Houston City Council notes, prepared by Emily J Hynds.

Agenda

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

The Mayor’s Report

• Mayor Turner was absent today so CM Martin led the meeting. Martin is Mayor Pro Tem, which means he steps in when the Mayor is away.
• The Houston Stand Down Fair, with resources to help veterans struggling with homelessness, is on September 8 from 9am-2pm.
• The City of Houston Disability Celebration is on September 30 from 9:30am-1pm at the West Gray Service Center.
• To commemorate the 9/11 anniversary on Monday, there is a day of service on 9/9 to clean the Houston National Cemetery from 8am-1pm.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 2 approved $1.2M on four garbage trucks for the Solid Waste Department.
• Item 3 approved $138K on flu vaccines for seniors via the Health Department.
• Item 4 approved $111K for 16 audio controller systems for helicopters for HPD. “These new systems will allow pilots to talk with the Airport Ground Tower, multiple HPD patrol channels, multiple HPD ground units, and other aircraft.”
• Item 10 approved an additional $250K for escalating expenses in the construction of the new Montrose library. CM Kamin voiced support and said the library should be done this winter.
• Item 11 approved $307K to repair the Harvey-damaged gymnasium floor at Sagemont Park Community Center.
• Item 22 would have approved using $2.3M out of the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund (DDSRF) to begin design of a drainage project in the Braeburn area in District J. CM Pollard voiced support and was grateful for attention to flood mitigation in this area. CM Knox tagged, presumably because he doesn’t think the DDSRF should pay for things that don’t actually break ground. He didn’t explain himself here so I’m making assumptions based on past comments. Today’s Item 19 approved a similar expense: $4.4M for the design of a new water line through Districts C and G. Knox didn’t raise any issues with that.
• Item 23 set a public hearing date on September 13 at 9am for some tax credits for Brookside Gardens Apartments. CM Plummer has concerns about the owner of the property and asked the administration to make an effort to make sure they are there.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Evans-Shabazz complained about crime and squalor at the South Lawn Palms Apartment complex in District D. Getting emotional, she said, “I just want to let people know that I am a voice here.” CM Martin said the South Lawn apartments are on Mayor Turner’s radar and HPD Chief Finner has directed more resources there.
• CM Martin plugged a recycling event at Ellington Field this Saturday.
• CM Castex-Tatum talked about upcoming National Night Out events.
• CM Thomas complained about homeless encampments on the westside and implored people to stop feeding them and giving them items that make it easier for them to camp. CM Martin added, “People want to do good deeds, but sometimes the good deeds go counter to what we’re trying to do.”
• CM Kamin plugged a subsidized rain barrel sale coming up for District C residents.

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://houwatch.com
https://houstontx.gov/moc/stand-down.html
https://www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/event-calendar.pdf

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.