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
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Whitmire welcomed new City Engineer O.J. McFoy, formerly of Buffalo, NY. He praised the recently appointed Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi, describing him as “the perfect choice” to lead the department. You might remember there was a bit of a kerfuffle about Macchi not being an engineer at the time of his appointment; this was clearly being referenced today.
Director Macchi explained the nationwide search for a new City Engineer and said they were “looking for a change agent” with passion and zeal. Of McFoy, Macchi said, “Let there be no question about who the engineer is,” and, “He is my right hand man.”
McFoy talked about getting “back to the basics of infrastructure and making things right for the people.” He highlighted walkable sidewalks, drivable streets, and water infrastructure. It was a good speech and he’s obviously well-practiced at interfacing with the public and government bodies.
Many Council Members welcomed McFoy to Houston and the team. CM Martinez hopes the department will address the ongoing years-long deferment of infrastructure projects. CM Alcorn mentioned updating the Infrastructure Design Manual which has been waiting on a new City Engineer. There were several jokes about McFoy bringing the snow with him from Buffalo and football allegiances.
Agenda Items, Selected Works
- Item 2 approved $127K through the year 2028 for a professional grant consulting service to seek and manage grants on behalf of the Houston Fire Department.
- Item 3 approved $7.4M for medium and super-duty trucks for Houston Public Works.
- Item 4 approved $182K for x-ray machines and metal detectors.
- Item 6 approved $300K for 36 months of ad space in the Houston Business Journal for the Public Works Department. Advertisement like this is a requirement when the City solicits bids for projects.
- Item 12 would have approved the allocation of $20M in TIRZ (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone) funding to the City for affordable housing, but CM Ramirez tagged it because the committee meeting it was supposed to be reviewed at last week was canceled due to Winter Storm Enzo. The item will be reviewed at the next meeting on Friday 1/31.
- CM Thomas supported the tag but remarked on the federal funding freeze and how that could affect, well, everything. She said that uncertainty means local funding like this TIRZ money is all the more important. (since the meeting, federal funding has apparently already been unfrozen, which further highlights these uncertain times). CM Alcorn defended the large percentage of funding that goes to administrative costs, saying that it “used to freak her out,” but she understands now why it’s necessary because Houston gives almost zero money from the general fund to housing.
- Item 14 approved the acceptance of an $825K grant from the federal Department of Justice for an ongoing “re-entry program for ex-offenders returning to the Houston area.” The services include “moral reconation therapy, anger management, Texas Drug Offender Education Program and My Brother’s Keeper Redirect Program, to reduce recidivism rates and support ex-offenders in their transition to being productive, contributing members of the Houston community.”
- Item 16 would have approved adding a few more breaks to the City Council schedule but CM Pollard tagged it. He vocally opposed it at the last Council meeting as well. CM Thomas exclaimed at his tag and advocated for a vote, but it was unclear from her comments whether she was for or against. Mayor Whitmire said that a majority of CMs asked for these changes and accused CM Pollard of “playing politics.”
- Item 20 approved $2.5M on a three-year contract for heavy-duty truck restorative cleaning services for the fleet.
- Item 23 was a rare and therefore exciting close vote. This item approved the sale of land along White Oak Bayou in District H to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the I-45 Highway Construction Project known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP).
- CM Castillo, who represents District H, said, “I still do believe the best path forward is through aerial easements and not selling our land. Specifically land that abuts hike and bike trails that are highly utilized. And when we as a City are adopting policies and projects that are encouraging folks to utilize those trails more for recreation.”
- CMs who voted yes (to sell the easement): Mayor Whitmire, Peck, Flickinger, Huffman, Martinez, Ramirez, Davis, Carter, Alcorn
- CMs who voted not to sell: Castillo, Plummer, Jackson, Kamin, Evans-Shabazz, Thomas, Pollard
- The vote was 9 in favor, 7 not in favor. The item passed.
- Item 41 approved spending $8.2M through 2027 on various goods from Amazon. CMs Kamin and Jackson tagged it at the last meeting with no discussion, nor was there any today when it was approved.
Council Member Pop-Off
Many CMs praised the City’s response to Winter Storm Enzo last week.
- CM Huffman complained about delayed trash and recycling pick up.
- CM Ramirez talked about peanut butter. I am *so* tempted to leave it at that but I won’t. Give me a medal!! He volunteered last week at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ peanut butter factory that makes peanut butter for the Houston Food Bank.
- CM Thomas advocated for infrastructure to deal with unhoused people on the west side of town. The Housing Committee that was canceled last week due to weather has been rescheduled to Friday 1/31 at 10am. She called it “the superbowl of housing” and strongly encouraged her colleagues to attend.
- CM Martinez shared that Mason Park has received $2M in funding from the federal government to renovate the community center. There is a Resource Fair this Saturday from 9am-11am at the Hobby Yes Prep campus. He remarked on uncertainty because of the new presidential administration and reiterated for individual rights regardless of immigration status.
- CM Pollard said he is waiting on approval from the Mayor’s Office for several of his Council District Service Fund (CDSF) projects, all of which have gone through the proper channels and have been approved by legal.
- CM Alcorn complained about bandit signs.
- CM Evans-Shabazz wants to invest in cots, pallets, and microwaves for future use during disasters at community centers. There is a Columbia Tap Trail meeting on 2/2 at 4pm at St James Episcopal Church.
- CM Castillo’s next Town Hall is 2/8 at Bella Vista Church. There is a Housing Resource Fair this Saturday 2/1 from 10am-11:30am at the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center. He encouraged people who might be intimidated by federal immigration policy to reach out to his office for help.
- CM Flickinger plugged a Median Madness cleanup in Kingwood on 2/28 from 8:30am-noon.
- CM Kamin had many, and very specific, thank yous for Winter Storm Enzo. She praised the West Gray Multi-Service Center, complained about its failing infrastructure, then advocated for more funding and upkeep there as it is such a vital community resource. She protested against anti-Semitic propaganda, remarked on her family’s personal history fighting against nazis, and expressed commitment to supporting “Houston’s families, whether that is our Jewish community, our Muslim community, our immigrant community, our LGBTQIA+ community.”
- CM Jackson shared a Creosote update meeting Thursday 1/30 from 5pm-7pm at the Carl Walker Jr Multi-Service Center.
- Mayor Whitmire thanked his colleagues for their kind remarks about the City’s response to Winter Storm Enzo. He wants to improve conditions for City employees working overtime during emergencies. He said, “I know it starts at the top in all these departments and certainly in city government.” He was intending to compliment department leadership but it also very much sounded like a #humblebrag referencing himself. He wants to address the ordinance that allows people to sleep on the streets overnight, especially during disasters, presumably to allow forced removal to shelters. Whitmire wished a Happy Lunar New Year. Regarding the year of the snake, he said “be aware” in a sort of sly tone that feels discriminatory against snakes. On behalf of snakes, I take offense.
Who took these notes? And what resources did they use?
My name is Emily Hynds. I am a writer, small business owner, producer of the monthly storytelling series Grown-up Storytime, and native 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.
I watched this City Council meeting via HTV: https://www.houstontx.gov/htv/
While compiling these notes I used the following sources:
https://houston.novusagenda.com/agendapublic
https://houwatch.com
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/harris-county-houston-mason-park-20055565.php
You can find your City Council Member and their contact info at: http://www.houstontx.gov/council/whoismycm.html
Thank you to the friends who proofread these notes.
My Patreon is patreon.com/emilytakesnotes.
