Houston City Council Meeting - January 21, 2026
Houston City Council Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Houston City Council convened on January 21, 2026, to address a winter storm preparedness briefing, a controversial retainage payment to a convicted contractor, and a range of public comments on commercial encroachment, maternal health, immigration enforcement, and other issues. The meeting included the adoption of the consent agenda, several items pulled for separate consideration, and council member announcements.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 (accept work) was approved unanimously.
- Items 3, 4, and 5 (purchase and tabulation of bids) were approved unanimously.
- Item 7 (resolution) was approved by voice vote.
- The balance of ordinances (excluding items 14, 16, and 27) was approved by voice vote.
- Item 6 (resolution) was approved after a motion and second.
- Item 30 (ordinance for COPS Hiring Program grant) was approved by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Matthew Nixon: Former city employee, requested assistance with unpaid final paycheck and PTO. Mayor referred to Chief of Staff Cynthia Wilson.
- Joe Holson (Drew Dennis neighborhood resident, Sutton Square Community Association board member): Opposed a proposed bakery/coffee shop at 90 Dennis Street, citing 7 a.m. opening, zero parking, construction without permits, and a red tag placed the day before. Requested council deny permits.
- Crystal Hatchett (neighbor of 90 Dennis Street): Described disruptive late-night construction noise and lights, impacts on her son's homework and civic meetings. Raised concerns about safety and lack of parking. Requested enforcement.
- Brody Washington: Expressed concerns about misdiagnoses, wrongful arrests, and a trust fund. Mayor offered assistance and referral to professional help.
- Derek Montgomery: Advocated for licensed therapists in schools and workplaces, citing 29.3% of Houston schools with licensed therapists and 1% of jobs. Asked for collaboration with school districts.
- Carol Porter (founder of Kid Care Health Buggy): Highlighted that Acres Home has the highest infant and maternal mortality in Harris County, with black women experiencing 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births (2016-2020). Described a case of twins with formula issues. Requested foundational support, not government funds. Mayor committed to connecting her with the new health director.
- Erandy Trevino (executive director, Raices Collab Project): Expressed concern about ICE arrests, citing a 16-year-old held in chokehold and phone stolen by masked agents. Urged council to protect undocumented residents and U.S. citizens. Mayor and several council members responded, emphasizing community engagement and legal limitations.
- Steve Williams: Made brief remarks about personal disputes and past city administration.
- Joseph Omari: Argued for hiring American citizens for construction work, stating that Central and South American workers should be employed in their own countries.
Discussion Items
- Winter Storm Preparedness: Brian Mason (Director of Emergency Management) and Randy (Public Works) provided a detailed briefing. Key points: Winter storm expected Saturday (January 24) afternoon through Tuesday (January 27) morning; temperatures in low 20s, wind chills in teens; potential for ice accumulation, especially north of Houston; 12 warming centers (4 with generators); 16,000 lane miles of city roads; 41 elevated roadways pre-treated with brine; no snow plows; water plants will test generators; public asked not to drip faucets and to shut off water if concerned. Councilmembers discussed generator needs, multilingual alerts, and proactive inspections of poorly maintained multi-family complexes. Mayor emphasized preparation and staying off roads.
- NERI Matter (Item 2): Mayor explained that contractor Mr. Neary, convicted of misconduct, is owed $400,000 in retainage under HUD rules. The city cannot withhold the payment without risking $9 million in HUD funding. Mayor referred the item back to his office to seek a waiver from HUD, with support from council members. Councilmember Salinas and others praised the approach.
- Immigration Enforcement: Following public comment from Erandy Trevino, council members discussed the impact of ICE arrests on community trust. Councilmember Evans Shabazz suggested reviewing minor traffic stops to reduce unnecessary interactions. Councilmember Ramirez proposed a public safety committee meeting on the topic. Mayor defended the city's approach of following the law while maintaining community engagement.
Key Outcomes
- Winter Storm: Council directed OEM and Public Works to continue preparations. Warming centers will open Saturday through Tuesday. Residents urged to prepare for potential power outages. Council will receive updates.
- NERI Retainage: Item 2 referred back to the Mayor's office for further negotiation with HUD. No vote taken.
- Public Items: Referred to appropriate departments: the bakery/coffee shop issue to Permitting, the maternal health concerns to the health director, and the mental health advocacy to HISD.
- Consent Agenda: All items approved as listed.
- Items Pulled for Separate Consideration: Item 14 (TURS budget) tagged by Councilmember Flickinger; Item 16 (Southwest TURS) tagged by Councilmember Kamen; Item 27 (Spring Shadows drainage grant) approved; Item 30 (police grant) approved.
- Council Announcements: Upcoming events noted (MLK parade, YMCA breakfast, Houston City College State of the College, District F town hall, and District H town hall postponed due to weather).
Meeting Transcript
Known as Greater Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church being located within the City of Houston as a protected landmark. Item 21 ordinance designating the property municipally known as 828 West 20th Street, and also known as Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, being located within the city of Houston as a landmark. Item 22, ordinance designating the property municipality known as 1707 Milford Street, and also known as West Edgemont. Dream Home being located within the city of Houston as a protected landmark. Item 23, ordinance designating the property municipality known as 1505 Alamo Street, and also known as Valenti Dison House at 1505 Alamo, being located within the City of Houston as a protected landmark. Item 24, ordinance designating the property municipally known as 1507 Alamo Street, and also known as Valenti Disson House at 1507 Alamo, being located within the city of Houston as a protected landmark. Item 25 ordinance designating the property municipally known as 5319 Institute Lane, and also known as the Allen and Hattie Greenhouse, being located within the City of Houston as a landmark. Item 26, ordinance finding and determining that public convenience and necessity no longer require the continued use of Gallo Drive and Spelman Road. Item 27. Ordinance approved and authorized and submission of a grant application for funding to the Texas Water Development Board for the Spring Shadows Drainage and Paving Project. Item 28, municipal setting designation ordinance prohibiting use of designated groundwater beneath a tract of land containing 3.1271 acres, commonly known as 6505 Foster Street and Zero Foster Street, Houston Harris County, Texas, supporting issuance of a municipal setting designation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at the request of Hindsight Investments LLC. Item 29, ordinance appropriating 2,136,859. Item 30, ordinance approving and authorizing submission of electronic application for grant assistance to U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for FY25 Cops Hiring Program Grant for the Chief of the Houston Police Department. This was tagged by Councilmember Kayman and was Item 36 on the agenda of January 14th, 2026. This completes the reading of the captions for the agenda of January 21st, 2026. Stay tuned for the next session of Houston City Council schedule to begin at 9 a.m. And with that, I wish everyone a blessed and happy hump day. Council, please come to order. Chair recognizes Councilman Kamen for the invocation. Thank you, Mayor. Good morning, colleagues. It is my distinct pleasure to bring up uh Bishop Ogletree if he'll join us at the podium. Uh, who is, as many of you know, the founding pastor of First Metropolitan Church and has long been a pillar of leadership and service in our greater Houston community. Uh, of course, in addition to his pastoral work, he has served himself in public service on the Scifair ISD Board of Trustees and held leadership roles across numerous civic and faith-based organizations, including the Union Baptist Association and the African American Pastors Fellowship, uh, together with his wife of over 50 years. Did I get that right? 52. 52. That's too is important. Dr. Evelyn Ogletree. Uh, he continues to mentor and uplift the next generation through leadership programs, conferences, and a deep commitment to community empowerment. And with all of that, uh, he still makes his family his number one priority. Uh, his four children, 13 grandchildren, and every time he talks about them, uh, he doesn't just light up, everyone lights up. So, Bishop, it's great to have you. Thank you. Good morning, Mayor and members of the council. Uh, let us pray. Eternal and righteous God, our way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, and light in times of darkness, we call upon you today as we consider the agenda that is set before our mayor and city council. On this agenda are challenges and concerns that affect thousands of Houstonians. Give them knowledge and wisdom as they discuss and debate items on this agenda so they may arrive at the best decision. Let them always have in mind to communicate and collaborate for the common good. May their decisions today promote progress, prosperity, and peace for the people in our great city. Remind them that unless you watch over the city, those who watch do so in vain. So let all that is expressed and decided in this meeting be pleasing in your sight, so that the people of our city will be blessed. And God, please protect our city from this winter storm that is heading our way, keep our people safe on the streets and in their homes, especially the elderly, people who are disabled, the homeless, and those with meager resources. May your grace abound today and in the days to come. It's in your holy and righteous name. I pray and say amen. Mayor Whitmeyer.
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