LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- The League City council is about to approve a texting ban for its own meetings. The city's ethics review board recommended a rule against electronic communication in session. The board wants to make sure all discussions are documented and open to the public.
The new rule would ban deliberations on cell phones, laptops, or other electronic devices. A final vote will be held tomorrow.
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HOUSTON (KTRK) -- City leaders are huddled for a marathon meeting about proposed changes to the city's multibillion-dollar budget. These are potentially significant decisions affecting everything from the mayor's term limits to whether you can use a plastic bag at the grocery store.
More than 100 amendments are on the table for consideration. But the good news are none of them propose large-scale layoffs.
Just outside City Hall, downtown workers tote their lunches in plastic bags -- something that could go away if one budget amendment passes.
"I think it's a good idea, it's better for the environment to use the reusable bags," downtown worker Amanda Cooper said.
The idea of phasing away plastic bags is just one of 104 amendments being considered this budget year. Councilman Ed Gonzalez says the bags turn into hard-to-get-rid-of trash.
"We spend a lot of money trying to keep our city clean and we need to see if we could make an impact on those costs," Gonzalez said.
The plastic bag proposal may seem like unusual for council members to consider, but budget cycles are a time when council members introduce unusual ideas.
"As a supporter of police and firefighters, it's not a comfortable to say 'the emperor has no clothes' but that's the reality as it stands," Councilwoman Helena Brown said.
Brown, for example, wanted council members to default on police and fire pension plans, among other suggestions. That was quickly voted down.
But other ideas did pass.
Council members could now put a proposal before voters to change term limits to two four-year terms. And the proposed pole tax of $5 for every strip club customer is scheduled for a vote next week.
"We have so much on our plate right now that some people simply can't look at everything that's being put in front of them. I have respect for that," Houston City Councilwoman Ellen Cohen said.
Council members are expected to meet a couple more times before finalizing next year's budget.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston is one step closer to having two international airports. City Council Wednesday morning approved the $100 million expansion of Hobby Airport in southeast Houston to allow for international flights. The roar of approval from Southwest Airlines employees was deafening. The months long fight for international flights out of Hobby Airport was finally over as City Council approved the memorandum of understanding in a landslide 16-1 vote.
"We have had tremendous support. We have always had the best interest of Houston in our minds and it's a great opportunity to lower fairs and allow more people to fly," said Southwest CEO Gary Kelly.
As Kelly beamed, United Airlines, which fought vehemently against the expansion, says flights and jobs would be lost at Bush Intercontinental Airport as early as later this year.
"We're going to be looking to cut our fall flight schedule as a result of this and there is going to be jobs that are associated with that are going to be lost. We are going to do our best to help our employees with voluntary programs and finding them locations in other places if we can. So we want to mitigate the harm, but we said all along this would be the outcome of this," said Stephanie Buchanan with United Airlines.
The only 'No' vote was by City Council Member Jerry Davis, who also said he is worried.
"We just were not confident in everything going the way it was proposed," Davis said.
However, Mayor Annise Parker points out flights are not scheduled until 2015, and she believes the greater Houston community is big enough to support two international airports.
"Once everything calms down a little bit, we're going to have a rational discussion, and we'll be long-term partners and have a productive partnership," Mayor Parker said. "The competition is at least three years away, so for United to say that there are going to be 1,300 people laid off next week or so, that's just not reasonable."
The mayor announced the deal last week. The $100 million plan would be paid by Southwest Airlines. The airline would add a customs facility and five international gates and offer flights to the Caribbean and Latin America.
United says it already operates some flights at a loss at Bush Intercontinental Airport because it was anticipating growth, but with Southwest taking away that potential growth, they say they want to stem the bleeding and move the non-profitable flights away sooner, and bringing in fewer international flights.
"The Dreamliner was, you know, going to come to Houston based on the assumption that we'd have, you know, international service that made sense," Buchanon said. "Flights like Auckland which we were going to do on the Dreamliner isn't going to make sense anymore."
Southwest brushes away United's doom and gloom projections, convinced that competition will be good for both airlines.
"It's all about competition, it's all about lowering fares and making travel more affordable, and for the first time now international markets to the south," said Kelly.
Houston leaders say there is enough business for two international airports in America's fourth largest city.
"It's just a bit puzzling to me that they would make the announcement right after the council vote," said Council Member James Rodriguez. "Southwest hasn't built the facility yet, they haven't started international flights. We are looking at 2015. And so to announce that they are not competing yet is probably a bit premature."
Last week, United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek spoke with Eyewitness News and said that the airline maintains that any job losses are not retaliation.
"I am not threatening anything. This is what will be forced to happen. This isn't a threat. I mean, this is nothing I want to do. Why would I ever want to do that? This is a natural reaction to a decrease in demand and a decrease in the profitability of the flights here," Smisek told Eyewitness News.
Stay with Eyewitness News for the latest on this story.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local » HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston City Council today approved a plan to create a center where people can sober up. The Houston Sobering Center will be an alternative for those arrested for public intoxication. Instead of jail, they'll be taken to the sobering center, which will be near downtown in what's now a warehouse on Ruiz Street.
Star of Hope will run the center, and the city would pay the $4 million price tag out of a police construction fund.
"There will be services for those who need them, whether in the short term or the long term, and hopefully we'll see real change for them," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker in a press release issued today.
The city says the center would ease jail overcrowding and save millions in prosecution costs.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local » HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston city councilmembers are getting some work done on the last meeting day of the year. It's also the final day on council for four of its members. Brenda Stardig and Jolanda Jones lost their re-election bids in the runoff race and Sue Lovell and Jarvis Johnson are leaving because of term limits.
The new council is sworn in next month. The 2012 council will have two new seats and seven new members.
Today, council members approved an ordinance that gives some breathing room to homeowners whose houses are being surrounded by townhomes and high rises. The new buffer zone from lotline to the new development is now 40 feet.
There was a move today to postpone the vote, handing it to the incoming council. Councilmember Sue Lovell argued that would allow developers to file building permits under current, less stringent rules.
Also up for consideration is an ordinance would require auto shops to get the customer's permission before doing work that would add more than $100 to the original estimate. In public comments yesterday, shop owners complained the proposed rule would delay repair work and complicate operations.
(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local » HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Mayor Annise Parker today revealed a second version of the staff redistricting map that incorporates recommendations from members of various Houston communities. The new plan includes four districts in which the total population and voting age population is majority Hispanic; two are majority African American and another is nearing majority African American; one district contains a large and significant Asian population; and three districts have Anglo majorities. "This new map reflects Houston's ethnic diversity," said Mayor Parker. "I am amazed at the level of public participation in this process. It was truly a community effort. I am proud to have presided over a process that was entirely transparent and accessible. I especially thank the members of the Redistricting Oversight Committee, as well as community members as a whole, for their time and input."
One of the most notable differences between the consensus map and the original is that the consensus map preserves the Hispanic majorities in Districts H and I, respects neighborhood concerns and increases the ability of Hispanics to elect council members in two other districts.
"We are very pleased the mayor and city staff sat with members of Houston's Hispanic community to find a way to address our representation concerns," said Laura Murillo, President and CEO, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "We support this consensus map, and hope that City Council approves the changes."
More than 1,000 Houstonians attended the City's 10 town hall meetings -- one in every council district -- intended to solicit public input before creating the original staff plan. Citizens voiced concerns about neighborhoods, the Voting Rights Act and the ability to elect a council that reflects the diversity of Houston. After the proposal was submitted to council, more than 100 community members came and spoke at the three public hearings.
"The Asian American community of Houston came together to ensure our voice was heard at every opportunity," said Rogene Calvert, Director, Texas Asian American Redistricting Initiative. "We appreciate the Mayor's outreach to all communities to produce the best map possible. Redistricting can't meet everyone's needs but today we join other Houston minority communities to support this redistricting plan."
For the first time, Houstonians had access to a computer kiosk loaded with redistricting software and 2010 Census information. Numerous ordinary citizens took the time to draw their own maps and 13 plans were officially submitted for consideration and analysis. Nine met the minimum requirements.
"It is important for Houstonians to know the intricacies of this process, and how hard this committee worked to ensure everyone had the opportunity for equal representation," said Anthony Hall, Chair, Mayor's Redistricting Oversight Committee.
The Mayor's Redistricting Oversight Committee was formed at the beginning of the process to assist and advise the demographer, Jerry Wood, and the mayor. Members include: Anthony Hall (Chair), Roman Martinez, Dr. Adolfo Santos, Zinetta Burney, Sue Schechter, Penny Butler, Gordon Quan, Mace Meeks and Pat Sanchez.
See the new Houston consensus map here.
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