2026-10-07 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes. No transcript or timing is available, so there is no time-on-topic table.

Consolidated meeting called to order 9:08 AM, Mayor Whitmire presiding; Flickinger absent, Carter absent for the consent and removed items; adjourned 11:17 AM.
Kevin Berry confirmed as Chief Information Officer, 16-0 on a roll call.
Pathways to Independence, a $48 million regional homelessness initiative, introduced in the Mayor's Report.
Ten commercial solid waste franchises passed first reading.
Public hearing set for October 14 on the unchanged $0.519190 tax rate, and for October 21 on the Hays Street Apartments tax credit resolution.
Braes Park affordable housing sale and $3,500,000 construction loan adopted, District K.
Spring Creek Utility District strategic partnership and limited-purpose annexation adopted.

Rules suspended to take Item 1 out of order (Motion 2026-0555). Kevin Berry was confirmed as Chief Information Officer and Director of Houston Information Technology Services on a roll call: 16 ayes, Flickinger absent (Motion 2026-0556). Moved by Castex-Tatum, seconded by Peck.

In the Mayor's Report, Michael Nichols, Larry Satterwhite and Ryan Dolibois of the Sarofim Foundation of Houston introduced Pathways to Independence, a $48 million, three-year regional homelessness initiative. No vote.
Christine King-Taylor spoke on opening transition housing for young women ages 18 to 25.

Hearing set for October 14 on keeping the rate at $0.519190 per $100 (Motion 2026-0558, Jackson and Carter absent).

Castillo moved to move the hearing date from October 14 to October 21; adopted (Motion 2026-0559).

Hearing set for October 28 on eleven Protected Landmarks and one Landmark (Motion 2026-0560).

Fourth Amended and Restated Strategic Partnership Agreement (2026-0859), limited-purpose annexation in Montgomery County (2026-0860) and a 3.3709 acre addition to the district (2026-0861) all adopted.

Property sale with forgivable loan (2026-0880) and $3,500,000 Uptown TIRZ construction loan (2026-0881) adopted after removal from consent, District K.

Uptown (2026-0856), Memorial City (2026-0857) and Hardy/Near Northside (2026-0882) budgets adopted.

Cushman & Wakefield of Texas marketing agreement for two City properties adopted (2026-0883).

Heil of Texas sewer cleaning and repair, $1,919,258.25 (2026-0855). Waterline amendments for T Construction ($5,911,129.66 and $3,252,692.65) and Lopez Utilities ($3,613,887.64), and Experts Underground Solutions, $541,527 (2026-0865 to 0868). MC2 Civil force main flow diversion, $1,920,476.40 (2026-0869). $405,000 fire life safety communications and $2,223,000 learning performance system (2026-0852, 0853).

Twelve speakers were heard on non-agenda topics, including the City's financial account (Darrell Harper), HPD open records (Gladys House-El), the Civil Service appeal process (Kimberly Walters), towing (Latoria Davis, Serreva Page), new business parking (Joe Holsen), harassment and legal issues (Tara Dastouri), and safeguards on ICE and HPD cooperation (Asif Chowdhury; see HPD Immigration Enforcement Cooperation). Miguel Brieva and Mary Wallace spoke on airport executive orders (see Airport Worker Wage Executive Orders), and Lisa Hunt on the Model City grant (see Model Cities Grant Application). Positions are not recorded in the minutes. Eleven other listed speakers were not present when called.

Minutes of September 29-30 adopted (Thomas and Pollard absent). Other consent items: $2,601,582.40 for car wash services from CWP Asset Corp. (Mister Car Wash) (Motion 2026-0557); a $1,254,000 grant-funded contract with Harris County for counter-unmanned aircraft systems support for the Sheriff's Office (2026-0854); a Rice University parking lease amendment (2026-0851); a $78,750 Union Pacific quiet zone reimbursement agreement (2026-0864); consent to add land to Spring Creek Utility District and Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 399 (2026-0861, 0862). The Jacobs Engineering amendment (item 25) was not received on October 7 and was adopted October 14 as Ordinance 2026-0907.