Wonder whether this was a BIG THANK YOU for $$$$$ or FREE ASTRODOME RENT provided by city of Houston???
$81,000,000 Impact??? Come on! Sounds more like, "Fellows, don't worry, your "investment" paid off bigtime."
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City Council Chamber, City Hall,
Tuesday, July 7, 1998
A Regular Meeting of the Houston City Council was held at 1: 30 p. m., Tuesday, July 7, 1998, with, Mayor Lee P. Brown presiding and Council Members Bruce Tatro, Michael J. Yarbrough, Martha J. Wong, Jew Don Boney, Jr., Rob Todd, Ray F. Driscoll, Jean Kelley, Felix Fraga, John E. Castillo, Annise D. Parker, Joe Roach; Orlando Sanchez and Chris Bell; Mr. Harlan Heilman, Chief of Claim Subrogation Division, City Legal Department; Mr. Jesse Cantu, Director, Citizens Assistance Office; Mr. Dan Jones, Agenda Director, and Ms.
Martha Stein, Assistant Agenda Director, present. Council Member and Carroll G. Robinson out of the city on personal business.
At 2: 02 p. m. Mayor Pro Tem Boney called the meeting to order and stated Council Member Kelley would lead in prayer. Mayor Brown, Council Members Tatro, Yarbrough, Todd and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
At 2: 03 p. m. Council Member Kelley led everyone in prayer and then led everyone in pledging allegiance to the flag. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
At 2: 04 p. m. the City Secretary called the roll. Council Member Robinson out of the city on personal business. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
Council Members Castillo and Bell moved that the minutes of the preceding meeting be adopted. All voting aye. Nays none. Council Member Robinson out of the city on personal business. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
MOTION ADOPTED.
Mayor Pro Tem Boney stated that Council would begin with a presentation by Council Member Wong. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
Council Member Wong invited all those present for her presentation to the podium. Mayor Pro Tem Boney greeted former Mayor Bob Lanier and his wife Elise. Council Member Wong
stated that it was her privilege to introduce the co-chairs of the City's 161st Birthday held last year, Mr. Joe B. Allen and Mrs. Helen Allen and Mr. Kenny Friedman; that Mrs. Ann Friedman
could not be present because she was teaching today, through both wonderful couples the city celebrated its 161st birthday and it was their privilege to honor Mayor Lanier and Elise and as a
result of that party they were able to raise $60,000 to be donated in honor of Mayor Lanier and Elise for the Sesquicentennial Park. Mr. Friedman stated that it was a pleasure to be a part of something that meant so much to the city and to honor two people who had done so much for the city. Mr. Allen stated that he hoped this years committee would have as easy a time raising money as they did. Mrs. Allen stated that she would speak for both Ann and herself; that it was a pleasure working with the city departments, everyone was very helpful and it was their pleasure
to present the check to Mr. Bob Eury for the wonderful addition of the Sesquicentennial Park; and she hoped the City of Houston and the downtown area would continue to do very well. Mr. Eury
thanked everyone for the check and stated they were all partners in finishing Sesquicentennial Park and some things took a while to happen; that this started in 1986 during the city's 150th
birthday year and twelve years later finished; and children born in the sesquicentennial year, 1986, did the art work and they had wonderful feedback on it and they were thankful to everyone
for making this work and for being associated with something honoring the great deeds of Mayor and Mrs. Lanier. Mayor Lanier stated that one reason he and Elise identified with Sesquicentennial Park was they could see the speed with which it was completed; that first of all
to Kenny, Ann, Joe, Helen and Martha the party was magnificent and very touching to him and Elise and they appreciated it and were proud to see the development of the bayou and downtown. Mrs. Lanier thanked everyone and stated that it was a very wonderful event; and thanked Council Member Wong's staff for all their work also.
Council Member Fraga invited those present for his presentation to the podium. Council Member Fraga stated that a very important international convention would be taking place in Houston this week and invited Mr. Alex Martinez, one of the coordinators, to speak. Mr. Martinez stated that he wanted to thank Council and the City of Houston for the welcome and special thanks to Council Member Fraga for all his hard work; that they would have fourteen countries coming to the Astrodome in a couple of days Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Venezuela; that they had 114 countries in North America that had attended the assembly with the theme "God's Way of Life" and it showed the brotherhood could be accomplished through God's way of life; that they also wanted to thank Mr. Richard Vacar, Aviation Director, for his help at the airport for their delegation; and introduced Mr. John Apeledeo.
Mr. Apeledo stated that he had the privilege of being assigned by the governing body of Jehovah's Witness to serve as rooming coordinator for the international convention; that having conventions in Houston was nothing new for Jehovah's Witness as every summer for the last twenty years the English speaking Jehovah's Witness had a convention at the Dome and it involved about 20,000 to 30,000 in attendance, but this convention was different as it would be Spanish speaking and about 27,000 would be coming into the city and staying at 28 hotels, using about 3,500 rooms a night with the estimated impact of about $81,000,000 total for the convention; that the real challenge was to see about putting 4,000 from Latin America in private homes so the call went out and they ended up with twice as many rooms so the local hospitality came through; and the convention would be this Friday at the Dome from 10: 00 a. m. to 5: 00 p. m. and would be in Spanish; and their objective was that all delegates would leave speaking of how warm and friendly Houston was.
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