Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on February 18, 2026

Agenda

1. Public Comment
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.

Public Comment

Normally, the public comment portion of city council takes place on Tuesdays. Because Monday was Presidents’ Day, the two meetings were combined. Here is a selection of speakers:

• Five speakers commented on Item 33, which resolved to support a 9% affordable housing tax credit for multiple properties across the city. The speakers today referenced one proposed complex near the Lakes of Parkway neighborhood off Highway 6. Three speakers opposed to the development expressed concerns about unaddressed drainage and flooding concerns, traffic, pedestrian safety, and connection to public transit. A representative for the developer said they have engaged the community and believe they have adapted their plans accordingly.
  • CM Thomas proposed to withdraw four proposed properties from the list due to lack of proper community engagement. Since they were already discussing the item, they decided to vote on Item 33 and it passed, as amended.
• Two speakers remarked on the potential demolition of the historic Garden Oaks movie theater, asking for council’s help facilitating a conversation with the developer to find a solution amenable to all. One speaker from Preservation Houston said the building has “lots of features that deserve to be enjoyed, not added to a landfill.” CM Castillo said the developer has agreed and he is arranging a meeting.
• Five people spoke in support of ICE and HPD, citing rumors that council plans to restrict how HPD reports warrants to ICE and reduce minor traffic stops. Several speakers said the current system is not broken and does not need to be fixed. One said, “We haven’t had the chaos, the headlines, or the lawsuits … because the process here has been quiet, orderly, and frankly, quite boring.” Another speaker asked, “Are you trying to turn Houston into Minneapolis? Can we not see what happens when we don’t cooperate with the federal government?”
  • CM Salinas said state law is clear about how HPD reports warrants to ICE and the city cannot break that law. She asked for the speakers’ help correcting the spread of that misinformation.
  • CM Carter thanked the speakers for “addressing us in a respectful way and not cursing and screaming and carrying on.” She did not support restricting minor traffic stops, which she said leads to discovery of other more serious crimes, like human trafficking.
  • CM Kamin advocated for immigrant rights, especially students who are being detained or staying home from school in fear and domestic violence victims afraid to come forward. She spoke to the need to protect all people who live in Houston. She remarked on the difference between administrative and criminal warrants.

• CM Evans-Shabazz spoke against ICE’s inhumane actions. “We don’t want any human being, regardless of where they come from or why they ended up here, to end up in a situation that could lead to them being killed, murdered, or put in close confines where they are treated inhumanely.” Evans-Shabazz and one of the speakers argued about racial profiling.
• CM Huffman said HPD goes through extensive training and polices with compassion.
• CM Kamin praised HPD but criticized untrained immigration officials. She vocally supported CM Evans-Shabazz and pointed out the racial profiling BIPOC people, especially Black and Latine people, have to deal with. She called out inhumane treatment of people at detention centers, such as worms in food and women being forced to wear diapers due to lack of restroom access. “It calls upon each and every one of us to speak from our humanity and our conscience and our ethics as Americans and what we stand for in this country as well.”
• CM Pollard advocated for law enforcement to prioritize violent and dangerous criminals and leave alone the people who are contributing to society, legally pursuing citizenship, and otherwise peacefully contributing to the valuable diversity of Houston. He shared a story about a father and son brutalized by ICE on the way to school, the father being deported, and the family struggling with a way forward, a situation he said was formative for him in shaping how he thinks about these issues.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 12 accepted a $750K, one-year grant from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to support a health department re-entry program for people leaving the prison system.
• Item 13 approved $13M for the rehabilitation of the pool at Tidwell Park, much of it funded by the state. CM Thomas read a statement from CM Jackson, who is still absent from council while recovering from surgery, calling the project transformative. “This is not just a neighborhood amenity, it’s our city’s only year round pool available to every Houstonian for swim lessons, water safety programs and recreational activities throughout the year.” Jackson added the facility will be able to host income-producing competitions “that can generate revenue and bring positive attention to our community.”
• Item 14 approved $101K for pre-construction services for the renovation at the Magnolia Multi-Service Center.
• Item 15 approved $225K over three years for a company to run the sales and auctions of abandoned property taken in by the police department and airports.
• Item 18 approved an additional $1.4M (on top of $825K) for access to the county’s radio system at the airports.
• Item 19 increased the contract for the company doing catastrophe planning for the city from $1.4M → $3.9M.
• Item 21 accepted $15.8M from the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025. Houston can use funds to buy technology that will identify, monitor, track, and mitigate unmanned aircrafts (drones) to protect the public from “nefarious or unlawful use.” The Federal Department of Homeland Security and FEMA made this funding available to cities hosting FIFA World cup events.
• Item 23 accepted a $1M grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for improvements to Meadowcreek Village Park.
• Item 31 approved $40M for a large drainage and street improvement project in Near Northside. CM Castillo said many students and pedestrians use the area and thanked Harris County Precinct 2 for their partnership.
• Item 37 approved the 2026 budget for the Fifth Ward TIRZ. CM Ramirez criticized the TIRZ for conflicts of interest, lack of activity, and inappropriate spending. He said he would not refer the item back to the administration at the behest of District B CM Jackson, who told him she was worried about project delays if the budget wasn’t approved.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Kamin said the District C annual report is available at houstontx.gov/council/c/reports. She was dismayed by a developer removing bricks from Freedman’s Town last week and has initiated a citation. She said, “I cannot begin to express the level of disrespect that this shows to the community,” and, “Developers need to pay attention. They knew the rules. They didn’t follow them.” She advocated for the Montrose TIRZ to listen to residents and use the original West Alabama reconstruction plan. She remarked on the EPA rollback of the greenhouse gas emission regulations, especially devastating for cities like Houston on the front line of climate change. She remarked on the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson and his legacy. She wished a happy Ramadan, happy Lunar New Year, and happy birthday to CM Castillo.
• CM Thomas plugged two meetings regarding the forthcoming apartment inspection ordinance; one on 2/19 at the Alief Neighborhood Center from 6pm-8pm (also virtual), and one on 3/5 at 6300 Irvington. She wished a happy Lunar New Year. She remarked on Jesse Jackson’s legacy, calling him “an icon in America, not just the Black community.” She also shared condolences for Norman C. Francis, longtime president of Xavier University in New Orleans.
• CM Peck addressed concerns about homeless encampments in Agnes Moffit Park and said HPD is working on it. She advocated for park improvements using bond money approved “a few years ago.”
• CM Castex-Tatum plugged a shred event at New Faith Church on 2/21 from 9am-12pm. She recalled, during Jesse Jackson’s presidential runs, how people in her community would say, “I hope he doesn’t get shot,” highlighting “how bold he was and how courageous he was in a time when that leadership was not common.”
• CM Martinez wished a happy Lunar New Year and the start of Lent. Early voting is happening, info at harrisvotes.com. He is hosting a community conversation with HPD at the Tejano Center on 2/21 at 9am.
• CM Pollard wished a happy Lunar New Year. He asked the mayor to invite HISD Superintendent Mike Miles to council to answer questions regarding the closure of 12 schools. He shared a story about Jesse Jackson teaching him how to tie a tie and remarked on Reverend Jackson’s boldness and bravery to continue the work after being, literally, so near to MLK Jr. when he was shot.
• CM Alcorn plugged a virtual meeting on 3/17 for the adopt-an-esplanade program.
• CM Salinas wished a happy Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan. She shared condolences for the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
• CM Carter wished a happy Lunar New Year. The Ethics and Governance committee meeting is at 10am on 2/19.
• CM Evans-Shabazz shared a NHIP financial workshop 2/19 from 5-7pm, a MacGregor Superneighborhood meeting 2/19 at 6:30pm, and a meeting on Friday regarding a new gas station. Referring to her earlier, heated exchange with public speakers, she said, “I have to reflect back on slavery and how the Black people were not freed purely because of our own efforts. It was in fact brave white people who took risks to their lives and families who helped us to be free … I need you to keep that same energy and organization. Brave white women, united, could change the face of these horrific engagements with masked, violent, untrained men. How powerful, compassionate and impactful that would be. Let’s make America humane again. In the words of Jesse Jackson, keep hope alive.”
• CM Castillo said people can use METRO to get free rides to vote. The Pet Set Mobile Spay Neuter Clinic will be at Zoomies on Canal Street on 2/20 and 2/22.
• CM Davis plugged three Houston’s Choice Resource Fairs on 2/18, 2/19, and 2/21. He shared condolences and remembrances for Jesse Jackson.
• CM Flickinger encouraged voting. There is a tree planting on 2/21 at 10am at Greenwood 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.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/west-alabama-redesign-coalition-21331286.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.