Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on February 4, 2026

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 mayor did not make a report today.

Monthly Financial Report

Finance Director Melissa Dubowski and Controller Chris Hollins both gave their respective reports. The city going over budget for overtime spending for police, fire, and solid waste has been in the news. (link in resources if you’d like to catch up)

Director Dubowski:

• predicts an ending fund balance of $353.5M, which is $162M higher than the target. The ending fund balance is like the city’s savings account.
• She shared some economic figures:
  • the unemployment rate in Houston is 4.5%, oil is $57.97 per barrel, home sales are up 2.8% according to HAR.
• She said that overtime spending is on par with last fiscal year and dependent on many unpredictable factors, such as disasters.

Controller Hollins:

• predicts an ending fund balance of $336M, lower than the finance department prediction due to lower revenue projections.
• He introduced a high school student serving as Controller For The Day, a position which she won through an essay contest.
• He plugged a Black History Month event on 2/19 in the Legacy Room at City Hall.
• He remarked on ICE; “When enforcement is driven by ideology instead of sound judgment, families are torn apart, communities are destabilized, local businesses and regional economies suffer, and trust in government erodes.”

Controller Hollins pivoted to “fiscal responsibility that is within our control,” and spoke on overtime expenses. He said the city is “dramatically over budget” in its overtime spending with police, fire and solid waste. “Solid waste is projected to be 70% over budget, while police and fire are projected to be 89% and 87% over budget, respectively. Together, these three departments are projected to come in more than $54 million over budget in their overtime spending.” Hollins said all of this was predicted during the last budget season and suggested the city either reduce overtime expenses or budget appropriately for it. Hollins said consistently going over budget erodes the public’s trust.

• Director Dubowski agreed that overtime expenses have gone over budget, but pointed to savings in other areas that can balance it out.
• CM Alcorn said that department directors are directing attention to the overtime problem and the city should see benefits soon.
• Mayor Whitmire agreed and said department directors are being strategic. “If you look at the three departments that require overtime — police, fire and solid waste — I think that’s where Houstonians expect us to provide those services.” He also said, “We will have a balanced budget, without raising taxes, this spring.”

• CM Pollard said the city has a spending problem and asked Director Dubowski for her opinion on the financial forecast for Houston. Dubowski said Houston is trending “baseline,” that the city always has a structural deficit, and pointed to progress such as pension reform, efficiencies from the Ernst & Young study, and retirement incentives.
• CM Martinez said it’s normal for the city to have a deficit. He criticized the controller’s doom and gloom and said, “The sky is [not] falling. The sky’s been where it’s at for the last 10 years.” He talked about the need for a trash fee, revenue cap overhaul, and overtime policies.
• Controller Hollins tried to reply but CM Martinez cut him off and talked over him. Mayor Whitmire criticized people (but really Hollins) for complaining without offering a solution. Hollins tried to reply but Mayor Whitmire cut him off.
• There was much discussion that I won’t go into because it’s ~weedy~ and repetitive. The mayor concluded the financial report by saying, “Thank you Melissa, excellent job.” (lol)

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 1 accepted final work and approved the final payment of $3.5M for waterline work along Westheimer. CM Kamin supported the item but complained of shoddy work, construction delays, and a water main leak in the area already.
• Item 5 approved $1M for a web-based campaign finance management tool for the electronic disclosure of campaign finance, lobbying, and personal financial statement filings. Many CMs remarked on this item’s importance and the need for further improvements.
• Item 6 approved $512K for a data platform produced by SoundThinking Inc for the police department. CM Pollard said this is the same company behind ShotSpotter (a rebrand!) but that the two programs are unconnected; “There’s no correlation or integration with ShotSpotter.” Houston invested in ShotSpotter a few years ago, but the technology was bad and there was public push back, so they ended the contract.
• Item 7 approved $3.9M over 60 months for “recreational, educational, and miscellaneous supplies” for the parks department, which literally made me lol because my mind went straight to drugs. Instead; “This procurement is intended to acquire educational, recreational, and therapeutic supplies essential to operations at community centers, libraries, and recreation facilities … supporting youth enrichment, senior wellness, inclusive programming, emergency outreach, and athletic initiatives.”
• Item 14 approved $2.4M to pay for the At-Large Position 4 city council run-off election last December.
• Item 15 approved an additional $842K for the ongoing renovation of Fire Station 17 in District B.
• Item 16 approved the contracts with several firms doing home repair related to Winter Storm Uri in 2021, all totalling $33M in grant funds. The item also approved the agreement that will need to be signed for each home repair by the city, contractor, and homeowner. CM Thomas said the application for the program is still open and that the Housing and Community Development Department is available for help with the application. “Take full advantage of this money … The department is moving expeditiously to make sure that once they are approved that the repairs can start. So take advantage of this information and get all that is due to you.” CMs Pollard and Martinez expressed concern due to “horror stories” in the past from people receiving shoddy work from government programs like these. CM Thomas said that guidelines have improved. CM Martinez encouraged people to document the process by taking photos before, during, and after.
• Item 17 approved $7.5M for books and AV materials for the library system.
• Item 24 approved $46M for the Trinity River Water Conveyance Project, operated by the Coastal Water Authority. CM Kamin suggested this should have gone to committee first since it’s such a large item. She requested a committee review, even though it passed today.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Davis plugged a town hall on 2/9 at 5:45pm at the West Gray Multi-Service Center.
• CM Flickinger plugged an electronics recycling event 2/7 starting at 9am and the Kingwood Park and Ride.
• CM Kamin remarked on Black History Month and plugged a read-in on 2/5 at 5:30pm at the African American History Research Center at the Gregory School. She mentioned a walkout of Houston high school students to protest a classmate detained by ICE. She thanked peaceful protestors at a demonstration at Ervan Chew Park last Saturday. She said that there are detention centers in Texas, “in our own backyard. We do have an obligation and a responsibility to speak out because it is in Texas where this is happening … This is our responsibility.” She called out Jackson Square apartments for not having heat in over 500 units. She said she is using $10K of her Council District Service Funds to support health department inspections of apartment complexes across the city. She said the health department does not have sufficient funding.
• CM Ramirez said he thinks the Ben Taub expansion will go forward, which will take land from Hermann Park. Ramirez hopes that financial compensation the city receives will go towards parks.
• CM Thomas wished a happy Black History Month and praised related library events. The Apartment Inspection Reform Ordinance is moving to committee soon and she encouraged engagement with two TBA community meetings. She said, “We have to do something that is meaningful for Houstonians long term, which often includes a financial investment … because quality of life and public safety is at the table.” She plugged a Housing committee meeting on 2/5, what she has been calling the Super Bowl of housing. She talked about the importance of multi-family housing and housing-of-choice options. Thomas is planning an event on 4/4 that will offer showers, haircuts, meals, and other services for unhoused people.
• CM Castex-Tatum plugged a paper shred event on 2/21 from 9am-12pm at New Faith Church. It is free and not limited to District K residents. She plugged a meeting to convene leadership of civic clubs, HOAs, and Super Neighborhoods on 4/9. She wished a happy Black History Month and praised the library for their programming across the city. She shared a public hearing for the replatting of Braeburn Gardens, which is outside Beltway 8, being held in the City Hall annex, on Thursday 2/5 at 2:30pm. Finally, she shared condolences for the death of Janelle Scott, one of the first Black female police officers.
• CM Peck plugged a trail walk-and-talk on 2/7 from 10am-12pm at Schwartz Park. The Public Safety committee meeting is 2/10 at 10am.
• CM Martinez is embarking on a civic club tour and encouraged people to prepare for budget season. He implied that his initiative for on-demand heavy waste trash pick-up has been approved by the mayor. He said he welcomes conversations regarding ICE and wants to reassure people about the facts. He said, “HPD will continue to focus on local law enforcement and leave federal law enforcement matters to federal agents.” He is planning a know-your-rights event on 2/21 at 9am at the Tejano Center.
• CM Pollard shared condolences for DJ Michael 5000 Watts, pioneering leader of the Swishahouse record label.
• CM Alcorn encouraged more attention on the Open Space Ordinance.
• CM Evans-Shabazz suggested a change to the short-term rental permit requiring a signature of a neighborhood representative. She remarked on the 100-year anniversary of Jack Yates High School.
• CM Castillo plugged Love Your Pet Month, with many collaborations with BARC, Houston Pet Set, and the Humane Society for free or low-cost pet care throughout the month. He is hosting a town hall on 2/28 at 10am at Shady Lane Park.

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.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2026/02/03/542493/houston-police-fire-department-overtime-city-budget/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/john-whitmire-soundthinking-public-safety-crime-19483163.php
https://www.houstontx.gov/housing/
https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/

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.