On September 22, 2026, the Houston City Council convened for a regular meeting that included multiple proclamations, a debate over a federal grant application (Item 26) that was pulled from the agenda, and public testimony on homelessness, immigration enforcement, and city services. The meeting opened with proclamations recognizing National ENS Sign Awareness Day (June 24, 2026), Prairie View A&M University's 150th anniversary (August 14, 2026), Joy Horak Brown's service (September 22, 2026), and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (Teal Talk Day, September 23, 2026). The council then adopted the minutes of September 15–16, 2026, and approved adding speakers to the non-agenda lists.
Okay. Council, please come to order. The chair is going to recognize Vice Mayor Pro Tim Peck to preside, please. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Martinez for a proclamation to recognize National ENS Day Emergency Notification System. Thank you, Vicemember Pro Tim. If I could have Paris Woods and I don't, whoever else you want to come up, Paris on the what are you doing today? So, Mayor and uh colleagues uh today uh we're happy to celebrate and highlight National ENS Sign Awareness Day, which is emergency notification system. And for those that um have heard or I know around the horseshoe from the East End side of town, we have several uh railroad tracks that cross zigzag through the East End, ultimately funneling to the port of Houston. It's a huge economic driver, but also uh it does present some challenges at times. And so to have partners like Union Pacific, like the Gulf Coast Rail District, uh, to help uh ensure that uh we're highlighting the importance uh of the the use of blue and white emergency notification systems uh located at the railroad crossings, it's important. These signs provide critical information that allows residents and first responders to quickly report emergencies, hazards, and safety concerns directly to the railroad. It is an important it is important that Houstonians understand the purpose of these signs and know where to find this information when seconds matter. I'm excited to proclaim this day and help educate the community about railroad crossing safety and life-saving role of ENS signs. And so, whereas National ENS Sign Awareness Day, observed every tw June 24th, is dedicated to helping the public and first responders recognize and understand the vital role of blue and white emergency notification system signs posted at railroad crossings. And whereas in recognition of this observance, the City of Houston calls on all Houstonians to observe ENS sign awareness day, learn about the these blue and white emergency notification system signs mean what they mean, and understand how the information they provide can help protect lives and promote safety around railroad crossings. So thank you, Councilman Martinez, for bringing this awareness to all of us. Uh we all know we're in this together. Uh trains in such a dense population have become a real issue. Safety, convenience, mobility. And I don't know where our city flags are over there. There's a locomotive on it, so it's obviously been a part of Houston's legacy. But we are trying to be wise, reasonable, and safe. So thank you for the notification. It's not only the dense uh tracks of the East End Sixth Ward. I got a call about the San Philippi crossing the other day, so it is a part of Houston's uh experience. But we thank each of you, the stakeholders, the public-private sector, for trying to address this on an ongoing basis. Thank you. Therefore, I John Whitmayer, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaim June 24th, 2026 as ENS Sign Awareness Day in the City of Houston. Uh she works with Houston Public Works. We understand that railroads are regulated at the federal level with the Federal Railroad Administration, but it does take uh local partnerships, state partnership. We're recently had uh groundbreaking for a uh a pedestrian uh over uh overpass at Millby High School. And so uh it does take again a coordination, a coordinated uh effort between all uh parties, local all the way to federal level. And so on behalf of public works, I just want to say thank you on behalf of the city for everything you're doing. Thank you. On behalf of Houston Public Works, I would like to thank everyone who or is involved with promoting rail safety. We have Jessica with Operation Lifesaver. Jessica, if you would like to please come up and say something. On behalf of Texas Operation Lifesaver, I want to sincerely thank the City of Houston for recognizing Rail Safety Week and ENS Sign Day with this important proclamation. This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Rail Safety Week, a decade dedicated to reminding communities across Texas and the nation about the importance of making safe decisions around railroad tracks and crossings. We're grateful to the City of Houston for using its voice to bring attention to this life-saving information. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. Richard Zintex, Senior Director of Public Affairs with Union Pacific Railroad. I just also want to echo my thanks to the mayor, to the council member, to all the council members who are here as well for being our partners on railroad safety, education, as well as outreach. We are out there sharing the railroad safety message, particularly this week, the uh C Tracks Think Train Week, so Rail Safety Week. Uh appreciate the uh the highlighting and the recognition by the City of Houston and the continued partnership. Thank you. Thank you. I'll wait for the mayor.