City employees will have access to paid parental leave for the first time beginning in May after a decade-long push to adopt the family-friendly policy that advocates hope will help the city attract and retain working parents.

City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the new leave policy, which will give workers who have been with the city for at least six months up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child. The policy also includes paid time off during pregnancy for certain health matters.

*As reported by the Houston Chronicle. Read full article here. Watch council discussion here. 

HOUSTON CONSIDERING SURVEILLANCE CAMERA ORDINANCE FOR BARS, RESTAURANTS TO FIGHT CRIME 

Bars and convenience stores could soon be required by the City of Houston to install surveillance cameras and proper lighting outside their business.

The proposal was recommended by the City Attorney and Police Chief as part of the crime reduction initiative ‘One Safe Houston,’ launched by Mayor Sylvester Turner in February.

This item was ultimatly tagged by three councilmembers. Please click link for Councilmembers comments.

*As reported by Fox Houston. Read full report here. Watch council discussion here. 

Update as of April 14th 

Recycling services are delayed for Week-B. We’re working to complete these routes. Leave your container at the curb.

Los servicios de reciclaje esta atrasados para la Semana-B. Estamos trabajando para completar estas rutas. Por favor, deje su contenedor en la acera.

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Center web page or call 3-1-1. You may also use the following resources.

Facebook – Updated daily
Link: City of Houston Solid Waste Management – Posts | Facebook

HTX Collects- an app used to update you about your service in real-time. You can also use the link on the website to get an update.

Link: https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/htxcollects.html

DISTRICT F COUNCIL ITEMS

In addition to the items mentioned above, the following was approved for District F. 

Item #40- Ordinance approved for appropriating additional funds to the Professional Engineering Services Contract with Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc.

This project is part of the city’s program to upgrade and rehabilitate ground water production facilities to meet the area’s water demand and ensure compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations. This project consists of the design of rehabilitation of water storage tanks at various locations.

The Housing & Community Affairs Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 10 a.m. Due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, this meeting will offer the option to participate by videoconference or in-person. The location for the committee meeting will be City Hall Council Chamber, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, Texas 77002. The meeting will be open to the public but restrictions regarding masks, allowable room capacity, and seating arrangements may be in place.

The public may sign up to speak by registering at https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/speakers-hca.html no later than Monday, April 18, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Please indicate whether you will speak virtually or will be attending in person so that appropriate attendance instructions can be provided.

The designated presiding officer of the Committee will be physically present in chamber. In accordance with the provisions of Section 551.127 of the Texas Government Code applicable to a governmental body that extends into three or more counties, all other committee members have the option to participate in-person or virtually via Microsoft Teams.
The meeting will be held via MS Teams at https://tinyurl.com/HCAApril22 and will also be broadcast on HTV, the City of Houston’s Municipal Channel. Presentation handouts will also be available at https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/housing.html when provided.