Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on September 16, 2026

Agenda

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

*I do not cover the public hearing in these notes.

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Mayor’s Report

Mayor Whitmire invited Parks Department Director Kenneth Allen to explain the recent HISD takeover of Grimes Park in Sunnyside, which Controller Hollins and several CMs criticized at recent meetings. Mayor Whitmire said Hollins was spreading misinformation.

Grimes Park sits on land owned by HISD, which the city has leased for thirty years. The lease agreement is renewed every five years, and last renewed in 2023, which Whitmire pointed out was before his tenure. HISD terminated the lease because they are building a career and technical education center. Whitmire said, “I think time will tell whether it’s to the advantage of the community, but it’s a major investment and they wouldn’t yield.”

To illustrate his commitment to parks, Director Allen said he grew up using Houston parks and started at the parks department as a part-time employee, eventually working his way up to Director. The city still has three agreements similar to the one with Grimes Park, which the city is reviewing.

Director Allen explained the Grimes Park/HISD timeline, including the short-notice relocation of the Southeast Lions Little League football team. Director Allen emphasized that the city did due diligence by consulting the city’s legal department and meeting with HISD.

The timeline:

• 2022/2023: the city invested $1.5M in Grimes Park, using public and private funding. Director Allen said that city council had the opportunity to review the agreement at that time and that the city was unaware that HISD eventually planned to terminate the lease.
• 2023: the last time the lease for Grimes Park was renewed.
• January 2026: HISD sent a notice of termination to the city via mail, which did not reach the Parks Department until March 2026.
• April 2026: the Parks Department consulted city legal and talked with HISD, but concluded there was nothing to be done. They planned how to salvage park equipment.
• June 2026: the parks department notified CM Evans-Shabazz and the Little League director of the lease termination.
• By August 2026, HISD had moved the timeline up twice, with a new deadline to vacate the park by September 1, 2026. The parks department began to salvage park amenities like lighting, playground equipment, benches, and picnic tables. They worked with CM Evans-Shabazz to find the Southeast Lions a new home.

Finally, Mayor Whitmire and Director Allen remarked on the Let’s Play Initiative, which will renovate 25 neighborhood parks by the end of 2028. Mayor Whitmire said that some people are using Grimes Park as fodder for future political races.

CM Evans-Shabazz asked why the city didn’t buy the property or use eminent domain to acquire it. The mayor and Director Allen implied that HISD’s plan for the land will ultimately create a greater good.

• Director Allen did question why HISD needs this property when they are closing other campuses.
• When CM Evans-Shabazz questioned Director Allen about why the Lions coach had such late notice about relocating, Director Allen said notice was given to the league director in June, who should have communicated with the coaches.
• Evans-Shabazz and Director Allen did a lot of talking over each other, which was overstimulating and difficult to follow.

CM Pollard said that lack of communication leads to misinformation. He questioned why it took over a month for the parks department to receive the original termination notice. Director Allen agreed and wished that HISD had reached out to them via phone or email as well.

CM Ramirez told Director Allen he works under difficult circumstances and said he hopes to get more funding for parks in the future. He criticized HISD for poor communication. He praised the private donors that contribute to park funding.

CM Evans-Shabazz requested an assessment of park lighting needs across the city.

• Director Allen said that assessment has already been done but it’s very expensive and the department simply does not have the funds. He pointed to storm damage and copper theft, which cost the city more to replace systems. He advocated for a larger parks budget.
• CM Alcorn said the lighting assessment revealed $781M in citywide park lighting needs. She said the city can use revenue from the open space ordinance and future bonds to get it done, but it will take time. “We’re excited about what’s going on at parks. We’re not ignoring them. It’s just we’ve got a huge need and a little budget. As council members, it’s our responsibility. We own these parks, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that people have good quality parks.”

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Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 4 approved $1.3M over three years for maintenance of the hydraulic generator systems on ambulances and fire trucks.
• Item 9 approved $20.4M over five years for a company to provide “plan review and code enforcement services for Houston Public Works.” CMs Alcorn and Castillo said this will help ease the workload at HPW and address the backlog. CM Alcorn had concerns about the funding source, but was reassured by Mayor Whitmire.
• Item 11 approved a $6M loan to New Hope Housing to partially fund the renovation of an affordable housing complex on Canal Street that serves formerly unhoused people.
• Item 13 approved an additional $6.7M through September 2027 to continue meals-on-wheels type programs that are already in place. CMs Panzarella and Ramirez praised this item.
• Item 25 accepted a $2M grant from the US Department of Transportation for a study to address eight Buffalo Bayou bridge crossings. The city will contribute $500K. CM Huffman said “this bridge investment program will help keep us safer during floods.”
• CM Castex-Tatum referred Item 19 back to the administration, which regarded IMD Bikeways in District F. There was no discussion and no timeline discussed.

Council Member Pop-Off

• CM Evans-Shabazz plugged a Third Ward Choice meeting on 9/17 from 6pm-7:30pm at the El Dorado Ballroom. She expressed condolences for Jerry Bonney.
• CM Castillo plugged Energy and Climate Week 9/12-9/18 (climateweekhouston.com). The Tech and Innovation committee will meet 9/17 at 2pm.
• CM Flickinger remarked on the importance of Space Port Houston. He plugged a town hall on 9/22 at the Kingwood Community Center. He thanked five HPD officers who rescued a man on Sunday who jumped from the FM 1960 bridge.
• CM Panzarella announced Grace Place as the recipient of the forthcoming Combined Municipal Campaign fundraiser. He is hosting a 100 Days Town Hall on 9/19 from 10am-12pm at West Gray Multi-Service Center. He plugged a tech recycling event on 9/26 from 8am-1pm at the West Gray Multi-Service Center and a voter registration event on 9/26 from 10am-1pm at West End Multi-Service Center.
• CM Castex-Tatum said the Westbury street and drainage project will begin on 9/28.
• CM Peck plugged a Spring Branch Trail East open house on 9/22 from 5pm-7pm. She is hosting a FEMA maps informational meeting on 9/23.
• CM Martinez shared H-GAC regional priorities; water, local control, and disaster recovery. He wished all a happy Hispanic Heritage Month and plugged the Fiestas Patrias Parade on Saturday.
• CM Alcorn plugged a fall prevention awareness event on 9/22 at 9am at the Acres Home Community Center.
• CM Salinas remarked on her recent portable A/C giveaway. There were 650 applications for 150 units. She said it drove home “just how important the AC ordinance that we passed is. It’s not an abstract problem. It is a real problem affecting a number of Houstonians.”

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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/education/hisd/article/grimes-park-lease-career-technical-center-22407112.php
https://climateweekhouston.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.

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