Houston City Council Notes, prepared by Emily J Hynds

Agenda

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

The Mayor’s Report

Mayor Whitmire hardly ever makes an official Mayor’s Report and today was no exception. He squeezed in a plug for the City’s upcoming Veteran’s Day ceremony and parade on Monday, November 11.

Public Comment

Normally the public comment portion of the meeting is on Tuesday, but since Tuesday was Election Day, it was combined with the Wednesday session. There were twelve public speakers.

• Four people spoke in support of today’s Item 44, which adjusted the Code of Ordinances to protect public speakers’ private information.
• One person complained about ongoing problems with Airbnbs in her neighborhood and about slow HPD response time when she called recently about gunfire coming from one of the units. CMs Ramirez, Carter, and Pollard empathized and pledged support.
• A solar tech developer presented his company (but without saying their name somehow), outlined innovations and success so far, and asked for the Council’s help rolling out on a local level. CMs Alcorn and Davis engaged with him and offered resources.
• One speaker complained that health risks at his apartment complex have made his family sick. He has been in a battle with several different agencies for years, going through the courts. CM Jackson pushed back, saying she has engaged with him, the Health Department has inspected the complex with no results, and she has provided further resources for him. CM Castex-Tatum encouraged him to pursue further action in court.
• One person presented some innovative ideas for historic preservation and reuse, but she went really fast and I had trouble keeping up.
• One person supported an upcoming Civility Ordinance vote, complaining that her neighborhood is unsafe because of homeless people doing drugs in public and more.
• One representative from the language justice organization Woori Juntos remarked on today’s Item 12, which approved $157K to a consultant that provides emergency preparedness education and outreach. She advocated for more funding for interpretation services and the diversification of this funding beyond grants. CM Ramirez said, “I will remind you that this council passed my budget amendment earlier this year to add a language access coordinator position to city government,” and he invited the speaker to stay after the meeting so he could “catch you up.” Very man-splainey. The speaker responded that “small win … with the small amount for language access … is a great first step.”

A Public Hearing on a Tax Break

Today’s public hearing covered a tax abatement (tax break) for a developer planning an office/retail center in District G. The City offers tax abatements to companies that plan to incorporate environment-friendly Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) design. This developer’s plan includes bioswales, permeable pavement, and urban forestry.

A City representative made a presentation. CM Alcorn praised the GSI tax abatement plan in general. There were no public speakers.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 2 approved the appointment of Angel Ponce-Trevizo to the METRO board. Ponce-Trevizo is the current Director for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. Ponce-Trevizo gave a brief overview of his life, including when he became disabled in 2004. Mayor Whitmire and many CMs praised Ponce-Trevizo for his character, years of service, and look forward to his role on the board.
• Item 3 approved $1.9M in fees to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). “The annual fees are based on the wastewater discharge, air emissions and stormwater management fees.”
• Item 4 extended the Injury on Duty Leave for a police sergeant who was exposed to toxic substances in HPD’s narcotics evidence room in 2023. CM Alcorn advocated for the removal of drugs to the Houston Forensic Science Center to prevent future accidents.
• Item 8 approved $75K for five remote methane leak detectors for the Fire Department.
• Item 11 approved $347K for a rescue tower training structure for the Fire Department. The structure will simulate confined space and high-angle rescues.
• Item 13 approved $400K for language services for the Municipal Courts Department.
• Item 14 confirmed the City’s appointment of Melissa Noriega to the Harris County Appraisal District Board, with CM Huffman voting no. Beef between Huffman and Noriega??
• Item 18 approved $4.5M for restroom renovation at multiple gates in IAH’s Terminal D.
• Item 22 extended the contract with the Houston Area Women’s Center to December 31, 2029, for continued shelter and support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
• Item 30 approved $275K for a company to evaluate and optimize the City’s traffic signals.
• Item 43 changed the City’s code to protect public speakers’ private information like phone numbers and addresses. This information was previously posted publicly.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Carter looks forward to Veteran’s Day celebrations. She expressed condolences on the passing of Chauncy Glover, a former anchor with Houston’s KTRK.
• CM Evans-Shabazz shared similar condolences for Chauncy Glover. She congratulated recipients of a Houston Ballet scholarship at Turner Elementary School. She plugged a clean up of the Columbia Tap Trail this Saturday 11/9 starting at 7am at Leroy Park. She congratulated Worthing High School for becoming district football champions. The next Arts and Culture Committee meeting is on Wednesday 11/13 at 2pm.
• CM Castillo lauded election workers and told the LGBTQ community that his office will remain “a safe space and a place of support and respect.”
• CM Flickinger plugged an electronics recycling event this Saturday 11/9 starting at 9am at Ellington Field.
• CM Kamin wished her Chief of Staff a happy birthday. She plugged a book link event at the Gregory Lincoln Library on Saturday 11/23. She thanked election workers and encouraged people to keep their heads up, saying the work continues.
• CM Ramirez said, “What a remarkable thing it is that we get to choose our leaders and cast votes.” He pointed to judicial elections in Harris County and said he hopes for change in bail and punishment practices.
• CM Peck plugged the next Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday 11/12 at 10am.

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 the volunteers who proofread these notes.
My Patreon is patreon.com/emilytakesnotes.