The gist
The ordinance allows the final Tuesday public comment session of each month to take place at 6 p.m. inside council chambers in Downtown Houston.
The city will test the monthly evening public comment sessions starting in August and continue until Dec. 31. This will allow city officials to reassess and understand if holding evening public sessions is feasible and effective, and ultimately determine whether to continue the practice in 2026.
“We used to have more accessibility here with hybrid meetings, there’s absolutely a precedent for doing it,” said council member Mario Castillo, who has been spearheading the ordinance for weeks. “But we can’t do that if we don’t try it. This is a way to do something that has been talked about for a long time.”
Currently, public comment sessions are held at 2 p.m. every Tuesday at City Hall in Downtown Houston.
What they’re saying
City Council approved the ordinance in a 15-1 vote, with council member Willie Davis voting against the ordinance and council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz being absent.
Davis said he voted no because he is concerned people would be victims of crimes if meetings were to end late at night, such as 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m.
Council member Sallie Alcorn said that although she supports the ordinance, the city would need to start enforcing time limits for the new public sessions.
Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum said the city needs to find ways to provide more opportunities for the public to engage with City Council, as there will always be people who cannot attend the meetings.
“I think equitable access includes a myriad of mediums for people to engage with their government," Castex-Tatum said. "That means virtually, calling in on the phone, writing letters, I think council members should be at civic club meetings and be in the community ... If we provide more mediums for people to participate in government, I think we will increase engagement exponentially."
