Houston City Council Notes, prepared by Emily J Hynds
Agenda
- Mayor’s Report
- Consent Agenda (items that require a vote, like purchases, resolutions, ordinances, etc.)
- Council Member Pop-Off
The Mayor’s Report
The Mayor made brief remarks. He said, “I want to thank everyone for the cooperation over the last year. We have made a huge difference,” and, “I’ve seen reports that the public supports the progress we’re making.” On New Year’s Eve plans, he said, “I know where I’ll be. I’ll be on the streets with first responders.”
Item 55: Renaming an Airport Terminal after Sheila Jackson Lee
Item 55 approved a resolution in support of renaming the George Bush Intercontinental Airport Terminal E after Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. This was put forth by CMs Pollard, Castex-Tatum, Thomas, Evans-Shabazz, Jackson, Kamin, Alcorn, and Plummer, using the Prop A amendment that allows a coalition of at least three CMs to put an item on the agenda.
- City Attorney Michel explained the executive order and process that guides the renaming of a City facility. He said this item is a “gesture of support.” According to the executive order, next up will be a public hearing, committee review, and the Mayor’s approval before it comes back to Council for a full vote.
- CM Pollard remarked on Jackson Lee’s legacy and said renaming the terminal is a fitting gesture. He thinks the requirements of the executive order have already been met and talked a lot of details and legalese.
- CM Kamin reiterated that today’s item was only a “formal request” to get the process going.
- CM Thomas read remarks from Congresswoman Erica Lee Carter, SJL’s daughter, in support of the terminal renaming.
Agenda Items, Selected Works
- Item 7 approved $353K for the purchase of rescue and extrication tools for the Fire Department. These tools include cutters, spreaders, rams, and forcible entry tools. “This equipment will utilize battery-operated equipment, which provides the operator with a safer and quicker alternative to traditional gasoline equipment.”
- Item 9 approved $88K for a rescue boat for the Fire Department.
- Item 11 approved $73K for postage and the use of a postage meter machine through 2029.
- Item 13 approved $891K for a Mobile Storefront RV Unit for the Police Department. “HPD officers and staff will use this RV unit in community outreach efforts. The mobile storefront will be parked in neighborhoods throughout the city to provide convenient access to officers, educational training materials, and crime prevention information.”
- Item 14 approved $17K for solar batteries for the Public Works Department.
- Items 20 and 21 both approved up to $425K over the next two years for two different “home recovery and construction industry” jobs training programs.
- Item 23 approved $300K for two grapple trucks for the solid waste department. These trucks help with heavy trash pickup.
- Item 27 approved up to $815K over the next three years for a company to provide advertising and design services to Houston Public Works.
- Item 28 approved $61M (this is a really big number that could be easy to gloss over) over two years to Verizon and AT&T for wireless devices and services across City departments. “These services enable the City to accommodate mobile workers such as policemen, firemen, inspectors, and public officials as well as for devices that are positioned away from City facilities such as cameras, sensors, and lift stations, and for disaster recovery to sustain existing services or enable new and temporary services during emergencies.”
- Item 29 approved $12M over three years for landscaping at Houston airports.
- Items 30 and 31 approved up to $1.6M and $5.2M for radiation detection devices for the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
- Item 34 approved $1.7M for helicopter repairs for the Police Department. “HPD’s Air Support Division has faced two hard landings in recent years, significantly damaging these helicopters. Aircraft repairs are necessary to return both helicopters to airworthy condition.”
- Item 41 approved $1.1M for Cobb, Fendley & Associates to study certain Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects city-wide. The CIP dictates much of the City’s infrastructure maintenance. Cobb, Fendley & Associates will conduct “site studies, research past studies, grants, projects, collect desktop and field data, conduct drainage analysis and present concepts, conduct traffic analysis operations, and develop design concepts.”
- CM Kamin objected to the deferment of CIP projects that were previously approved and shovel-ready because it wastes money and holds up good projects. She said she has repeatedly requested a list of projects on pause due to a “restudy or a review or a redesign,” and has yet to receive a reply from Mayor Whitmire’s office. She asked when she can expect to see that list. Whitmire said his office is doing their due diligence to make sure projects are done correctly. Kamin said, “That was not my question.” The Mayor said, “We represent the same people. We’re listening to them and do a tremendous job of representing individuals.” Kamin said, “We are not listening to them if we’re not providing the answers and the transparency for what this is costing residents in the city of Houston.” Whitmire did not engage further and called for a vote. CM Kamin voted no, and this item still passed.
- Item 44 approved $4.3M for traffic signal maintenance. “The contract duration for this project is 1095 calendar days.” Lol at this weird specificity.
Council Member Pop-Off
… in which CMs get to talk about whatever they want.
Most CMs wished everyone a safe and happy holiday season and thanked their staff, City employees and Council colleagues.
- CM Kamin praised the successful reopening of the Montrose Library, which she said only cost the city $5M due to various public/private partnerships and other fundraising. She concluded with, “Here’s to 2025 and looking forward to getting information for residents on outstanding memos.”
- CM Jackson plugged a Winter Wonderland toy giveaway Saturday 12/21 from 11am-3pm at Hobart Taylor Park.
- CM Huffman sponsored overtime for mounted patrol in District G during the holiday season.
- CM Ramirez plugged four organizations for end-of-year giving: Fit Houston, Barrio Dogs, the San Jose Clinic, and the Spring Branch Community Health Center.
- CM Thomas lamented the death of Lilia Vazquez, a pedestrian killed in a hit and run on the morning of 12/13. She asked anyone with information on the accident to contact HPD. “This speaks to the larger issue throughout our city of pedestrian safety. And so our work around infrastructure and public improvements is so important.”
- CM Peck asked for the Mayor’s help getting heavy trash picked up in District A. She said some people still have storm debris from Hurricane Beryl in July.
- CM Martinez cautioned against celebratory gunfire. “What goes up must come down.”
- CM Alcorn backed up CM Kamin by also requesting information on paused CIP projects. She complained about garbage pickup in general.
- CM Plummer remarked on the difficulty that some people have during the holidays and encouraged “loving, compassion, and respect.”
- CM Evans-Shabazz remarked on the difficulty of the holiday season for many and encouraged people to make a plan to protect their mental health. She plugged 211 as an available resource.
- CM Castillo’s next Town Hall is January 11 at Denver Harbor. He is hosting a meeting on January 8 at HTX Art in the Heart to discuss pop-up parties.
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.
