Emily Hynds has been independently covering Houston City Council meetings since June 2020. In her monthly Houstonia column, she shares all the latest intel about what’s happening at city hall. Want to check the meetings out for yourself? Read this companion guide.

IN THIS MONTH’S DISPATCH: the recent legislative session trickles down, the city makes it even more illegal to be outside, a new emergency alert system, and an upcoming city council election.

New state law trickles down

The city has updated its code several times over the last month to align with recently passed stage legislation. On August 27, the council amended its code in response to Senate Bill 1008, which prohibits the city from collecting fees to certify businesses that wish to sell alcohol. It will also bar the enforcement of noise ordinances for food trucks. 

Councilmember Martha Castex-Tatum asserts that enforcing the bill will cost Houston around $3 million each year in lost fees and fines. Mayor John Whitmire criticized the state for meddling in local affairs. (Interesting, considering he was previously a state representative and senator.) 

At the September 3 meeting, councilmember Julian Ramirez explained that officials will see shorter agendas because of Senate Bill 1173, which states that councilmembers will only need to review contracts that start at $100,000. The previous spending floor for review was $50,000. Based on the length of the September 17 meeting, this rings true: That meeting was only 43 minutes long.

Making it even more illegal to be a pedestrian

On August 27, the city council passed a controversial ordinance banning people from sitting or standing in medians that are less than six feet wide. (Who can actually tell which medians are less than six feet wide?) Councilmember Mary Nan Huffman, who brought forth the ordinance, said Houston recorded its highest number of traffic fatalities in 2024, with over 300 or nearly 34 percent being pedestrians. Of course, it’s not illegal to be on a median while you’re crossing the street or during emergencies, but let’s be real; that’s not who this ordinance is targeting. 

Offenders can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, which could include a fine up to $500. Councilmember Letitia Plummer criticized the effects this will have on people who are poor or houseless, especially since misdemeanors can easily turn into warrants if you don’t have a phone, address, or a way to get to court. Councilmembers Plummer and Tiffany Thomas both voted against the ordinance. “We can’t police our way out of poverty, and we cannot police our way out into public safety,” Thomas said after the vote. She also blasted ordinance authors for voting against what she calls “actual resources,” pointing to an earlier measure that included funding for wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness.

A new emergency alert system

Yay, an update! On September 5, the city tested a new system that will send text message notifications to every cell phone in the Houston area, to be used in case of severe emergencies. The existing system, known as AlertHouston, required users to opt in to receive text, phone call, and email city notifications. On September 3, Brian Mason, Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), explained how the city has coordinated with cell phone carriers to create the new alert system, which is designed to send messages to international travelers visiting Houston in the phone user’s set language. Mayor Whitmire referenced how little warning flood victims in Central Texas had during the Fourth of July tragedy and praised Houston’s preparation. “I don’t know of other communities as prepared as we are,” he said.

2 Become 1

While defending the city’s contentious incentivized retirement plan at the September 10 meeting, Mayor Whitmire pivoted to discussing general improvements made since he assumed office in January 2024. He pointed to the unified MLK Day Parade planned for January 2026 as an achievement (the city previously had two parades for decades). “I was told when I got here, don’t tackle it… African American mayors could not change it, and the white mayors wouldn’t even attempt,” he said.

Whitmire explained that hosting two parades is a safety issue, costs the city more money, and is disrespectful to Dr. King. 

He also made this cringeworthy statement: “[People] look around the country at the other large cities and say, ‘Thank God, John Whitmire is the mayor.’ They look over at the county turmoil [and say] ‘Thank God for the City of Houston stability.” Do they really?

Coming up: evening public comments, how to balance the budget, and an upcoming election

More than 90 people showed up to speak at the first evening public comment session on August 26—a massive win for the pilot program, which aims to increase public participation by shifting some comment sessions to after work hours. The last public comment season of each month will be held on Tuesday evenings for the rest of the year. 

There has been a lot of chatter in the council chamber lately (always?) about how to increase revenue, with several councilmembers suggesting a trash fee to ease the Solid Waste Management Department’s (SWMD) troubles. On September 3, Councilmember Sallie Alcorn urged her colleagues to consider raising the tax rate when that comes up for a vote in October. “We are going to have to make unpopular decisions in order to give the residents of this city the services they deserve,” she said.

Houstonians should also mark their calendars for the special election on Tuesday, November 4. Councilmember Plummer is resigning her At-Large 4 seat to run for Harris County judge, and many people, including Dwight A. Boykins, Miguel Herrera, and Jordan Thomas, have already thrown their hats in the ring. Early voting starts Monday, October 20.

Houston City Council meetings take place almost every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 901 Bagby Street or online via HTV.