a sick out, uh, an HISD sick out for all the kids uh to walk off campus February 12th, 2026.

And there is a board of managers meeting that night at 5 p.m.

So if you guys would like, you can speak out uh at that board of managers meeting.

We'd really love to see you there.

Uh, we're trying to get as many elected officials to come as possible.

Uh another thing that's on that list is uh I have four action items.

Come speak out, call the board of managers before the council, uh, because there's a lot that we need answers to.

Um the other thing is uh have community leaders come uh to the table with business leaders to talk about uh Mike Miles' exit plan so we can actually pass a bond.

Uh without trust, we will not be able to pass a bond.

I was supposed to get one minute, ma'am.

I I understand that.

I'm having a new time has expired.

Like I said, everyone has a two pager.

I'll be back to talk more about this.

I know it's a lot of information.

Thank you for being here.

Uh I just wanted to say Ali Montoya Reeves.

The mother of Emmanuel Valentella Garcia, Autistic Teen, who was found by HPD after he wrote only for them to call ice on him instead of reuniting him with his mother.

So every week I will bring you an article about autistic children in the world.

Thank you, ma'am.

Roland Curry.

Joseph Omari.

To be followed by Aubrey Contreras.

I'm not trying to uh buck the system uh uh beat the system uh break the system or bank system, but somebody's corrupted the system all the way around me.

I never experienced so much government and corruption.

Um advised and reporting to the Mary and City Council member, my company movie script serapor plantation was stolen up both of my email address.

I also advised the movie script to report patients to have to the office and take turn general office.

Uh by city council here's county attorney, along with TikTok and general office.

I'm a victim uh to his harassment.

Uh the stolen process stolen housing about my uh was a house case also was stolen out of my email account, thought about social security accounts have been referred to the DA office or take charge of general office because those are criminal cases had to be resolved or reported.

It was jobly reported to DE office.

Your time has expired.

Uh I also gotta protect my my my movie script because some people try to write around it and make a movie like mine, and they have the same theme.

I'm just gonna advisor Aubrey Contreras.

Hello, my name is Aubrey Contreras.

I am a member of the ICS Collaborative.

I'm concerned about the current city action, particularly the cooperation of city police with ICE.

These are taxpayer dollars that are being used federal and local.

It's sad how we currently don't have a say in what those funds are used for.

Currently, immigrants are being detained in jail while actual violent criminal criminals remain unaccountable.

The president is convicted, a felon, and suspected of pedophile.

He's in the White House.

We want to see a commitment from the city to stand up against violent actions in our city.

And aren't and we want it in writing.

Honestly, I shouldn't even be here right now.

Not because I'm a just a kid, but because I can because I'm scared for our community and our city.

Mayor John Whitmeyer.

I want I understand that you want to help, but you can't have all the answers.

Please listen to kids if you want to listen to the adults.

We are in the future.

And will we please have a moment of silence?

Thank you.

Very good, Mr.

Complete Journalist.

We stand recessed to 9 o'clock in the morning.

January 28th, 2026.

Item one, request for mayor for confirmation of the appointment of Fatima Wajat to position eight of the board of directors of reinvestment zone one.

Item two, request for mayor for confirmation of the appointment of Fatima Wajat to position eight of the St.

George Place Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors.

Item three, request for mayor for confirmation of the reappointment of two my win of position one of the board of directors of reinvestment zone 20.

Item four, request for mayor for confirmation of the reappointment of to my win to position one of the Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority.

Board of Directors.

For approval of the 2026 operations and maintenance budget for the Lake Houston Facilities Project.

Item 7, recommendation from the Director of Houston Public Works.

For approval of the 2026 operations and maintenance budget for the Lake Livingston Project.

Item 8, recommendation from the Director of Houston Public Works for approval of the 2026 operations and maintenance budget for the loose bio system project.

Item nine, recommendation from the director of Houston Public Works for approval of the 2026 operations and maintenance budget for the Trinity River Conveyance Project.

Item 10 has been pulled and will not be considered.

Item 11, recommendation from the police police chief for extension of injury on duty leave for senior police officer Nick D.

Baines Jr.

Item 12, recommendation from the Director of Houston Public Works that Houston City Council accept the work and authorized final payment, if any, of the contract with Ray Tech Construction Resources Inc.

Item 13, ordinance appropriating 1,732,121 out of airports improvement fund.

Approving and authorizing purchase and sell agreement between SVEA Industrial Holdings LLC.

Item 14, ordinance approving and authorizing submission of application for grant assistance to Federal Emergency Management Agency for FY 2024 assistance to firefighters grant.

Item 15 ordinance appropriating 740,000 for planned data center refresh project.

Item 16 ordinance approving and authorizing first amendments to contracts with all Terra Engineering Inc.

Alpha Testing Inc.

doing business as UES Professional Solutions 44 LLC Associated Testing Laboratories Inc.

A Villas Engineering Corporation Braun Intertech Corporation ECS Southwest LLP DAE and Associates Limited doing business as Geotech Engineering and Testing HVJ Associates Inc.

Kleinfelder Inc.

Nino and more Geotechnical and Environmental Science Sciences Consultants.

Paradigm Consultants Inc.

doing business as CMT Technical Services.

QC Laboratories Inc.

Robber Kistner Inc.

Terracon Consultants Inc.

and Tulanae Wong Engineers Inc.

for professional materials and engineering services.

Item 17, ordinance appropriating 378,060.

Approving and authorizing a contract with Smith and Company Architects Inc.

Item 18, ordinance appropriating 186,559 dollars.

Approving and authorizing contract with Powers Brown Powers Brown Architectural NA LLC.

Item 19 ordinance appropriating 1,540,000.

To professional architectural services contract with Paige Sutherland Page LLP.

Item 20, ordinance amending ordinance number 2018-977.

Approving and authorizing second amendment to contract with Brown and Root Industrial Services, LLC.

Item 21, Ordinance Amending Ordinance Number 2025-7 related to contract with VNS Construction Company LLC.

Item 22, ordinance amending ordinance number 2025-693 related to contract with VNS Construction Company LLC.

Item 23, ordinance amending ordinance number 2025-317 related to contract with Texcota Enterprises LLC.

Item 24, ordinance amending ordinance number 2025-473 related to contract with Texcota Enterprises LLC.

Item 25, ordinance amending ordinance number 2014-534 related to contract with air products and chemicals inc.

Item 26 ordinance authorizing grant application to the state of Texas, Office of Governor, Public Safety Office, Office, Criminal Justice Division, Juvenile Justice and Truancy Prevention Grant Program for the Juvenile Case Manager Program Truancy Prevention Initiative.

Item 27, Ordinance Amending Ordinance Number 2022-867 related to the contract with Harris County Department of Education for Case for Kids Program.

Item 28, ordinance approving and authorizing interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Parks Board, LGC, Inc.

Item 29, ordinance approved and authorizing contract with Houston Galveston Area Council.

Two fund continuation of towing goal program.

Item 20, item 30, ordinance renewing the establishing the north side of the 2600 and 2700 blocks of Wheeler Street between Live Oak Street and Delano Street within the city of Houston, Texas, as a special minimum lot size block.

Item 31, ordinance renewing the establishment of the north side of the 1900 block of Lauderdale Street between Staffordshire Boulevard and Cambridge Street within the City of Houston, Texas, as a special special minimum building line block.

Item 32, ordinance appropriating $2,648,267.

Approving and authorizing a first amendment to the professional engineering services contract between the City of Houston and RSNH Inc.

Item 33, ordinance appropriating $9,281,764.83.

Awarding a contract to Grava LLC.

Item 34 ordinance relating to the fiscal affairs of St.

George Place Redevelopment Authority on behalf of reinvestment zone number one, City of Houston, Texas.

Approving fiscal year 2026 operating budget for the authority and fiscal years 2026 through 2030 capital improvements budget for the zone.

This item was tagged by Councilmember Pollard and with item 14 on the agenda of January 21st.

Item 35, ordinance relating to the fiscal affairs of Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority on behalf of reinvestment zone number 20.

Approving fiscal year 2026 operating budget for the authority and the fiscal years 2026 through 2030, capital improvement plan budget for the zone.

This item was tagged by Councilmember Pollard and was Item 16 on the agenda of January 21st.

This completes the reading of the captions for the agenda of Wednesday, January 28th, 2026.

Stay tuned for the next city council session to begin at 9 a.m.

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

Thank you, Mr.

Secretary.

You're welcome, my number one council member.

The directors are rank and file working around the clock this weekend.

We uh had over a thousand individuals in the warming centers.

Mason at the emergency center, certainly did a fantastic job, but so did public works health, our first responders.

It is so impressive to see people coming to the emergency center and other locations with their sleeping bags.

We open all of the warming centers.

People were fed, protected.

And I really want to thank Houstonians for following our advice in council that they take precautions and prepare.

And uh we really demonstrate that city government can work.

So I'm very pleased.

And also, it looks like friends, we're gonna have another Arctic blast about Friday that we will also have to prepare for it.

We'll not have the moisture.

So to just be bitter coats, we'll get the most vulnerable off the streets again.

Another thing, really exciting news.

I'll be participating in a press conference at two this afternoon with Houston First to announce that first robotics is agreeing to bring their convention back to Houston for the next seven years due to the expansion of the George Brown, which obviously makes me very proud since that was tough piece of legislation that allows us to use the hotel, the state share.

No cost to Houston taxpayers use state funding to double the size of the George Brown.

It will have a $500 million economic impact over the next seven years to bring these young people into Houston.

It stands for the inspiration and recognition of science and technology.

These are the brightest young people from around the world, future engineers that will help prepare Houston Industries for a bright future, but economic impact.

Thank you, Houston First.

Thank you, Chris Moore, the CEO of First Robotics, and uh it's a great statement.

I could mention other large cities that people are not having conventions in due to their bog down into construction and increasing the size of their convention centers, Dallas, Austin.

We're really benefiting, and because of the expansion of the George Brown, it's really revitalizing downtown Houston.

With that said, uh let's go to work.

Uh Mr.

Secretary, will you deal call the consent report?

Yes, sir.

Under the miscellaneous category, item 10 has been pulled and would not be considered.

Is there a motion for items one through nine and eleven?

Cast X tell you to move.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Under the accept work category, item 12 has been removed for separate consideration under the ordinances category.

The following items have not been received, but will be considered if they received before the end of the meeting.

Items 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 32.

Again, items 18 through 25 and 32.

Items removed for separate consideration.

Items 15, 27, and 28.

Again, items removed for separate consideration.

Items 15, 27, and 28.

Is there a vote on the balance?

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Items removed for separate consideration.

Is there a motion for item 12?

Cast extate a move.

Councilmember Thomas.

Councilmember Thomas.

After the vote is fine.

Yes, ma'am.

All in favor, motions made and seconded.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Councilmember Thomas.

Thank you.

Hippipparag.

Thank you, colleagues, for your support on this item.

This was a transformational project in the West Chase area of our district, which transformed and expanded streets in that area.

We invested with trees, sidewalk, street pavement.

Really grateful to the work that was done.

It was exceptional.

So shout out to Ray Tech and shout out to Shadow Lake and Royal Oaks and the communities around that that participated on the calls with Houston Public Works to get this across the finish line.

Thanks.

And you left off a shout out for Councilmember Thomas.

Oh, yeah, her too.

She's a bad girl.

Great, great leadership.

Thank you.

Next.

Item 15 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those see it after after the vote.

All in favor, say yes.

Those proposed name.

Motion passes.

Councilman Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor and colleagues.

This is another data center refresh project with our IT department that aligns with our cloud first goal and also keeps uh equipment upgraded and updated that's getting near end of life.

If you haven't been out to one of our data centers, uh I would encourage you to check check them out.

It's a very informative experience, and these projects not only support them, but also get us more to our our cloud first goal and uh look forward to seeing more of these come through the agenda.

Thank you.

Next.

Item 27 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Item 28 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Uh Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor.

This item uh with the Houston Parks Board will help facilitate the Buffalo Bayou Greenway uh trail, Austin Street to Runnels, the connector.

I know that's something a lot of folks are looking forward to to help uh connect our Bayou Greenways and look forward to the support on this item.

Thank you.

Just need a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay.

Motion passes.

Next.

Item 34 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Item 35 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

After?

Okay.

Council motion passes.

Councilmember Thomas.

Uh thank you.

I thank you, colleagues, for the support of this.

I just want to highlight TURS 20 and the exceptional work that they're doing.

We actually have almost a million dollar sidewalk project happening on Dairy Ashford from Bel Air to Beechnut.

It's near my home, so I see it every day.

Thank you.

That concludes our agenda.

Yeah, I was after the vote.

Yeah, yeah.

Uh Pop off.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to start and thank the residents of District H uh for heeding all the warnings uh with the the weather that we had this past weekend, uh staying off the roads when when possible, staying home, taking care of their neighbors and their pets, uh, and also all the the city departments that came together and really did all the work to make sure people were informed and people stayed safe.

I know uh your team kept us informed with uh daily calls and updates, and that was really appreciated.

We were able to get that information out to the public.

Um and and we we saw folks utilize the warming centers uh throughout the district and and really do what they needed to do to protect themselves in the the cold weather.

Uh this Saturday will be the Melrose Park Town Hall.

Uh it's going to be at 10 a.m.

at 1000 Canino Road at Melrose Park.

Uh it's going to be a great opportunity to come out and hear all the updates coming to that area, the work that was done last year and connect with city departments throughout uh the city and and resources and and nonprofits that will also be there to visit with neighbors at the Melrose Park Community Center.

Um in February, District H will be kicking off another Love Your Pet Month.

Uh we will be hosting uh sponsored adoptions along with sponsored pet wellness visits at BARC.

We will be working with Houston Pet Set to do mobile spade neuter spay neuters uh in the district with their mobile unit.

We're gonna be uh up in the North Shepherd Business District.

We'll be at uh second ward as well as a couple other areas with Houston Pet Set.

Um be on the lookout for information on how to sign up for those appointments for the spay neuters, and uh we'll be sharing information out on the newsletter and also on social media.

And uh we'll be sharing information out on the newsletter and also on social media.

And finally, um I do want to note, you know, as we've had a uh robust turnout at our public sessions.

Um I think it's a good opportunity to look at some of the ways that we're doing our security screening, making sure folks are getting through the line uh so that they can get into the chambers.

Um also online, our website.

It still says 5 30 p.m.

is the start time.

Uh we do need to update that to 5 p.m.

as that is now the the schedule that we have worked with um with the adoption of a permanent evening public session.

But um we had a lot of folks waiting in line as names were getting called.

Um this is a good opportunity to to look at how we're screening maybe uh expedite uh separate line for speakers that go through security.

That's only for speakers, just throwing some ideas out there.

But um as we get more and more folks that want to come and participate, um this is a good a good time to take a look at those things, our policies and our procedures for the evening sessions.

Thank you.

Because we all share your concern about our pets.

Uh I want to emphasize that BARC was on the streets and rescued 91 last count uh dogs placed them in shelters.

So uh shout out to BARC and its dedicated employees.

Next, Councilmember Davis.

Good morning, Mayor Colleagues.

I do want, don't have a lot to uh bring forth.

We are going to be having our town hall meeting coming up in February, February the 9th, and we will be at the Metropolitan Uh Multipurpose Center, and we're looking forward to having a really good turnout in regards to many of the uh department heads and expressing to the entire community uh some of our important areas.

I do want to say also in light of last night, uh I do think, Mayor, that um the opportunity for citizens to come out and speak is their citizen right, but I'd like to go on record to indicate that um, you know, the kind of manner by which this was conducted was totally to the extreme.

Um for people to disrespect not only the mayor, but even the council.

Uh I commend those council members, my fellow colleagues who went to speak to um others.

I think was admirable, it really was in order to do that.

But I just think it shows that you know, I was not on record, I was not one that supported evening sessions, but I support the process.

I support um what we do as a council.

But last night was utterly, utterly ridiculous.

And I think that's the danger.

Uh Councilmember Flickinger uh brought about amendment about doing it quarterly and to those who uh the process, you don't disrespect, in my personal opinion, you know, to give your opinion, we we may never all agree.

And most times we maybe not, we won't, but at least you can do it civil.

You can do it respectfully.

And I think last night was not appropriate conduct, and uh, and I think that's one of the dangers, and I hope it pray, and I don't use prayer lightly, and I hope and pray that in the future that we don't have to witness that kind of of um display in our council.

So I think that should be a concern for all of us, not just myself, but I thought I could not pass up the opportunity to express it because I think it's something that needs to be uh in great consideration, and it it didn't show a good light uh in my personal opinion upon an issue that is very vital.

Um I, for one, um people talk about immigration, you know.

My wife is from Columbia.

So I I I understand immigration.

Okay.

So, but I just think that that was totally unacceptable, and I hope and pray that we could do something there in the future.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Councilman Flickinger.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh today marks the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.

Uh obviously, you know, not only is this uh an impact nationally, but it's a huge impact on the Clear Lake area, uh, you know, home to the NASA uh NASA Johnson Space Center.

Um, you know, these astronauts were were not just astronauts, but they were neighbors, colleagues uh to a lot of the people down in uh the Clear Lake area.

And uh, you know, their legacy continues today, the sacrifice that uh they made.

On a happier note, uh we were uh thrilled to attend the Quasar Awards last Friday.

Uh Mayor, appreciate you coming out there as the recipient of the award.

Uh thought it was a great event.

Bayhap uh did a fantastic job putting on the event and and they continue to do really good work and bringing new economic development uh down into the the entire Houston and Galveston Bay area.

And uh just wanted to thank them.

And also uh Councilmember Davis and Councilmember Ramirez who attended as well, as long with uh Director Mackey.

So thank you for everybody coming out.

Council Hope.

I'll pass.

Council Remares.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I wanted to make the public aware that the Houston Housing Authority has undergone a rebranding.

Yesterday they voted to change their name to uh Housing Alliance HTX in an effort to move past uh some of the things that have happened there over the years.

Um that agency continues to go up and up uh largely because of the changes that have been made.

Uh Mayor, your uh installation of new board members has helped tremendously.

They've selected uh President and CEO who's who is doing a good job as well.

So I want to shout out uh the new Housing Alliance HTX and wish them good luck and support from this council.

I want to second what uh Councilmember Flickinger said about the Bayhep Quasar Awards dinner that was held Friday night.

Uh those of you who might not be aware, Bayhep stands for Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.

It's one of our major chambers of commerce in Houston, and uh they're doing great work, a lot of great economic things going on down in the Clear Lake and Bay Area, and so we're real proud of what they are doing and thankful to be included in that.

And uh that's uh that's all I've got.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Thomas.

Thank you.

Um I want to recap some of our efforts on the West Side over this past weekend in response to the freeze.

District F did not have a warming center, so we activated the District F disaster Plan that was funded and created in 2021 after the winter freeze.

And uh we essentially went out into the uh the homeless encampments that were identified, canvassing individuals to assess what our response should be.

Um, over three days we were able to provide 462 hot meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We had deliveries to 17 locations, walk-ins of 67.

Um we provided pet food for five pets, blankets, clothing, hygiene kits, to name a few, and we are prepared to respond to the freeze this coming weekend and then the uh following weekend.

And what I know for sure after this experience is that we do not have a complete grasp of homelessness in our community.

Um we do not have a complete grasp of the social safety net that we need to create for those that are not presenting homeless.

Uh we literally had to go into the woods, go into the hidden parts of Houston and compel people.

And I will tell you that they were willing to receive the support.

Um, and uh there's definitely something, there's more that we get to do.

So it was uh uh transformational for me.

Um it reminded me of the work and the recommitment um for me personally to make sure that our unhoused are stabilized and provided resources.

And I will tell you on day on Monday when we shut down Agape Christian Fellowship at 7 o'clock, many of them contributed to the work.

They wanted to mop the floors, help us wash the dishes.

They were um working with other individuals, letting them know to come to the church to receive uh resources, and so we are uh more blessed than we know.

Um I want to shout out our partners, Agape Christian Fellowship, Church Without Walls, Eldridge, um shout out to Walmart for providing way on with the $1,500 grant.

We're working together on how we distribute the materials and the funds.

Uh Sewa for providing a hundred emergency blankets, my exceptional staff, my exceptional hot spot team, uh, and heads up Houston.

I want to thank you for your work, and I want to thank you for every person that reached out asking what they could do uh to support the effort and um details are to come regarding that.

Um item 32 did not make the agenda, it is placed.

This is the Gessner CIP project.

I'll be at Tango Wild, Tango Wild Civic Club meeting on Thursday.

Um I want to invite residents of Tango Wild and Westmont to Los TEOs, where we're gonna talk about this CIP project.

We're going to talk about the impacts to Guessner, the transportation study, prohibited yard parking, solidways delays, and more.

So although the item did not make it for us to vote on, we're still going to talk about it.

We have the maps blown up, the images, so we can walk you through those details.

Excited to be with you on Thursday.

I want to remind my colleagues and those that are watching online that on February 5th is the Super Bowl of Housing.

We are having our special called 9% tax credit meeting with the Housing and Affordability Committee.

This is our singular opportunity to invest in a multifamily housing in the city of Houston.

And so many of you have been engaging with developers about these projects.

I want to invite you to join us on February 5th at 2 o'clock in chambers.

And then you can um follow the meeting live if you're unable to join us in person at HTV or my YouTube page, Tiffany D.

Thomas.

If you're interested in speaking, you can sign up to speak via the Housing and Affordability Committee.

Lastly, I want to highlight a few achievements of my team.

I know last week in the last couple of weeks, there was a lot of attention given to the maternal rates of black women in Harris County, particularly, and it was featured in Capitol B News.

Monique Rutherford Welch is the author of that.

She's on my team and she completed this work through a fellowship.

And I know a lot of other publications were uh duplicating her work and not giving her credit, but I I want to make sure that this one black woman is on record.

Um and I want to thank you for your work and your effort for making sure that um uh the issue around black maternity maternal death rates in Harris County um are punctuated and that uh we can make sure that we keep our eyes on this issue because it's impacting more of us than we realize.

So I want to thank you for that.

Um if my office can be of any assistance um, especially over the next week as we continue to respond to the uh homeless and the unhoused during the freeze, please please reach out to District F at Houston TX.gov or 832-393-3002.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mayor Pro Tim Cassix Tatum.

Thank you, Mayor.

A couple of announcements in uh district K.

I do want to um thank the District K team for their communication and their efforts over the um last weekend as we experience the freeze.

Um we are preparing um to make sure that our senior residents and residents that need assistance can uh get the help that they need.

Um if you are in District K and you need some additional assistance, please reach out to our office this week uh so we can make those efforts prior to the freeze so that we can all be settled when the cold weather comes in again.

Uh also want to let folks know that we have rescheduled um our district K shred day.

We canceled on last weekend.

However, um it will be cold this weekend, but we've we've um gone ahead and rescheduled from 11 to 2 on January 31st.

Um the sun is scheduled to be out.

Uh it's a drive-thru, so you can still just come through, drop your stuff off, and it will be immediately shredded.

And that will be again Saturday, January the 31st from 11 to 2 at the Fountain Life Center at 14083 South Main Street uh in Houston, Texas.

It's free.

It's a community-friendly paper shredding event, um, a partnership with Texas Security Shredding and convenient way for us to dispose of our bills, bank statements, and sensitive uh paperwork.

Uh look forward to having uh residents to participate.

Uh y'all be kind to each other and make it a great day.

Thank you.

Vash Mayor Pro Tim Peck.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just want to thank you for your leadership during the freeze.

Your whole team, everyone was so great answering all of our questions.

Um the way it was handled was just really, really great.

Um thank you to our first responders also.

I know they were out in the cold the whole weekend, so thank you so much.

Um, and thank you to all of the organizations in District A that offered to help.

We didn't have to end up mobilizing only one neighborhood lost power for a little bit of time.

So thank you to Center Point for getting them back up very quickly.

Um, but thank you to all of the organizations also in District A.

Thank you.

Thank you for your kind comments.

Let me add the Islamic Center uh contributions.

They were working with us uh around the clock, the Red Cross, and Salvation Army.

It takes a lot of stakeholders and volunteers to uh make this as successful as it was, particularly Houstonians listened and stayed off the roads and looked out for their pets and their pipes and plants and seniors and it was a real example of the unity that Houston prides itself with.

Councilman Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I also want to uh just highlight uh definitely a lot of uh the volunteers that came out during the weekend over the freeze that that helped out.

Uh senior apartments, just to make sure that if we needed to mobilize that they would have some support.

Also uh Houston Employee Response Team for supporting the warming centers and all the other volunteers, Church of God, Hope City, NAN and Company, Upright CR, Omega Sci5, New Chapter.

A lot of these folks, I think I think what we all see around the horseshoe that we can't do this alone.

And so it really uh does take a community to come out and support uh the several efforts that are happening uh during these times.

And and then uh also, Mayor, for you and your team uh for keeping us updated uh throughout the weekend.

Uh you know, thankful that nothing happened.

Uh you know what we were expecting, and so uh all that is only possible because of of everybody being prepared and and uh taking uh heeding the the warnings as much as possible.

Um also um I think it's important to continue some of these conversations about uh you know what we experienced yesterday as well.

Um understanding that there's anxiety and there's fear uh with ice operations across uh the country.

Um it's important as elected officials to definitely continue to hear out community.

Um but that's the same on that same note.

I think it's also important that uh community understand that we can't do this alone.

And so their support um and actual sharing uh factual information as well is also important.

Um more recently, over the last couple of weeks, I've given out my cell phone to several folks that uh feel that ice is everywhere, and uh to be able to work with them to ensure that they get factual information on those um kind of high you know, high-intense areas where they probably might see law enforcement and confirm to them that ICE is not actually there, uh helps tone down some of the conversation of of misinformation um that that we see.

I think it's important that folks continue to hold uh elected officials accountable to to what's going on, um, but also uh remain committed to building that trust with our law enforcement.

Uh we can't, I said it earlier, even with the you know, with the warming centers in the freeze, we can't do this alone.

And in this moment, at this moment now, uh we can't do this alone.

And it is a collective effort with community to work alongside um folks around this horseshoe, our law enforcement HPD specifically, who ultimately is here to make sure that on a local level that we are ensuring that folks are safe.

Um with that, I want to make sure that folks know that I am committed in standing with our immigrant community specifically.

Um that is who I think of first and foremost in decisions that I make.

Um in how I go about speaking about this topic.

Uh for those that are not showing up to council, the folks that I see in my communities, um, and I want to make sure that we continue to be intentional and responsible about what we're doing, uh not just around this horseshoe, but also community.

And so um this collective effort is only gonna happen if we can see each other as folks that can work together and not be divisive um even in this chamber.

And so continue to come and speak.

But as some of my colleagues have mentioned, work with us, find ways that we can uh ensure that even at at a state level or federal level where a lot of these decisions are really made, uh folks are held accountable as well.

Um I just want to say that I appreciate your continued support and advice during this this time as well.

Um I know that this is tough not just for you but for folks around this horseshoe and um ultimately looking at at how we focus on all communities is important, and with that um I'm I'm leaning into you more to ensure that that we can make sure that folks feel safe in Houston.

And so um to the colleagues around the horseshoe.

Um I need your help as well.

We need your help in the community, and my hope is that your voice is heard as well throughout this this time.

So I'll end it at that.

Thank you.

Councilman Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor, and good morning to everyone.

First one to say happy birthday to my godson Jax, who's also the son of my chief of staff, uh Paul Young.

He's turning three years old today.

Um as it pertains to uh this past weekend, I too want to thank um all of the city staff uh who went above and beyond to ensure that we were well prepared and individuals were safe uh throughout the freeze.

Uh everyone at the warming centers, uh especially those who had to stay overnight.

Um I want to say thank you to every to all of you all.

Um we clo we called in several different uh issues with water main leaks, some severe uh um leaks that caused flooding on streets uh and the public works crews worked really quickly to get out there and address those issues.

Uh one of the things that I saw that was concerning that I think we all collectively need to figure out what we can do uh to improve upon is when you are at the warming centers, um, the vast majority of people that are at the warming centers are unhoused individuals.

And once the uh freeze is over, we just send them back to the street.

And I think we have to find a way to have the resources there to either get them to a navigation center or somewhere if if possible with bids.

I know we were working with the health department that was on site, and we tried to get information for individuals that we that they log to see what what was available.

Um, but that that is something that we can collectively figure out a way to improve upon because we have them all in one concentrated area.

We are able to assess them, uh, provide additional resources, and if if housing is available, even in the short term, what can we do to help them because it is still cold outside.

Um as it pertains to last night, I think something that uh has to be done uh first and foremost is we must change the time on the city website to reflect that the meeting start at 5 o'clock.

Even right now, if you go on the city's website, the evening meeting is stated for 5.30.

And so people were coming anticipating that the meeting would start at 5.30, and their names had already been called by the time they got in the chamber, and that's what causes a lot of the uproar at the end when they felt as if they took the time to come up here, they signed up properly, but the meeting started earlier than what was posted online.

And so uh I think just by changing that and making sure that the public notice is for 5 o'clock uh would have helped tremendously last night.

Um, we we talk about diversity as our strength as a city.

Um the reason we are the most diverse city in America is because of the uh immigrant community that make up Houston, legal and illegal.

And I think for most of us, when we think about law enforcement uh on a local level and on a federal level, it's about going after criminals, those who bring danger uh to our communities.

Um those who are not committing uh dangerous crime uh should not be the focal point of law enforcement.

And I think at a local level and a federal level, uh, if the mission is to focus on addressing dangerous criminals that bring harm to our communities, most people would be for that, and most people would applaud that, and most people will find a way to ensure that we do all we can to achieve that.

And so that should be the focus, and I believe that if that is the tone that is set, uh a lot of the issues that we are experiencing here uh locally and around the country uh would be addressed.

And so uh for everyone, uh continue to uh pray for one another and have a great rest of your week.

God bless.

Councilmember Alcourt.

Thank you, Mayor.

Tuesday, February 3rd at 10.

We're having a joint meeting, government operations and budget and fiscal affairs.

We have a really full agenda.

It would be great to have really good attendance.

We have our quarterly financial report, which is also when Melissa Dubowski will go over the uh progress being made on all the Ernst and Young fronts.

And uh also we at every quarter we look at overtime at solid waste and fire and police.

So that's important.

We're also uh looking at the open space ordinance.

This is the fee in lieu of that the developers pay in.

We have not really opened that ordinance up or looked at it since 2007 when it started.

So that's Tuesday, February 3rd.

Open space.

Yeah, that it's a contributor to how we fund park improvements.

So we're opening up that ordinance.

We're gonna make some or we hope to make some changes through committee.

We will be working this ordinance through committee.

So please come uh take a look at that ordinance before the meeting and and and be familiar with it so you have a good idea about what we're talking about and how we might improve it.

And then finally, and the main reason that it's a joint meeting, um, Councilmember Flickinger will be running this portion of the meeting, which will be the update on solid waste operations, and we will have the director.

So it will be a lengthy meeting.

Um the more prepared you are with questions, the faster it will go.

So look forward to seeing everybody Tuesday at 10.

Thank you.

Councilmember Salinas.

Mayor, I want to thank you for your incredible leadership over this weekend with the freeze and all the first responders that came out and helped uh Houston citizens that needed it most.

And I want to thank all the Houstonians who came out uh to speak last night.

Um it was hard to hear some of those messages, but sometimes democracy is hard, and that's part of our job here.

And so I am grateful to all the citizens that came out, continue to do so.

Renee Good was murdered.

Alex Patri was murdered, and those murders are wrong.

And know that a lot of us around this horseshoe are going to do everything in our power to ensure that never happens in the city of Houston.

Thank you.

Councilman Carter.

Thank you, Mayor, and and certainly uh this weekend, uh the leadership uh of your administration certainly uh prepared Houston and Houstonians listened, and um all's well that ends well.

Um with respect to last night and and my colleagues around the horseshoe, which I have a great deal of respect for you, Joaquin.

I've known you for years.

Um, you know, when we talk about partners, I look around the room and I see cameras, and the media should be our partners in this.

When uh last night and then in this morning watching the coverage, I couldn't help but think about my late friend Dave Ward and his talk for years of credibility, credibility, and integrity in reporting.

And you know, it accurate and responsible journalism is essential, particularly on matters that significantly impact our well-being in the community.

And the media can be partners and help to calm fears versus showing pictures of Minneapolis and reporting overall numbers across the State of Texas, reporting on our 6 a.m.

news.

Um reporting that lacks context or relies on incomplete information can create unnecessary fear and misunderstanding.

I have met with a number of individuals who reach out to the office to talk about ICE and HPD, and I say, I'm happy to talk to you about the facts.

I'm happy to meet with you and discuss the facts.

Yesterday I had a gentleman come in and he said, Well, all we know is what the media tells us.

And when they start repeating what the media has reported as relates to the city of Houston, it doesn't quite add up.

And so I urge the media to get on board and be a partner with the City of Houston, with HPD, and get the message to our communities that you, Joaquin, that others around the horseshoe are trying to, instead of being on the opposite side and creating the fear in our community.

Thank you.

You have made such a difference.

No one was turned out of the warming centers without a place to go to get out of the elements last night.

The Navigation Center was full, the sobriety center was full.

Harris uh center was full, and we had Fonday ready as a backup.

So, you know.

Talk is one thing.

Your actions are making a difference, and I know.

You have your sites on other locations that will be major impact on the homeless population as we go forward ultimately with one-way home with permanent housing, affordable housing.

But uh, anyone that needed shelter last night received it.

We had hot teams going under bridges in every corner of the city to encourage people to go to these shelters and also speaking of HPD Saturday night, about 11 o'clock.

Temperature in the 20s.

At the Fondi, I watched a young police officer escort someone from the back of his car, which is usually reserved for bad folks to take someone into Fonday Center.

The officer was carrying the belongings of this homeless person.

So, you know, there's an awful lot of good takes place in this city.

And we do have challenges, and we do have heartache over what's going on in Minnesota.

But we've got to continue to emphasize we care and we're here.

And fear factor serves no one's interest because it's not relevant to what's being practiced in the City of Houston.

But thank you.

I uh I knew you want everyone to know we don't turn people out of a coal shelter onto the streets of Houston without having a plan.

Chief Satter White, Homeland Security, HBD, Houston Fire.

And you can't imagine Dr.

Tran, our new health director, she's turning our warming centers into clinics.

It's it's really impressive.

And public works.

Yes.

The report Sunday morning or of a 40-inch water main at Chimney Knock, Chimney Rock in West Hammer was quickly addressed safely.

So we have a lot to celebrate.

We have a lot of work left.

We have a great city with great people, but we're addressing our challenges.

Thank you for your leadership.

Thank you.

And thank you, Councilmember Evans Shabosh, for being in your district and calling things to our attention.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to again uh I want to begin by thanking you, Mayor, and your entire team for your coordination, communication, and steady leadership during last week's winter weather.

Clear communication matters, especially during moments that affect public safety, mobility, and basic services, and I appreciate the collaborative approach taken to keep residents informed and prepared.

I want to thank you for adding the third ward multi-service center.

Um certainly uh, you know, there's a pretty big gap uh in District D.

It's a large district, and so I appreciate you all adding that.

And just as a matter of numbers, that um center was almost at capacity, with the capacity is 50, and there were 48.

And Sunnyside, Health and Multi-Service Center was over capacity.

And so I want to thank the volunteers of the Houston Employee Response Team or HERT and the volunteers who helped throughout the day for people who were seeking the safety and the comfort of the warming centers.

Um this evening I have the honor of serving as the keynote speaker at the Johnson Neighborhood Library for the Martin Luther King Junior Day and Black History Month lecture series hosted by the Houston Public Library.

This program brings together service, creativity, and youth engagement through a community service project, a student bookmark contest, and essay competitions for middle and high school students.

The conversation tonight centers on a century of black leadership, civic engagement, and community power, and the responsibility we have as elected leaders, and again, heavy is the crown.

What is it?

The heavy is the head that wears the crown.

It's it's this may look like we're taking pictures and kissing babies.

This is a very hard job making decisions that balance out the needs and the safety of the entire community.

So we're trying to get there.

I mean, of course, one of the most important things about the engagement tonight, hopefully, is people will realize that voting is important.

Right now, the voting numbers for the 18th Congressional District are very dismal.

But if you want to see change, you have to be that change and be a part of the process that certainly brings in leadership leadership that is there to listen and meet the needs of the people.

And so certainly, hopefully that will be an uplifting dialogue of the voices.

Uh, and we know Black History Month is next month, but we try to combine the two with the Martin Luther King Day of service as well.

And that is at 3517 Reed Road, and it's at 6 p.m.

tonight.

And I also want to flag an important community meeting tomorrow evening, uh, Thursday, at the Judson Robinson Civic Center, focused on non-permitted structures and short-term rental activity.

This meeting is about clarity, accountability, and neighborhood quality of life, and I encourage residents to attend, ask questions, and engage directly with the city team who should be there.

We have renegade and rogue builders in District D, and I'm sure they have them in other parts of the city.

But I'm finding that there is a gap, and I have talked about this from the very beginning.

I believe the application process only says that you checked, that you checked for deed restrictions.

And certainly, if you're trying to get in there, your answer is yes.

In the face of an actual signature of a civic club leader, a super neighborhood leader, or I'm I'm urging civic clubs to get an architectural review committee.

And that person or agent conserve in that capacity.

If that is not a if there's not a signature there, then please stop issuing these permits.

It's it's it's just out of hand.

I know in District D.

And I believe that when people go in and they do this and they bill just because they think they can.

First of all, the stop work order.

And it may even have to get some act right with you tearing that structure down.

And they may seem a little drastic, but this is what you're doing to our communities.

And certainly, do not issue occupancy permits to people who have not followed the rules.

They are totally disrespecting us and feeling like they can work around it, and it's been it's been working for them.

I'll have to actually say that, but that must stop.

And finally, I'm gonna say I have made the recommendation that we look at the stopping the minor traffic stops.

A lot of the speakers spoke to that last night.

We are taking our police officers off of the street for a time period just to stop people because they don't have inspection stickers or those things that are minor.

If they're running stop signs and they're driving like they don't have, well, like okay.

Uh and they're driving in a uh in a way that puts others in danger as well as themselves.

Certainly they should be stopped.

But a lot of these interactions with ice began with stopping people at minor traffic stops.

We can't stop ICE from being here, so to speak, but we can certainly stop that interaction.

If police officers don't stop people, then they're not charged with saying, let me get your ID, let me check this.

We're not trying to protect criminals, certainly.

But what's happening here is just a travesty.

I mean, I it just brings tears, I'm sure, to everybody's eyes to witness what we have witnessed because of rogue thugs that have been put in place over cities that are mostly democratic cities.

That's a problem.

We cannot use that organization to punish people because they are Democrats.

This is absolutely insane, and but as a body, we can make a decision.

And I understand we're we're trying to keep it down because we don't want to impact the lives of over two million people by having uh ice converge on the city of Houston.

And and Mayor, Mayor, heavy is the head.

So I thank you so very much, my colleagues for listening.

But I think that we can do something.

It may not be much, but we can do something to let the people know who are shouting and asking us to help that we are trying to do everything that we can.

And I thank you, and that concludes what's going on in the district of destination.

Thank you.

We have some items that have arrived.

Yeah, we have everything in Okay, Mr.

Secretary, you call the items that are need addressing.

Item 18 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Okay.

Is everybody item 18 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

All in favor say yes, those supposed nay.

Motion passes.

Item 19 is an ordinance just need a voice.

Councilman Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor.

This is uh a much needed uh project for our municipal courts.

I want to take the opportunity to highlight the great job Judge Santos has been doing over there.

Um the building obviously is experiencing challenges with flooding.

This helps get it across the finish line in terms of construction, but um it's going to allow um Judge Santos and our our judges to continue to serve the public in uh in a big way.

Thank you.

Very good.

Item twenty item 20 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

All in favor say yes, those opposed, no, motion passes.

Item 21 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

All in favor say yes, those opposed, nay, motion pass.

Item 22 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

All in favor say yes, those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Item 23 is an ordinance just need a vote.

All in favor say yes, those opposed name, motion passes.

Item 24 is an ordinance, just need a motion.

Again.

All in favor say yes, those opposed, nay.

Motion passed.

Item 25 is an ordinance does need a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay, motion passes.

And item 32 is in ordinance, just need a vote.

Motion passes.

Now this completes the items on the agenda.

Wonderful.

Everyone be safe and try to stay warm and reach out and help someone.

We stand adjourned.

Thank you, sir.