Houston City Council Notes, prepared by Emily J Hynds

Agenda

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

Monthly Financial Report

• After Controller Hollins’ and Finance Director Dubowski’s respective reports, Mayor Whitmire asked Controller Hollins about his refusal to certify funds for the firefighter agreement.
  • Controller Hollins described the firefighter agreement as “incredibly important and weighty.” His office received the collective bargaining and backpay agreements Monday afternoon, which left less than two days to review. The Mayor interrupted to point out that the item would have been tagged today, making Hollins’ refusal to certify moot, but Hollins reiterated his responsibility to fully understand the item before certification. Whitmire said, “We respect and appreciate the job you’re doing.”
• CM Kamin asked Controller Hollins to explain the certification process.
  • Hollins emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. It is common for the Controller’s Office to ask questions on items. “But here,” said Hollins, “before we even ask those questions, it is our responsibility to simply read the document. The CBA is upwards of 120 pages. Other supporting agreements, specifically around the backpay settlement, are another 30 or so pages … Our financial team has started to perform analysis, but it is simply not complete.” Certification is “ultimately about the availability of funds.” Hollins stressed again that availability of funds is tied to financial impact, and his office needs time to review the document to move forward.
• Mayor Whitmire concluded by offering assistance to the Controller’s Office during their review.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 6 approved $51K for a Tetley Hydro System for HPD. The support doc was not linked, and an internet search did not provide any more information. Tetley like the tea? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• Items 10-13 would have approved next year’s budget, but they were all tagged to delay the vote one week. Council Member amendments were due today but were not discussed. Next week will be a long meeting.
• Item 17 approved $151K for the continued operation and maintenance of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The HMIS “was developed in response to the U.S. Congress’ request for information on how appropriated federal homeless funds are spent. Congress is not only interested in fiscal responsibility, but also who the homeless are as a group and the outcome from assistance programs. All agencies receiving federal funds for homeless services are required to participate in the HMIS.”
• Item 18 approved $595K for a boat house at HPD’s Interagency Marine Operations Center.
• CM Huffman tagged Item 22, which would have approved a two-year $25M contract with Houston Arts Alliance for “professional civic art and conservation administration services.” CM Peck submitted an amendment to the item before it was tagged, but they didn’t talk about it so I don’t know anything about it.
• Item 44 approved an ordinance change that will allow CMs a bit more discretion and flexibility to approve and fund neighborhood speed cushions. See my notes on April 3rd for this item’s genesis and the initial debate. This ordinance change was brought about by Proposition A, which allows three Council Members to collectively put an item on the agenda.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Peck remarked on the Mayor’s recent announcement that funding for the North Regional Library is paused. Mayor Whitmire said there has been much misinformation and the whole matter is just “under review.”
• CM Martinez commented vaguely on a “course correct” on the upcoming budget, emphasizing that “communities come first.”
• CM Pollard thanked his colleagues for their support of the speed cushion ordinance change, which he hopes signals more “creative solutions.” He also plugged the retirement celebration for former HPD Chief Finner on June 14 at the George R Brown Convention Center. CM Pollard shared some statistics on the clean up of the Bissonet Corridor, which has seen an overall 88% reduction in human trafficking and prostitution related crimes since 2023. He hopes this can serve as a model for how the City tackles crime.
• CM Alcorn shared the top four priorities from her budget survey: 1) infrastructure, 2) public safety, 3) housing, 4) solid waste.
• CM Plummer advocated for the North Regional Library and wants the City to retain the property at the very least. She talked about the library’s impact on the neighborhood and the important resources it provides.
  • Mayor Whitmire said, “The administration, me, is very bonded with that community.” He said his administration is doing “due diligence” to make sure that if the new library is built, the City has the funds to maintain it.
• CM Castillo shared about a “vacant and dangerous” commercial building in Near Northside being demolished. He shared a paid internship opportunity with his office, visit www.houstontx.gov/council/H for information.
• CM Kamin thanked the Mayor for restarting the Durham/Shepherd project. She had much praise for community involvement and the project itself. But she wasn’t done!
  • “I honest to god was hoping it would just be a day of appreciation, but…” — and she went on to explain how she discovered the Mayor unexpectedly plans to not renew the terms for three Montrose TIRZ board members, seemingly as retaliation for TIRZ actions. Kamin profiled the board members whose terms the Mayor will apparently not renew, highlighting their years of community service. Whitmire tried to interrupt her, but Kamin reclaimed her time. She complained that Whitmire’s administration has not been in communication with the community (“We are not being spoken to”), saying the whole ordeal is “extremely concerning,” reflected a “lack of partnership,” and was very “problematic.” I thought for sure the Mayor would have a response, but he did not.
• CM Ramirez shared information on three budget amendments he is proposing:
  • One additional HPD cadet class (from 5 → 6), paid for in part with his Council District Service Funds and money saved by the cancellation of ShotSpotter.
  • Three more call takers at the Crisis Diversion Center, paid for in part with his Council District Service Funds.
  • The creation of a language assessment coordinator, particularly to help during emergency situations, again paid for in part by Ramirez’s own Council District Service Funds.
• CM Thomas centered many of her remarks on public safety.
  • She advocated for stronger enforcement of the after hours ordinance, sharing an anecdote from a strip club employee whose employers force them to serve alcohol after hours.
  • She plugged a June 11 event and two swim safety events on June 15 and July 13.
  • She thanked Council for their support on the speed cushion ordinance and shared news of speed cushions being installed in District F. “Public safety also includes small things like speed bumps.”
  • She elevated the plight of a senior living complex that has been without power for three weeks.
  • Using Hackberry Park as an example of a criminal hotspot, Thomas encouraged residents to “participate in every pathway of engagement for public safety, because public safety is all of our responsibility. The HPD does not have the ability to provide concierge service.” She referenced PIP meetings, community organizations, public safety meetings, and taking advantage of every pathway available to ensure community safety.
  • Finally, she wished and prayed for Sheila Jackson Lee’s full recovery during her battle with pancreatic cancer.

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

My Patreon is patreon.com/emilytakesnotes.