Houston City Council Meeting – June 16, 2026

The Houston City Council convened on June 16, 2026, under Mayor Pro Tem. The meeting featured multiple proclamations, a weather update from the Office of Emergency Management, public testimony on the proposed closure of Memorial City Ice Rink and a drainage dispute, and approval of several ordinances including an expansion of the water aid fund. The council also recognized interns and announced upcoming Juneteenth events.

Proclamations

• Miss Juneteenth Pageant: Councilmember Evans Shabazz presented a proclamation recognizing the 19th annual Mildred Johnson Mr. and Miss Juneteenth Pageant, held on June 6, 2026, at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center. Winners included Seven Watson (Teen Miss Juneteenth), Jillian Ridley (Miss Juneteenth), and Hanisha Stewart (first runner-up). Mayor Whitmire proclaimed June 16, 2026, as the winners’ day.
• Ross Shaw Sterling Senior High School Bicentennial Class of 1976: Councilmember Davis and Councilmember Evans Shabazz honored the class on its 50th anniversary. The school, founded in 1965, now hosts the HISD Aviation Science Magnet Program. Mayor Whitmire proclaimed June 16, 2026, as Ross Shaw Sterling Senior High School Bicentennial Class of 1976 Day.
• Houston’s Dementia Friendly Church: Councilmember Huffman recognized the ministry at The Landing at Augusta Woods, established in 2023. Over 500,000 Texans live with dementia. Mayor Whitmire proclaimed June 24, 2026, as Houston Dementia-Friendly Church Day.
• Baha’i Prayer: Nadia Jolly, vice chair of IM Houston, delivered a prayer for America on behalf of the Baha’i faith, which has about 1,000 adherents in Houston.

Weather Update

• Brian from the Office of Emergency Management reported that the city had been tracking a potential rain event for 4–5 days. Lake Houston was lowered by one foot, barricades deployed, and dump trucks converted into high-water rescue vehicles. A potential tropical cyclone (likely Tropical Storm Arthur) was forecast to pass east of Galveston, placing Houston on the “clean side” with minimal impacts. FanFest for the World Cup was expected to open at 6:30 p.m. for the Argentina match. Residents were urged to monitor trusted sources and avoid driving into standing water.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Memorial City Ice Rink: Multiple speakers (Amy Good, Aliska Good, McKenzie Knoll, Charlotte Knoll) urged the council to prevent the demolition of the rink, owned by Metro National, which is set to close in 44 days. They noted the rink serves 1,500 regular skaters and 1,000 occasional skaters weekly, and that Houston has only five regulation-sized ice rinks compared to Dallas’s 23. They requested the city deny any permits that would destroy the asset and partner with the newly formed Houston Ice Sports Coalition to develop a new centrally located rink. Councilmember Huffman and Councilmember Salinas expressed interest in following up.
• Darnell Fennell (Reverend): Complained about lack of communication from Councilmember Evans Shabazz’s office regarding a street closure issue. Councilmember Shabazz responded that her office had engaged and that the issue was resolved. The exchange highlighted tensions over public versus private communication.
• Jessica LeBayer (District H resident): Described a drainage hazard at 839 East 27th Street, where a property owner filled a public drainage ditch with gravel to create an unpermitted parking pad in a high-risk AE 100-year floodplain. Despite three red-tag violations over nearly a year, the city had not remediated. She requested an emergency right-of-way abatement. Councilmember Castillo acknowledged the frustration and said her team would continue working with Public Works.
• Other speakers: Topics included the Day of the African Child (book donations to libraries), a request to rename the Hispanic History Research Center to include “Chicano,” a complaint about a council member’s staff hire, and personal appeals for vehicle recovery and civil rights.

Discussion Items

• UT Health Houston Academic Health Department Partnership: Mayor Whitmire introduced a collaboration between the Houston Health Department and all seven institutions under UT Health Houston—the first such academic health department in the nation. Dr. Teresa Tran (Health Department director), Dr. Melina Kibbe (UT Health Houston president), and Dr. Eric Borwinkel (Dean of School of Public Health) spoke. The partnership aims to improve workforce development, research, and evidence-based programs for Houston’s 2.3 million residents. Councilmembers expressed strong support.
• Consent Calendar and Ordinances: The council approved numerous items, including:
  • Item 10: Ordinance amending the water aid to elderly residents fund to include administrative fees for solid waste relief. Councilmember Salinas thanked the administration for expediting this. Passed unanimously.
  • Item 22: Interlocal agreement with Harris County for neighborhood traffic management (speed cushions) in District H. Councilmember Castillo noted some projects had been in queue for four years. Passed.
  • Item 23: Public improvement development agreement for a hike-and-bike bridge over Buffalo Bayou connecting Memorial Park to Uptown. Councilmember Panzarella highlighted connectivity benefits. Passed.
  • Item 15: Appropriation for material handler equipment replacement for urban forestry. Councilmember Flickinger thanked colleagues for support. Passed.
  • Several items were tagged for additional information (Items 1, 20, 29).
• Speed Cushion Costs: Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem Tatum raised concerns about the tripling of speed cushion costs, noting that the $1 million in CDSF funds cannot cover 40 cushions in one neighborhood. Councilmember Panzarella suggested street redesign alternatives. Mayor Whitmire indicated the backlog would be cleared by year-end.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamations issued for Juneteenth pageant winners, Sterling High School class of 1976, and Dementia Friendly Church (future date).
• Weather preparedness actions confirmed: lowered lake, staged rescue vehicles, and barricades.
• Public comments on the ice rink and drainage were referred to council members for follow-up.
• Consent calendar approved with items 2, 5, 6–8, and most ordinances passed; items 1, 20, and 29 tagged.
• Item 10 (water aid fund) passed unanimously, expanding relief for low-income residents facing the new solid waste fee.
• Item 22 (speed cushions partnership) passed, with council members noting cost challenges.
• Item 23 (hike-and-bike bridge) passed.
• Public hearing dates set: July 8, 2026, for amendments to Chapter 42 (parks) and for nominations to the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System Board of Trustees (positions 10 and 11).
• Council announcements: Juneteenth events on June 19, summer safety initiatives, intern recognitions, and a call for artists for Buffalo Speedway gateways (applications due June 30).