What’s Happening at City Hall
This month at city council, several key issues were discussed, including federal disaster relief funding, updates on drainage at an old landfill, new garbage trucks, and an upcoming city council election.
Disaster Relief Funding
In May 2024, a derecho caused significant damage in Houston, and less than two months later, the city was hit by Hurricane Beryl. The city has finally unveiled its plan to spend the related disaster recovery money, which includes $314 million from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Initially, the plan was to spend the funds on generators, police and emergency vehicles, and debris removal, but no funding was allocated for housing or storm-related repair. However, after a hard fight by councilmembers, $100 million of the HUD dollars were allotted for housing, reducing the amount dedicated to generators.
Updates on the Old Booker Landfill
The city council approved the purchase of land adjacent to the Booker Landfill on Neiman Road in District B. The parcel of land will be used for raised banks and basins for runoff and storm sewer drainage lines. Additionally, the city council approved funding for eminent domain proceedings for more land abutting the landfill. The Booker Landfill ceased operations decades ago but is still classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Superfund site.
The Garbage Crisis
Trash pickup has been a hot topic of discussion at city council meetings, with solid waste workers complaining about working conditions and low morale. The city’s fleet of garbage trucks is old and broken down, resulting in breakdowns and service delays. To address this issue, the city council approved spending $12 million on 31 new garbage trucks and another $9.3 million on 31 more trucks. Mayor Whitmire praised the new director of solid waste, Larius Hassan, for his "can-do attitude" and efficient use of personnel and resources.
Proposed Garbage Fee
Some councilmembers are calling for a garbage fee to ease budget strains, which could manifest as a cost to new developers or a recurring charge on homeowners’ water bills. However, Mayor Whitmire is opposed to throwing more money at a broken system. The city’s trash pickup issues have contributed to blight, disease, and mobility issues, and it remains to be seen whether Director Hassan can get the trash picked up on time.
Changes to Public Comment Sessions
The city council voted to move public comment sessions from Tuesdays at 2 pm to 6 pm, starting on August 26. This change is temporary and experimental, aimed at making the meetings more accessible. However, not all councilmembers are pleased with the new arrangement, with Councilmember Martha Castex-Tatum saying she will not attend the evening meeting.
Upcoming Election
Houstonians should mark their calendars for the special election on Tuesday, November 4, as Councilmember Letitia Plummer is resigning her At-Large 4 seat to run for Harris County judge. Early voting starts on Monday, October 20.
Conclusion
The city council has been busy addressing various issues, from disaster relief funding to the garbage crisis. While some progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to address the city’s problems. With the upcoming election and changes to public comment sessions, it will be interesting to see how the city council continues to evolve and address the needs of its citizens.
