[00:00:09]
>> IT IS 9 A.M. AND LIKE TO CALL THE BUSINESS COURT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION TO ORDER.
[Appearances Before Court]
I'LL BE PRESIDING. WE LIKE TO INVITE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THE COURT. IF YOU INVITE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.WITHIN MINUTE EACH. >> JACOB--PRESINTH 20.
>> HAPPY WOMEN HISTORY MONTH. COMING TO--THAT IS--CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER, THE REST OF
[Departments]
THE SPEAKERS ARE RESOLUTIONS. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM NOW?>> WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THE RULES? ANY SPEAKERS ON THE AGENDA? IS THERE A MOTION?
>> ACCEPT RESOLUTIONS? YEAH, ACCEPT FOR RESOLUTIONS.
>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
3 AYES AND NO NAYS. ITEM PASSED.
NOW WE'LL GO TO THE RESOLUTIONS.
SO, THE OTHER SPEAKER, SHE CAN COME UP.
SHOULD WE PULL EACH RESOLUTION FIRST IF MEMBERS WANT TO PRESENT IT?
>> PREFERENCE. >> WHAT'S THE QUICKEST?
>> MAYBE HAVE THE SPEAKERS NOW. >> COME UP AND AND JUST CALL THE NAMES IN ORDER. TIFFANY, CAN YOU CALL OUT THE
>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. BEEN A GREAT DAY.
THE DAY AFTER ELECTIONS. HAPPY NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. IT IS GREAT FOR ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK A BIT ABOUT THE ELECTION.
SPECIFICALLY IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAD RECORD NUMBERS WITH OVER 500 THOUSAND AND OVER 55 PERCENT OF THOSE VOTERS WERE WOMEN.
WOMEN ARE NOT JUST A BLOCK, BUT THEY ARE A VOTING VOICE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO, HAVING THE WOMEN COMMISSION CREATED BY THIS COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IS VERY IMPACTFUL. WE CARRY THEIR VOICES AND WE HELP THEM DELIVER WHATEVER INITIATIVES THAT THEY NEED.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR MY APPOINTMENT AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR HIS SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
AS WE CELEBRATE WOMEN HISTORY MONTH WE ARE NOT JUST LOOKING AT IT PIONEERS WE ARE LOOKING AT LEADERS IN THE ROOM. WOMEN LED INITIATIVES DRIVE INVASION, INCREASE PROFITABILITY AND REDEFINE WHAT MODERN LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
AS A WOMAN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND LEADER, I APPRECIATE THIS RESOLUTION.
THIS RESOLUTION IS A CELEBRATION OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD TO JUGGLE BEING A LEADER, COMMUNITY SERVANT, A WIFE, A MOM SUCH AS MYSELF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING THE WOMEN AND THE VISION OF THE WOMEN IN OUR INDUSTRY, PAST AND PRESENT WHO TURNED CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW?
>> I'LL SPEAK AFTER. >> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KATIE.
FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. OUR HOUSTON LEAGUE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 106 YEARS, WHICH IS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
WE WERE FORMED SHORTLY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT BUT OUR HISTORY RUNS DEEP WHERE WE CARE ABOUT WOMEN RIGHT, CIVIC RIGHTS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THOSE WHO WON RACES LAST NIGHT.
VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY WHERE WE HAD SUCH A HIGH TURN-OUT.
OUR GOAL IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE RECORD TURN OUT FOR EVERY ELECTION SO YOU CAN COUNT ON
[00:05:01]
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE RUN-OFFS SO WE'LL COVER ALL THE MAY ELECTIONS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE AS MUCH TURN-OUTD AS WE CAN FOR THIS ELECTION, NEXT ELECTION AND EVERYONE AFTER THAT.JUST ENCOURAGING YOU TO USE YOUR PLATFORMS AND YOUR VOICES TO UPLIFT THOSE ELECTIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU TO THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE TAKING THE TIME TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE WOMEN COMMISSION OF HARRIS COUNTY AND OUR CHAIR.
MADAM CHAIR, DR. BALLY, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING AROUND HARRIS COUNTY TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF WOMEN AND BRING BACK FOR ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS YOU ARE PILLARS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ALL OF US I KNOW AND I KNOW IT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO THE MEN IN THE ROOM AS WELL. MANY OF THEM ARE DASDS TO DAUGHTERS IN PARTICULAR. WE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS AND SHOULD BE PROUD AND WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO, RIGHT? PAY EQUITY FOR EXAMPLE. WOMEN STILL MAY 82 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR EVERY MAN AND BLACK WOMEN AND LATINAS IT IS LESS THEN 82 CENTS, SO WHETHER IT IS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND MOBILITY, EDUCATION ACCESS, HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND BEYOND, WE NEED TO CONTINUE MAKING MARKET PROGRESS TOGETHER.
JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN HARRIS COUNTY, SO THANKFUL TO THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE FIVE LACTATION PODS AND I REMEMBER VIVIDLY TRYING TO FEED MY BABY AND OR PUMP IN LIKE DIRTY NASTY BATHROOMS AND I SPAY MORE DETAILS BUT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK AND HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE DOOR SO NO ONE COMES IN AND POLICIES IMPROVED BUT WE STILL NEED A LOT OF PROGRESS. THANKFUL TO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP AT BAYLAND COMMUNITY CENTER AND THEY OFFER SERVICES AND NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR WOMEN ARE STAYING HEALTHY. VERY EXCITED WE HAVE A MOM AND BABY MOBILE HEALTH CENTER AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH MEMORIAM HERMAN SO THEY ARE DOING FREE WELL WOMEN EXAMS AND POST AND PRENATAL SERVICE SO SPREAD THE WORD.
THIS SATURDAY IF YOU KNOW WOMEN WHO-WE ARE DOING A COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER.
WE HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM CONSTITUENTS HOW COSTLY EVERYTHING IS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DIAPERS AND FORMULA AND OTHER THINGS, SO WE INVITE-THERE IS OVER 500 PARENTS ALREADY SIGNED UP, SO VERY THANKFUL TO MY TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING TO JUST ALWAYS AND ALL OUR TEAMS. IT IS THE 115TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, SO AGAIN IT IS A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE PROGRESS AND RECOMMITMENT OURSELVES, BECAUSE THERE IS STILL SO MUCH PROGRESS NEEDED.
EVERY DAY WHEN I GO HOME TO MY BE LITTLE GIRLS IT IS A REMINDER WHY WE NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD CONTINUING THE PROGRESS TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, TIFFANY,
BILL-- >> YES, BILL--AND MIKE LASTER
MY NAME IS BILL SAINT SEAR, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SHARPSTOWN PARKS ALLIANCE. WE CALL OURSELVES SPA.
PAST COMMISSIONER CAGLE, PAST COMMISSIONERS CAGLE, RAMSEY, CURRENT COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND PRECINCT 4 TEAM. FORMER DISTRICT MIKE LASTER WHO PLANTSED THE SEED FOR THIS ORGANIZATION A DECADE AGO AND SHARPSTOWN NEIGHBORS WHO PROVED TO THE TASK OF CREATING AND SUSTAINING OUR ORGANIZATION.
SPA FOUNDED 10 YEARS AGO BY A GROUPS OF CITIZENS WHO RECOGNIZED PARKS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES AS THEY PROVIDE A TASKABLE REFLECTION OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY. PARKS ALSO PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT BY GIVING OUR CHILDREN A PLACE TO PLAY AND A PLACE TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS. SPAS APPRECIATING THE HONOR AND LOOK FORWARD FOR YEARS OF COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK TO MAKE THE PARKS AND GREEN SPACE A CONTINUED SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
[00:10:02]
FOR THE RECORD, MIKE LASTER AND SERVED AT THE FIRST DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR J IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON FROM 2012-2019.WE BELIEVE PARKS STRONG PARKS LEAD TO STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS LEAD TO STRONG CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, SO WE WERE ABLE OVER THE LAST-OVER THE YEARS TO NOT ONLY INVEST IN EVERYONE OF THE PARKS IN DISTRICT J, THE CITY PARKS IN DISTRICT J AND-WE ALSO ADVOCACY COMMUNITIES FOR THOSE PARKS. FOR DISTRICT J IN SHARPSTOWN WITH 6800 HOMES COMMISSIONERS A YOU KNOW, AND 5 PARKS THERE, IT CREATED A SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT ANALYSIS FOR THAT. SO, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO COME TOGETHER AND PUT THE ORGANIZATION TOGETHER.
I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE.
THANK BILL SAINT SEAR AND SUSAN HIS WIFE, JIM--JOSEPH OUR PRESIDENT.
[INAUDIBLE] VICE PRESIDENT. BOARD MEMBERS AND FOR EACH OF THE FOUR COMMISSIONERS THAT PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH, RADIC RAMSEY RECOLLECT-THANK YOU FOR HONOR THE COMMUNITY DOING GOOD WORK AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US
GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. IS THAT IT?
>> YES, ANYONE ELSE? I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IT TO MAKE SHARPSTOWN A MORE CONNECTED, HEALTHIER SAFER PLACE.
YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THE DECADES HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL.
M MY TEAM AND I GRATEFUL TO SERVE YOU ALL AND VERY EXCITED AND THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS WE ARE WORKING ON TOGETHER IN SHARPSTOWN, ONE OF WHICH IS THE TRAIL YOU FOUGHT PASSIONATE ABOUT AND ADVOCACY GOT IT DONE SO PRECINCT 4 FOR PLACES FOR PEOPLE ARE THRILLED T. IS 1.8 MILES AND IT IS REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT CREATES SAFER CONNECTIONS TO THREE COMMUNITY CENTERS, FIVE LIBRARIES, 21 SCHOOLS, 15 PARKS AND 30 METRO BUS STOPS SO ABOUT KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE AND CONNECTED. THANK YOU FOR ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EARTH DAY PLANT SWAP YOU ALL LEAD AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND LOOK FORWARD TO DECADES MAKING SURE WE ARE MAKING SHARPSTOWN THE BEST IT
COMMISSIONER BRIONES MOVES WE APPROVE, ALL THE RESOLUTIONS?
>> SECOND. >> AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA BE SHOWN VOTING FOR ITEMS THAT WE VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY.
>> MAY BE PLEASE BRIEFLY I'M SURE EVERYONE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
ITEM 17 ALREADY PASSED, I WANT TO THANK CHIEF LORI CHRISTENSEN FOR HER SERVICE AND HER WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING. WE PROUDLY REAPPOINT YOU.
YOU ARE BLESSING TO HARRIS COUNTY AND SHE IS A LEADER ACROSS THE COUBTY.
UNDER HER LEADERSHIP THE FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE BECAME THE FIRST FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE IN THE NATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE ACCREDITATION FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE AND IT WAS THE FIRST FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE IN OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS TO EARN TEXAS POLICE CHIEF ASSOCIATION RECOGNITION PROGRAM ACCREDITATION AND THANKS TO HER PARTNERSHIP WHETHER IT IS THERE IS A LEAK OR FIRE, WHETHER IT IS PREPARING FOR FIFI WORLD CUP, CHIEF CHRISTENSEN AND HER TEAM LEAN IN HUNDRED PERCENT.
SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST COLLABORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE LEADERS I HAVE EVER WORKED ALONGSIDE AND LEARNING FROM SO WE ARE SO BLESSED YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR WONDERFUL HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU CHIEF CHRISTENSEN.
>> I FEEL I SHOULD STAND UP AND SHOW THAT RESPECT.
LORI HARRISSON, FIRE MARSHAL. THANK YOU.
>> I REFER TO LORI AS THE CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
IF YOU NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT, YOU NEED TO STRAIGHTEN SOMEBODY OUT CALL MRS. LAURA.
SHE IS ENROLLED AT TEXAS A&M WORKING ON HER MASTER.
YOU THE BEST AND CONTINUED SUCCESS AND PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR BEING THE FIRST ON THE SCENE AND GENERALLY THE LAST OUT AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK
[00:15:02]
YOUR GUYS DO ON MANY FRONTS, SO THANK YOU.APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> WE ALL APPRECIATE YOU. LORI YOU WERE TELLING ABOUT YOUR VISIT IN CALIFORNIA. WHAT WAS THE COMMENT YOU TOLD
ME? >> I WAS IN CALIFORNIA ON TUESDAY AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING AND SWEARING IN THE NEW CALIFORNIA FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR THIS YEAR, AND I WAS GIVEN A SPEECH ABOUT HOW WE ARE LEARNING FROM THE DIFFERENT STATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND HOW WE TAKE INFORMATION BRING IT BACK AND I SAID I KNOW IT IS ANOTHER TUESDAY, WE JUST HAD A 236 ACRE WILD FIRE AND THAT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR US. THEY WERE LIKE, THAT IS IT? THAT IS BIG FOR US. YOU THINK ABOUT WE LEARNED SO MUCH AND COMMISSIONER YOU SAW THAT WE LEARNED HOW TO TREAT WILD FIRES DIFFERENTLY THEN WE TREAT BUSINESS FIRES OR COMMERCIAL OR STRUCTURE FIRE:THEY LAUGHED AND SAID THEY REALLY APPRECIATED THE COLLABORATION BECAUSE WE BRING THINGS TO THEM AND THEY BRINGS
THE US SO THANK YOU. >> I WAS OUT RIDING ON SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH AND I SENT A PICTURE TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
I WAS AT ONE OF HIS PARKS. WE CANNOT KEEP PEOPLE FROM
SMOKING IN THE PARKS CAN WE? >> NO, SIR.
>> I THOUGHT IF SOMEBODY DROPPED A CIGARETTE BECAUSE IT IS DRY IT WOULD LIGHT UP A COMMUNITY. WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> WE REMEMBER SMOKY THE BEAR SO MAY BE TIME TO BRING SMOKY BACK, AND I WILL TAKE THAT AS A NON VOTING DIRECTIVE. YOUR PARKS TEAMS ARE AMAUZING.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE PARKS TEAM AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET MESSAGE AND SIGNAGE OUT BECAUSE THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE THROUGH A&M AND GOOD PARTNERS AND MAYBE CAN PUT UP
SIGNAGE. >> THAT IS UNDER CORRECTION?
>> YES, SIR. >> BY THE WAY, I PLAY GOLF WITH MY GRANDSON AT SHARPSTOWN ON REGULAR BASIS SO I GET TO ENJOY WHAT YOU ALL DO, THE PRODUCT OF WHAT YOU ALL DO. IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND FOR THAT REGION SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, WE'LL TAKE PICTURES.
>> I WANT TO SAY GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TAKE A PICTURE WITH US.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.