Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on May 20, 2026

Agenda

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

The Mayor’s Report

Mayor Whitmire yielded his time to CM Kamin because it was her last meeting. CM Kamin held her son, Slade, and invited her husband, Matt, to come up. She thanked her husband for his support.’Twas emotional. To her colleagues, she said, “Our council family has really embraced my family and I’m very grateful for that.”

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 6 increased a contract with Ernst & Young from $525K → $598K (+$73K) for an overtime audit conducted by the Controller’s office.
• Item 8 approved $178K to upgrade HPD’s criminal intelligence tracking gear.
• Item 10 set a date for the budget public hearing; June 3 at 10am.
• Item 11 approved a rate increase for Centerpoint Energy’s Houston customers. The fixed monthly charge for residential customers will go from $22.36 to $24.83.
• Item 12 approved $51K for a “crime insurance policy for public employee dishonesty,” which is a word salad that I wish did not exist.
• Item 13 approved $900K for body armor vests for HPD.
• Item 14 approved $1.9M for various utility vehicles like trucks, a forklift, and a chipper.
• Item 22 approved a three-year, $1.7M grant for a vision care program with the Harris County Area Agency on Aging.
• Item 23 approved $7.6M over three years for five companies to provide home lead paint removal services through a health department program.
• Item 28 agreed to a $16.5M grant from FIFA for law enforcement, fire, and emergency personnel at FIFA events in Houston. Items 29-32 approved smaller distributions and reimbursements to other entities related to FIFA events.
• Item 38 altered the code of ordinances to allow public speakers to sign up online. Previously they were required to email, call, or sign up in person. CM Salinas called it “a great continuation of the work that council has already been doing to make city hall more accessible.”
• Park Funding:
  • Item 15 approved an additional $865K for improvements to Marron Park, Japhet Creek Park, and the Gregg Street bridge.
  • Item 16 approved $423K for improvements at Brock Park.
  • Item 17 approved $1.2M for lighting, a new tennis court, and drainage at Cloverland Park.
  • Item 18 approved $1.2M and an agreement with Memorial-Heights TIRZ for improvements to Stude Park. The TIRZ will contribute $750K.
  • Item 19 approved $1.8M to renovate the parking lot at Ingrando Park.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Castillo plugged a paper shred event on May 30 at 9am at the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center. He plugged Finca Tres Robles, a farm in Second Ward with a sliding-scale grocery store. He praised CM Kamin’s willingness to talk and help “without any hesitation or reservation.”
• CM Davis recapped a recent town hall.
• CM Flickinger plans to nominate Kathleen Jordan for the Lake Houston Dredging District.
• CM Huffman praised Kamin’s ability to form and foster relationships. She called her “limitless.”
• CM Ramirez recapped events from last weekend. He thanked CMs Alcorn and Castillo for their budget work. He requested an additional session to go over the proposed Combined Utility Service fee. He lamented low voter turnout during the recent election for District C. He commended CM Kamin and praised her compassion for the “regular folks.”
• CM Thomas remarked on the renaming of IAH’s Terminal E to Sheila Jackson Lee Terminal E. She committed to enhancing civic literacy and communicating accuracy as she explained forthcoming improvements to the Bissonnet and Kirkwood area. There is a Housing committee meeting on 5/26 at 10am. She recalled her and CM Kamin’s first year on council, saying they were the “rowdiest incoming freshmen.” She recounted trials such as the pandemic, civil unrest, the eviction crisis. She praised Kamin’s commitment, fervor, and fierceness, even when she was a lone voice speaking up for what she felt was right.
• CM Castex-Tatum remarked on the SJL Terminal E renaming ceremony. She recounted a celebration for the 78th Independence Day of Israel and praised Consul General Livia Link-Raviv, who she thanked for “always allowing the city to celebrate and the incredible friendship and opportunity that we’ve had to do some great work together on behalf of Israel and the city of Houston.” She recalled block-walking for CM Kamin’s first city council campaign and commended her for passing paid parental leave for city employees. She and CM Alcorn are planning a celebration on 5/26 at 5pm at the Ismaili Center for CM Kamin.
• CM Peck plugged a Coffee with a Council Member and Cops event on 5/28 at 10am at the White Oak Conference Center. She thanked CMs Alcorn and Castillo for their budget work. She wished Marta Crinejo a happy birthday. She praised CM Kamin’s advocacy and looks forward to working together to take down concrete batch plants, slumlords, and other nuisances.
• CM Martinez encouraged people to vote in the primary runoff. Early voting is already underway. Visit harrisvotes.org for more information. The World Cup is 20 days away. Visit fwc26houston.com for information, including street closures. He wished his chief of staff a happy birthday. He praised CM Kamin for managing the dual roles of public servant and parent.
• CM Pollard plugged a recent job fair and morejobshouston.com. He praised CM Kamin for using her voice even in difficult situations.
• CM Alcorn said the department directors brought their A-game during budget workshops. To CM Kamin, she remarked on the bond formed between public servants and read a poem she wrote for the occasion.
• CM Salinas commended CM Kamin’s bravery. “You have always been willing to do the right thing, no matter who it bothers, no matter who it upsets, because it’s the right thing to do.”
• CM Carter supported the nomination of Kathleen Jordan to the Lake Houston Dredging District. She praised CM Kamin for her advocacy against domestic violence and quoted Maya Angelou, “Courage is the most important of all virtues.”
• Finally, CM Kamin made her final remarks as a council member. She said that serving on council is not just a job, “this is love for our city and the people we serve.” She called it a “precious responsibility.” She thanked and praised District C residents and congratulated Joe Panzarella, who won the District C election. She outlined some major events during her time on council: the Watson Plant explosion, the pandemic, civil unrest, storms, freezes, grid failures, October 7. Finally, she said, “We have to protect the voice and the power of this body and the power and the voice that we have in governing, to safeguard the rights of the people of Houston, to not allow anybody or anything to chip away at that.”

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
budget survey: https://bit.ly/4cQi6z9
http://www.fwc26houston.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.