Tag Archives: Houston City Council

Have your say on the Uptown/Memorial Park TIRZ

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, and the office of CM Oliver Pennington: To the Residents of District G: As many of you are aware, the May 1, 2013, Council Agenda contained several items related to the Reinvestment Zone Number Sixteen (Uptown Zone), … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Questions about the Memorial Park part of the Uptown/Memorial TIRZ

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Falkenberg reports that some people have raised questions about the Memorial Park part of the Uptown/Memorial TIRZ. Reforestation is sorely needed in a park devastated by hurricane damage and drought. This is a great deal, city leaders and supporters … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Revamped Chapter 42 ordinance finally passes

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Strangely enough, in the end it was not very contentious. Houston City Council on Wednesday voted 14-3 to allow greater single-family home density outside Loop 610, while also strengthening the proposal’s already robust protections for neighborhoods concerned about unwelcome development. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Today is Chapter 42 day

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Actually, today is almost certainly the day that the Chapter 42 revisions get tagged by multiple members of Council, thus pushing it back for a week. Nonetheless, this is the beginning of the end of a long, long journey. Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Today is Chapter 42 day

It’s Chapter 42 week

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We won’t know for years what the upcoming revisions to Chapter 42, the development and density codes in Houston, will mean to the city and its development and population patterns. There’s certainly a lot of hope that the changes will … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s Chapter 42 week

The Uptown/Memorial TIRZ

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Big projects, big plans, big funding mechanism. Transit and trees – things that make urban areas move quickly and look pretty – are the centerpieces of a $500 million project that would remake the Uptown area and reinvigorate Memorial Park. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How will Chapter 42 affect housing in Houston?

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, we’re still talking about Chapter 42, the local development and density code. One of the goals of revamping Chapter 42 is to make it easier and more attractive to build mid-range housing in the city limits. How do we … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Houston considers a “Safe Passing” ordinance

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to hear it. Though it boasts a growing biking culture, Houston is the only major city in Texas without a safe-passing law requiring motorists to share the road with cyclists and others. City leaders now want to change that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston considers a “Safe Passing” ordinance

Developer impact fee approved by Council

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I did not know that this hadn’t been done yet. Developers will join property owners in paying drainage fees following City Council’s approval Wednesday. The developer impact fee was included in the voter-approved 2010 city charter amendment now known as … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Developer impact fee approved by Council

Houston may ban texting while driving

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This will likely come before City Council later this year. Houston will consider an ordinance banning texting while driving if the Legislature again fails to enact a statewide ban, Mayor Annise Parker said Tuesday. Parker, flanked by 30 people ranging … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston may ban texting while driving

An early look at At Large #3

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A little while back, Campos listed all of the people who had filed designations of treasurer for city office, which is the step you need to take before you can raise any money for a campaign. As expected, the field … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Endorsement watch: Planned Parenthood gets an early start

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox on Friday: Today the Board of Directors of the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast ACTION FUND Inc, (PPGCAF) voted to endorse the following candidates for the November City Election. Each of the endorsed candidates has demonstrated a strong … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Planned Parenthood gets an early start

One size does not fit all, parking regulations department

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This makes a lot of sense to me. A proposed rewrite of Houston’s off-street parking rules could allow some areas to alter the new requirements or ditch them altogether, part of what Mayor Annise Parker said is an effort to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What to expect from clearing the rape kit backlog

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, two weeks ago Mayor Parker announced that the city would allocate funds to clear the backlog of rape kits, thus bringing to a conclusions one of the city’s longest-standing issues. City Council has now unanimously approved the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

City proposes bike parking alternatives

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Bicycle advocates are cheering a city proposal that would give businesses an incentive to offer bike parking and would require some properties to provide it for the first time, saying the ideas mark a cultural shift in Houston. “This … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on City proposes bike parking alternatives

Kubosh is in for Council

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This happened on Friday. Michael Kubosh, part of the fighting brothers who finally rid Houston of red-light cameras, is announcing today he’s running for an at-large city council seat. Kubosh will announce he’s running for Melissa Noriega’s at-large seat (she … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Council approves Southwest/Hobby deal

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You are now free to make lame jokes about Southwest’s marketing slogan. Council members unanimously approved a 25-year use and lease agreement with the Dallas-based carrier that incorporates a new two-story, five-gate concourse and Customs and Border Protection inspection facility … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Council approves Southwest/Hobby deal

Clearing the rape kit backlog

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some excellent news from the Mayor’s office. Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston Police Department today announced details of a plan that will eliminate the backlog of untested sexual assault kits (SAK). Under the plan, which will be formally considered … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The off-street parking debate

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I believe the new offstreet parking requirements that have been proposed and are being debated are at least as big a deal as the Chapter 42 revisions. We really need to get this right. Under the new rules, some eateries … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The off-street parking debate

Amy Peck announces for A

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: Amy Peck Announces Candidacy for Houston City Council District A I am very excited to announce my candidacy for Houston City Council, District A. Over the last few years, I have been asked to run again by … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

First Hobby expansion details announced

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Moving forward at Hobby Airport. The Southwest Airlines-proposed expansion, green-lighted by the Houston City Council last May, calls for construction by the end of 2015 of a new concourse with five gates capable of accommodating midsize aircraft; a federal inspection … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There’s gold in them thar pawn shops

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is a police story and a Helena Brown story, because everything is better when it’s a Helena Brown story. Houston City Council on Wednesday passed new rules on precious metals dealers despite a lengthy attempt to water down the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

City wants the Lege to deal with payday lending

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what came out of the presentation to Council on payday lending on Tuesday. Houston leaders say they will wait to see whether the Legislature acts during its current session before voting on their proposal. Mayor Annise Parker has said … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ready or not, here comes Chapter 42

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Changes are coming to Chapter 42, the section of Houston’s ordinances that deal with density and development, and to Chapter 26, the section on off-street parking for bars and restaurants and what have you. The revisions would allow neighborhoods to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Brenda’s back

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

But will Helena Brown be in trouble? Brenda Stardig will launch her campaign Saturday to retake the District A Houston City Council seat that she lost two years ago to Helena Brown. The announcement came Sunday in the form of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Brenda’s back

Payday and title loan regulation in Houston

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Nonsequiteuse, who got the following email in her inbox: Proposed City of Houston Lending Ordinance Presentation to Council Committee Tuesday, February 5, 2013 The City of Houston Legal Department has proposed new regulations for credit access businesses, commonly referred … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

January finance reports for Houston offices

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Previously, I gave the July campaign finance numbers for Houston elected officials who are eligible for the ballot this fall. Here now are the cash on hand figures from the January reports, with all incumbents and a few assorted extras … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some things you can vaccinate against

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Saying dumb things isn’t one of them. As the council considered a proposal Wednesday to accept $3.1 million in federal funding for childhood immunizations, Councilman Jack Christie voiced his opposition to the measure, apparently conflating it with flu vaccinations. “I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

City pension funds make their case

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This deserves more visibility than it’s gotten. Representatives of Houston’s three employee pension boards told a Houston City Council committee Monday that the sky is not falling and pleaded with council members to be patient in examining the city’s pension … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A first look at the 2013 elections

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It is 2013, right? So while we have the SD06 special election and the new legislative session to worry about, it’s not too early to start talking about the 2013 elections. Let’s start with a peek at the campaign finance … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

One year of Helena

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer‘s Emily dePrang takes a look at CM Helena Brown, one year after her upset win in District A. When she took office, Brown made waves for her nearly satirical level of budget hawkery. She made simplistic government-bad, free-market-good … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Council approves Washington Avenue parking benefit district

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how this works. The Houston City Council on Wednesday formed a special parking district along Washington Avenue, intended to ease the woes associated with the bustling corridor’s mix of bars, restaurants and residential streets. The plan will add … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

City wins Census recount

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official: The city of Houston really did have 2.1 million people as of the 2010 Census. The U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted the city’s 2010 population from 2,099,451 to 2,100,263. The difference is only 812 people, but it’s enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on City wins Census recount

Germantown gets historic designation

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to what may be the last historic district created in the city of Houston. The first historic district created under a stricter rewrite of Houston’s preservation ordinance passed City Council on Wednesday, though conservationists predicted future districts will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment