Public comment at the meeting highlighted a mix of individual requests and community proposals. Residents asked for help with property and safety issues and urged expanded programs to address youth violence.

A resident, James Callis, and an advocate asked council for a 60‑day stay or aid so Callis could complete repairs on a red‑tagged house on Magnolia; they described prior investments in the property and asked for procedural access to permitting and appeals that they said is currently limited for red‑tag properties. Another speaker, LeFarrow Richard, sought a $700 reimbursement for two tires he says were damaged by a pothole on a city street and proposed a crisis team and mentoring programs as part of a solution to youth violence, drawing on his prior work with at‑risk youth.

Council members responded in later remarks by endorsing a mayor’s coalition against youth violence that will include nonprofit partners, BISD mentoring and other local groups (IEA and Revision were named as potential partners). The mayor and city manager said an organizational meeting is being scheduled for February and that council expects quarterly reporting on metrics and volunteer commitments. City staff flagged a proposed gun‑buyback event on April 4 (symbolic date linked to MLK assassination anniversary) and said they are working on sponsorship and logistics.

Council also instructed staff to follow up with residents who raised red‑tag and property maintenance concerns and asked police/administrative departments to provide updated crime statistics so council can track trends.

Ending: Council directed staff to follow up on public comments, begin organizing the coalition and return to council with data and volunteer/participant commitments at the coalition’s first meeting.