This month, City Hall was filled with a special election, park upgrades, and an ongoing clash between the mayor and this councilmember.

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: Park funding, Councilmember Pollard vs. the mayor, and an election for District C.

Pollard vs. Whitmire, again

District J Councilmember Edward Pollard and Mayor John Whitmire are at it again about money. The feud over council district service funds (CDSF)—the annual allotment each councilmember gets to spend on their own initiatives—has escalated into another public spar. 

Pollard was directing CDSF dollars toward HPD overtime for nonemergency neighborhood issues in District J, but Mayor Whitmire and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz stopped approving the funding last year. On March 18, city council voted on a grant application to the State of Texas for overtime funding for a violent gang suppression program at HPD’s Northeast and Westside divisions. Pollard couldn’t resist addressing the irony.

“My office has been trying to provide overtime dollars to HPD for the entire fiscal year, and the department has declined,” Pollard said. “So, I was trying to figure out why…we’re asking the governor for money when your favorite colleague has been offering overtime dollars to HPD and HPD is not accepting it.” 

Mayor Whitmire told Pollard to stop directing police business and reach an agreement with the police chief. “Your politicizing it is nothing but a distraction which is hurting public safety,” Whitmire added.

District C has an open seat

District C Councilmember Abbie Kamin is resigning to run for Harris County Attorney. The special election to fill her seat has already begun; early voting lasts until March 31, with Election Day on April 4. The centrally located district stretches from Meyerland to the Heights, encompassing some of the city’s most densely populated areas. Check your district online, and if you live in District C, get thee to a polling location! 

City council is responsible for much of the business that governs Houston: They serve on committees, vote on almost every piece of funding the city approves, and work on ordinances like the recent scooter ban. Councilmembers also act as a system of checks and balances against Houston’s strong mayor system. On March 18, At-Large 1 Councilmember Julian Ramirez pointed to the “existential” water crisis in Corpus Christi to highlight the importance of local elections. Races like this are often decided by just a few votes. Isn’t it cool that yours could be one of them?

Houston’s parks are getting an upgrade

Spring has sprung and park season is here. Houston has a lot to offer, but not all parks are created equal. In addition to city funds, Houston is partnering with county and state legislators to secure funding for park upgrades and maintenance. Council approved $12 million in February for a new community center at Nottingham Park in the Spring Branch area. Then came $7.9 million for a new nature center at Sylvan Rodriguez Park in Clear Lake, a $1 million grant for swimming pool improvements at Agnes-Moffitt Park in Spring Branch, a $2 million grant for sports field enhancements at Melrose Park near Aldine, and $4 million for new playground equipment at 11 parks across the city.

At-Large 5 Councilmember Sallie Alcorn is revamping the city’s Open Space Ordinance, a funding source for parks based on development in certain zones. This means, of course, that more heavily developed areas generate more money for parks, creating a disparity that Alcorn said the city is looking into. Options on the table include a redistribution scheme, zoning changes, and higher fees, which Alcorn says haven’t increased in two decades.

Downtown will soon be more pedestrian-friendly. A section of Main Street between Commerce and Dallas will be permanently closed to vehicle traffic, except for the MetroRail, with plans to smooth curbs and add more walkable space, shade, and other people-friendly amenities. The city wants to get this done before the FIFA World Cup matches this summer, but Houstonians will get to enjoy it for years to come.

Coming up: Councilmembers challenge the mayor over ICE

Kamin, Pollard, and At-Large 4 Councilmember Alejandra Salinas proposed an ordinance to alter the way the Houston Police Department interacts with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through Proposition A. The 2023 amendment allows a coalition of three councilmembers to add an item to a city council agenda, a privilege previously reserved for the mayor alone. The proposed ordinance would give HPD officers more flexibility about when to call ICE and limit the time that police can detain people while waiting for ICE. Next, the city’s legal department will review the proposed ordinance before further action. The mayor typically punts Proposition A initiatives to a committee process, but there’s always a possibility he could get outvoted.

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