Houston City Council Notes, prepared by Emily J Hynds
Agenda
- Public Hearing
- Mayor’s Report*
- Consent Agenda (items that require a vote, like purchases, resolutions, ordinances, etc.)
- Council Member Pop-Off
*The Mayor did not do a Mayor’s Report today.
Public Hearing
Today’s public hearing was on the Main Street Promenade Plan, which, if approved, will make Main Street pedestrian-only from Rusk to Commerce. Main Street is already pedestrian-only from Dallas to Walker.
- Brian Crimmins from the Mayor’s Office presented on the timeline, public engagement, expected outcomes, and more. He said, “Even though the [current] program is permanent (section from Dallas to Walker), it still largely looks and feels temporary.”
- Plans include:
- Maintenance. The Downtown Management District will be responsible for maintenance instead of individual businesses.
- Accessibility. The roadway will be on level with the pedestrian area.
- Place making. The corridor will have an identity as a public space.
- Shade. More trees and shade structures.
- There will be adequate emergency access. Houston Public Works addressed concerns with drainage and overall design. METRO ensured safe rail operations through the corridor.
- Construction could start within a month and be completed in 2026 in time for the World Cup.
CMs Martinez and Castillo spoke in support. Mayor Whitmire supported the ordinance and thanked the entities who contributed funds, like the Downtown Management District and METRO.
Two members of the public spoke in support.
Agenda Items, Selected Works
- Item 3 approved work and final payment of $1.4M for the renovation of three row houses at the Gregory School.
- Item 9 approved $11.2M over three years for auto repair parts and services.
- Item 13 set a public hearing on May 21 at 9am to go over the proposed budget.
- Item 15 approved a $4M loan to support an affordable apartment complex in Acres Homes.
- Item 17 approved a $1M total settlement across two companies who sued the city for halted payment on emergency water line repair in 2023. All payments were frozen when a Houston Public Works employee was discovered scheming, bribing, and abusing her power to favor her and her family’s companies. The two companies in today’s item were caught in the crossfire and sued to recover the money the City contractually owed them. See the link in the resources section for more.
- Item 18 would have approved a $500K settlement to Jones and Watson, plaintiffs in the drainage lawsuit against the city, but the item was not received on time and is thus on hold.
- Item 19 approved $1.6M to renovate a new location for the South Central Police Station. This item is for the pre-construction phase only. More funds will be requested for construction.
Item 14: A Disparity Study and the MWBE Program
Item 14 adopted (officially approved) the results of a disparity study that investigated the city’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program. The MWBE program is meant to help minority- and women-owned businesses achieve equal footing with other companies doing business with the city. The city is currently being sued by a white couple alleging the city is awarding contracts based on race. The results of the disparity study needed to be officially adopted to bolster the city’s case. Adopting the results (or not adopting them) was court mandated.
Some of the results of the disparity study were unexpected and the consultants recommended accordant adjustments to the ordinance. For instance, the study found there was no disparity among Asian American and Hispanic businesses in professional services categories and recommended deprioritizing the women-owned certification aspect. These findings caused robust public engagement and Council ultimately agreed not to make any major changes (so far).
The changes made to the MWBE ordinance today will:
- adopt the data of the disparity study
- maintain the current MBE and WBE categories
- expand the Small Business Enterprise Program across all spending categories
- add a certification for Veteran-Owned Small Business entities
- add support programs for micro and small businesses
- give more time for the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) to consider the feedback received and to possibly adjust the program further
CM Castex-Tatum spearheaded this ordinance update. She advocated for accepting the study’s data and continuing to work on the ordinance with OBO.
Several CMs advocated for more regular disparity studies, perhaps every five years instead of twenty.
Mayor Whitmire said, “If we do not submit something to the court, the entire MWBE program is in jeopardy.”
CM Davis had lots to say about equality and equal representation, including: “I don’t think any of us want to see disparity among anybody,” “All people have a right to participate and be fair,” and, “I just want to be assured that whatever the outcome is, that everybody is at the table, everybody’s represented.” I will take this opportunity to remind you that Davis advocated for the repeal of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance in 2014 and was quoted at the time saying that “sexual preference is a choice.”
CM Pollard disagreed with the decision to ignore the study’s recommended changes. He said, “We have to be able to respect the numbers and the study when it comes back, because if we don’t and we keep things the same, then there’s no point to waste money on the study in the first place.”
This item passed today. CMs Huffman, Ramirez, and Carter voted no.
Council Member Pop-Off
- CM Castillo plugged a budget town hall on May 17 at Fonde Community Center and a virtual budget town hall on May 22.
- CM Davis advocated for upgrades and investment at the Eastside Water Purification Plant. Mayor Whitmire agreed and said the problems are also a homeland security issue because the plant provides water to refineries.
- CM Jackson is hosting a Be Successful job fair on Thursday starting at 9am at the Judson Robinson Community Center, with many employers present who hire second-chance individuals.
- CM Thomas encouraged people to make a disaster plan now that it’s hurricane season. She mentioned the loss of grant funds to the Alief Super Neighborhood and praised their many programs. She plugged several upcoming events, sign up for the District F newsletter for details.
- CM Peck shared that the new police contract will be aired at a joint committee meeting on Thursday at 10am.
- CM Martinez wished all of the moms a feliz Dia de Las Madres and a happy Mother’s Day.
- CM Pollard thanked Mayor Whitmire for “finally” approving many of his Council District Service Fund proposals.
- CM Alcorn mentioned the proposed budget’s general fund is $74M lower than this year, which she possibly attributed to the Ernst & Young efficiency report.
- CM Carter said that one of her staffers was harassed in public for anti-bike lane comments Carter made. She said, “I’m happy to own my thoughts, my opinions, my beliefs, but my staff, and nor does anyone’s staff, deserve to be harassed.”
- CM Evans-Shabazz plugged an Edgewood Community meeting on May 14.
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.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/court/2025/02/05/513017/former-houston-public-works-employee-to-serve-10-years-in-prison-following-water-line-repair-scheme/
https://www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-city-life/2014/08/meet-the-pastor-trying-to-overturn-houston-equal-rights-ordinance-august-2014
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/disparity-study-passes-20294368.php
You can find your City Council Member and their contact info at: https://www.houstontx.gov/council/whoismycm.html
Thank you to the volunteers who proofread these notes.
My Patreon is patreon.com/emilytakesnotes.
