The chair recognizes Councilmember Martinez for a proclamation recognizing Houston Soccer Day to celebrate the sport's impact on the community.

Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Mirabal Tim.

If I could have Elva Trevino, Blanca Betran, and Jim Walker.

Come up.

Hi, yeah, yeah.

Hello, man.

Awesome.

Perfect.

So uh first I just want to say uh to the council and to the chambers that what we wanted to do today uh was really to lift up the game of soccer.

We know, and some of y'all see that I have not just the Real Madrid from a from a good friend, but also FIFA.

Uming that FIFA 2026, and I think the mayor Tim and I have been really diving into it because you have seven games that are going to be at NRG, and then we have 34 days of the FANFES in East Downtown.

And so what today has been uh a culmination of is we've gathered a lot of folks that have invested in soccer.

This is not something they just started this year, this is decades, and you'll have some stories that we'll be able to share with you.

And so generations of soccer that have been in Houston, and so we wanted to lift up soccer today at the city of Houston to ensure that um as we continue to see the great things happening, being on the world platform uh for FIFA after FIFA, what what happens and what continues to happen.

And so um, I want to thank you, Mayor, for allowing us to honor these these gentlemen, these these uh women as well, everybody that has contributed to the to the game uh here in the city of Houston.

Um and again, this is not just about the professionals, but this is also the little leagues, um, and I shared with folks, you know, for me being able to be in the community, knowing to be able to play on a baseball field, this same same kind of uh uh is received as well for young folks and families that come together on soccer days.

So whereas Houston is recognized as one of the most globally connected cities in the world, where sports such as soccer serve as a powerful force that brings people and communities together, and whereas these individuals and organizations have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to sustain pro soccer programs, soup support soccer related businesses, and advocate for the sport while creating opportunities for the youth, families, and communities across the city.

And whereas in further recognition, the city of Houston Houston proudly designates April the 7th, 2026 as a day to celebrate the game of soccer and recognize the vital role in continu and continues to play, it continues to play in bringing people together and strengthening the spirit of this of the city.

Thank you, Councilman Martinez.

What an excellent idea, and obviously we see it brings people together.

So this is really uh hitting the um not the restart button because we if we hit the restart button, we'd go back in time and I would publicly confess that when I was in HISD, we did not have the pleasure of being exposed to soccer.

Graduating from Waltrop High School, it just was not a subject.

So it is somewhat a recent phenomenon brought to us by our international community, certainly our Hispanic community, but really all communities are brought together because of soccer now is bringing the world together, and Lord knows we need an event that brings people together with turmoil in the world.

So thank you for allowing us to pause our busy schedule.

It could not happen without a lot of work and dedication by our host committee, the sports authority, the sponsors that you brought forward, and all of our communities.

So whether it's your grandson playing it or your colleagues playing it, it's really an exciting time to be in Houston and experience the soccer experience.

FIFA tells us that we're ahead of all the other major cities in preparation.

They call us the grown-up city because of the way we conduct our business.

So we're certainly an international city.

We've been discovered.

We regularly get briefings from all of our departments, all of our stakeholders, first responders to see are we prepared?

And I can assure everyone that we've done everything humanly possible, and I can't wait for Houston to be on display those seven days.

And it's not just for fans and it's gonna be for small businesses.

Great opportunity for people to be involved in the supply and the success, and not to mention opening up the proud east side of Houston.

The fan fest, we're going to have cooling centers because there's going to be some of our friends and visitors not familiar with our heat and humidity.

But that's just going to bring us together too.

So therefore, I John Whitmore, mayor of the city of Houston.

Hereby proclaim April seventh, twenty twenty-six is Houston Soccer Day in Houston, Texas.

Obviously, Elva and Blanca and all the council people.

So I I think my message here today is first of all the amazing group of people in the room that put this event together, amazing people showing up.

This gentleman behind me, Jim Walker was the general manager of the Houston Dynamos in the eighties.

Also, he was involved in the North American Soccer League during the times of Palay.

He's got more stories than you would ever know.

But I really want to remind that the legacy's already here.

We're not creating a new legacy.

We're getting a bump.

We're getting a bump, and the sport's going to continue to thrive with participation and people involved.

But um, I really want to make it clear that we're up here today, myself, Jim, and everybody on on behalf of our amazing soccer community that reflects cultures from all over the world.

Um, so that's it for me.

Uh, we really appreciate everything today, and also from you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Pledge.

Oh, you want to like say something?

Sure, help you so thank you very much.

Glenn is a great spokesman for our game, so I'll keep this short.

This has been a great day because I've seen after over the years that I've been here, I've seen so many people that uh have so much to do with our game and the growth of our game.

And we're gonna all see that in a short time.

We're gonna see how important our city is to the game of soccer.

Not only that the game of soccer is important to the city.

Thank you very much.

We're gonna try to get everyone, and we're gonna be able to get the house.

The Chair recognizes.

The Chair recognizes Councilmember Carter for a proclamation recognizing the Southwest Management District for hosting the annual March on Crime.

Mayor Pro Tim.

Our friends from the Southwest Management District.

Would like to welcome them, one of the most diverse areas in our city, and I must say one of the most fun group in our city.

Spent the day out there with them yesterday.

Started with Pickleball with my friend here, but anyway, just great, great work they do at Southwest Management District.

And today, um, we're pleased to recognize the Southwest Management District for their March on Crime, an annual event, a luncheon where they honor HPD, they serve the community.

It's just a wonderful, wonderful event just to recognize the efforts and um the sacrifices of our law enforcement.

So whereas the Southwest Management District, whose members are appointed by the mayor of Houston with the approval of City Council, operates to promote economic development, urban design, public safety, governmental affairs, and community outreach.

And it's great that we took the opportunity to bring you to the city after the March 26th successful event at the Shriner.

It was a celebration and also a day of memory of those who are fallen heroes.

So thank you.

Keep up the good work.

You're doing a great job on the housing authority.

Don't Houston First has never never been in better shape since you were appointed.

And I can go around.

Thank you.

Our leadership team.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Therefore, I John Whitmore, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaim March 26, 2026, the Southwest Management District, March on Crime Day in Houston, Texas.

Well, I mean, I'm sorry.

So I will be my spokesperson.

How about that?

Thank you.

Speaker 1.

Thank you so much.

First, thank you, Mayor, and thank you, uh, Councilwoman Carter, and all the chambers, all the council members, as well as all the guests here to come here to celebrate with us to receive this very special recognition.

And uh Southwest Management District, we celebrate our 25 years anniversary last year, and this is our 26th years.

Um our focus is in addition to public safety, we also focus on urban beautification, uh, business and uh economic development, as well as governmental affairs and community outreach.

And uh, we've been doing much on crime.

This is the 17th years to focus on recognizing uh all the outstanding work and sacrifice uh done by our uh law enforcement, and uh we today's special recognition comes with the responsibility.

So if I may quote a mayor always say, let's go back to work.

We got more work to improve public safety.

Well, thank you, Mayor, and if I may invite our chair of the uh public safety, Peter Aquiras, he has been doing a great job of hosting this event for the 17 years in the row so Peter Aquera.

Thank you.

Um thank you very much, Mayor and uh council for this honor.

It shows the dedication of not only our board but all of our uh staff and the partnership with all of you.

We couldn't do it without you guys.

So, you know, we do our best efforts to uh uh uh supplement all the efforts that you guys are doing, but more importantly, this event is more about the people that are doing their jobs the right way and recognizing those people and those that have given all recognizing the families.

Uh and this year was unique in the fact that we were able to recognize uh the Kerr County, Texas Task Force and uh the efforts of the Kirk uh Texas Task Force and HPD Dive Team in Kerr County.

So we really appreciate that.

It's becoming a very big event.

We really want to thank you guys that have been guest speakers, and this year we have we're able to thankfully have you do that, Mayor, and we really appreciate that.

Um we try to be the biggest beacon of the best management district in the city, uh, and so to see how things are done.

If any of the other management districts want to see how it's done, we welcome to our doors.

So, Alcorn with the invocation.

Thank you.

Our Father in Heaven, we thank you for the blessing of our freedom in our country and our city to gather and share openly to discuss matters for our community and safety with a spirit of unity and peace.

We pray for wisdom, compassion, and understanding.

May all of us in this chamber be rooted in truth and integrity, dedicated to one another and to the people we serve.

May the discussions and decisions this week build Houston to be a home for justice where we have the courage to act with love and goodness.

Here council member Pollard.

Here need a motion to uh to delay oh and Councilmember Evan Shabazz is here.

Need a motion to the to delay the adoption of minutes.

Castax Titan move.

Motion made in second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay.

Motion passes.

Yes, I'd like to move to suspend the rules to add the Rodoro Aguilis to the top of the one minute agenda.

Huffman seconds.

Motion made in second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed name.

Motion passes.

Anyone else?

Not secretary collar first.

Speaker.

Teodoro Aguilouz.

To be followed by Paloma Medina.

Resultado de la falta de transparencia y the limited in la collaboration entre la police local yES.

Good afternoon, Mayor and members of the City Council.

My name is Deodoro Aguilus.

Last week I was here alongside many others raising our voices for our communities.

Today I return because what is at stake is too important to remain silent.

That is why the proposal by Council Member Salinas is a step in the right direction.

It establishes something that does not exist today.

Real transparency and clear limits.

Turning this into a tool that ensures respect for people's rights and dignity.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Paloma Medina from New Caney.

To be followed by Maximo Cortez.

Good afternoon, Mayor Whitmeyer and the City Council members.

My name is Paloma Medina, and I am a member and organizer with Unite Hero Local 23.

I am here today to speak in support of the proposed amendment to Chapter 34.

Although it's not enough and more should be done, this amendment is a great step forward for our community.

As an organizer inside workshops, I've heard from multiple of our members and other people around the city state that they are worried about in craning ice and so have limited how often they leave their homes, sometimes just leaving for necessities like work.

We all want to live in a safe city and safe neighborhood.

This amendment will be the com will help the community feel like they can call for help if they are in danger without worrying that ice is going to come for them or their family members.

It would help people feel like they can participate in their community if they're not having to constantly look over their shoulder and worry about what can happen if they get pulled over for a minor traffic violation.

Thank you.

Maximo Cortez.

To be followed by Deano Pres.

Yes.

I'm Mo Cortez, and I wanted to ask you to vote no on number 28.

Uh and go back to the drawing board because key carve-outs that have been done in Dallas and Austin are missing from this.

And I think legislators and Austin have legislative immunity, so I don't understand why the council members or the mayor are hesitant to change things.

And we need others who actually see seeing help uh like those in Austin and Dallas to do that.

So I just ask you to do that because, you know, uh, we should be Hurricane Harvey ready.

You know what I mean?

Oh, I think what is in Chicago, they're kicking ice out of the I know you you you can't kick ice out of Houston, but you can try like why did you run for office?

Why did you do this job?

And while you're at it, also remove ALPRs because these automatic license plate readers are a liability to all of us, and the data from those can be mined and hacked.

And that puts every Houstonian at risk.

So I ask you to please go back to the drawing board on prop A and emulate what's in the uh Austin.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Oz.

Don Cooper.

To be followed by Amber Fannin.

Hi, it was Hooper, and they had it wrong on the the thing, so with an H.

In 2006, Officer Rodney Johnson pulled over a speeding vehicle.

The driver, Juan Lenardo Quintero, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, previously reported for sexually assaulting a child, was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car.

Quintero managed to pull a hidden gun and shot Rodney Johnson four times in the back of the head.

A father of five, Officer Johnson died that day because a deported criminal was allowed back onto our streets.

The gunman, Robert Petrezo Carrillo, another illegal immigrant from Mexico, killed him, was uh killed him before being shot by fellow officers.

This was the third HPD officer shot by illegal immigrants in just three years.

In 2011, Kevin Will was investigating an accident on the North Loop when Johan Rodriguez, a twice deported illegal immigrant, an admitted MS-13 member, drove drunk at nearly 90 miles an hour through a police barricade, struck him, killing him instantly.

Rodriguez had cocaine in his pocket and blood alcohol three times the legal limit.

And in 2020, Sergeant Harold Preston, a 41-year veteran, responded to a domestic disturbance.

He was shot and killed by Elmer Rolando Menzano Martinez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with a long criminal history, who was unlawfully in our country.

These officers, Johnson Canales, Will, and Preston were husbands, fathers, and heroes.

Their deaths were preventable.

When our borders are not secure and our laws are not enforced, American lives are lost, including those who wear the badge to keep us safe.

We owe it to them and every officer still serving to demand real border security, mandatory detention, and deportation of criminal illegal aliens, and an end to policies that put politics above public safety.

May God bless the fallen heroes, their families, and the men and women of the Houston Police Department.

Thank you.

And I just want to add, these are the Houston police officers killed.

There was a lot of sheriff's deputies killed, constables killed that are not on this list.

I'm just talking about HPD.

Thank you.

Next.

Amber Fannin.

To be followed by Melissa Powell.

Good afternoon, Mr.

Mayor and City Council members.

My name is Amber Fannon.

I am a research analyst with Unite Here Local23.

At Unite Here Local 23, we represent hospitality workers across the city.

That means housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, baristas, bartenders, those are the people that keep our city running on a day-to-day basis.

Many are immigrants, some are part of mixed status families, and all deserve to feel safe in the city they call home.

Right now, fear is showing up in our workplaces every single day.

Workers are afraid to drive to work, afraid to speak up, afraid to call for help, and this is not just immigrants, these are American citizens as well filling this fear.

When people are unsure of what can happen, they stay silent, and that makes our communities less safe.

They are not asking for special treatment.

They're asking for clarity, they're asking for safety, they're asking for the ability to call police when they are needed and without worry.

This ordinance helps restore the sense of safety.

We support this ordinance, and we are ready to work with you to build a safer Houston because when workers feel safe, Houston is safer.

Thank you so much.

Amber.

Mayor Amber.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just want to say hello and thank you for your continued leadership and unite here.

Thank them for everything that they're doing for our community.

And let's keep up the great work.

Absolutely, thank you.

Next.

Melissa Powell.

To be followed by Don Wooten.

She's passed, she's sending a handout.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Good afternoon, Mayor Whitmeyer and City Council members.

Oh, sorry.

Good afternoon, Mayor Whitmeyer and City Council members.

I'm Melissa Raoul.

I'm a native Houstonian, Walter Bram, and a North Harris County Regional Water Authority Board Member.

First, I want to say that I truly want to see the City of Houston succeed.

As a lifelong Houstonian, I care deeply about our city's future, and I appreciate the efforts being made toward transparency and improving operations.

I was glad to see a post you made yesterday that said, corruption has no place in City Hall.

I know there are many hardworking employees at Houston Public Works and Houston Water who are doing their best every day.

However, I would be remiss if I did not also share concerns about public trust.

Over the past few years, we've seen reports involving fraud, waste, corruption, P Card misuse and abuse, questionable contracts, and oversight failures within Houston Public Works and Houston Water.

These issues create real concerns for ratepayers and for regional partners who depend on the City of Houston for critical water infrastructure.

In addition, there have been ongoing concerns about aging infrastructure and water loss.

I recently heard a presentation at the Harris Galvis and Subscience District given by Randy Machi, referencing approximately 1,800 water leaks.

I also understand that the city previously sought and received a water loss waiver in connection with the funding from the Texas Water Development Board.

Together, these raise important questions about system reliability, infrastructure investment, and accountability.

As a Houston resident and as someone who works closely with regional water issues, I want to see continued progress and improvement.

So my questions are simple.

What is the current number of leaks today?

What steps are being taken to reduce water loss?

What oversight improvements have been implemented to prevent future issues?

And how can the public and regional partners regain confidence moving forward?

I ask these questions respectfully and constructively because we all share the same goal: a strong, reliable, trustworthy water system and city government for the people of Houston and the region.

Thank you for your time.

Daryl Harper.

Will heel transit Mary and Wright?

Letty Ortega.

To be followed by Cesar Espinosa.

Good afternoon.

My name is Letty Ortega.

I'm a Houstonian and organizer with me, Familia Annexion.

Families are living in fear because they have seen ICE terrorizing communities or know of neighbors who have been taken without due process by masked agents after being handed over by HPD.

The original immigration ordinance from Council Member Salinas Keeman and Pollard would have not required HPD to contact ICE over civil administrative warrants.

Administrative civil warrants are not signed by a judge.

Using them like criminal warrants risk violating the rights of all Houstonians, whether or not they are U.S.

citizens.

The current version ends the mayor's 30-minute wait policy, affirms that people cannot be held beyond the lawful purpose of a stop and brings overdue transparency by requiring the city to report on when and how HPD is engaging with ICE.

This is a step toward rebuilding trust in city leadership and public safety officers by reducing the risk of unlawful detention and potential violations of constitutional rights.

Other cities like Austin and Dallas have already adopted policies to protect their communities in this way.

We urge you as our Houston City Council to pass this ordinance.

We will continue organizing for stronger protections beyond Prop A and informing the community about what their city is doing to keep them safe from ice.

Thank you.

Caesar Espinosa.

Regina Solfus.

Michelle Aigambohr.

From Hockley.

To be followed by Eduardo Duran.

How are you doing today?

I mean, I would not sit here and stand in front of these people and tell the people that tell them that this government will not have the power to deport you just like they uh revoke people rolls and probation.

They do it in America if you're American Pelling.

But after we had led uh Barack Obama the president, he told us he told us off is going to be doing uh the economic policy of Abraham Lincoln.

I'm thinking, isn't the economic policy doing after slavery?

Why not Frank of the Rhodes, the Democratic President?

New Deal Economic Policy for a new era.

Well, how can Joe we had just the economy had just filled up?

George Jr.

had gave us fillness check to stimulate the economy.

How can we stimulate the economy without increasing social security?

You can't without it.

We after we black America didn't know nobody came from.

We didn't know we came from Ghana, Egypt, uh, Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya, immigrants to at least know whether it came from today.

I say to you, whatever you like about America, you take it back home.

Your time has expired.

Thank you.

But don't like about America, you leave it here.

And I like to tell you, we respect your hard work and ethics.

We hope that you have a prosperous life in your own country with freedom and justice like we all deserve.

But we'll be America's bond of uh uh immigration policy that we can respect and my as well.

Thank you.

Next, Eduardo Duran.

And this completes the list of speakers.

Wow, seeking 4% housing tax credits in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Item three, approved spending authority for IT assessment and transition services awarded to Ernst and Young LLP.

Awarded to Ernst and Young LLP.

Item 4, approved spending authority for business optimization services awarded to civic initiatives, LLC.

Item five, approved spending authority for traffic optimization awarded to Texas Highway Products Limited.

Item six resolution supporting request of waiver of local match participation for federal off system bridge program.

Item seven ordinance approving and authorizing first amendment to sub-recipient agreement between the city of Houston and Catholic charities of the Arch Diocese of Galveston Houston.

Item eight ordinance approved and authorizing second amendment to sub-recipient agreement between the city of Houston and Search Homeless Services.

Item nine ordinance appropriating two hundred eighty-seven thousand dollars for planned structure query language disaster recovery infrastructure migration cloud refresh project.

Item 10 ordinance approved and authorizing increase to agreement for professional legal services between the city of Houston and Hoosh Hush Blackwell LLP.

Item third item 11 ordinance appropriating 1,560,000 and $2 million $3,000 for fire alarm and life safety modern modernization at City Hall and City Hall NX.

Item 12 ordinance approving and authorizing contract with Zone Industries LLC.

Item 13 ordinance amending ordinance number 2022-782 related to contract with RBEX doing business as Apple Towing Company.

Item 14, ordinance establishing the east and west sides of the 1100 blocks of Waverly Street between West 11th Street and West 12th Street within the City of Houston, Texas, as a special minimum lot size block pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances.

Item 15, ordinance appropriating 10 million dollars, approved and authorizing in a local agreement with Harris County Flood Control District.

Item 16, ordinance appropriating 10,500.

Approving and authorizing joint participation in a local agreement with Harris County.

Item 17, ordinance appropriating $642,000 and $8,930,000 for FY26 Petroleum Storage Tank Projects.

Item 18 ordinance appropriating $1 million $50,000, $539,000.

Approving and authorizing contract with Spall Glass Construction Corporation.

Item 19, ordinance approving and authorizing final settlement.

Release and indemnity agreements between the City of Houston and Southern Brothers Concrete and JP Sewer Main Repair and Drain Specialists LLC.

Item 20, ordinance appropriating 262,500.

Approving and authorizing joint participation in a local agreement with Harris County.

Item 21, ordinance appropriating 745, 854.80 cent.

Approved approving and authorizing contract with Cobb Finley and Associates Inc.

Item 22, ordinance approving and authorizing advanced funding agreement for supplemental transportation program off system project between City of Houston and Texas Department of Transportation.

Item 23, ordinance approving and authorizing First Amendment to contract with Oxy Vinyls LP.

Item 24, ordinance amending ordinance number 2023-108 related to contract with MC2 Civil LLC.

Item 25, ordinance appropriating 50 million 656,043 10 cent.

Approved and authorizing contract contract with Durwood Green Construction Company.

Item 26, ordinance appropriating 20 million four hundred ninety-seven thousand three hundred fifty-three dollars.

Approving and authorizing contract with VNS Construction Company LLC.

Item 27, ordinance appropriating $1,801,648.73.

And five of $5,731,432 69 cent and $1,642,25.28.

Approving and authorizing contract with VNS Construction Company, LLC.

Item 28, Ordinance Amending Chapter 34 of the Code of Ordinances, Houston, Texas.

Adding Section 34-41 relating to immigration procedures and establishing standards for interactions with federal immigration authorities.

This completes the reading of the captions for the agenda of April 8th, 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.

Council, please come to order.

Madam Ms.

Secretary.

Let's go to item number one.

Public hearing.

Item one is a public hearing to provide a resolution of no objection for one applicant.

Or two applicants seeking 4% housing tax credits.

No speakers.

We have a presentation.

Call you Demark from Housey.

Come forward, please.

Good morning, Mayor, Council Members.

Housing House, actually, two items will be for three properties total.

Housing and community development department recommends council approval for a resolution of no objection.

The first one is uh Mariposa at Ella Boulevard.

The address is 16354, Ella Boulevard construction type is rehab.

Target population is for seniors.

TDSCA administer state housing tax credit program, which provides federal tax credits to spur development of quality and affordable housing.

In order to apply for 4% tax credits, the developer must present a resolution of no objection from the governing body of the jurisdiction in which the development is located.

Recommends a resolution of no objection with the purpose of to preserve uh preservation of affordable housing.

Uh a public hearing on this resolution was held on April 8, 2026.

This item was reviewed by housing and affordability committee on March 17, 2026.

Um just the overview for Mariposa at Ella Boulevard.

The total units is 182.

AMI included is 3050 and 60, and the developer is Bonner Carrington.

Total development cost is roughly 38 million.

The next two items, Stirlingshire Apartments.

Address is 9002, Stirlingshire Street, District B.

Uh Construction Type is also a rehab.

Target population is family.

And the last one is Mariposa at Reed Road.

The address is 2889, Reed Road.

Construction type is rehab and targeted population is seniors.

Total units would be 200.

And Mariposa at Reed Road developer's name is also Bonner Carrington.

Total units is 180 units.

And there are no funding from the cities.

Any questions, members?

If not, thank you.

We have no speakers.

No one has signed up to speak.

Is there anyone present that would like to be a witness?

If not, public hearing is closed.

Castax Day to move to close the public hearing.

Um that was for items one and two.

Motion made in second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion pass.

All right.

Very good members.

Uh, mayor's report.

I wish I was actually given the state of the city this morning because there's so many exciting things, and I'm sure all of you have things to share.

But the art uh parade will be at 2 p.m.

Starting here at Bagby on uh Saturday.

The tour to Houston Apache uh sponsor will be Sunday morning.

And I could go on and on fleet weeks next week.

We continue to prepare for FIFA.

And the reason it would be great to have an official State of the City address is that last week it was widely circulated that we had the fastest major metropolitan economy, second only to Seattle.

And I'm told by sources that we're only number two because Seattle completely shut down during COVID, and they're in a reopening, rebuilding process.

But for our size and scope uh is pretty significant.

March was the best month ever for hotel occupancy in the city of Houston.

This afternoon, I don't want to steal their thunder, but the sports starting will be making an announcement at two o'clock, which will transform Toyota's arena.

180 million dollars at no cost to Houston taxpayers.

95 million from the state, the rest of it from the Fertita family.

It will completely transform Toyota Arena.

It will complement the expansion of the George Brown.

So it is really something to be excited about.

This morning, obviously, as we celebrate our growth, our jobs, and opportunity and inclusiveness across this great city.

We have another important item that we have to discuss.

Item 28.

I would ask in a moment that it be called out of order.

Since President Trump was elected, we've all had to face agenda.

I have over a year ago said I'm sorry that we have to deal with it.

It basically is not a city responsibility.

My sympathy, my empathy, my personal relationships with undocumented individuals, I know the anxiety.

And quite frankly, I think most Houstonians experienced the anxiety as we watch the nation and the disruption that occurred in most major cities.

I made a commitment then to follow the law, be consistent, transparent, and that is what has kept the turmoil out of Houston.

I get calls from major city officials across the nation, across Texas asking us how are we able, as a major city, as diverse as we are, to be able to be as reasonable and consistent as we've been.

Just for example, I got a report recently that there were only seven I 70, 70 ICE officers in our region.

Minneapolis had 3700 at one time because it was politicized in so many of our major cities.

So we've been consistent, uh followed the law, and today we need to deal with the item.

I want to thank the members for engaging in the process.

The sponsors of Prop Aveasable.

I've never seen a piece of legislation in 50 years or served in the legislature that could not be improved.

So today we have a revised version of Prop A, item 28.

I think it is consistent with HBD practices.

HBD practices are to follow, respect the Fourth Amendment, and then also HBD will furnish its data to anyone that asks for it, certainly anyone around this horseshoe.

So I think the revised version is a ratification of the good policies that HBD is conducting.

It's an emotional issue.

People can disagree.

I'm sorry that some of our witnesses and speakers have tried to politicize it, but that's one of our successes coming out of my office is we're not going to politicize something that sensitive.

We've traveled across Houston, certainly coffee with police last week in the East End, Denver Harbor, Civic Club last night.

People across the city appreciate the seriousness that we have handled this matter, and I'm just thankful that uh we live in Houston, Texas, and we're following the law, state and federal laws, and our ordinance will be consistent with that.

With that said, uh I'll be glad to yield to anyone, but I really do want to thank the members for the process that's been followed, and uh I'm ready to have a healthy discussion.

Uh Councilman Salinas.

Thank you, Mayor, and I'm glad to hear it sounds like you support the ordinance.

As you know, more than 50 community organizations have urged us to take the action that we put forth on this Prop A.

I want to thank my co-sponsors, Councilmember Pollard and Councilmember Cainton for joining us in this effort.

I want to thank everyone in the community that came out and demanded that we act.

Um, I think this is a positive step forward.

This is building on the step forward that was taken a few weeks back, and I hope we continue to take steps forward to improve our position and reducing our cooperation with ICE to the bare minimum that's required under state law.

But this is a positive step forward.

It was a step that was needed.

The community has demanded it, and I'm glad to see that we're going to pass it today.

Well, thank you for your work leadership.

I'm supporting it because I think it makes a statement that we've listened, and it's following the current practices of HVD of respecting the Fourth Amendment and furnishing the data to any member of this panel.

So thank you.

And I will yield to Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

First, I want to just start by saying that those that came to speak in favor of the ordinance, that I hear you.

I understand the intent behind uh what we're trying to do with this ordinance, and I think we all want to see safe communities.

Uh, but also want to be honest, and this policy will not take away the fear that so many families are living with every day.

I know because I talked to them, I know their stories and their challenges that are that they're being faced with.

The fear that comes from lived experiences from what people are seeing in their neighborhoods, in their workplaces, at their daily lives, and more recent conversations have helped create more fear, unfortunately.

And no matter what or how this policy is adjusted, the fear just doesn't disappear.

Uh from the beginning, I have been have been saying this, you have to be thoughtful and intentional with our words and our work.

So if it's if we're serious about public policy, then we have to be serious about the trust as well.

Because when people are afraid, they don't call the police, they don't report crimes, and they make every one of us less safe.

Uh, the real work isn't just the policy that is being passed today, it's actually showing up, as the mayor mentioned.

It's bringing HPD and the community in the same room, it's having honest conversations, it's listening, being present, and building relationships over time, not just in this moment like this.

Um the work that I've been talking about, that's what I always say committed to, because real safety doesn't just come from policy alone, it comes from trusts, and it and that trust is built over time.

Um the work done in community policing has been done decades, decades after the Moody Moody Park riots, and a lot of those challenges that we've been seeing more recently have been eroding that trust.

Uh, what I will be doing today is voting yes because I'm gonna be supporting the community as well.

But the real work is ahead of us, and I look forward to continuing showing up in community, and I challenge those that came to public session as well to help with this work.

I can't do this alone, we can't do this alone, and find opportunities where you can connect our local law enforcement who are doing great work, boots on the ground, uh, with the community, continue doing that work.

That is what we need to continue doing, whether this ordinance has passes or not, um, showing up is most important.

So um again, I'll be supporting, but I think the real work really is gonna be bringing local law enforcement to community.

Thank you.

Thank you for your leadership, and you're absolutely right.

It's not the words, it's the actions, and I go out of my way, as I know each of us does, to make certain that the community knows all Houston residents are welcome to our facilities, the warming centers, no questions asked when you arrive.

Domestic abuse, call HPD.

They do not ask or concern themselves with your immigration status.

After our club's closing, I've been there.

A PAC club is emptied.

No one, no one is asked about their status.

It's strictly the safety of our community.

So thank you for the role you have played.

Real leadership, but you're right.

It's a process we've got to continue to emphasize we care for all residents and do not ask them their immigration status, and we share their anxiety.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Thank you, Mayor.

The fear that is felt by the public, if you are not here with legal status, is absolutely real.

Uh there's no doubt about that.

But I have been a little confused with this entire issue.

You know, we've had these chambers filled regularly with individuals coming here asking us to change policy.

And in the New York Times and both the Chronicle several months ago, uh, neither of those publications supportive of enforcement, enforcing immigration policy.

They gave the figures 15,000 people have been deported out of the area ICE office, which is essentially Southeast Texas, it's multiple counties.

Of those 15,000, two-thirds, almost 10,000, ICE took into custody from a jail or prison.

City of Houston doesn't operate jails.

We don't have anything to do with that.

What this is addressing is the approximately 70 cases that initiated with an HPD call where HPD got a hit on a warrant.

70 out of 15,000.

That is a rounding error.

This ordinance, while I think placating a number of the people that came here over the last several months to speak, will not change what's going on.

And I assume that we'll have these people back here within a couple of months once they realize nothing has changed.

I would argue that maybe we should do the same thing.

I mean, we've addressed a rounding error.

And that's that's all this addresses.

And I don't think that the people who were upset by it are going to be any happier two, three months down the road when they see that that it hasn't changed.

Thank you.

Thank you in that region and those numbers comes from Southeast Texas, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus, Victoria, and the Western side of Louisiana.

It was really misinformation that only increases the anxiety in the miserable.

If I recall correctly, they called it Houston, which obviously it wasn't.

HPD enforces state and local laws.

Councilmember Davis.

Thank you, Mayor.

And uh to my colleagues, I certainly uh want to make some comments regarding this ordinance.

And um let me begin by first of all elevateing the fact that, in all respect to everyone and the hardship around this issue, and I know there are people that have their feelings and emotions in it.

Um I can go from a different several different directions regarding it, but I just want to be on the record to say that my greatest concern when I ran for office, and there are some around this hardshoe who ran equally, and everybody was asked what was the biggest concern in Houston, it was crime.

And Mayor, when you took office, you said one of your first priorities was crime.

I don't see this issue other than the fact that because it is a public safety issue, and so my biggest concern is how do we, and I'm and I want to pinpoint the fact that Councilmember Joaquin, my friend, use the proper word trust.

Now, I would I would open it up to say how many of us on this chamber would raise their hand to say you don't trust HPD.

We pay these men and women every day.

Some have offered to give more to help them with crime.

Now, am I saying that every person they stop is a criminal?

No.

But their job is what we pay them to do.

And it's a public safety issue.

Now, everybody that come down and spoke, many people that express themselves, they have that right to do, and I and I protect that right.

I vote a United States Army uniform to give everybody the right to protect the voice, which is a constitutional right.

And if I had to do it again, I would do it again.

But let me just say this.

But when we hear things about an event, this is a movement.

I'm never, since I've been here at this council, I've never voted on a movement.

I thought we were a body that votes based on this on things that improve the city.

But that bothers me because then it sends a message.

That's my biggest concern.

This sends a message to HPD, those men and women who get up every day and do what many of us dare not do.

So with this, um, I trust HPD.

I trust them for uh the job that they do, and I would hate that they would profile anybody based on their color or their language.

Okay.

So, but the truth of the matter is if we can't trust them to abide by what their duties is, then don't call them when you get wrong.

Don't call them when you uh have another issue.

Where does the trust begin and where does it end?

So I I think that we we we've got to have a good conscious thought about how and what message do we send to the men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day.

And I commend those who agreed to follow the ordinance.

Hey, I could basically address the fact about Hispanic Latinos.

I go home every day.

So I grew up in the community.

So let's say it for the record, let's put it on the record so anybody don't think that it's me against anybody.

I was born in the movement of a civil rights movement, but I don't see this ordinance as a movement.

I don't I don't know we vote on movements.

If that's the case, then all of us can introduce a movement.

And I don't think it would be better middle of the city.

I think Houston is in a good spot.

The administration and the department.

You know, we're not Minnesota.

We're not Chicago.

I know, and I just said it verbalizing, I lived there.

Four years I lived in the city.

So, but for the record, um, I I just hope and pray that we think good consideration.

I don't want this to be a band-aid on the shotgun rule.

Thank you for your perspective.

I don't think there's any doubt.

Uh certainly from my perspective that we support our men and women.

Uh we've increased and graduated over 800 cadets since you and I took office.

HPD has all-time large number of officers, over 5400.

And I see this as this proposition is codifying their practices.

The Chief's directive will govern.

And he's had excellent results from the model that we proposed almost a month ago.

It's uh respecting the rights of citizens, allowing officers to do their job, and following the law, and that's what's expected.

Councilmember Evans Shabbats.

Thank you, Mayor.

Certainly, you know, I I talked about an ordinance, but I want to commend my colleagues, Selena's Cayman and Pollard, for being about the change.

And we know that a lot of these stops and whatever, they are based on racial profiling, and that is wrong.

I don't care if you're black, brown, Asian, whatever the case may be, that is wrong.

Mayor, I've watched you juggle to try to keep the city protected, and having a conscience about what's going on with people that are being um taken in the ICE custody.

But but what I don't like is that you are not, Councilmember going to pit us against HPD.

It's never been a question of whether we trust HPD.

It is the outcome of HPD turning innocent citizens over to IC.

And that's what I can't get past.

So I am again commending my colleagues for moving forward.

And I I just want to say, just to bring something else to the light that really disturbed me the other night, I was watching the factor.

To find out that illegal immigrants are doing honest work for people, and then at the end, when it's time to get paid, they are being told they are not gonna get paid.

We're gonna call ice, or they call ice is appalling.

And I just want to say if you are doing that, it is a special place in hell for you because you are a thief, and you have no moral fiber.

So I am certainly going to support this.

Uh, but certainly to look in the faces of all of the innocent people that are taken into custody, we have an obligation to do something, and not to just sit here in a horseshoe and talk about it.

So I am thankful that you all were about it, and I will certainly support this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Thank you, Mayor, and uh to the council members who did the work around this ordinance to bring it forward.

You know, one of the things that this addresses is transparency with the uh quarterly reporting.

And this is an issue where, and like a lot of issues, more transparency is a good thing.

Um Monday I was speaking at a civic group and questions were asked around this related to misinformation.

Yesterday, speaking at a civic club, same thing.

Uh there's still questions out there that people are asking.

There's still things that are going around and spreading that aren't true.

This helps provide more transparency, which we all uh talk about uh in a number of ways as a good thing.

And so I am going to be supporting this item.

I I appreciate my colleagues for doing the work uh to get this here in front of us uh because I do think it will help address something that will ultimately lead to building more trust and uh calming some of the fears, and that is an increased amount of transparency around a very complex issue.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Romares.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move to take the item out of order and to allow the council members who sponsored this to lay it out.

Second motion.

Maiden segment, all in favor say yes.

Those opposed, no.

Thank you.

Did you want to be recognized or you're not a chance to do that?

I'll have remarks, but but after it's been laid out, Your Honor.

Okay, got it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Peck.

Then we will get back to laying that.

Yeah, let us call the item and then we will recognize Selena.

Okay.

Item 28 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

Councilmember Peck.

Oh, okay.

Do you want to be recognized now?

Would you like to hear from your colleagues?

I am happy to do the vote and then speak about the ordinance.

Yes, sure.

And you'll get all the time you'd like.

Of course.

I think it is very valuable to hear from your colleagues.

Of course.

I I don't mean interrupt the conversation if others want to speak.

We were going in we were doing it right.

Go ahead, Vice Mayor Pro Timpeck.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I want to begin by recognizing the importance of this issue and the concerns that have been raised.

Um, however, I think that the mayor's current policy requiring HPD to wait 30 minutes is sound, reasonable, and provides clear direction while balancing public safety and legal consequences.

And taking away this guidance creates confusion and exposes the City of Houston to potential legal challenges.

I am also concerned that this measure may create unintended risks to our public safety.

Placing a national spotlight on Houston could lead to unsafe situations for both our community and law enforcement.

For these reasons, I am voting against this proposal.

Public safety is my top priority.

It has been and it continues to be.

Thank you, Mayor, and good morning to everyone.

A few comments.

One, uh props to Councilmember Salinas for taking the lead on this.

I think it was necessary based on uh the responses we were getting from the public by and large, not just those that you hear that come on Tuesdays, but the 50 organizations that signed on, the many people that I represent in the Gulf and Sharptown area who are hardworking.

Um, some are undocumented, uh, but contribute in a meaningful way to the City of Houston.

Um it was important for us to listen to them.

Our only responsibility on this horseshoe is to listen, to represent the voices of those that we represent.

Um, and this is the the power of Proposition A.

But for this measure that the voters put in place, uh, this ordinance may not have come to this body.

It was necessary that when we were seeing no real action on this issue, um, that we had to take the proposition a route uh to get some real movement.

The 30-minute policy that is currently on the books uh could be very well seen as unconstitutional.

Um the Fourth Amendment, which speaks to unlawful search and seizures, it will be hard to make an argument that passed a certain point of the reason for the stop.

Do you have justification for holding someone?

The city attorney will tell you that.

Other legal scholars will tell you that.

And so we have something that is currently adopted that could be challenged.

And the whole point of a lawfulness review is to go forward to make sure that things are proper, they don't violate or conflict with state law, and that's what this ordinance does.

So any opposition to it after a lawfulness review, I don't see how you can get to that point.

I think we also need to understand that we are the most diverse city in America where 25 percent of our residents are foreign-born.

And we have been known as an extremely welcoming city.

You have to put policies in place to ensure that those residents who make our city great have the ability to thrive and succeed, regardless of status.

I think the main public safety concern would be those who commit harm and who do danger in our communities.

But if it is seen that a person who may be stopped for an offense and there is an administrative warrant for that person, and that person has no real criminal history, has no warrant signed by a judge for any criminal behavior, then it's safe to assume that this is one of the this is one of the people who is in our city who may be undocumented that provide more benefit than not to our society.

And none of us can be oblivious to the fact that there are thousands and thousands of people within the City of Houston without legal status that contribute in a meaningful way.

Our city would not be who it is without them.

The focus should be on criminals.

When it comes to law enforcement, the focus should be on criminals, whether you are here legally or illegally.

The focus should always be on those committing danger and harm to our community.

And I support law enforcement in every effort to keep our community safe in that regard.

But this particular proposal is to clear up any unconstitutionality that is currently on the books, to give clear guidelines on what the city is to do in these circumstances, and to provide some transparency to our body on those interactions.

And I think it is thoughtful.

I think it is necessary, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of leading the charge.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I support this measure because I believe it will make us all safer.

Effective law enforcement requires that residents trust the police enough to report crimes.

As a Harris County prosecutor for more than 30 years, I prosecuted countless murders, capital murders, and aggravated assault deadly weapon cases, where immigrants were often necessary witnesses.

I knew many were here illegally, but I needed their cooperation to keep violent criminals behind bars.

Many were reluctant to come to court for fear they would be picked up.

I had to convince them to trust that neither I nor anyone in court would call immigration authorities to come get them.

I secured many convictions using their testimony.

Never once did I call immigration authorities to turn them in.

Every other prosecutor I knew did exactly the same thing.

The immigrant community today estimated at about 600,000 in Harris County alone does not feel they can call HPD safely to report a crime without being held for ICE and deported.

And when crimes go unreported, when people don't speak out for fear of being taken into custody, criminals go unpunished.

I saw this firsthand.

The current Federal immigration drag net and our HPD policy place our hardware officers in an impossible position.

Following policy, an officer called ice on a battered woman who asked for protection.

A woman stranded with her child at Houston Hobby Airport.

Now we can try all we want to convince the immigrant community that HPD has their back, but everyone knows that they're just a computer hit away from being deported.

As a result, immigrants don't cooperate with police.

Victims suffer in silence, crimes go unreported, and our city is left safe.

According to D.A.

Sean Tier, as of December of last year, nearly a dozen criminal cases, including sexual assaults of children, were harmed because victims and witnesses were either deported or refused to participate because of their status.

The question for this council is do we want to have the most effective police force possible to enforce serious state crimes and city ordinances, one the immigrant community trusts, or do we want a deportation force that enforces Federal rule violations because you can't have both.

I know which one I want.

Let me address some of the misinformation surrounding this proposal.

It does not repeat, does not prohibit communication between HPD and ICE.

It does not create a sanctuary city.

It does not allow criminals to go free.

Some believe that undocumented immigrants are committing a crime just by being here.

That's not true.

In Arizona versus United States, the U.S.

Supreme Court said, as a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to remain present in the United States.

That's why in February of last year, for the first time ever, ICE dumped more than 700,000 administrative warrants into the system alleging rule violations, not crimes.

Anytime ICE wants to file an actual criminal warrant on an actual immigrant criminal, all they have to do is swear out an affidavit stating probable cause for a federal crime, take it to a real judge, and get them to sign it.

This proposal does nothing to change that.

This proposal does nothing more than tell our police department to follow the Fourth Amendment.

The operative language in this proposal was lifted almost word for word straight out of a U.S.

Supreme Court case.

That is why our City Attorney has said it is lawful because it follows the Constitution.

To the extent this issue has become about partisan politics, that is regrettable.

These are nonpartisan positions we hold.

The decisions we make as Houston City Council members should be about what's best for Houston residents.

This shouldn't be about politics or failed or fixing failed Federal immigration policies.

It's about sound local public policy.

If I thought for a minute that it would make us less safe, I wouldn't support it.

But our job is to give the hardworking men and women of HPD the tools they need to enforce state laws and city ordinances.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Councilman Cayman.

Councilmember Ramirez took a lot of what I wanted to say.

First colleagues, I want to thank Councilmember Salinas for her leadership for coming in, hitting the ground running and doing her due diligence in a highly professional way.

And while I could not disagree more with the legal department's determination on a portion of our proposal, specifically relating to giving police discretion, a discretion that they use every single day.

And I want to be very clear that there is more that must be done.

As I have said from day one, if an individual poses a public safety risk, I trust local law enforcement.

I trust HPD to act, regardless of someone's immigration status.

Our officers work hard and we appreciate their dedication to our city and our communities.

But I'll also note that ICE agent training pales in comparison to the thorough and in-depth training and professionalism that we see in our HPD officers.

These are people's lives.

These are people's families, these are people's children, their wives, their mothers, their brothers.

Raids that have occurred in our city, not just the region in Southwest Houston, including in District C, are the basis of legal challenges that are ongoing right now brought by residents, including the fact that ICE continues to demand proof of citizenship by U.S.

citizens.

The mistrust is creating an even greater public safety risk, forcing victims of crime into the shadows, creating fear and trauma for our children and hurting our economy.

Local law enforcement does not have the resources or the time to stand in and do ICE's job for them.

A policy was recently implemented that said HPD will only wait 30 minutes for ICE.

So above all else, what this item is about is the fact that the Constitution of the United States of America is not optional, be that one minute, 30 minutes, or an hour.

This item is about respect for our laws, respect for the rule of law, and respect for everyday Houstonians who contribute to the fabric of our city and of our nation.

And I want to express my appreciation to the numerous organizations and legal experts who have been working with us on this, residents who are speaking out at a time when many in our immigrant community cannot speak out for themselves.

Thank you, Mayor.

You know, the Constitution lays out that individuals should be protected from unreasonable search and seizures.

I completely agree with that.

I completely agree with transparency and the value of keeping statistics, absolutely.

The concern that I have for this ordinance is some of the reporting requirements.

So we know HPD has an incredibly difficult job.

We don't want to make it any harder.

Thank you.

Councilman Salinas for close.

I just want to start by thanking all of my colleagues for their thoughtful engagement on this issue.

I know it's taking time, and I really appreciate it.

I appreciate the conversations we've had and the opportunity to bring this issue forward.

Briefly to respond to your concern, Councilmember Huffman, we are not asking for any publicly reported information beyond what already exists.

There is currently a path portal where any Houston resident can look up an officer based on an anonymized ID.

This ordinance would have that same anonymized ID reporting, so there is no concern about the disclosure of a particular HPD official to the public.

It is just the same tracking we use through the PATH portal for a number of other items that are currently tracked by HPD.

But I I want to also echo Councilmember Cayman's concerns and I strongly agree this is not the end of this issue.

We need to continue the fight.

I am committed to continuing the fight and working with the organizations to push back on the city attorney's opinion.

But today we have the opportunity to take a meaningful step forward, and I am grateful for the support that I am hearing across the around the horseshoe, and I I say let's have a vote.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

For sure.

Mr.

Secretary Call Rock.

Mayor Whitmeyer?

Yes.

Councilmember Pick.

No.

Councilmember Jackson?

Yes.

Councilmember Kenan?

Yes.

Councilmember Ibn Shabazz?

Yes.

Councilmember for the Kinder?

No.

Councilmember Thomas?

Yes.

Councilmember Hoffman?

No.

Councilmember Castillo?

Yes.

Councilmember Martinez?

Yes.

Councilmember Pollard?

Yes.

Councilmember Cast takes Tatal?

Yes.

Councilmember Rumey Rose?

Yes.

Councilmember Davis.

Councilmember Carter?

Councilmember Salinas?

Yes.

And Councilmember Alcorn.

Yes.

Vote being 12 hours.

I have no.

Councilmember Kaman for comments after.

Councilmember Kamen.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, colleagues, for the vote and for the discussion.

And I'm not going to be here.

So I would like to lay out for all of you and for the public pertaining to what Councilmember Salinas said about the work that needs to continue and my deep concerns and objections to city legals flawed and unsound opinion that restricts council action.

The City Legal Department has prohibited a key component of this ordinance from moving forward today.

And I want to be clear that what was passed is a step forward and needed to happen.

But the proposal that was restricted would give local law enforcement discretion when contacting ICE for administrative warrants, which are civil, non-criminal requests.

The debate that is happening around this horseshoe is a result of SB4, which passed the State Legislature in 2017.

So this is not a new debate.

But as passed, the focus was on detainer requests and ensuring cities do not prohibit local law enforcement from inquiring about someone's immigration status, and the legislative record of intent says just that.

But the tactics, the blatant disregard for constitutional protections, for respect of schools and hospitals, the racial profiling and improper treatment of Americans, the mass detention of individuals, both citizens and non-citizens alike, which is beginning to run parallel to the grim numbers of mass detentions during Japanese internment compels us to act in defense of our communities and our local public safety resources.

We are in an unprecedented time in our nation's history, and what we choose to do in the face of this matters.

The original proposal we put forward does not conflict, nor does it run afoul of SB4, which to be clear we are bound by.

SB4 says a locality cannot prohibit local law enforcement from adopting enforcing or endorsing a policy that prohibits or discourages the enforcement of immigration laws, and the key words here are prohibit and discourage.

Discretion is something our officers use every single day.

Discretion is not prohibition.

Discretion does not materially limit or discourage.

There is nothing in the plain language that we put forward that conflicts with SB4.

And there is no plausible interpretation that it does.

ICE's blatant disregard for the rule of law, the disregard of federal court orders, and disregard for standard best practices has put local law enforcement in a position that many of them do not want to be in, nor should they be in.

It not only sows misfear and mistrust and forces victims into the shadows, it strains police resources and time.

Again, we all know this around this horseshoe.

We do not have the resources to step into the role of federal customs and immigration enforcement, and that is not the job of local police.

The Fifth Circuit itself has said a city policy cannot violate SB4 if it's an immigration neutral policy about resource allocation, and the policy does not materially limit immigration law enforcement if it prohibits actions that the locality already lacks the power to lawfully perform.

At the time SB4 was passed, ICE had not dumped 700,000 administrative warrants into the NCICTCIC system.

What we're talking about about are not holds or criminal warrants that local law enforcement are permitted to act upon.

These are civil-based requests created by ICE agents themselves with no check on what's actually being entered into the system.

A federal judge here in Texas, Judge Beary, in January, issued an order when five-year-old Leon Liam Ramos was sent from Minneapolis to Dilly, right here in our backyard.

He said, quote, Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster.

That is called the Fox guarding the hen house.

The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer.

So I want to caution this body of a dangerous precedent that is being set.

Council must not relinquish its authority on this or any other matter that may arise in the future.

But the mayor may prescribe rules such as general rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or expedient for the general conduct of the administrative department, the heads of which are responsible to him.

Again, council shall have the authority.

It is wholly within this body's authority to enact policies surrounding this matter.

And in fact, on the vote we just took, we did just that.

And we have before when we eliminated traffic stop quotas, so this is no different.

But City Legal, by their own admission, is not an independent department.

In the same memo, attempting to restrict counsel with obsequious legal interpretations, it says all city employees operate pursuant to the mayor's administrative control.

It also goes on to say the mayor holds broad administrative and managerial authority over all city departments' employees and operations.

So again, the city's legal department is not independent, and the legal opinion is not independent.

Voters approved proposition A, adding new authority given to City Council.

But I will say, since the mayor does control departments, and legal says he has the power to take action, it is imperative that further immediate steps are taken to protect Houstonians and safeguard our public safety resources.

Ken Paxton, Stephen Miller, and Donald Trump are not the compass that should guide this body.

Our city has been put in an impossible position, but this is happening in our own backyard, and countless Houstonians, citizens and non-citizens alike in the most diverse city in the nation are being targeted, facing egregious civil rights and due process violations.

We are Texas.

We should never cower or hide, especially when it comes to protecting the people that we serve.

This is Houston, and we stand up for what is right.

We respect the rule of law, we respect the diversity that makes us who we are, and we respect the rights of our residents.

And when it comes to the rights of Houstonians, come and take it should be a defiant challenge, not an invitation.

Colleagues, thank you for passing this ordinance.

Today's victory is your victory.

This is democracy in action.

And I want to make clear in response to some of the comments, this is a very meaningful step.

Today we have ended the 30-minute policy that allowed HBD to wait for ICE for 30 minutes.

That is no longer the law of Houston.

Today, if an someone is pulled over and there is an administrative warrant, they have to issue the ticket, and once that ticket is issued, the individual must be let go.

They cannot wait around for 30 minutes for ICE to arrive.

This is a fundamental shift in policy, and I am grateful to my colleagues for passing it.

This is also significant because we are ending the opaqueness that has existed for over a year around how our tax dollars are being used to support ICE operations.

We only learned because the chief of police happened to mention it in a press conference that 17 individuals had been turned over to ICE custody.

But for his decision to make that press conference, we would have never known that fact.

That will no longer be the case in the City of Houston.

Now the public will know on a quarterly basis how often somebody is pulled over and ICE is contacted, the length of the stop, the officers involved, the purpose of the stop, and if there are issues and violations of the Fourth Amendment, we will be able to address those.

But the public deserves to know.

And I strongly disagree that this is not addressing the fear in community.

Just last night, I was at a super neighborhood meeting where an individual told me that her brother was detained and is currently in ICE custody after a traffic stop.

She thanked us for pushing the ordinance, and so many Houstonians are grateful that we are acting.

Many of you are right.

We cannot change Federal immigration policy, but we can control how HPD supports that policy.

And today we took a step in the right direction to do the closer to the bare minimum that is required under state law.

But we should not be doing anything more than what state law requires.

And I am committed to do everything in my power to fight the city attorney's wrong decision about administrative warrants, work with legal groups, and I hope the city attorney will be open to reconsidering his position when he realizes the error in the analysis that was provided.

But this fight continues, but this win belongs to the community.

So I thank you.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being brave for standing up.

It is not easy, but you did it, and this is democracy in action.

Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to ask the City Attorney a few questions.

I too wanted clarification regarding the first provision that was deemed unlawful.

Specifically as it relates to discretion.

Right now on the books under state law, there are many traffic laws and moving violations that officers could stop and arrest for.

And in some instances, the officer uses his own professional judgment to have discretion over what happens during that stop.

And so, for instance, one of us could get pulled over for a broken taillight.

And that in that stop, the officer does not have to give or is not mandated to give a citation.

Sometimes the officer looks at the total circumstance of that particular situation, and they look at a person's background, they look at how they responded to the officer, they look at whether there are any warrants, they looked at a lot of different factors probably, and they decide, hey, I may give this person a warning, right?

They have that discretion.

And I believe as a lawyer, it is important in law that we have flexibility, that we don't live in absolutes, and that people are able to have professional discretion.

SB4, as Councilmember Cayman mentioned, uh puts forth that there can be no policy or legislation that prohibits or discourages the cooperation with Federal authorities.

The proposal that we put forward does not limit that at all, but it does give professional discretion, as is already deemed in every other instance where HPD makes traffic stops.

So the question that I have to get more clarity on your viewpoint on it, why was this deemed unlawful based on discretion when HPD already has discretion in every other instance during traffic stops?

Well, we all agree we have to comply with state law, and we all agree that SB4 prohibits materially limiting cooperation with ICE.

I think the legal question is when an officer accesses the FBI system and gets an image that says, please call ICE at this number, is that simple request giving an officer discretion not to comply with it materially limiting cooperation with ICE?

My opinion is that it is materially limiting it.

If the ICE agent follows up with another question, transfer him to Chambers County to a detention center there, or hold them for six hours, then I would say it is not a reasonable and necessary request, which is a standard.

So that is what my opinion is based on.

If you had to make an adverse opinion, what what would that argument be?

If you were to make a reverse argument, what what would that argument be?

All class.

I really haven't considered that.

I am not sure what it would be.

I use my best judgment in terms of what I thought was the proper legal advice.

Thank you.

Council Fleckinger.

Council Member Fleckinger.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just wanted to give a little context around administrative warrants.

Obviously, they have been talked about very derisively.

When someone enters the country and claims asylum, they're given a court date for an immigration court.

If they do not show up, an administrative warrant is issued as final orders for their removal.

With 10 million people coming during the last administration, and the vast majority of them claiming asylum, and the asylum laws in this country are very specific.

Economic asylum is not a reason for asylum.

The United States does not recognize that as a reason to grant asylum.

And that is why they have had so many cases where they have not shown up in court.

Final orders of deportations have been issued based upon the fact they have not shown up, and an administrative warrant has been issued for their removal.

There is no reason for those administrative warrants not to be enforced.

Councilmember?

So I need I want to better understand.

I mean, I am completely supportive of what we did today, but we've I am not a lawyer.

There are a lot of lawyers around here.

There's a detainer, there's an administrative warrant, there is a criminal warrant.

I want to know exactly what does HPD see.

They see, do they see call this number?

ICE is this is the number of ICE.

Did they see say HPD administrative warrants are all administrative warrants?

What Councilmember Flickinger just described?

I mean, uh that somebody that missed a hearing.

Um is a detainer a separate thing that they see.

I've I've been, and I've I have talked to Chief Harden and people kind of trying to get a better understanding of it.

But can we just clarify what officers see when they pull somebody up?

What exactly do they see?

Obviously, as you can see, the lawyers are going to disagree.

So if you go around the horseshoe, of course I listen to City Attorney.

So if you really want that process, I think it should be in a committee, the prop A.

Okay, I'm fine with that.

Because we you know, almost a while ago it almost turned into a law class where you are asked to give both sides of an argument, and that's not the proper function of our council this morning.

So we have had a great opportunity to discuss it.

I don't think we are going to change anyone's mind.

As Councilman Selena said this is not the end of it.

I can only imagine.

Um we have folks that are given ample opportunities.

This is not your last meeting, but certainly you wanted to leave your words on the record.

So I am not going to rush this to another item, but I do think this has been very transparent.

Everyone's been heard, and I'm not going to cut it off, but I wish we would also recognize it's a council meeting.

We have actually voted.

So you have plenty of ample opportunity after this to continue the dialogue.

And I am certainly the lawyers will be glad to give you their opinion.

Because some of them get paid a lot of money for it.

Councilmember Kaman.

Thank you.

Oh, I am happy to defer to Councilmember Selena's for it.

Mayor, given the incredible interest of our colleagues, um, I would ask that you agree to hold a hearing on this issue where council can hear from not only the city attorney, but legal experts on the issue, hear the merits, the arguments for and against the additional provision, and then following that hearing, council can take a vote on whether it wants to proceed with that item on the agenda.

Thank you.

Councilmember can can you get back to us this week on whether you will agree to such a hearing?

Okay.

Councilman Cayman.

But Mayor, I am asking you, will you please get back to us this week on whether you'll agree?

Well, I respectfully ask that we we hold the hearing.

I think Council strongly agree.

Councilman Cayman.

Thank you, Mayor.

And um given we are going to continue again a very robust conversation on the different types of warrants, the fact that even those legally following the procedures of asylum and then being showing up for court and being arrested literally at the courthouse here in Houston.

Um, the overarching concern that I have raised, which again I think will go far beyond after I am no longer sitting in this chair, is we have rules that have been implemented that if the city legal department deems something not legal to be brought forward on the agenda, it is not permitted to come forward.

And respectfully, those legal opinions are not independent legal opinions by an independent department.

So what this council, whether it be this issue, which I hope it will be taken up under, or issues in the future.

Whether or not we are bound by a non-independent department's legal opinion on something, or whether counsel deems that something is permissible to be brought to agenda.

And I wholly agree that a rigorous review of items needs to go it needs to be put forward in order for something to come to agenda.

Vetting must occur.

That is how a good process works.

But what we are allowed to bring to counsel and who that is up to must be discussed further, because at present, we are beholden to and constrained by a department that is does not answer to City Council and is not independent.

Thank you.

Councilman Carter.

Well, with respect to my colleagues around the horseshoe, um, you know, we are talking about trust and law enforcement and sitting around this horseshoe listening.

We are in fact the ones who are stilling or instilling in the community the lack of trust in law enforcement.

I mean, we are debating what law enforcement does and doesn't do and how they can handle and how they shouldn't.

We want attorneys, we want to talk about it.

Bring HPD in.

You know, a few weeks back when the press conference was held, and and Chief Diaz committed to the officers and the 30 minutes in this, that was enough.

That seemed like enough.

HPD was in favor, HPD was in favor, they felt that gave them the opportunity to do their jobs.

And so now we came and, you know, we voted and you all modified it.

Great.

How much more modification do we take before we take HPD's word and try to uphold our trust and our commitment to support law enforcement?

I mean, right here around this horseshoe, we are putting HPD out there and then saying, well, we don't trust what they are doing either.

That's what it sounds like to the community.

I support law enforcement 110 percent.

Public safety is not a talking point for me.

I support HPD, their trained professionals allow them to do their jobs.

And we talk about the immigrant community.

We had a whole room full of immigrants yesterday.

They all seem fine.

You know, you look at the Asian community in J City, go talk to them.

How many of their organizations came forth and spoke?

You know, uh yesterday one of them says, well, one of the members said, yeah, you know, people are concerned whether they need to carry their passport.

Well, the fact is they have a passport.

You know, like I mean, you know, and Councilmember Kaman, with respect, I listened to you, and it may be comical what I am saying, and I appreciate the humor in it, but you know, there is the other side to it, and I'm sorry you disagree, but we are breaking down community trust as we debate HPD's authority or lack thereof.

Thank you.

And I'll add one other aspect of all the discussion is the legislature is watching.

So if you don't think Councilman Cayman and Selinas and all of us, there is a House and a Senate that are preparing legislation as we talk.

So all I can say is be prepared.

Councilman Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor.

I do want to I do want to clarify, based on Councilmember Carter's statement, that after that press conference or a 30-minute new policy for how to uh detain or give orders to HPD when these issues arise, that could be deemed unconstitutional.

Our law, our our our job here is lawmakers.

We are policymakers, right?

Every department around this City of Houston follows the ordinances that we put forth.

So people elect us to put in the parameters on what others are to follow.

That 30-minute policy is unconstitutional.

Since it is unconstitutional, or we believe that it is, we had to bring an ordinance forward to ensure that we weren't in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

And we don't want our officers to be in violation of the Fourth Amendment either.

But with a 30-minute policy, it could be deemed that they are.

So it is important that our function here ensures that city employees are protected based on the ordinances and policies that we put forth for them because they have to abide by those.

We don't want to put them forward and set them up for failure based on policy that violates the Fourth Amendment.

And that is why when they went through a legal review, the City Attorney's Office came back and said that this is lawful to go about it this way.

And that it could be deemed unconstitutional based on what was put forth before.

Councilmember Evan.

I'm not done.

So to clarify, I want us to really understand what was done today.

Today was to ensure that there was real guidelines and clarity over what HPD is afforded to do, and to ensure that they are not doing anything that is unconstitutional, which does then build trust between law enforcement in the communities they serve, and it fulfills our obligation to ensure that we put forth policies that are not unconstitutional.

So I think this was a great step in the right direction, and the power of Proposition A was shown to be effective in this regard.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Everett Schraz.

Thank you, Mayor.

I guess what I am still disturbed about is this comments about how everybody that voted for does not trust HPD.

I I have a real problem with that, because I certainly trust HPD.

Nobody up here wants criminals on the street legal or illegal.

What we do have an obligation and responsibility to do is to define how HPD is to engage.

I think they would appreciate that.

I I I just can't really believe that they want to do anything that violates the law either.

But certainly, I just don't like the idea.

I trust HPD.

I think we all do, but they are not immigration officers.

And they do have a lot on their plates that they need to do to keep us safe.

So I'm just going to be clear, and I think that I am expressing the sentiments of the council members here that voted.

We do trust HPD, but we need them to know the parameters so that they will know that they are operating within the law.

So thank you.

Councilman Flickring.

Got a question for the City Attorney.

HPD occasionally makes stops where they suspect that there is drugs in a vehicle.

If they wait and have a drug dog come out and it takes half an hour, is that legal for them to do that?

Yeah.

If they have reasonable suspicion for the stop, they can continue until they finish their investigation.

Thank you.

I think Councilmember Flickinger just proved my point.

When there is a lawful stop based on what is in the con the parameters of local law enforcement's responsibility, they are able to legally make that stop.

Once that legal stop has concluded, there is no grounds under which law enforcement can continue to detain an individual based on the protections of the Constitution of the United States.

So again, I think we keep going back and forth.

And Councilmember Carter, it's not laughable.

These are people's lives.

This is very serious.

What you see is frustration when we say, oh, well, everybody has a passport or everybody has an ID.

When I have literally worked with clients who are U.S.

citizens who did not have the proper documentation to obtain of ID because the laws in the State of Texas are so restrictive.

They could not afford the costs.

They could not obtain the documents.

So when we are talking about real people in real lives, no, it is not just a headline or a quip or oh, this is just politics and political posturing.

These are families, and we have all spoken with them.

And we have also not spoken with many of them because they are too afraid to come forward.

And when the City of Houston in the past has made clear guidelines, this is what you can expect from the City of Houston.

This is what we stand for.

This is how we stand strong with public safety and law enforcement.

And here is what we are not going to do.

That provides clarity and that builds trust.

So again, I don't want to keep rehashing this.

I appreciate that there's going to be an additional robust dialogue.

I want to thank everybody for not only their perspectives, but having Mayor, a very real conversation about something that matters to millions of people.

And I know we have a long agenda to get to, but I do want to make sure it's very clear that these are people's lives we are talking about.

Councilman Martins.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just uh again.

The conversation is great.

It should have happened a long time ago.

The work is still needing to be done.

This is not going to erase fear.

I'm going to be just quite frank with everybody.

I'm talking to folks.

Talk to people around this horseshoe.

And my question to them, once this passes, will it erase fear?

The answer is no.

The work is showing up.

The work is going and taking HPD and having these conversations.

Community policing, showing up, doing that work is what's going to address this issue of fear.

And so the more that we can belabor this fight and whatnot, nothing's gonna change until we, as leaders around this horseshoe, do that work.

I just want to stress to my colleagues the more that you can have this coffee with police, the more you can have, you know, invite folks to the pit meetings.

Invite, you know, we created a whole sp uh cafe component, yeah, for folks that were not comfortable at a pit meeting because it was in English.

Now it's in Spanish.

Keep showing up.

That is the work.

Everything else to me is gonna be noise until you show up with community and HPD and say, here's the bridge, let's talk and let's have an honest conversation.

So we can continue to belabor this, but at the end of the day, if you don't show up, that that is gonna be the detriment to how Houston becomes more and more unsafe because people will not call.

People are not calling.

That's it.

Please go to the consent generous secretary.

Under the purchase and entailation of bids category, items three and five have been removed for separate consideration.

Need a vote for item four.

All in favor, say yes, those opposed nay.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, need a motion for item four.

Cast say to move.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes, those opposed, nay.

Motion passed.

Under the resolutions category.

Item six needs a vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Under the ordinances category, since your list was distributed.

All items have been received except item 19.

It will be considered if it is received before the end of the meeting.

Items removed for separate consideration.

9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, and 22.

Again, those numbers are 9, 10, 13, 15, and 16, 18, 20 through 22.

Need a vote on the balance.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, name.

Motion passes.

Items removed for separate consideration.

Need a vote.

Need a motion for item three.

Councilmember Castillo.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor and colleagues.

I do want to highlight uh this item because it is uh as HPD has moved their IT into hits.

This is part of that consolidation.

Um their IT service desk was boss desk.

They're now moving to Service Now, which is um IT standard platform for this.

This will allow them to consolidate with the rest of the city along with the Houston Airport system.

So um eliminating separate services, saving dollars, um better consolidation of of technologies, and also gives HIITs a better understanding of technology needs across the city by bringing all of these into one service uh platform, and so it will upgrade efficiency, accountability, and uh ultimately help us deliver better services to the residents of Houston.

Thank you.

Cast X tell you to move.

Heck second.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes, those opposed name.

Motion passes.

Item five needs a motion.

Cast X tell you to move.

Heck second.

Now Castle Mr.

Castillo.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you.

Uh, this also wanted to highlight uh using AI traffic sensors for traffic mitigation and signal timing.

We've used them already at 10 intersections along Old Spanish Trail.

This is expanding uh the usage of this.

So it allows for real time adjustment of the signal timing by monitoring the traffic flows, not a fixed signal time uh like we're used to.

Also allows for the uh emergency vehicles to have priority, et cetera, uh cloud-based system.

Um and this doesn't have to end here.

If it works well, we can continue to expand this program uh across the city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Alcorn.

Councilman Alcorn.

Thank you.

I I think this is great, and and I commend Councilmember Castillo's leadership on on using AI at the city to to do all kinds of things, save money, make traffic flow better.

I read the Chronicle article today, it was great.

Paralyne has been using this since 2023.

Uh this is the way of the future.

I mean, real-time traffic considerations can be done by AI, and I hope this works out and we we expand it.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Just need a vote.

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

Motion passes.

Item 9 is an ordinance, just meet a vote.

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

Motion passes.

Item 10 is an ordinance, just meet a vote.

Councilmember Cayman.

Councilman Cayman.

Thank you, Mayor.

I had a quick question for the City Attorney, and just so the public knows this item pertains to adding an additional funding for outside council as it relates to the challenge the city is facing for its um to the MBE portion of the City's MWBE program.

Obviously, I support this.

I support the defense of the city in continuing such a critical and important program that supports local business.

There is also current litigation related to the dismantling of the State's hub program, historically underutilized business program.

Does that litigation in any way impact this challenge?

And does the city in any way, is a city in any way impacted by the dismantling of the hub program?

So maybe take those in reverse.

One, does the city, is the city impacted by the dismantling of the State's hub program?

It is not.

The City's programs in this regard are standalone.

And two, is there could there be any implications in that litigation as it pertains to our track of litigation?

That may be argued, but I think this always stands on the evidentiary framework that each entity has, and I think we have a strong basis for our programs.

Thank you.

And I appreciate that because what we are hearing again, local businesses that are being impacted by both programs or the dismantling thereof.

It is important to for all of us to stay apprised of that and continue to work.

Thank you.

Just need to vote?

All in need of vote.

Just need a vote.

All in favor say yes, those opposed to naight.

Motion passes.

Item 13 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

All in favor, say yes, those opposed to naight.

Motion passes.

Item 16 is an ordinance, just me to vote.

All in favor, say yes.

Councilmember Cain?

We're on 16.

16.

Sorry.

Okay.

I put them in.

15 is in.

I had them not in order.

Item 15 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Councilmember.

After the vote?

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed to nave.

Motion passes.

Councilmember Lickinger.

Yes.

Mayor and Council, just want to thank you for the approval on this item.

This is much needed flood mitigation in the Kingwood area.

This area didn't even flood during Harvey.

There was a new development that took place actually in Montgomery County that affected this area.

And the county and the city got together and purchased that property before the land actually got developed, although after it was cleared.

And this is going to go a long way in actually improving the situation of those people.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Next.

Item 16 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Councilman Cayman.

Thank you, Mayor.

This is also a thank you and a shout out.

This agreement with the county is the feasibility study for constructing a trail on an existing flood control easement on Renwick Drive and looking at other opportunities to address drainage and incorporate green infrastructure and more.

Our office had submitted this project in partnership with the organization, Neighborhoods to Trails Southwest through Precinct 4's call for projects.

So thank thanks to them for the support during the application process.

All in favor say yes, those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Item 18 is an ordinance.

Just need a vote.

Councilmember Castillo.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor and colleagues.

I am proud to support this item.

It is the creation of a new park in District H, the East Sunset Heights Park.

This has been a long time coming.

The residents made sure I knew about it as soon as I uh took office that they had been working on this for years.

Um this is an old Metro Transit Center that is becoming a park.

Um we're talking about bringing a community amenity to a new part of the district.

Um a 270-day construction window, but this item passing today is a key milestone in this process that's been uh years in the making, and so I'm going to continue to uh work with the departments, parks, GSD, public works on your team.

They've been uh fantastic in providing the updates and and pushing this forward and make sure the community is up to date uh as this uh park gets closer and closer to creation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Just need to vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nine motion passes.

Item 20 is an ordinance.

Just need to vote.

All in favor, Councilman Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh uh colleagues, this is a uh ordinance that's appropriating uh 200, a little bit over uh a quarter of a million dollars from the dedicated drainage street and renewal capital fund.

Um we talk about uh trains in the East End all the time.

Um and I want to lift up uh Commissioner Garcia for partnering with us.

This is a joint effort, so we're contributing together uh half a million dollars uh towards the East End triangle resilient and access uh to improve logistics and safety uh in that area.

And so um just appreciate your your uh support.

Um we're doing good work to make sure that we're also looking at great separation in the East End.

So uh appreciate everyone's support on this.

Thank you.

All in favor, say yes.

Those opposed name, motion passes.

Item 21 is an ordinance, just need a vote.

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

Item 22 is an ordinance, just need to vote.

Councilman Martinez.

Councilman Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh colleagues, uh, this also has to do with trains as well.

This is uh essentially uh advancing some an agreement that uh will happen between Texas Dot and the City of Houston, and this is a Millby pedestrian bridge.

Uh many of you are remember there was a high school student at Millby that was uh hit by a train.

Um this consistently becomes, you know, is is has been a challenge in the East End, and so finding these great separations, whether they're for a vehicle or for pedestrians, it's important, and so I appreciate your support on this as well.

Thank you.

Just need to vote.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay, motion pass.

This completes the items on the agenda.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, our next public safety committee meeting will be Tuesday, April 14th at 10 o'clock a.m.

We will have an update um from the Houston Forensic Science Center about their property and evidence um and lab operations.

Also, we will have a presentation about SafeWatch, um, Houston Firearm Dashboard per Councilmember Heemans request.

So please join us for that.

And then Councilmembers, right after the committee meeting, Dr.

Stout will have a virtual mock crime scene set up behind chambers.

Um for any committee members who want to see it, please let us know if you would like to view it so that we don't have any quorum issues.

But um, if you'd like to see it another time too, we can certainly work with him on that.

Thank you.

Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh just want to invite uh the public out uh tonight.

We will be having a neighborhood connection forum.

Uh this is a town hall uh organized by the Department of Neighborhoods.

It will be in J City at the Southwest Multipurpose Center, which is at 6400 High Star.

Uh we'll have representatives from my office as well as Houston Public Works, parking, uh Solid Waste Management, the Houston Police Department, the Houston Health Department, and more.

Uh this gives a great opportunity for residents to come out in person and ask their questions directly.

We know there have been many issues and concerns uh in J City uh that we have tried to uh stay in front of.

Uh there's only but so much we can do as a council office.

We need uh continued collaboration with our city departments, and so this gives us an opportunity to all be in the same room and to have these discussions together.

So again, that's gonna be at the Southwest Multipurpose Center from 6 to 7 30, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you very much.

Pass.

Not on your life.

Um thank you very much, Mayor and colleagues.

Um on this past weekend, uh, District D was filled with joy, energy, and community spirit as families came together to celebrate at multiple Easter events across our area.

There was an annual Easter egg hunt at Cloverland Park and an annual Easter Egg hunt at Cresmaw Park, and I want to thank Councilmember Salinas for coming to the one at Cressmont Park to engage with the community there.

I want to thank all the organizers, partners, and volunteers who made these events possible.

Your efforts continue to uplift our neighborhoods and strengthen our community, our communities.

This is what what it means to be in the District of Destination where the community shows up and supports one another and celebrates together.

Upcoming events, we have an arts and culture committee meeting uh today in chambers at 2 p.m.

And hopefully you will come out and and uh engage in that meeting.

We just had one a couple of weeks ago, but we had missed a few uh for various and asundary reasons, and so we're trying to catch up so that we can move forward.

Uh on tomorrow, the emancipation avenue ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 9 30 a.m.

at the inner in front of the inner me studios, 2206 emancipation avenue.

Um I'm just very thankful that we all had a safe and wonderful week, and we will continue to do so in the district of destination.

And that concludes what's going on in the district of destination.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to invite uh District H residents.

Tomorrow there will be a virtual meeting with Houston Public Works to discuss drainage and paving improvements in the near North Side area with the North Side High School Area Pavage and Draining Project.

This is a 48 million dollar investment into the near Northside community uh for uh upgrades to streets, pavement and drainage systems, sidewalks, underground utilities.

This uh meeting will take place at 5 30 p.m.

tomorrow virtually.

If you like information on how to join, reach out to Houston uh District H at Houston TX.gov.

And then later this month, April 15th, the District H Horizons internship program will open uh applications for the fifth cohort.

Um so this is the six-month paid opportunity for uh internship program in the district H office starting July 1, running through the end of the calendar year.

And it's for anyone that lives, works, or studies in District H can work a minimum of 20 hours a week.

Um I'll encourage you to apply.

Applications will be posted on the website, district H website, and on social media.

And then on Saturday, uh myself and and the team will be joining uh FIFA's sustainability day of action uh for a park cleanup in part in partnership with Keep Houston Beautiful.

We will be at Woodland Park in the morning um volunteering to to help pick up trash along with others.

Um so I want to thank the host committee uh for leading the volunteer recruitment on this, the tool bank for their partnership, providing the necessary tools and equipment.

And if you would like to come out and join us Saturday, uh we'll be at Woodland Park starting at 9 a.m.

Thank you.

Councilmember Kreckinger.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, not this Saturday, but Saturday the 18th is going to be our last median madness before the summer.

Uh we don't like to see anybody fall out from heat stroke, so we typically pass on the summer months.

Um this is going to be done in conjunction with uh Trailwood or Introwood Village in conjunction with their Trails Association.

Uh they've applied for a community mansion grant, and we're looking to help them with their project.

Um and then down in uh Clearlake this Saturday from 9 to 3 or until the trucks are full, we'll be doing recycling, the electronic recycling event.

Uh that's going to be at Ellington Air Force Base.

So even if you're in District D down in that area, please come on down and uh whatever electronic recycling you have, bring it on out.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, would like to invite job seekers, employers out to our first district B Be Successful Job Fair of the Year, which is happening tomorrow.

It starts at 10 a.m.

at the Acres Home Multi Service Center, located at 6919 West Montgomery Road.

We are proud to partner with Workforce Solution of Gulf Coast to bring together dozens of employers who are actively hiring right now.

Um right now we already have over 400 um job seekers who have signed up to participate in the job fair.

Um so whether you're starting out or looking for fresh opportunities or re entering the workforce, this is the place to be.

Um and so come out, um dress to impress or bring your resume if you have one.

Um if you don't have a resume, we have folks, um, navigators is that are ready to help help you um create your resume and help you um walk through the interview process.

And so the goal of the Be Successful is simply to break down the barriers that prevent people from accessing meaningful jobs with good pay and benefits.

So if you need more information, contact our office at 832-393-3009 or email us at district B at Houston TX.gov.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks.

I'll pass.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Thomas.

Thank you.

I have a uh full uh report for the listening public, but I really appreciate the conversation that was held in the course shoe about immigration, especially on the heels of Easter.

Many of us celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, who we identify for some many of us um as our savior.

And it's also very clear that some of us would have nailed him to the cross on Friday.

Moving on.

Uh on next Saturday, April 18th, we are returning for the third annual D restriction workshop on the West Side at Tracy G Community Center.

I want to encourage all of our civic clubs and HOA leaders to be there.

We have a front row seat to Rice and Rice Law Firm who have been with us for the last three years, City Legal, the Department of Neighborhoods, Housing and Community Development, talking about home repair, public works in Blight, and more.

We are asking you to register for this event so we can prepare refreshments and resources for you.

So if you have questions around prohibited yard parking, all of the changes related to that, um, hope to see you on Saturday, April 18th.

I also want to recap over this past Saturday, as I mentioned last week, our inaugural mobile care on the West Side.

And so I believe that miracles are for everyone.

And on last Saturday, the weather was held up.

God answered our play prayers, and we were able to serve many Houstonians who are experiencing homelessness on the West Side.

What I know to be true is that the individuals that we were able to canvas, none of them were in HMIS, which which tells me and informs me that we need uh we need to continue to invest in our coordinated care system and making sure that the nonprofits who help us do this work can get to the West side.

And in addition to that, we had 19 individuals who were able to refresh and restart their day by taking advantage of the shower unit and the 30 plus individuals that I mentioned who are canvassed to HMI, which also gives me uh a deeper focus on inquiring on what engagement and outreach means to these agencies when they come before us requesting funds.

I want to shout out our partners, Agatha Christian Fellowship, Heads Up Houston, Church Without Walls, Eldridge, Healthcare for the Homeless, the Housing and Community Development Department, Life Enhancement Services, Wham, Ailey FISD, Access Healthcare, and a list of volunteers and supporters, and of course, my exceptional district F staff, the team, I want to appreciate you for your leadership and your commitment for doing very heavy and hard work.

Um, one thing I do know is that as much as the national conversation has uh drifted away from housing first and moving towards treatment only, I want to tell you that the individuals that we engaged with on Saturday um all come to homelessness at different places from aging out of the foster care system, some of our U.S.

military vets uh who feel betrayed by their own country, dealing with health care issues, families trying to keep their children housed, who just came to make sure that their kids could have a haircut so they can be normal in school.

All of them are coming um to homelessness differently, and so we must approach them with that type of care.

I want to continue to be an advocate for not just housing first, but permanent supportive housing first.

So we can make sure that these individuals, however they meet us through treatment, through medical care, through the criminal justice system, through domestic violence, through a natural disaster, will all will find their way at the end of the day um to permanent support of housing for stability.

Every individual that we we engage with on that Saturday, all of them lit up when we talked about the possibility of a simply an extended stay at a hotel.

They talked about the possibility of with Wham working with them to get them an apartment, and they there was a sense of relief.

Grown men were crying after a haircut.

Women were relieved after a shower because they they said that they saw them as human and they're not just homeless.

So I am deeply grateful, deeply touched.

The work will continue.

Um we learned a lot of lessons, and there's a lot of work that needs to happen on the West Side.

So for the partners who were able to be with us, know that there's more work for us to do together.

And for those who are just hearing about this event, I want to invite you to join with us because we are doing a new thing.

Um, with that being said, that on uh yesterday, the billboard of West Timer and Eldridge.

I want to thank um Wham, West Houston Assistance Ministry, and of course Clear Channel for the partnership.

This is on West Timer in Eldridge on the West Side.

And I was talking to a friend, and he said, Well, there's no homeless activity on the West Side.

And I said I I I challenge that.

We were able to engage with our 17 encampments, literally picking them up, meeting them where they are.

So this will be here for an entire month.

Uh, it is slated to have 699,000 impressions.

And I just hope and decree that the 699,000 impressions um turn into and yield new partners and individuals who understand that how homelessness is not just about treatment, it's just not about a mental issue, but it's also about housing.

And I want to thank you for the partnership.

And I would also, I want to close with this.

Uh, when I was at NARO speaking at their legislative conference, one of the uh previous panelists offered the question, and she queried the audience how long could you stay sober in these conditions?

And it really gave me pause because a lot of times I think we just uh minimize someone's experience um to their present conditions on when we meet them.

Um but I think we have to ask ourselves selves the same question.

How long could we stand um in those conditions in the heat in the rain, um possibly being being violated, no housing, no support.

Um, so happy and honored that those individuals trusted me with their time and trusted me with their day.

I also in closing want to acknowledge the passing of Jenea Carmood.

She is no stranger to City Hall.

Um Janaya was a City Hall staffer for the former council member Jarvis Johnson in District B.

Um her longtime partner Damon Williams was the former chief of staff to the late Peter Brown.

Um, but I met Janaea um on the campus of Sam Houston State as a student.

Um she was an active student leader, um, and and that work continued throughout the city of Houston.

She um passed um uh unexpectedly uh last week.

Uh complications from pneumonia and will be celebrating her life um on this Saturday at the community of faith with Bishop Dixon and her loved ones.

My heart goes out to the Williams family, the Carmooch family, um, and everyone who knew her, uh her sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

I know the Mayor Pro Tim had just was with her the week prior to her passing.

Um so uh just you know, please if you see Damon or her friends or anyone who was around City Hall at that time, um, please keep her name and her memory in your heart.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh thank Councilmember Thomas, thank you for mentioning Council uh sorority sister Jenea Kamuch.

Um we do have a couple of announcements um happening in the district.

Uh tomorrow we will host our president's advisory council meeting at the Fountain Life Center from 6 to 8.

We're asking all of our neighborhood uh super neighborhood, civic club, HOA presidents to join us.

We will um have presentations on our recent ordinance changes.

Uh mayor understand you may be stopping by to welcome all of our neighborhood presidents.

We'd love to have you in District K.

Uh if you have not signed up for uh attendance, we would ask that you reach out to the district K office and submit your uh registration via um our district K uh website.

And then uh want to remind everyone that on Saturday, April the 25th, uh District K is partnering with the Five Corners Management District and Precinct One to host a community bike ride at Blue Ridge Park, and that starts at 10 a.m.

And this ride is going to offer residents a chance to explore the Sims Bayou Trail.

I think uh if you have not had an opportunity to ride along Sims Bayer, you'd be pleasantly surprised at how wonderful um that ride can be.

Um this will give you a uh firsthand look at what's happening along our our trails um throughout the city of Houston.

There will be bike rentals available if you do not have a bike, and there'll also be some e-bikes for the folks that just don't know if they can make the uh it's a 15-mile ride.

So if you if you want an e-bike, we'll have one available for you.

And then I'm super excited that our faith partners have come together to help us celebrate um with a cleanup for Keep Houston Beautiful Day on Saturday, April the 11th, from 8 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

We'll start at the Fountain Life Center.

But um want to thank New Faith Church, Inspiration Church, the Fountain of Praise Church, and Nueva Jerusalem Church for joining us on this actual Keep Houston Beautiful Day.

They will be cleaning up around their church and making sure that the areas leading to their locations will um be areas we can all be proud of.

Then want to spent send a special shout out to our Westbury community.

They will also be celebrating Keep Houston Beautiful Day on Saturday with their um cleanup of the 11-year-old butterfly garden.

So if you're looking for volunteer hours and you want to come and be a part of that, we'd love to have you there.

Want to let residents in Fort B and Houston know that the Planning Commission is hosting a public hearing on April the 16th on the South Post Oak Commercial Reserve.

This hearing includes a plat application for the South Post Oak Commercial Reserve, and residents can submit their comments by emailing speakercomments.pc at Houston TX.gov at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

If you have questions about it, feel free to contact our office.

We'll be happy to help.