All

right, welcome everyone.

If we're gonna go ahead and get started.

Good morning.

I'm your chair, Mary Nan Huffman, Chair of the Proposition A committee, where ideas become ordinances.

I'd like to um start with it is 2.02 p.m.

on September 29th, 2026.

And I'm gonna call this meeting to an order.

As a reminder, public speakers will speak after we hear um from Councilmember Martinez, who is going to be presenting to us today.

I want to welcome all of those in attendance and those watching online.

And I'd like to recognize Vice Chair Councilmember Evan Shabazz.

Do you have any remarks you'd like to make?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just want to say that this POP A has really been enlightening, and I think it's been very helpful for the citizens of and the constituents of the City of Houston.

And I'm just glad to be here to be able to help us facilitate those objectives.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

We're also joined by Councilmember Carter, staff from Councilmember Member Alcorn's our office, Councilmember Martinez, Vice Mayor Pro Tempeck, Councilmember Ramirez, Councilmember Jackson, and staff from Councilmember Panzarella's office.

All right.

I would like to welcome Councilmember Martinez to let us know what we're doing here today.

Thank you, Chair.

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today I'm presenting a proposition A related to our process for approving changes to future proposed recycling programs.

We all know that recent restructuring with solid waste uh department move solid waste under the combined utility system within public works and implemented a $5 administrative fee with future increment incremental fees for trash.

I believe this reform was needed, but now warrants increased transparency, oversight, and opportunity for public uh input on proposed future changes that may impact the city's recycling programs.

So the proposed as currently drafted is and and all of y'all should have it in front of you.

Ordinance amending Chapter 39 of the Code of Ordinance to require any program, policy or contract that directly affects the collection, processing, transportation, or disposal of divertible materials, including but not limited to recycles, recyclables and compostables from the City of Houston owned or managed landfills under the solid waste division shall be required to be approved by a majority vote of Houston City Council.

This requirement does not apply to internal staff administrative decisions, including but not limited to employee education programs, staff training initiatives, or other non-binding internal communications.

This proposal, uh proposed ordinance requires changes to requires changes to any program, policy, or contract that directly affects the collection, processing, transportation, or disposal of recyclables to be approved by City Council.

Ultimately, this ordinance is not about telling solid waste what process to use.

It's about making sure significant changes to recycling are made transparently, accountably, and with the public at the table.

With that, I'll open it up for discussions.

I also forgot to welcome our proposition A attorney, Danny Norris, to answer all our legal questions.

Does anybody have any questions for Councilmember Martinez or his proposal?

Councilmember Ramirez.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Councilmember, for presenting this.

So just curious.

So the actual language, um, you I think uh if you you don't have it in front of you, it's uh the actual ordinance language is in front.

Yeah.

Sorry.

I'm sorry, actually, we we have the summary.

I mean the actual ordinance, uh, Edith.

We

need the ordinance, the red line.

But

uh

so I think that and I think the did uh Brad, I think he sent that out.

You're talking about just the language itself, because this is actually contained, I think it's contained.

So this

is a summary, but the actual red line to the chapter chapter 39.

Yes.

I yeah, that that was uh

there

was no red line.

I don't think there was a red line that was sent out, but the proposed language I think itself was sent out, should have been sent out.

I thought it was sent out to the council members.

Uh should have been an email.

I think it should have gone out uh last week.

I think last Wednesday it should have gone out via um uh I think Brad out of Council Member uh Huffman's office, I think sent that out, the actual draft language.

Let