Q3 2026 Report
5 meetings · 1 committee · $4.1B financial · 18 important findings · Updates as new data arrives
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Executive Summary
City Summary — Q3 2026
Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0602, appropriating $300,000,000.00 out of the Airport System Consolidated 2011 Construction Fund for a Memorandum of Agreement with UNITED AIRLINES, INC at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston in District B - Jackson. [5]City Council — Jul 8 Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0580 on Item 9, an ordinance authorizing issuance of City of Houston Combined Utility System Commercial Paper Notes, Series B. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Financial Highlights
Item #3 was on the August 12, 2026 City Council agenda as a motion awarding the sale of $345,000,000.00 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes, Series 2026, based on the lowest True Interest Cost, ratifying and confirming use of the Preliminary Official Statement provided to prospective bidders, and authorizing distribution of the Official Statement. [1]City Council — Aug 12 Item #23, a $661,760.00 item with MOBOTREX, LLC for removal and installation of battery backup systems through the BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program for Houston Public Works, was pulled and would not be considered on August 12, 2026, so its amount is excluded from any approved total. [1]City Council — Aug 12 Item #32, an ordinance appropriating $1,225,000.00 out of the Equipment Acquisition Consolidated Fund for the planned Webex Contact Center Migration Project for Houston Information Technology Services, was listed with its outcome unconfirmed. [1]City Council — Aug 12 At the July 29, 2026 City Council meeting, Item #44, an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for bridge replacement or rehabilitation off the state system at Furray Road at Kennedy Gully, was approved without a stated amount as Ordinance 2026-0666. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item #24 on July 29, 2026, covering Professional Structural Engineering Services contracts with CONCEPT ENGINEERS, INC and FCM ENGINEERS, PC for a $3,650,000.00 maximum over 3 years with 2 one-year options from the Enterprise Fund, received the result Not Received - Not Considered and was not approved, awarded, or authorized. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item #30 on July 22, 2026, a proposed $4,562,610.86 appropriation for a contract with ALSAY INCORPORATED for construction services for Ground Water Well Rehabilitation at Various Locations, was Pulled - Not Considered and was not approved, awarded, spent or authorized. [3]City Council — Jul 22 Item 36 was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0632, appropriating $93,771,329.00 out of the East Water Purification Enhancement Project Fund for a Professional Engineering Services contract with CDM SMITH, INC for East Water Purification Plant Enhancement Project 1, plus funding for CIP Cost Recovery. [4]City Council — Jul 15 Item 9, amending MOTION #2022-275 (06/01/22), as amended by MOTION #2024-465 (06/12/24) and MOTION #2025-595 (08/13/25), to increase spending authority from $674,756.46 to $923,561.46 for purchase of submersible trash pumps from XYLEM DEWATERING SOLUTIONS, INC for Houston Public Works funded through the Enterprise Fund, was adopted as MOTION 2026-0402. [4]City Council — Jul 15 Item 32 was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0622, appropriating $3,150,000.00 for a Professional Engineering Services Contract with TRILOGY ENGINEERING SERVICES, LLC for professional services and technical support for Wastewater Consent Decree Projects. [4]City Council — Jul 15 Item 9, an ordinance authorizing issuance of City of Houston Combined Utility System Commercial Paper Notes, Series B, resulted in Ordinance 2026-0580 Adopted. [5]City Council — Jul 8 Item 16, appropriating $300,000,000.00 out of the Airport System Consolidated 2011 Construction Fund for a Memorandum of Agreement with UNITED AIRLINES, INC at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston in District B - Jackson, was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0602. [5]City Council — Jul 8 Motion 2026-0387 was adopted on Item #39, which appropriated $26,437,655 from the East Water Purification Enhancement Project Fund for a Construction Manager At Risk contract with Kiewit Water Facilities South Co for East Water Purification Plant Enhancement Project No. 1, including salary recovery. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Development & Land Use
Ordinance 2026-0655 appropriated $106,038,296.40 from the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund and authorized a contract with REYTEC CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES, INC., INC for construction services on the Intercontinental Airport Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion in District B - Jackson. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Ordinance 2026-0653 appropriated $750,000.00 from the Miscellaneous Capital Projects/Acquisitions CP Series E Fund and authorized a contract with SKANSKA USA BUILDING, INC for Construction Manager At Risk services on the Municipal Courts Replacement Facility in District H - Castillo. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item 23, an interlocal agreement formalizing Harris County's participation in Reinvestment Zone Number Two (Midtown Zone) with the Midtown Redevelopment Authority covering Districts C (Panzarella) and D (Evans-Shabazz), was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0629. [4]City Council — Jul 15
Contracts & Procurement
At the July 29, 2026 City Council meeting, Item #24, which would have awarded Professional Structural Engineering Services contracts to CONCEPT ENGINEERS, INC and FCM ENGINEERS, PC with a $3,650,000.00 maximum over 3 years with 2 one-year options from the Enterprise Fund, carried a recorded disposition of "Not Received - Not Considered," so no contract authority was granted. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item #23, procured through the BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program from MOBOTREX, LLC, was marked pulled and not to be considered on August 12, 2026. [1]City Council — Aug 12 Item #51 was proposed to authorize a contract with ALSAY INCORPORATED for Construction Services for Ground Water Well Rehabilitation at Various Locations, funded by a $4,562,610.86 appropriation from the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund. [1]City Council — Aug 12 Item 16 authorized a lease with the City of Houston as Landlord and HARMONY HOUSE, INC as Tenant for 2903 Jensen Drive, Houston, Texas 77026, in District B - Jackson, under Ordinance 2026-0625, which was adopted. [4]City Council — Jul 15 The Kuo & Associates, LLC professional engineering services agreement for the 42-inch water line Sims Bayou Extension along US 59 (#25) was authorized under Ordinance 2026-0645, with a $4,466,700 appropriation covering engineering services and CIP Cost Recovery relating to construction of facilities financed by the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund. [3]City Council — Jul 22 Item #10 authorized a concession contract with Lenlyn Limited dba ICE Currency Services USA for foreign currency exchange and passenger amenities services for 5 years with 2 one-year options on a revenue basis in Districts B and I under Ordinance 2026-0636. [3]City Council — Jul 22 Item 13, adopted as Ordinance 2026-0584, approves an agreement between the City of Houston and McCall Parkhurst & Horton LLP for disclosure counsel services for various departments, with the statutorily required written notice given to the public pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 2254.1036. [5]City Council — Jul 8 Item 14 authorizes an agreement with GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP for Bond Counsel Services for Various Departments providing a maximum contract amount, and was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0585. [5]City Council — Jul 8 Item #30 approves an Amended and Restated Financing, Ownership, Operation and Maintenance Agreement with Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 55 for sewage conveyance facilities, adopted as Ordinance 2026-0597. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Community Impact
At the July 22, 2026 City Council meeting, Item 4 approved spending authority of $1,386,000.00 for Playground Improvements and Replacements and Related Services through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, awarded to Lone Star Recreation of Texas, LLC and funded from the Parks and Recreation Dedication Fund (Motion 2026-0417). [3]City Council — Jul 22 At the July 15, 2026 City Council meeting, Item 13, amending Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances relating to Parks and Private Parks by revising definitions in Section 42-1, amending Sections 42-251 through 42-255, 42-258 and 42-259, and adding a new Section 42-260, was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0623 ADOPTED AS AMENDED. [4]City Council — Jul 15 At the July 15, 2026 City Council meeting, Item 37 approved an interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Parks Board LGC, Inc. for construction of improvements on twenty-five neighborhood parks under the Let's Play Houston Initiative and was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0610. [4]City Council — Jul 15
Key Decisions
At the July 22, 2026 City Council meeting, Item #30, which would have appropriated $4,562,610.86 and authorized a contract with Alsay Incorporated for rehabilitation of groundwater wells at various locations, was recorded as "Pulled - Not Considered" and no contract was awarded. [3]City Council — Jul 22 Item #16, a condemnation item covering eighteen parcels for a District B drainage improvement project, was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0642 at the July 22, 2026 meeting. [3]City Council — Jul 22 At the July 8, 2026 meeting, a $26,437,655 construction manager at risk contract with Kiewit Water Facilities South Co. was adopted as Motion 2026-0387. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Governance & Oversight
At the July 22, 2026 City Council meeting, Item 32 repealed Section 18-37 of the Code of Ordinances, Houston, Texas, relating to the Limitation on Repayment of Personal Loans from Campaign Contributions, with findings, related provisions and a severability clause (Ordinance 2026-0650). [3]City Council — Jul 22 On July 8, 2026, Item 37 received nominations for Positions 10 and 11 of the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System Board of Trustees for a three-year term, adopted as Motion 2026-0386. [5]City Council — Jul 8 On August 12, 2026, Item 30 proposed an ordinance ordering a Special Election to be held November 3, 2026, submitting to qualified voters a proposition to amend the City Charter to deprioritize enforcement of certain marijuana offenses and to ban no-knock warrants, with provisions for severability. [1]City Council — Aug 12
Infrastructure & Facilities
Council approved Item 27, a $22,811,498.70 appropriation from the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund and construction services contract with SERVOX, LLC for Intercontinental Airport Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements in District B - Jackson (Ordinance 2026-0646). [3]City Council — Jul 22 Council found public convenience and necessity and authorized acquisition of fee simple or easement interests in eighteen parcels in the Harris & Wilson Survey, Abstract No. 32, Harris County, for the CRMP Package 8 - Area 1 Basin IB043 Project in District B by gift, dedication, purchase or eminent domain (Item 16, Ordinance 2026-0642). [3]City Council — Jul 22 Item 37 appropriated $2,827,662.60 out of the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund and authorized an Advanced Funding Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for Voluntary Utility Relocation on State Highway Improvement Projects along SH 35 from Dixie Drive to Long Drive in Districts D - Evans-Shabazz and I - Martinez, recorded as Ordinance 2026-0661. [2]City Council — Jul 29 On July 15, 2026, City Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0632 (Item 36), appropriating $93,771,329 from the East Water Purification Enhancement Project Fund for a Professional Engineering Services contract with CDM Smith Inc, Inc for East Water Purification Plant Enhancement Project No. 1, an item that had been tagged by Council Member Pollard and carried over as Item 34 from the July 8, 2026 agenda. [4]City Council — Jul 15 Council adopted MOTION 2026-0405 on Item 8, amending Motion #2026-116 (02/25/26) to increase spending authority for WORKQUEST from $14,605,724.26 to $27,753,189.22 for Grounds Maintenance Services for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, with additional scope added for Litter Abatement for Houston Public Works, paid from the Stormwater Fund. [4]City Council — Jul 15 On July 8, 2026, Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0601 (Item 35), appropriating $11,077,521.01 from the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund - Drainage Charge Fund and $1,494,942.59 from the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund for a contract with Total Contracting Limited for the Chateau Forest Area Drainage and Paving project in District A, with funding for testing services, construction management, salary recovery and contingencies. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Public Safety
Council approved $941,787 in spending authority over 5 years for software licenses, maintenance, support and services awarded to Station Automation, Inc. dba PSTRAX, procured by Houston Information Technology Services on behalf of the Houston Fire Department and funded from the Central Service Revolving Fund (Item 3, Motion 2026-0414). [3]City Council — Jul 22 Item 22 approved and authorized a contract with Harris County, through Harris County Commissioners Court, for Harris County Resources for Children and Adults to implement an Early Warning System and System of Care for a 1-year term with one 90-day renewal at a maximum contract amount of $709,623.47 from the Essential Public Health Services Fund, adopted as Ordinance 2026-0628. [4]City Council — Jul 15 Item 21 approved and authorized a Second Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement with the Houston Ship Channel Security District to support operational costs of the Houston Police Department's helicopter and marine patrols within the Ship Channel Region (Ordinance 2026-0588 Adopted). [5]City Council — Jul 8
Housing
City Council adopted Resolution 2026-0023 confirming No Objection to the proposed development of certain properties as Affordable Rental Housing located in the City of Houston and to the submittal of applications for Non-Competitive 4% Housing Tax Credits for those developments (Item 10, District E - Flickinger). [4]City Council — Jul 15 City Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0624 authorizing the City to accept two grant awards from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for Homeless Housing and Services Program funds (Item 15). [4]City Council — Jul 15 Item 40, adopting the 2024 Derecho and Hurricane Beryl Single Family Home Repair Program Guidelines, had been tagged by Council Member Ramirez and passed as Ordinance 2026-0607. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Transportation
Council appropriated $25,000,000.00 from the Airports Improvement Fund toward two contracts with Alstom Transport USA, Inc. for Skyway Service Life Renewal Services at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston in District B (Jackson) under Ordinance 2026-0654. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item 16, appropriating $300,000,000.00 out of the Airport System Consolidated 2011 Construction Fund for a Memorandum of Agreement with United Airlines, Inc. at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston in District B, passed as Ordinance 2026-0602. [5]City Council — Jul 8 Item 24, an ordinance approving a Joint Participation Interlocal Agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County for construction of the Lakeside Estates Drive Street Rehabilitation Project in District G - Huffman, was adopted as Ordinance 2026-0644. [3]City Council — Jul 22
Environment
Ordinance No. 2022-0613 was amended to add $2,293,676.29 to the contract with Merrell Bros., Inc. for Onsite Water Treatment, Sludge Dewatering and Disposal Services in District E (Flickinger) under Ordinance 2026-0657. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Council accepted the work and authorized final payment on the contract with SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES, INC for Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Television Inspection in Support of Rehabilitation under Motion 2026-0430. [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item 18, which would have amended Ordinance No. 2025-46 related to the contract with TERRA NOVA CONSULTING, INC for Professional Environmental Consulting Services for Monticello Square Apartments valued at $3,570.00 from the Grant Fund in District J - Pollard, was recorded as "Pulled by the Administration - will not be considered" on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. [4]City Council — Jul 15
Personnel & Labor
At the July 15, 2026 City Council meeting, Item 1 confirmed nominations of John Gilmore IV to Position 10 and Denise Castillo-Rhodes to Position 11 of the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System Board of Trustees, each for a three-year term, and the confirmation was adopted as Motion 2026-0403. [4]City Council — Jul 15 On July 29, 2026, Item 16 adopted a resolution supporting the nomination of Council Member Mario Castillo to the Texas Municipal League Board of Directors (Resolution 2026-0025). [2]City Council — Jul 29 The Mayor's Item 4 request for confirmation of appointments and reappointments to the Board of Directors of Harris County Improvement District No. 3 (Upper Kirby Management District) was disposed of with Motion 2026-0381 Adopted on July 8, 2026. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Zoning
Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0600 establishing the south side of the 700 block of Merrill Street, between Watson Street and Reagan Street, as a Special Minimum Lot Size Block pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances (District H - Castillo). [5]City Council — Jul 8 Ordinance 2026-0659 renewed the establishment of the 4400 Block of Gibson Street, North Side, between Patterson Street and Snover Street, as a Special Minimum Lot Size Block under Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances (District C - Panzarella). [2]City Council — Jul 29 Item 26 established the north and south sides of the 4900-5000 block of Lingonberry Street between Coffee Street and Chain Street, with Ordinance 2026-0617 adopted. [4]City Council — Jul 15
Insights by Role
Journalist
Reporters tracking the November ballot should follow Item 30 from August 12, 2026, which proposed an ordinance ordering a Special Election to be held November 3, 2026, submitting to qualified voters a proposition to amend the City Charter to deprioritize enforcement of certain marijuana offenses and to ban no-knock warrants, with provisions for severability. [1]City Council — Aug 12
Coverage of campaign finance rules should note that at the July 22, 2026 City Council meeting Item 32 repealed Section 18-37 of the Code of Ordinances relating to the Limitation on Repayment of Personal Loans from Campaign Contributions, with findings, related provisions and a severability clause (Ordinance 2026-0650). [3]City Council — Jul 22
Resident
Park users should watch for playground work funded by Item 4 at the July 22, 2026 meeting, which approved spending authority of $1,386,000.00 for Playground Improvements and Replacements and Related Services through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, awarded to Lone Star Recreation of Texas, LLC and funded from the Parks and Recreation Dedication Fund (Motion 2026-0417). [3]City Council — Jul 22
Neighborhood groups should follow implementation of Item 37 from July 15, 2026, an interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Parks Board LGC, Inc. for construction of improvements on twenty-five neighborhood parks under the Let's Play Houston Initiative, adopted as Ordinance 2026-0610. [4]City Council — Jul 15
Contractor
Firms should not begin work under Item #24 of July 29, 2026, which would have awarded Professional Structural Engineering Services contracts to CONCEPT ENGINEERS, INC and FCM ENGINEERS, PC with a $3,650,000.00 maximum over 3 years with 2 one-year options from the Enterprise Fund, because it carried a recorded disposition of "Not Received - Not Considered" and no contract authority was granted. [2]City Council — Jul 29
Cooperative-purchase vendors should re-check the calendar for Item #23, procured through the BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program from MOBOTREX, LLC, which was marked pulled and not to be considered on August 12, 2026. [1]City Council — Aug 12
Lobbyist
Advocates on campaign finance should factor in that at the July 22, 2026 City Council meeting Item 32 repealed Section 18-37 of the Code of Ordinances relating to the Limitation on Repayment of Personal Loans from Campaign Contributions, with findings, related provisions and a severability clause (Ordinance 2026-0650). [3]City Council — Jul 22
Groups working on redevelopment zones should engage the parties to Item 23, an interlocal agreement formalizing Harris County's participation in Reinvestment Zone Number Two (Midtown Zone) with the Midtown Redevelopment Authority covering Districts C (Panzarella) and D (Evans-Shabazz), adopted as Ordinance 2026-0629. [4]City Council — Jul 15
Developer
Infill developers in District H should check lot-size constraints created when Council adopted Ordinance 2026-0600 establishing the south side of the 700 block of Merrill Street, between Watson Street and Reagan Street, as a Special Minimum Lot Size Block pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances. [5]City Council — Jul 8
Affordable housing sponsors should align their filings with Resolution 2026-0023, which City Council adopted confirming No Objection to the proposed development of certain properties as Affordable Rental Housing located in the City of Houston and to the submittal of applications for Non-Competitive 4% Housing Tax Credits for those developments (Item 10, District E - Flickinger). [4]City Council — Jul 15
Charts & Data
Largest Financial Items
Most Mentioned Entities
| Entity | Type | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Public Works | Department | 30 |
| Amy Peck | Person | 25 |
| City of Houston | Organization | 15 |
| Texas Department of Transportation | Organization | 13 |
| Martha Castex-Tatum | Person | 11 |
| Mary Nan Huffman | Person | 9 |
| Houston Information Technology Services | Department | 8 |
| Tarsha Jackson | Person | 7 |
| Harris County | Organization | 6 |
| Carolyn Evans-Shabazz | Person | 5 |
Source Events(5)
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