The Houston City Council convened on August 18, 2026, under Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum. The meeting featured multiple proclamations, a legislative session including approval of minutes and procedural motions, and extensive public testimony on a proposed Right to Air Conditioning ordinance, police cooperation with ICE, the GRB expansion MOU, and various neighborhood concerns. The council also heard an invocation from Father Salvatore DeGeorge.
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. I'd like to invite uh Parks Department, Director Allen, Tina Ortiz, and our friends from Cheneer Energy. CFO Zach Davis and Wendy Craven, Director of Global Giving. Everybody here? Hello, friends. So today today we're here to recognize the efforts of the partnership with Shane Energy and longstanding partnership and the City of Houston specifically in the Parks Department today. The improvements via youth soccer, community recreation, and just really making our city a better place is why we're here with Shanir. They've invested over $600,000, countless volunteer hours, their time and energy and commitment. So far, their work has enhanced 14 parks across the city. So we're honored today to have our Parks Department and Shane Energy here to recognize and acknowledge all you do for our city. So on behalf of Chiner Public Parks Impact Day, whereas August 18, 2026, the City of Houston and its parks, its Houston Parks and Recreation Department joined Soccer for Success coaches, youth participants, and families in recognizing Shane Energy Inc. and its employees at City Hall for their meaningful contributions to improving the city's parks and soccer fields. And whereas HPart is committed to enhancing park facilities and expanding opportunities for youth soccer, community engagement, and active lifestyles for children and families throughout Houston, and whereas Shaneer shares this commitment through its Impact Day initiative, through which has partnered with HPAR to com contribute, contribute more than a thousand, I can't read today. A thousand employee volunteer hours and invest over six hundred thousand six hundred thousand dollars across the past five years to improve 14 city parks and soccer fields, including Zuri, Malone, Our Park, Woodruff, Earl Henderson, and many, many more. I'm not going to read them all. And in Grondo, one of my favorites. Whereas the collaboration between the City of Houston and Shineer strengthens neighborhoods, supports youth development, enhances public green spaces where children and families can play, gather, play soccer, and thrive, exemplifying the positive impact achieved when corporate partners and local government unite to enrich the quality of life for all residents. And whereas following the historic FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted in Houston this summer, the legacy of the global event is measured not only by the excitement on the pitch, but also by the local children inspired to become future players, coaches, leaders, and fans who will carry the spirit of the game forward in city parks for years to come. And whereas Shenir's Energy's investments in public parks, youth sports, and recreational spaces alongside this long-standing partnership with H.Pard truly reflect the generosity, civic mindedness, and community spirit that define Houston and its people. Therefore, I, Martha Castex Tata, Mayor Pro Tim of the City of Houston, on behalf of John Whitmeyer, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaim August 18, 2026 as Shanier Public Parks Impact Day in Houston, Texas. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much. Would you like to say something like to say something? This is your big moment. This is my big moment. We we just want to say that we we couldn't do any of this without the without the Parks Department, uh, all the coordination, uh, all the support, all the time. Um just very proud of the last five years together and look forward to the next five years. Zach, Wendy, I just want to thank you for your commitment to the city, to our children, uh, just working alongside you guys daily, uh, improving not only parks but soccer fields. With a end result of what you do, we get to see the kids kicking, laughing, playing, and developing. And I want to take this time also to have the rest of the park team that stood alongside of you guys uh working in this heat. Uh would you please stand up behind me? These are the coaches, mentors, administrators, and guys that take care of the uh grounds. Would you please come up for a photo op? And then we'll move forward. Hold on one second before we um director, councilmember, before we do photos, um, Councilmember Jackson isn't. Thank you, um, Vice Mayor Tim. And thank you, Director, and thank you. Is it for Shavir? Thank you. I always get it wrong. But just thank you for just for your partnership. Um, I represent District B, and we've been able to upgrade, I would say practically every park in District B through due to this partnership. And so um private public partnerships are how we move our districts forward, our community forward. And so I just want to say thank you. And again, Parks Department, um, Director Allen, you guys have like been on our phones. We've been having we have had a lot of conversations about District B parks, and again, this partnership has helped us accomplish our overall goal in having some parks where our constituents can go and play and enjoy and walk and just really um enjoy the neighborhood. So thank you again for your partnership.