Houston city council notes, prepared by Emily J Hynds.

Agenda

1. Mayor’s Report
2. Consent Agenda (items that require a vote, like purchases, resolutions, ordinances, etc)
3. Council Member Pop-Off

The Mayor’s Report

• Mayor Turner invited J. Kent Friedman from the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority and Chris Canetti, Chair of the World Cup Host Committee to give us a World Cup update. In case you hadn’t heard – the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by (some of) ~The Americas~ : three cities in Mexico, eleven US cities, and two Canadian cities. Houston expects to host 5-8 games but we won’t know much more than that until the qualifiers begin in 2025.
  • The games will take place in June and July 2026.
  • Studies expect a $1.3B boon to Houston’s economy.
  • Canetti highlighted efforts to combat human trafficking and boost sustainability, but also the intention to elevate fútbol with inner city youth. Much of soccer in the states is a pay-to-play situation that is popular in the suburbs, but because of lack of investment, fewer soccer fields, and more, urban areas don’t have as much soccer, especially at the same caliber.
  • No large capital projects like new stadiums will be needed. The games will be at NRG Stadium. UH and Rice have both been tapped as player training fields.
  • Mayor Turner talked about how sporting events like this are part of Houston’s ecosystem. Without investment in infrastructure, public safety, etc, we wouldn’t attract such events, which are a boon to our economy, etc.
  • There will be free screenings at parks around the city.
• Shell is sponsoring the Fourth of July Freedom Over Texas celebration this year at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Neighborhood fireworks are still illegal.
• There is a One Safe Summer parks program unveiling on May 27th at Townwood Park – they’re really going all in with the “One Safe” branding.
• Greater Houston Partnership reports that unemployment in Houston is at a record low: 4.0% in April 2023.
• Hire Houston Youth, the city’s public/private partnership to hire 16-24 year old people to paid summer jobs/internships, is seeking applicants. hirehoustonyouth.org
• Remarking on the legislative session, Mayor Turner said, wryly, “It has been … a session.” Turner said that nothing compares with the adverse consequences of this legislative “humdinger.” Houston and Harris County have been specifically targeted. Turner said that “if it’s good for one (city), it should be good for all.” He defended his work building up Houston’s financial situation (such as the large fund balance and pension/OPEB reform). He commented on binding arbitration the state has forced on the city with the Firefighters Union, even though this year the firefighters will get the final increase of their 18% pay raise. He vaguely critiqued candidates who advocate for using the fund balance to pay firefighters.
• Finally, Turner remarked on the one year anniversary of the Uvalde mass shooting. He said, “I hope we never get numb to these situations,” and offered thoughts and prayers, although he did say the victims and their families deserve more than that.
• CM Kubosh pointed out that the state is sending $1.3B to Houston First Corporation. Mayor Turner said a) it’s still in the works, b) it would equalize us with the level of assistance Austin and Dallas get, and c) implied that we should have gotten it at the same time they did originally.
• CM Gallegos made a speech about how current state legislators ran on promises to fight crime, but instead have been attacking local control, drag shows, and trans kids. He also criticized legislators from our region who have not been vocal in fighting such attacks.
• Mayor Turner highlighted House Bill 2127, a “super pre-emption bill” that is on the way to the Governor’s desk for a signature. Turner said the bill is so vague that he questions its constitutionality.
• CM Evans-Shabazz remarked on the hypocrisy of state officials constantly exalting states rights and then working so hard to limit local control.

Item 20: the BYOB Ordinance
(in which CM Kubosh picks a fight)

Item 20 approved the new BYOB Ordinance which will create a permit and regulations for establishments not licensed under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), but that instead allow patrons to bring their own alcoholic beverages.

• Between 2020 and 2022, HPD responded to ~1,029 calls at BYOB establishments after 2 a.m. These calls included aggravated assault; theft; weapons violations; and murder. BYOB places are often open later than 2am, “increasing the likelihood of criminal activity.”
• Some of the new BYOB Permit requirements:
  • Permit will be renewed annually
  • Owner and operator must pass a criminal history check
  • A certificate of occupancy
  • Owner, operator, and employees must be 21 years or older
  • A security plan, including a metal detector or wand, exterior lighting, and interior/exterior cameras
  • One security guard per every 100 patrons
  • No alcohol on premises between the hours of 2:15 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. on Monday – Saturday, and 2:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Sunday
• CM Kubosh tagged this item. He has been contacted by lawyers of BYOB establishments who question the legitimacy of the ordinance and threaten lawsuits. Kubosh supports the ordinance but wanted one more week to work out legal kinks. CM Plummer joined his tag. It is relevant to note that Kubosh and Plummer are At-Large Council Members.
• CM Pollard asked Kubosh and Plummer to release their tags and defer to District CMs who receive many calls regarding BYOB and after-hours establishments. He said we can’t legislate based on fear of litigation and that community needs should come first. This ordinance is justified because there is no state or local ordinance that applies to BYOB establishments. He also said this has been in the works for months and these issues should have been addressed during that time.
• CM Thomas agreed with Pollard. She shared an anecdote about how long it took to shut down one BYOB place in District F (18 months) because they are unregulated and often nomadic. She conceded that it is “noble” to raise the litigation issue, but since council represents “the people,” it is their responsibility to act with the people’s best interest at heart. She repeated that this ordinance has been in the works for years – Kubosh’s issues can and should have been worked out during that time. She said people are worried for their lives and their safety, people are dying, they are not worried about whether the city will get sued.
• Many people remarked on the “bad actors” vs the “good actors.” Turner said they don’t want to put anyone out of business and the good actors are already in compliance. There were very big ~nothing good happens after midnight~ vibes throughout.
• CM Gallegos lamented division amongst council. He referenced the committee meetings this ordinance was vetted at and suggested Kubosh’s concerns could have been met there. He used the phrase “fight crime” a lot, almost like he’s campaigning for mayor and wants to make sure we all know that he intends to be tough on crime…
• Regarding the urgency of the ordinance, CM Kamin cited the city departments and law enforcement officials who are begging for it and noted that violent crime always goes up during the summer. She shared an anecdote about one place in District C that locked the doors when HPD showed up to respond to a call, locking the patrons inside. The Texas Restaurant Association supports the ordinance because the businesses that are following the rules will not be affected. Kamin also pointed out that all of the issues Kubosh is bringing up were discussed at committee meetings and could have been resolved then.
• Kubosh explained that he supports this ordinance but wanted more time to let legal double check everything. **at no time during this discussion did legal say they wanted more time** Kubosh said he doesn’t know any of these “bad actors,” which kinda made it seem like he was doubting their existence.
• CM Plummer removed her tag and said she was impressed by the energy and conversation. She pivoted to hoping that some of that energy be directed towards an Apartment Inspection Reform Ordinance, which she has spent years advocating for. Responding to District CMs allegations that At-Large CMs don’t get the same calls they do complaining about BYOB establishments, Plummer strongly stated that she does get many calls about inhabitable apartment complexes, bad complex owners, negligent property managers, and deplorable living conditions. When others indicated that she should go through the proper channels, Plummer strongly stated that she has gone through the proper channels: she has called every single city council member, she has gone to the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, she has drafted an ordinance with the legal department, she has attempted budget amendments. “I have done the work.” She was clearly upset by the lack of enthusiasm for Apartment Inspection Reform, especially upsetting seeing the zeal that the BYOB ordinance has incurred. Mayor Turner told her “one issue at a time,” and they returned to the matter at hand.
• Despite much pressure, Kubosh maintained his tag and did not allow further discussion. But this story is not over yet!! See the pop-off slide for the exciting conclusion.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 15 approved $858K to buy tests for Monkeypox, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases for the Health Department, paid for by a grant from the CDC.
• Item 17 approved $67K for a “fusion machine” and I was like – what is that? And I read about it, and it’s not that exciting, but now you will also know about it, because I have to know about it. It’s a machine that fuses 2”- 8” pipes together, and will live at the East Water Purification Plant. Cheers!
• Item 25 approved an additional $2.5M for park renovations across the city. Costs have escalated, as they do.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Cisneros criticized the Uvalde police department and leadership. Then she said, “It’s not just the guns … we are dealing with a mental health crisis.” She cited drug use, poverty, and the pandemic as some of the factors that affect mental health and wants the state to fund those root causes. “There’s been guns in our country always,” she said, referring to them as tools. “Something has happened here … we’re sick and people aren’t well, and they’re acting out.”
• CM Martin shared information about construction on the Kingwood Drive median from 5/30 – 6/20.
• CM Castex-Tatum shared that the Westbury pool will not be open this summer because of a repair that is estimated to cost up to $900K, which is more than the city allotted for all pool repairs across the city in FY24. Mayor Turner has instructed the Parks Department to move forward with all pool repairs regardless of cost.
• And now please brace yourselves for the exciting conclusion of the BYOB Ordinance. CM Kubosh removed that dang tag after-all. Classic Kubosh to make a big fuss and then concede in the end. His conditions were that Mayor Turner agree to adjust the ordinance if legal deemed necessary (this is fundamentally how ordinances work, but okay) and that the Mayor shorten his 60-day grace period to 30 days. Item 20 was unanimously approved, we now have a BYOB Ordinance.
• CM Thomas said “waterboarding works,” in reference to CM Kubosh caving to the pressure from other CMs. It makes me uncomfortable to make light of real-world torture techniques, but other people laughed. She dedicated $15K of her service funds for HPD overtime to support the BYOB ordinance.
• CM Jackson shared success stories of last Saturday’s Be Successful Second Chance Job Fair for people with a criminal record. 35 people were hired on the spot and many more got help with record expungement, resumes, and more. Also, Meow Wolf breaks ground in Fifth Ward on Thursday.
• CM Kamin recognized the Uvalde anniversary. She shared information about the WOW roundabout at Blossom and Westscoot which be under construction from June 1- 30.
• CM Pollard plugged the unveiling of a Vietnam Veteran’s memorial on May 26 at 11am. New anti-prostitution tactics on Bissonnet between 59 and BW8 have been successful.

Who took these notes? And what resources did they use?

My name is Emily Hynds and I am a writer, producer of the monthly storytelling series Grown-up Storytime, and lifelong Houstonian. I am not a journalist or government official. I am a local government enthusiast who believes meaningful change starts at home. These notes are presented from my point of view and with my framing, and are not comprehensive. Your notes will certainly be different, and I would love to read them if you attend.

While compiling these notes I used the following sources:
https://houston.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/
https://www.houstonsports.org/

You can find your City Council Member and their contact info at: http://www.houstontx.gov/council/whoismycm.html

Thank you to Houston In Action and ACLU TX for supporting these notes.
My Patreon is patreon.com/emilytakesnotes.