The details
The ordinance would allow a public session to occur once a month in the evening to boost community engagement with City Council, with the option to have the location in one of the council districts instead of City Hall chambers, such as a multiservice center, library or community center.
Castillo pitched the idea to the Proposition A Committee after attending several town halls and a recent public meeting on 11th Street improvements at a local church.
“The public meeting that we did a few weeks ago around the 11th Street improvements had so many folks who were first-time attendees to a civic meeting,” he said. “It was at a church in the community, and that really crystallized that [residents] want to be able to address us sometime outside of 2 p.m. on a Tuesday.”
The proposed ordinance would also rotate public comment sessions to council members district alphabetically. For example, if an evening meeting was held in District A, the next would be held in District B and so on.
Public sessions are currently held at 2 p.m. every Tuesday at City Hall in Downtown Houston.
Steven David, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, said while the administration supports the change, there could be logistical challenges with evening public sessions, including broadcasting, security, translation services and making sure the meetings are accessible for people with disabilities. Off-site security could cost $700, while broadcasting alone could cost up to $30,000, he said.
Instead, David said the administration suggested holding evening meetings once a quarter, or every three months, during the calendar year.
What they’re saying
Council member Twila Carter expressed her support for the proposed ordinance but was concerned over the cost to hold evening public meetings.
Meanwhile, council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, the vice chair for the Proposition A Committee, said she supports the proposed ordinance but is worried moving the evening meetings throughout different parts of town could be a “nightmare,” especially with a diverse City Council agenda with items that pertain to different districts.
“What’s convenient for me is not convenient for maybe council member Flickinger.” Evans-Shabazz said.
The committee didn’t have a quorum to vote on the matter, but Castillo said the committee’s input will “go into some revisions that will come back soon.”
