Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on July 30, 2025

Agenda

1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Mayor’s Report
3. Consent Agenda (items that require a vote, like purchases, resolutions, ordinances, etc.)
4. Council Member Pop-Off

The Monthly Financial Report

Controller Chris Hollins and Finance Director Melissa Dubowski both made their respective reports.

Controller Hollins:

• The controller predicts an ending fund balance of $413.4M. This is lower than the finance department’s projection but still higher than expected due to revenue increases such as TIRZ 24 reimbursements, unexpected ambulance fees, METRO reimbursements, payments for fire services at the airports, permits, land and sales, and more.
• Several times Hollins said that expenses have decreased due to savings in personnel.
• Hollins explained the sale of $724M in airport bonds that will finance IAH terminal B, a Hobby airport expansion, and more.
• Hollins made critical remarks on the state’s redistricting process, which he said will “dilute the political power of communities like ours.” He said the “18th congressional district has already been without representation for 264 days,” and will remain so for the rest of this year “due to political gamesmanship from Governor Abbott.” He said redistiricting is not just a political process, it is a moral process that determines who has a voice and who gets silenced. “For far too long, communities in Houston have been targeted and carved up to reduce our influence.”

Director Dubowski:

• The director predicts an ending fund balance of $422M, an increase due to the same reasons listed by the controller.
• Dubowski also mentioned personnel savings as a reason for lower overall expenditures.
• Dubowski said Houston’s May unemployment rate is 4.2%; it was 3.9% in April. The average oil price is $68 per barrel. These factors are closely correlated with sales tax receipts, the second highest source of general fund revenue.

Several CMs had questions.

• CM Alcorn said, “The good news is we’re $41M ahead of where we thought we were going to be.” She asked about the Texas legislature efforts to provide property tax relief and limit city spending.
  • Dubowski said the bills that seek to limit government (including municipal) spending don’t take into account many things. They are tracking them, putting together testimony, and working with the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) team to educate legislators on potential impacts.
  • Mayor Whitmire said the proposed bills to limit city spending “could have some severe unintended consequences, perhaps intended consequences by the leadership in Austin.”
• CM Plummer asked when we will see the $16M from the Jones and Watson drainage-related lawsuit. Dubowski explained that payment is to be made in FY2026, which will be reported on starting next month.
• CM Kamin asked for a timeline on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and budget amendments, especially for the budget stabilization fund. Dubowski said CIP amendments will be at a committee on August 26 and CIP policies will be reviewed in September.
  • Kamin also criticized the state legislature’s redistricting effort. She criticized the public comment process, as all of the hearings were held before the proposed redistricting maps were released.

The Mayor’s Report

Mayor Whitmire plugged a back-to-school event at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, August 2 starting at 8am.

CM Kamin recognized Scott Lewis and his son, Kepler, who is working towards his “citizenship in the community” merit badge on his quest to become an Eagle Scout. Best of luck, Kepler.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 4 approved an additional $2.5M (on top of pre-approved $47M) for a project updating older airfields at Hobby Airport. The additional funding is to cover a 137-day delay due to “multiple conflicts between design drawings and conditions on the ground, particularly between pavement and storm installation and FAA airfield infrastructure.”
• Item 10 approved $78K for the purchase of land in District B that is adjacent to the Booker Landfill. The city plans to construct (or has already constructed? unclear) a berm and swale “to protect City infrastructure and adjoining properties from the runoff from an adjacent landfill, and to provide for the maintenance of a storm sewer drainage line.”
• CM Kamin tagged item 13, which would have approved $2.1M for 33 Ford police interceptor vehicles for use at the airports. Kamin wants the city to purchase more hybrid and electric vehicles, especially for use in confined areas like the airports.
• Item 14 increased spending from $597K → $837K for firefighting gear. More money is needed before the current contract is up because of price increases, more needs than expected, and increased hiring.
• Item 17 approved up to $3M for three new natural gas generators at the Houston Westside Police Command Substation, necessary because “the existing diesel emergency generators have exceeded their operational lifespan, and the necessary parts for repair and maintenance are no longer available.”
• Item 18 approved $45.9M for “technology-related products and services” for various departments. CM Kamin voted to approve but criticized that such an expensive item should have gone to committee first.
• Item 26 accepted a grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services for a diabetes prevention and control program. The grant award is for $1.15M through 2029. CM Kamin remarked on how federal grant funding has been reduced, including this one, which is hurting the health department.
• Item 34 established an OPEB (other post employee benefits) Trust, starting out at $10M. CM Alcorn said, “Hallelujah.” (She has been advocating for this for a long time.) From the support doc: “The goal of the trust is to save (and grow through investment earnings) funds that will offset pay-as-you-go costs in the future while simultaneously reducing the net OPEB liability.” CM Alcorn said this is a smart move to reduce the city’s debt and important to maintain a good credit rating.
• Item 35 authorized a special election on November 4 for the city council at-large 4 position, which CM Plummer is vacating to run for Harris County judge.
• Item 38 would have approved the addition of land to a parcel in Houston’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, slated for later development, but CM Plummer referred it back to the administration due to concerns about developing in a flood-prone area. Unlike a tag, when an item is referred back — we don’t know when we will see it again.
• Item 47 would have approved the city’s disaster action recovery plan for submission to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which includes $314M to use for recovery from Hurricane Beryl and the derecho, both in 2024. The original plan did not include any funding for housing but after some outcry and advocacy, was updated to include $50M for housing. CMs Thomas and Plummer both have proposed amendments which would increase that funding. Today, the item was tagged by CM Martinez because CM Thomas was delayed and couldn’t be there. There is no council next week so this will next be on the agenda on August 13.
• Similar to item 38, CM Plummer referred item 49 back to the administration due to concerns about developing in a flood-prone area.

Item 23, more garbage trucks

Item 23 approved $12M for the purchase of 31 new garbage trucks, 11 of which can be delivered within two days of purchase.

• Mayor Whitmire said that Solid Waste’s number one need is trucks. Staffing is now sufficient due to more efficient use of personnel. The mayor said, “This should have been done a long time ago.” Whitmire complained about the “Spanish” company the city contracts for recycling, which only has one drop off location. He said the model put in place previously is counterproductive to successful recycling, partially because drivers spend more time waiting to drop off loads than they do picking up. He praised Director Hassan and decried misinformation and political statements. “This director inherited a mess that included people being off on Wednesday … They’ve caught up, got new equipment, are allowing employees to multitask. Yes, some people don’t like that because it’s removing overtime pay.” He urged support of this item and of Director Hassan.
• CM Davis asked if the trucks are used or new. Mayor Whitmire said, “I don’t know the mileage on them but they’re in good shape.” Then he backtracked and said they are new. Whitmire has asked the fleet department to prioritize solid waste truck repairs. “We’ve got to get serious about fixing things [Director Hassan] inherited.” CM Davis asked about changes to route scheduling. Mayor Whitmire said there are more people doing trash pick up now because they have adjusted personnel to be able to multitask. “No one ever disclosed this under the previous director. We didn’t know about Wednesday being off … It was a mess. There were conflicts of interest.”
• CM Alcorn urged review of the recycling contract. Mayor Whitmire indicated willingness to challenge them in court. He said, “We can’t let them hold us hostage to one drop off for 600 square miles … This is a contract that we inherited.” He speculated the city might not have known it was one drop off location. “I just don’t know how a reasonable person can give someone a long-term contract that is dysfunctional. It makes you wonder who knew who.” CM Alcorn mentioned additional transfer stations will provide relief. Mayor Whitmire continued to praise Director Hassan and disparage former Solid Waste Director Wilfalk.

Council Member Pop-Off

Many CMs thanked and acknowledged their summer interns.

• CM Pollard supported funding for housing in the disaster recovery plan. He supported CM Thomas’s amendment and encouraged his colleagues to reflect before the next vote. He said the city’s own assessment has shown that the most unmet need is housing. He wants council to consider the testimony people provided, especially those from vulnerable communities. “My wish and hope is that we do try to support a plan that puts more money into housing for individuals and also protects our city assets.”
• CM Alcorn praised St. Elizabeth Place, a recently opened mixed-income apartment complex that was remodeled from the defunct and historic St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on Lyons Avenue.
• CM Castillo plugged a virtual disaster prep workshop on 8/12 and advocated for resources at Independence Hall.
• Regarding redistricting, CM Flickinger said gerrymandering leads to acrimony. He pointed to District E’s own wonky borders as an example.
• CM Kamin criticized the redistricting effort, saying the changes are “big and significant” and have not had appropriate public input. White Linen Night is this coming weekend — Kamin complained about unaffiliated events that strain resources.
• CM Ramirez encouraged people to weigh in on the proposed motorized scooter ban.
• CM Castex-Tatum praised local government and said, “We are the body that is closest to the people.” She said the disaster recovery discussion is a good example of how things should work. “Working together benefits the people.”
  • Mayor Whitmire agreed and praised CM Castex-Tatum. He said his administration will accept Thomas’s amendment and he is not worried about who gets the credit.
• CM Martinez remarked on the proposed motorized scooter ban. He advocated for allowing daytime use to promote mobility, but suggested they should not be in use after 9pm.

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 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.

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/politics/houston/article/whitmire-thomas-housing-storm-damage-20792129.php
https://www.khou.com/article/news/community/st-elizabeth-hospital-houston-fifth-ward/285-06a47a5d-8ee3-41d7-a5fa-7933fb6146eb

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.