2026-09-01 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (No. 2026-0493-1). The meeting ran in two sessions, Tuesday September 1 and Wednesday September 2.

Tuesday session opened at 1:38 PM by Mayor Pro Tem Castex-Tatum; Mayor Whitmire joined at 2:10 PM. Jackson, Evans-Shabazz and Salinas were absent. Recessed at 3:06 PM.
Wednesday session called to order 9:11 AM; Jackson, Evans-Shabazz and Pollard absent; adjourned 11:00 AM.
Procedural motions adding speakers to the non-agenda list passed unanimously.
Public hearing on the TIRZ 3 Ninth Project Plan Amendment: Busker presented, no one spoke, hearing closed.
Consent items passed unanimously.
The Woodlands Township agreement passed with Panzarella voting no.
Monthly financial report accepted.

Ordinance appropriating $5,753,206.43 from the Airports Improvement Fund to the Austin Gilbane Joint Venture contract (raising total contract value to $377,000,000) and approving a final settlement, release and indemnity agreement (District B). Adopted unanimously (Ordinance 2026-0750).
Acceptance of the work and final payment approved unanimously (Motion 2026-0497), moved by Castex-Tatum, seconded by Peck.

Appropriation of $100,000,000 and $29,907,000 and a memorandum of agreement with United Airlines for capital projects at Bush Intercontinental. Adopted unanimously on consent (Ordinance 2026-0752).

Ordinance denying CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric's application to amend its Distribution Cost Recovery Factor (filed July 17, 2026) adopted unanimously on consent (Ordinance 2026-0751).

Held item (Item 7 on the August 26 agenda, tagged by Pollard): third amendment to the Regional Participation Agreement with The Woodlands Township adopted with Panzarella voting no, balance aye (Ordinance 2026-0774). No discussion is recorded.

FY2027 budgets adopted unanimously for East Downtown (2026-0771), Harrisburg (2026-0772) and Medical Center (2026-0773).
TIRZ 3 hearing held (see above).
Amended interlocal agreement with Harris County and the Uptown Redevelopment Authority for county participation in the zone (2026-0759), and $13,125,000 for the Telephone Road Mobility Project with the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority (2026-0758), adopted on consent.

Motion setting a public hearing for 9:00 AM Wednesday, September 9 on a no-objection resolution for Reserve at Ella seeking 4% housing tax credits; moved by Castex-Tatum, seconded by Peck, unanimous (Motion 2026-0501).

Renewal on Eagle Street (2026-0760) and new block on Jean Street (2026-0761) adopted unanimously on consent.

Non-agenda speakers raised cameras, mass resident tracking technologies, surveillance and Flock; no Council action.

A speaker asked allies to create urgency to safeguard against ICE and HPD cooperation; no Council action.

A speaker raised the tax abatement proposal during the non-agenda list; no action.

Mayor's report: Airport System Director Szczesniak presented real-time FIFA World Cup visitor numbers, completed airport projects and future projects.
City Controller Hollins and the Finance Director reviewed the Monthly Operation and Financial Report; Alcorn moved acceptance, seconded by Peck, unanimous (Motion 2026-0502).
Procurement ordinance amending Chapter 15 adopted (2026-0769); $456,669.55 settlement with M&M Salazar Construction (2026-0770); $2,500,000 for conducted energy devices for HPD (2026-0753); $2,000,000 HPD medical evaluation contract (2026-0754).
Five utility district land additions consented, two water supply supplements, and first reading of the DHAWK Grease Transport franchise (2026-0768). A body armor contract amendment (Item 15) was pulled by the Administration; Item 25 (a utility district land addition) was tagged by Peck.
Proclamations including a deaf and hard of hearing advocacy group, a 2026 James Beard Emerging Chef Award winner, Infant Hunger Action Month and a centenarian.
Minutes of August 25 and 26 adopted.