Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on March 25, 2026
Agenda
- Mayor’s Report
- Consent Agenda (items that require a vote, like purchases, resolutions, ordinances, etc.)
- Council Member Pop-Off
The Mayor’s Report
Mayor Whitmire remarked on Houston’s “visitor’s economy,” and said that Houston had more hotel revenue in March than ever before. He mentioned a cheer competition, the World Baseball Classic, CERA week, Spring Break, the Astros season, the PGA tournament, Fleet Week, and the FIFA World Cup as events drawing people to Houston. Whitmire said his administration is becoming known for enforcing ordinances, like the sound ordinance and health department permitting. He particularly pointed to responding to a call from CM Evans-Shabazz on Sunday due to partying on Emancipation Avenue.
The Deputy Director of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) visited Houston last week and toured 419 Emancipation Avenue, a forthcoming homeless navigation center. HUD has also approved the city’s distribution of $314M in Hurricane Beryl and derecho recovery funds, to be spread across home repairs, housing, generators, and 419 Emancipation Ave. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved $64M for security during the FIFA World Cup. Whitmire said that “collaboration and communication is working at the state level.”
Mayor Whitmire said he is on the phone often with the Houston airports director, but hopes that “our local delegation will speak out, and our two US Senators try to resolve the conflicts in Washington, so we can get back to normal airport operations.”
Houston’s planning director, Vonn Tran, is being honored by Woman magazine as one of the 50 most influential Houstonians.
Agenda Items, Selected Works
- Item 2 renamed Tuffly Park to James Robert Hall Park. Renaming the park was a long time project of Alvin Byrd, whose widow was in the audience to celebrate. CM Jackson read a letter from the late Mr. Byrd remarking on the legacy of James Hall, who was a teacher, mentor, and park champion for decades. CMs Martinez, Evans-Shabazz, and Mayor Whitmire spoke in support.
- Item 4 approved $1.5M for body cameras for HPD.
- Item 7 submitted six project applications to Harris County Precinct 2 for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) funding, all street and drainage projects.
- Item 8 approved a $500 fee for permit application reviews after regular working hours. The support doc said this will provide “flexibility for customers with tight deadlines to receive timely feedback and results” and “will enable faster project turnaround and improve convenience for customers seeking permits outside standard operating times.” CMs Alcorn, Ramirez, and Thomas remarked on the importance of this item and of speeding up the permit process in general. I think it sounds like an easy-to-corrupt pay-to-play system, but no one at council raised those concerns.
- Item 9 approved a Safety Zone in East Downtown, instigated by the upcoming FIFA World Cup games. The support doc says Safety Zones “promote public safety by managing vehicular and pedestrian issues, among other things.”
- Item 10 approved an additional $140K to the Chinese Community Center for a youth enrichment program.
- Item 11 approved an additional $250K to Capital IDEA for adult employment programs.
- Item 12 approved an additional $1M for the operation of the Housing Navigation Center on Jensen Dr.
- Item 13 approved $1.5M to East End Makers Hub which will allow the city to make quarterly interest payments to HUD.
- Item 14 moved $5M of TIRZ money allocated to disaster recovery and homelessness to affordable housing. This is a general funding item and specific contracts will come before council later on.
- Item 24 approved $804K for the renovation of the Independence Heights Community Center. CM Castillo said the community center will close April 13 and is scheduled to reopen October 19.
- Item 25 approved an additional $392K, on top of $1.6M already spent, for the City Hall Annex restroom renovation.
- Item 30 accepted the Charlotte Baldwin statue into the city’s permanent art collection. It will live in front of the Julia Ideson Library. CM Castex-Tatum explained that Charlotte Baldwin was married to one of the Allen brothers and it was her $5K that bought the original land that became the City of Houston. She said, “We still have a lot of work to do for equal pay and access for women, but we’ll keep doing this work and making sure that we continue to fight for equality and justice for us all.”
- Item 31 approved the 2025 budget for the Midtown TIRZ. CM Ramirez advocated for better TIRZ transparency.
- Item 34 accepted a $59K solid waste grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council that the police department will use to update technology to monitor illegal dumping.
- Item 39 approved a contract for the city to treat Bellaire’s wastewater for the next 100 years as part of the agreement that transferred the Ruffino Hills tract of land to the city, which will be turned into floodwater mitigation.
- Items 50 and 51 appointed 7 people to the Memorial City TIRZ.
- These items were not voted on: Item 23 was pulled by the administration, Item 32 was tagged by CM Kamin.
Council Member Pop-Off
- CM Thomas plugged a joint Housing and Economic Development committee meeting on 3/30 at 2pm to go over the forthcoming apartment inspection ordinance. There is a Spring Committee Meeting by the Housing and Community Development Department on 3/31 at 6pm to get public input on grant funding. There is a similar virtual meeting on 4/7 from 3pm-5pm. People can also submit public comment by 4/8. CM Thomas has created a homeless strike force and she plugged a Westside Mobile Care Day on 4/4 from 9am-1pm at The Church Without Walls. Services will include showers, haircuts, ID help, health resources, and more. “We are not just celebrating resurrection in our faith, but we’re also working with the unhoused to resurrect their lives.” Thomas plugged a Barbara Quatro exhibit at the Alief Neighborhood Center.
- CM Castex-Tatum shared news about two construction projects. She welcomed the new Super Neighborhood 40 delegates. She wished her executive assistant a happy birthday.
- CM Martinez plugged a Coffee with a Council Member event on 3/28 at 9am at Pitch 25 to discuss all things FIFA. He plugged an Easter egg hunt at Hidalgo Park on 3/29 from 11am-3pm. He remarked on the disturbing revelation of Cesar Chavez’s sexual assault against women for decades. He said this news has been deeply unsettling to him personally and the Chicano community. He advocated for women and lifting up the voices of sexual assault victims first and foremost. He wants to change the name of Cesar Chavez Street, which is in his district.
- Mayor Whitmire said the planning director has already begun the name-change process.
- CM Alcorn plugged a Budget and Fiscal Affairs committee meeting on 3/31 at 10am. Topics include HFD and the multi-family recycling pilot program.
- CM Kamin said that over half of Houston lives in apartment complexes with no recycling, which is also a financial burden to the city due to strain on landfills.
- CM Salinas remarked on the sense of confusion and feelings of pain after the revelations of Cesar Chavez’s sexual predation. She supports the renaming of the street and wants to lift up the voices of women in the movement. She honored HPD Officer Cherelle Wood, president of the African American Police Officer’s League, for Women’s History Month.
- CM Carter highlighted the “daughters” leading Houston now. She asked for people to remember the troops fighting overseas, and their families, and to keep them in your prayers.
- CM Evans-Shabazz thanked the mayor, HPD, and Precinct 7 for their swift response to her call for help on Emancipation Ave this past Sunday. There is an Arts and Culture committee meeting on 3/26 at 2pm. The Third Ward on Tap Festival is 3/28 from 10am-2pm where the Columbia Tap Trail meets Holman.
- CM Castillo advocated for leadership in the city’s use of AI. He plugged a town hall at HPD Central from 10-11:30am. A FIFA mural will be unveiled Saturday at 1pm at Ninfa’s. The annual Trash Bash is on 3/28; he plugged an event at Moody Park but it’s a city wide event. He said that it has been tough to process the news of Cesar Chavez and empathized with the secrets many women have carried over the years to protect the movements. He supports the renaming of Cesar Chavez Street.
- CM Flickinger wished a happy retirement to Officer Donald Lightnote. He plugged a battery, oil, paint, and antifreeze recycling event 3/28 in Clear Lake starting at 9am. He plugged the Aviator Run at Ellington Field on 3/28.
- CM Kamin plugged the Run the Grove event at Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve (visit tmnaonline.org for info and street closures); the District C annual rain barrel sale and tree giveaway (register at houstontx.gov/council/c/events.html). She thanked her colleagues for their remarks regarding Cesar Chavez and advocated for all predators to come to justice.
- CM Huffman asked for help with a noisy club named Camp which has been “wreaking havoc on the neighbors for a couple of years now.” She plugged a Coffee with the Community event on 3/30 from 9:30-11am at Tim Horton’s off Highway 6.
- CM Ramirez supports changing the name of Cesar Chavez street, saying the revelations were heartbreaking. He remarked on the many holy celebrations happening across faiths during this time, including Good Friday to Easter, Eid, and Passover. He said, “I’m grateful to live in the United States, a country where we were founded on the principle of religious liberty … This country works because we allow others to enjoy the same freedoms that we do. And if we don’t, then we run into problems.” He wished everyone peace during this time.
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-beryl-derecho-recovery-dollars-20808825.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.
