Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on September 17, 2025
**Special Note** I am planning a fundraiser on October 12 to raise money to support these notes. People often ask me what I need in order to keep doing this project and the answer is … money. Purchase a ticket or make a donation at this link. I hope to see some friends there. And thank you for your support!
Agenda
- 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 report today. He led the meeting for ~four minutes before stepping away and was absent for the rest of the meeting.
Agenda Items, Selected Works
- Items 2 and 3 confirmed the appointment of seven people to the Hardy/Near Northside TIRZ. The mayor and CM Castillo left the chamber to “meet and greet” them after the vote. Castillo returned during the pop-off section but the mayor was absent for the rest of the meeting.
- Item 6 approved $610K over two years for airfield lighting at all three airports.
- Item 9 approved $60M for tech licenses and software maintenance for various departments meant to sustain the city’s systems through September 30, 2028. CM Kamin thanked Director Kent of Information and Technology Services for reaching out to CMs prior and keeping them informed of this upcoming large item, which she has advocated for in the past.
- CM Ramirez tagged item 10, which would have approved a $250K water conservation program to replace toilets and showerheads at select apartment complexes. There was no discussion and the item is on hold until next week.
- Item 11 approved $5.3M through 2028 for pest control at various departments.
- Item 13 approved a $580K grant to the Wesley Community Center for homeless services.
- Item 14 approved a $740K grant to Brentwood Baptist Church for their housing program for people with HIV/AIDS. CMs Castex-Tatum and Davis praised Brentwood for this work.
- Item 15 appropriated $22M from several funds for the purchase of vehicles, including for the police and fire departments.
- CM Martinez supported this item but said that a recent ladder truck purchased for Station 61 did not actually fit inside the station. He suggested more thorough review prior to purchase and vehicle assignments.
- CM Kamin advocated for more transparency from the fleet department around fuel efficient vehicles where appropriate, such as “why or why not” explanations on coversheets. She said that switching to hybrids and EVs saves the city money and cleans up the air, “but we’re not seeing the progress that we should.”
- Item 20 adjusted the speed zones in a few areas due to school openings and closings. CM Huffman said, “Anything we can do to help keep kids safer is a win.”
- Item 22 accepted an $850K grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for stormwater and drainage improvements in Denver Harbor.
- Item 23 accepted an $850K grant from HUD for a detention basin and other improvements at EP Hill Park in Sunnyside.
- Item 24 accepted an $850K grant from HUD to go towards a larger stormwater project in Sunnyside that will cost $4.6M total.
- Item 25 approved four grant applications to FEMA, totaling $29M, to fund home elevations in flood-prone areas. The city applied for 99 homes across the city.
- Item 26 approved $17M for the redesign of the Kingwood wastewater treatment plant. CM Flickinger explained this facility was under several feet of water during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and has been using temporary buildings since then. He thanked his colleagues for their support.
Council Member Pop-Off
- CM Davis praised the Children’s Assessment Center and plugged a financial symposium in October.
- CM Flickinger plugged upcoming town halls on 9/30 (Kingwood), 10/12 (Clear Lake), and 10/21 (the Space Center).
- CM Kamin plugged the Labor Committee meeting on Thursday 9/18 at 10:30am. She thanked the solid waste department for getting out new trash bins and encouraged residents to reach out if you are in need of a bin. She plugged Families with Pride on 10/18 at Discovery Green. She asked for clarification on when the MKT bridges will be repaired, which were damaged by TxDOT construction equipment last spring. She wished Shanah Tovah to all those celebrating the Jewish new year.
- CM Jackson shared that the Northwood Manor SWAT drainage project will begin 10/6. She mentioned a fence ordinance that was discussed at yesterday’s Prop A committee. She plugged a job fair on 9/26 from 10am-2pm; applicants need to be 18+ and have a GED, positions start at $25 per hour.
- CM Ramirez mentioned Hispanic Heritage Month and several related events, including a community meeting for the Hispanic Research Center and Archives Building on 9/20 at 10am at the HCC Felix Fraga campus.
- CM Thomas shared that, after exiting a METRO bus on Monday, a 13-year-old boy suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a car, which then drove away. She said the event was tragic and that it “underscores that mobility is public safety. Every time this happens it erodes the effort … around walkability …, promoting public transit, investing in our crosswalks, our sidewalks.” There is a public hearing on 9/18 at 2:30pm for the replatting of two residential properties in Piney Point, changing them to commercial. She remarked on Piney Point’s historic nature and their struggle to maintain the character of their neighborhood, which commercial encroachment has eroded. She plugged a Faith and Affordable Housing Summit on 10/11, encouraging faith leaders with land to reach out so she can help “match your mission with some funding.”
- CM Peck plugged disaster relief via the State of Texas for people involved in the Three Corners apartment complex fire. You can apply through the Memorial Assistance Ministries.
- CM Martinez mentioned Hispanic Heritage Month and several related events.
- CM Pollard shared that the self-proclaimed “Mayor of Bissonnet,” a pimp working in the area, has been sentenced to ten years of federal time, which he said sends a strong message. He blamed poverty and crime on unemployment and plugged his jobs website, morejobshouston.com.
- CM Alcorn said that Monday is the first day of fall, on which she organizes a Fall Prevention Awareness Day for seniors.
- CM Evans-Shabazz plugged grandparents day on 9/20 at St. Johns, Bishop James Dixon’s pastoral anniversary on 9/21, and Fall Prevention Awareness Day on 9/22. She wished her sister Charlotte a happy birthday.
- CM Castillo mentioned Hispanic Heritage Month and several related events. He thanked the city’s General Services department for clearing and fencing a city-owned vacant lot that had become a nuisance.
- CM Castex-Tatum shared that the demolition of Spring Village apartments is nearly complete, after which the property will be converted into a detention basin. She is hosting a ‘meet the team’ event on 9/20 from 9am-11am at the Starbucks on Sam Houston Parkway.
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
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.
