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. Public Comment 
4. Council Member Pop-Off

The Mayor’s Report

• Mayor Whitmire remarked on the passing of Firefighter Marcelo Garcia, whose services were held on Wednesday.
• He expressed condolences for CM Flickinger, whose mother, Marie Flickinger, recently passed.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 6 approved $83K for specialized protective equipment to be used by the Police Department during chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive emergencies.
• Item 8 approved $45K for night vision devices and accoutrement for HPD SWAT officers.
• Item 9 approved $62K Pen-Link software licenses, “which allows the Houston Police Department to work closely with cellular providers and courts in the legal review of pen register communications data to support criminal investigations, data analysis, and evidence management.”
• Item 12 approved $174K for two autonomous pipe inspection crawler units for Houston Public Works, which perform unmanned sewer inspections.
• Item 13 increased spending on repairs at Tree Lane Bridge in District E from $990K → $1.9M, due to “unforeseen conditions” after excavation.
• Item 14 added Magnolia Park to the City’s Civility Ordinance, which prohibits people from sitting down or lying on sidewalks between the hours of 7am – 11pm.
• Item 16 extended the agreement with Goodwill Industries and approved a further $175K to support a job services program for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Items 23 and 24 were tagged by CM Peck on behalf of CM Kamin, who was absent today. CM Jackson joined the tag. Item 23 addressed funding for concrete repair at several fire stations and the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center. Item 24 addressed funding for HVAC upgrades at the African American Library.
• Items 29, 30, and 31 approved the budgets for the Memorial City TIRZ, the Sunnyside TIRZ, and the Medical Center TIRZ.
• Item 49 added an area called Park Eight in District F to the City’s Walkable Places plan, which establishes standards for new developments and redevelopments to enhance walkability.

Council Member Pop-Off

Many CMs shared remembrances and condolences for firefighter Marcelo Garcia and CM Flickinger’s mother, Marie Flickinger.

• CM Flickinger plugged a median cleanup this Saturday in Kingwood.
• CM Martinez plugged a Día de Golf at 8400 Mykawa this Saturday 11/16 from 10am-12pm.
• CM Alcorn mentioned a Baker Institute report on TIRZs, an upcoming Budget and Finance Committee meeting on 12/3, and the Astrodome Conservancy’s recent proposal for the dome renovation.

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.