2026-09-22 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (No. 2026-524-1). The meeting ran in two sessions, Tuesday September 22 and Wednesday September 23.

Tuesday session called to order at 1:37 PM with Mayor Whitmire presiding; Vice Mayor Pro Tem Peck presided over proclamations. Thomas, Castillo and Castex-Tatum were absent. Recessed at 3:27 PM.
Three procedural motions adding speakers to the non-agenda list passed unanimously (Evans-Shabazz absent).
Wednesday session reconvened 9:00 AM (called to order 9:06 AM) with Castillo and Castex-Tatum absent; adjourned 10:07 AM.
Consent agenda items passed unanimously, with Jackson absent for the consent votes.
Item 26, the Model City grant application, was pulled by the Administration before the Wednesday vote.
The campaign finance late-filing ordinance passed as amended on a roll call, 15 to 0, with Castillo and Castex-Tatum absent.
The Housing Finance Corporation charter amendment and an adult literacy appropriation ($400,000) were tagged and not voted.

Before the public session on Tuesday, Whitmire said the item had been misrepresented: the City applies for hundreds of grants, and the application was put on the agenda to reassure foundations that the City is also seeking other funding for its homelessness work.
Several listed speakers addressed Item 26; many were not present when called.
On Wednesday the City Secretary Lemon announced Item 26 (application to the U.S. Department of Justice, FY26 Model City Initiative Grant Program) was pulled by the Administration and not considered.

Several non-agenda speakers addressed HPD and ICE cooperation, ICE violence and community safety; some were not present when called. No Council action.

Non-agenda speakers raised homelessness, including conditions near Wilcrest and I-10.
Subrecipient agreement with Houston Recovery Center ($667,540, End Street Homelessness Fund; shelter, medical, substance use and mental health services) passed unanimously after removal from consent (Ordinance 2026-0822).

Item 38 (Proposition A Council Member item) amends Section 18-104 on failure to timely file a campaign finance report.
Ramirez presented a written table amendment adding subsections (c) through (e): the City Secretary files a sworn complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission within five business days of a missed deadline; posts a list of late filers within 24 hours of the deadline; and may take reasonable time to verify records first. Adopted unanimously (Motion 2026-0535).
Ordinance 2026-0825 adopted as amended on roll call: all members present voted aye (15 to 0).

Ordinance amending Chapters 16 and 26 on on-street parking regulations, including service of citations by mail, passed on consent, unanimous (Ordinance 2026-0803).

Resolution of support for a 9% housing tax credit rental development on Hillcroft (District J, Pollard), notwithstanding a change in ownership structure to admit a member entity owned by the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, resulting in an anticipated 100 percent property tax exemption. Adopted unanimously (Resolution 2026-0032).

Item 13, amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Houston Housing Finance Corporation, was tagged by Thomas; no vote.

Five renewals adopted unanimously on consent (Ordinances 2026-0813 to 0817): Bell Street (lot size), Columbia Street (building line), West Cottage Street (lot size), and two on McKinney Street (building line and lot size).

Proclamations: National E.N.S. Day, Prairie View A&M University's 150th anniversary, service at New Hope Housing, and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Whitmire noted a reception for the Mayor's Office Chief of Communications, who is leaving for METRO.
Consent items included airport VMware licensing ($1,027,712.44), fleet parts (up to $23,584,646.45), Flygt pumps ($6,013,459.00), the Hobby Airport Runway 13R protection zone acquisition, an alley abandonment sold for $108,000, and drainage and street renewal appropriations ($735,000; $1,441,360; $6,327,112.93). Items 20 and 21 (car wash services; $79,068,475 computer equipment) had not been received and were not voted.
Safe Crossing and Signals application to Harris County Precinct 4 (Resolution 2026-0033) and the Alief Forest South drainage interlocal passed unanimously after removal from consent.
Minutes of September 15 and 16 adopted.