OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Houston City Council Meeting - September 3, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, September 3, 2025
BodyHouston, Texas
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, September 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:36:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

Councilmember Fleckinger for the invitation.

0:25

Heavenly Father, we stand before you today, grateful for every blessing you have bestowed upon us.

0:31

We humbly ask for your guidance in everything we do.

0:35

Let us seek your wisdom in every decision as we make in our effort to make the city a better place to live and work.

0:43

Never forgetting we are here to serve all the people.

0:46

Amen.

0:47

Thank you.

0:48

Please draw for the pledge.

1:10

Mr.

1:10

Secretary, would you please call the roll?

1:13

Mayor Whitmeyer.

1:15

Councilmember Pett.

1:16

Here.

1:16

Councilmember Jackson.

1:18

Councilmember Kamen.

1:19

Councilmember Everson Balls.

1:21

Councilmember Flickinger.

1:23

Councilmember Thomas.

1:24

Here.

1:25

Councilmember Huffman.

1:27

Councilmember Castillo?

1:29

Here.

1:30

Councilmember Martinez?

1:31

Here.

1:31

Councilmember Pollard.

1:33

Council Member Castax Tatal.

1:35

Here.

1:35

Council Member Ramirez?

1:37

Here.

1:37

Councilmember Davis?

1:38

Councilmember Carter.

1:40

Councilmember Plummer.

1:41

And Councilmember Alcorn.

1:43

Need a motion to adopt the minutes of August 26th and 27th.

1:47

Cas tax Tatum move.

1:49

Next second.

1:50

Motion made in second.

1:51

All in favor say yes.

1:52

Those opposed, nay.

1:54

Motion passes.

1:56

Next members, we will get our monthly financial report.

2:00

Recognized Controller.

2:02

Hollins and Good morning, Mayor, Honorable Members of Council.

2:14

I am here today to present the monthly financial report for the month ending July 31, 2025.

2:20

The controller's office is projecting an ending fund balance of $328.1 million or $12.9 percent of expenditures, less debt service and pay as you go for fiscal year 2026.

2:34

This amount is $17.5 million lower than the projection of the Finance Department.

2:39

The difference is due to a lower revenue projection than finance.

2:43

Based on our current projections, the fund balance will be approximately $137.6 million above the City's target of holding $7.5% of total expenditures, excluding debt service and pay as you go in reserve.

2:57

We have increased our revenue projection by $55 million from the FY 2026 Trends Report.

3:17

Transfers from other funds increased by $9.6 million, primarily due to recovery of 380 reimbursements from TERS 24.

3:26

And direct interfund transfers increased by 1.3 million dollars to reflect higher reimbursements from the airport for police services following HPD pay raises.

4:04

From time to time, the city's enterprise credits have exceeded this threshold on an interim basis as they have undertaken large capital improvement projects or major expansions.

4:15

As of July 31, 2025, the ratio of unhedged variable rate debt for each type of outstanding debt was for general obligation, combined utility system, and aviation.

4:26

They remain well below the 20 percent threshold.

4:28

For convention and entertainment, we're currently at 43.78 percent.

4:34

Houston First has drawn down uh 200 million dollars in interim financing as they work on design and feasibility for the upcoming uh convention center expansion.

4:44

It's expected that the permanent financing, uh, which is fixed uh for this project will close in January of 2026.

4:51

And so at that time, it's expected that Houston First proportion of variable rate debt exposure will revert closer to its historic level, which again uh is well below that 20 percent threshold.

5:03

We have received the final sales tax receipts for fiscal year 2025.

5:08

The June collection totaled $84.3 million, which is $7.6 million or 9.9 percent higher than the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Procedural████████8%
Budget████████8%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Disaster Recovery█████5%
Homelessness█████5%
Public Health█████5%
Emergency Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Houston City Council Regular Meeting - September 3, 2025

The City Council met on September 3, 2025, to receive the monthly financial report, discuss emergency preparedness, approve appointments, hear public comments, and address council member reports on district issues. The meeting included an invocation, pledge, roll call, and approval of the August 26-27 minutes.

Consent Calendar

  • Motion to adopt the minutes of August 26 and 27 passed unanimously.
  • Multiple appointments to boards and commissions were approved by consent (items 1-6, with item 1 tagged for further council member meetings).
  • Property item 7, resolution item 8, and ordinance items (9, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23) were passed on consent, except items 10, 13, 17, 21 which were not received but considered later; items 14, 16, 21 were removed for separate consideration and voted on.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pamela Busby (victim of J. Von Major funeral home scam) reported an unlicensed funeral home operating at 1104 Evergreen, stating the city is giving six months to get a permit. She requested mayor's office intervention. The property has been red-tagged by Public Works and will be revisited on Friday.
  • Michael Wade (District B, 77078) raised concerns about Beryl relief fund distribution, rising crime in 77078/77093 (drug activity, prostitution), and drainage issues potentially causing pipe bursts. Councilmember Jackson offered to connect him with services.
  • Reginald Huey (District B business owner) opposed the expanded civility ordinance, arguing it displaces homelessness north of downtown, citing encampments at Catherine Adams Park. He suggested citywide implementation, only with sufficient shelter beds, or postponement.
  • Paul Rodriguez (East End resident) opposed the closure of Polk Street, citing connectivity issues from trains and rain, and lack of public engagement by Houston First. He argued closing Polk would worsen emergency response times.
  • Joseph Amari raised national political issues about Social Security and family court corruption, calling for checks and balances.
  • Tremika Davis (District J) alleged harassment by rappers, body enhancement theft, and requested victim compensation. Councilmember Pollard's office offered assistance.

Discussion Items

  • Monthly Financial Report (July 31, 2025): Controller Hollins presented the report, projecting an ending fund balance of $328.1 million (12.9% of expenditures), $137.6 million above the 7.5% target. Sales tax revenue for FY2025 was $919 million, 4.1% higher than FY2024. Variable rate debt for convention/entertainment is at 43.78% due to Houston First's interim financing for convention center expansion. Controller emphasized need for higher reserve requirements and disaster readiness, citing frequent federal disasters. Finance Department gave the one-plus-eleven report for FY2026. Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem asked for comparison with other cities' revenue opportunities.
  • Storm Preparation & Emergency Alert Test: Mayor introduced Ron Mason (OEM) who announced a wireless emergency alert test on Friday, September 5, at 11 a.m. to all cell phones within city boundaries. The test will simulate a public safety alert, last 15 minutes, and include Spanish translations. Councilmember Kamen asked about backup communication when cell towers go down; the need for further planning was acknowledged.
  • Appointments: Item 1 (Dr. Tran for Health Department) tagged for further council meetings. Items 2-6 approved by consent. Appointees recognized included Robert Browning (Historic Art and Archaeological Commission) and Lisa Halfman (HEB) for civic celebrations.
  • Separate Consideration Items:
    • Item 14: Councilmember Flickinger criticized the lenient punishment for those who defrauded the emergency PO process.
    • Item 16: Ordinance passed.
    • Item 21: Ordinance passed.
  • Council Member Reports:
    • Councilmember Evans-Shabazz reported on community events and thanked the mayor for pausing Hermann Park golf course improvements to address community concerns.
    • Councilmember Castillo expressed support for Unite Here Hilton workers on strike and announced a community meeting for the Hispanic History Research Center on September 20.
    • Councilmember Kamen flagged an AC outage at Heights Towers senior center (without AC since Friday, resolved with coolers) and called for faster property ownership resolution.
    • Councilmember Thomas announced park construction at Curtis M. Graves detention basin, Strategic Plan meeting for District B, and progress on solid waste bin delivery.
    • Councilmember Ramirez echoed concerns about Hermann Park golf course, noting women's league impacts. Also noted state law SB 1173 reducing council approval for contracts $50k-$100k, and will monitor.
    • Councilmember Martinez acknowledged Labor Day and solidarity with Unite Here, discussed scooter regulation after Discovery Green shooting, and condolences for 11-year-old Julian Guzman.
    • Councilmember Davis reported crime rate increase, pension delays, and solid waste issues.
    • Councilmember Pollard (Chair of BFA) discussed the fiscal forecast showing deficit projections and urged consideration of a tax rate increase.

Key Outcomes

  • Monthly financial report accepted unanimously.
  • Emergency alert test approved for September 5, 2025.
  • Appointments confirmed for items 2-6; item 1 tagged.
  • Consent ordinances passed with separate votes on items 14, 16, 21.
  • Public Works will revisit 1104 Evergreen property on Friday in response to funeral home complaint.
  • The meeting adjourned without further business.

Meeting Transcript

Councilmember Fleckinger for the invitation. Heavenly Father, we stand before you today, grateful for every blessing you have bestowed upon us. We humbly ask for your guidance in everything we do. Let us seek your wisdom in every decision as we make in our effort to make the city a better place to live and work. Never forgetting we are here to serve all the people. Amen. Thank you. Please draw for the pledge. Mr. Secretary, would you please call the roll? Mayor Whitmeyer. Councilmember Pett. Here. Councilmember Jackson. Councilmember Kamen. Councilmember Everson Balls. Councilmember Flickinger. Councilmember Thomas. Here. Councilmember Huffman. Councilmember Castillo? Here. Councilmember Martinez? Here. Councilmember Pollard. Council Member Castax Tatal. Here. Council Member Ramirez? Here. Councilmember Davis? Councilmember Carter. Councilmember Plummer. And Councilmember Alcorn. Need a motion to adopt the minutes of August 26th and 27th. Cas tax Tatum move. Next second. Motion made in second. All in favor say yes. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Next members, we will get our monthly financial report. Recognized Controller. Hollins and Good morning, Mayor, Honorable Members of Council. I am here today to present the monthly financial report for the month ending July 31, 2025. The controller's office is projecting an ending fund balance of $328.1 million or $12.9 percent of expenditures, less debt service and pay as you go for fiscal year 2026. This amount is $17.5 million lower than the projection of the Finance Department. The difference is due to a lower revenue projection than finance. Based on our current projections, the fund balance will be approximately $137.6 million above the City's target of holding $7.5% of total expenditures, excluding debt service and pay as you go in reserve. We have increased our revenue projection by $55 million from the FY 2026 Trends Report. Transfers from other funds increased by $9.6 million, primarily due to recovery of 380 reimbursements from TERS 24.

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