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 Whitmire invited Dawn Buckingham, the Texas Land Commissioner, and Mike Nichols, Director of Houston’s Housing Department, to remark on Houston’s recently reignited relationship with the State’s General Land Office (GLO), funding from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and more. In his introduction, Whitmire said, “We will serve Houston better … if we’re talking to each other, not at each other.”

Commissioner Buckingham said, “It is wonderful to actually be invited here. Last time I tried outreach, I was disinvited.” She spoke on the importance of reaching across the political aisle and said that Houstonians just want the government to work. Commissioner Buckingham shared three pieces of news she ranked 1) great, 2) slightly bad, and 3) good.

• The great news: The Mayor, the County Commissioners, Congresswoman Fletcher, and Director Buckingham joined forces to petition HUD for a two year extension on disaster relief funds for the Stella Link affordable housing development in District K.
• The bad news: In 2021, Houston used disaster relief funds to purchase four flood-prone apartment complexes but didn’t use any of the money to help relocate the 900 households living there. Buckingham implied that this was quite a black mark against Houston and affected the GLOs direction of further disaster relief recovery funds.
• The good news: That is in the past! Things are better now! The GLO is conducting outreach to find the unrelocated apartment dwellers so that they can be appropriately compensated and Director Buckingham asked for CMs help. The plan involves media appeals, outreach through faith organizations, and flyers handed out at schools.

Many Council Members applauded this bipartisan collaboration.

CM Castex-Tatum remarked on the tract of land in District K that sparked this whole GLO conversation two weeks ago, ultimately (it seems) culminating in this visit from Commissioner Buckingham. Castex-Tatum advocated for affordable single-family housing within City limits, especially for working class people. Castex-Tatum shared that the GLO often replaces peoples’ disaster-affected homes with smaller units, affecting their property value and investment.

• Commissioner Buckingham shared that she was under the poverty line until age 35, including a personal anecdote about the rise in property values. She shares Castex-Tatum’s commitment to affordable housing for the working class. Regarding smaller rebuilds, Buckingham said, “We don’t get to make the rules. We get to enforce them.”

CM Kamin praised Commissioner Buckingham for her all-female staff. She advocated for government action to combat rising, or absent, flood insurance offerings in Texas.

• Commissioner Buckingham pointed out that when people have flood insurance, their damaged home is replaced with an approximation what they had before. If they didn’t have flood insurance, homeowners who apply for government aid must submit to GLO assessments, which means replacement homes are usually smaller. Buckingham outlined infrastructure projects that could lure insurance providers back to Texas, like the Coastal Spine.
  • Kamin argued the Coastal Spine is a ten-year project, Houstonians need help now.

CM Alcorn asked about the City’s requirements to help pay for the belated relocation costs of the people living in those four complexes mentioned earlier.

Seems the City might need to sell some land that was previously purchased with GLO disaster relief money, like the District K parcel, but this went by quick and I’m still unclear on that.

Mayor Whitmire declared this “the best all time Mayor’s Report.” He said the affordable housing on the Stella Link land in District K is going to happen because of collaborations like this. He is proud to be the Mayor of Houston and to facilitate collaboration between Austin and Houston. He said, “Elections matter.”

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 2 approved $66K for a gooseneck trailer for HPD’s traffic enforcement unit.
• Item 3 approved $812K for a company to provide digital and social media advertising support to the Health Department for their Congenital Syphilis Prenatal Care Campaign.
• Item 4 approved $112K for two climate controlled shipping containers. The Office of Emergency Management will use them to “secure radiation detection equipment and training materials.”
• Item 6 approved $118K for ten L3Harris Binocular Night Vision Devices for HPD.
• Item 9 approved $648K for lab equipment and systems for the Wastewater Operations and Drinking Water labs. This equipment will keep Houston’s system in alignment with Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
• Item 15 approved increasing the contract with a law firm representing the City from $3.1M to $5.6M. The City was sued in 2022 by Houston Waterworks Team (HWT), the design-builder of the nearly $2B Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion project. HWT asserts they are owed more money than originally agreed to in the contract and litigation costs have increased because HWT has added 21 new claims to the lawsuit. “The City shares the legal fee costs under the Agreement with four water authorities who contribute to the cost of this contract. They pay 84% of the attorney’s fees, which is recouped by the City. The four water authorities fully support this contract increase.”
• Item 16 accepted a $500K grant from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for the continued administration of a program the City runs to help formerly incarcerated people.
  • CM Martinez supported this item but complained about ex-convicts getting dropped off at the Greyhound bus station in District I without anyone there to greet them.
  • Whitmire defended the City’s program (which Martinez wasn’t really criticizing). After interrupting CM Martinez several times to wax poetic on the benefits of this program, the Mayor eventually agreed that there should be someone there to close the gaps in support.
  • CM Jackson suggested collaborating with the Credible Messengers program, which partners formerly incarcerated people with recently released people.
• Item 21 approved $116K for a company to provide “technical services to determine threat, hazard, identification, risk assessment specific to domestic violent extremism.” CM Kamin remarked on this item’s importance and on the rise of hate crimes and incidents in Houston in general.
• Item 30 approved $5M for ditch maintenance.
• Last week, CM Pollard tagged Items 37, 38, and 40, which deal with a lot of money ($60M, $25M, $53M). He wanted to make sure the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) goals were up to snuff. His questions were answered and he supports moving forward. All three items passed today.
• Item 41 approved steps towards listing a ten acre parcel of land in Hardy Yards in District H. CM Castillo said the community wants to see mixed use and commercial development to support neighborhood enhancements and property value. He remarked on the area’s proximity to the I45 and Hardy Toll Road expansions and the economic stress caused by the METRO rail line and more.

Item 39 – Funding for My Brother’s Keeper

Item 39 increased the contract for My Brother’s Keeper from $750K to $1.5M and extended the contract through June 2025. My Brother’s Keeper runs the Urban Scholars Program at six HISD schools, which bridges educational gaps for boys and young men of color. Last week, CM Carter raised concerns and CM Pollard tagged the item.

• Tuesday, CM Plummer hosted a meeting to address concerns. Today, she admitted that some CMs’ questions were not answered, but that, ultimately, My Brother’s Keeper is a good program that deserves to continue. She spoke to her experience raising three Black boys and the institutional disadvantages Black and Brown people face. My Brother’s Keeper provides a matching waiver that, if this item is voted down, the City might not be able to get again. CM Plummer literally begged people to put their trust into her commitment to fortifying this program and making it the best it can be. She said programs like this strengthen public safety, support HISD, and that losing it would be detrimental.
• CM Carter agreed to support but cautioned against expanding the program before kinks are worked out. She doesn’t think there is enough oversight and accountability. CM Plummer agreed.
• CM Ramirez complained that the program isn’t even in the schools where it says it is.
• CMs Davis and Castex-Tatum advocated for more funding for My Brother’s Keeper. Castex-Tatum implied more money would solve the programs’ problems. She implored CMs to use their connections with foundations and organizations for financial support. She said that Council should scrutinize every item with this same energy.
• CM Jackson supports the program but was critical that it’s a California company. She wants them to partner with local, grassroots, on the ground organizations like Collective Action for Youth, Pure Justice, and Texas Organizing Project.
• Mayor Whitmire finally chimed in, saying, “You can’t imagine how difficult it is for me to sit here and be patient [while other people talk] about a subject that I care so much about.” He supports programs like these as public safety prevention tools, saying, “Either pay now or you pay later … And you could pay with your life..” He also praised the committee-style process that resulted in a unanimous vote of support today.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Kamin wished a Happy Passover to those who celebrate. She made remarks on Earth Day, encouraged people to get ready for Hurricane season, and said the City is not prepared enough. She also asked for a copy of the firefighter settlement to (finally) be made available to CMs before the next Budget/Labor Committee meeting.
• CM Huffman plugged an Earth Day event on Sunday at Terry Hershey Park. The first Prop-A Committee meeting is on 4/23 at 10am.
• CM Ramirez remarked on the successful community outreach event last Saturday at the future Hispanic Research Center and Archives. He thanked the Mayor for his supportive attitude toward the Hispanic community.
• CM Thomas plugged a deed restriction workshop on 4/27.
• CM Castex-Tatum plugged a family day at The Ion on 4/20.
• CM Peck complained about the City making it harder for some District A residents trying to shore up the private creek in their neighborhood. She isn’t even sure why the City needs to be involved at all, but advocated for cleaning up the process regardless.
• CM Alcorn plugged her budget survey and shared info about upcoming budget town halls and workshops.
• CM Castillo lamented the two dueling Pride parades and asked the Mayor for help resolving the issue.

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

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

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