City Council

Meetings Information, Etc.

Meetings Information
City Council meetings are conducted each week on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays beginning at 9:00 a.m. (see format below). Any citizen may speak before City Council at Public Session on a Tuesday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. To reserve time to appear before Council, call (832.393.1100), email (speakers@houstontx.gov) or come to the Office of the City Secretary (City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101, Public Level) by 3:00 p.m. the Monday prior to the scheduled public session shown on the agenda (see link below). Each speaker shall provide his or her name, street address (including ZIP), mailing address (if different), telephone number and a brief description of (not to exceed ten words) the intended subject matter.`

Before Public Session
City of Houston departments will review the list of individuals registered to speak and may contact these individuals to gather additional information or try to resolve their issue before the public session meeting. Residents are always welcome to appear before the Mayor and Council Members to voice their concerns in person. However, if City employees are able to address residents’ concerns before the meeting and minimize any inconvenience for Houstonians, such as traveling to City Hall, then City departments will try to do so as efficiently as possible.

During Public Session
Each speaker is limited in time to one, two, or three minutes according to the Council rules of procedure. City council members may pose questions to any speaker about his or her presentation. Signs, placards, posters, or banners are not allowed within the City Council Chamber. Only one person at a time is permitted to stand at the speaker’s podium unless the speaker requires an interpreter or special assistance. The Council’s rules are view-point neutral and apply to all those attending. In order to create an atmosphere where all residents are welcomed to participate, attendees are not allowed to applaud, boo, clap, or otherwise audibly express approval or disapproval of the actions being taken at the city council table or the public speakers' podium in a loud and raucous manner calculated to disturb the meeting, except for public recognition initiated by city council.

Agenda Information
In accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the agenda is posted for public information, at all times, for at least 72 hours preceding the scheduled time of the meeting on the bulletin board located at the rear entrance of the City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby. Copies of the agenda are available at no charge in the Office of the City Secretary in the City Hall Annex, Public Level. To receive the agenda by mail, send check or money order for $52 for a one year subscription, made payable to the City of Houston to the attention of the City Secretary, PO Box 1562, Houston, Texas 77251.

Typical Agenda Format
Tuesdays:
1:30 PM -- Roll Call , Adopt Minutes of Previous Meeting
2:00 PM -- Public Comments.
5:00 PM -- Recess

Wednesdays:
8:30 AM -- Reading of captions by the City Secretary
9:00 AM -- Hearings, Mayor's Report, Consent Agenda, Matters Removed from Consent Agenda, Non-Consent Agenda, Matters Held
Matters to be Presented by Council Members (Pop-Off)

Consolidated Meeting (Tuesday/Wednesday):
8:30 AM -- Reading of captions by the City Secretary
9:00 AM -- Hearings, Mayor's Report, Consent Agenda, Matters Removed from Consent Agenda, Non-Consent Agenda, Matters Held
9:30 AM – Public Comments
Matters to be Presented by Council Members (Pop-Off)

City Council Links

Contact City Hall / City Council

City Council Chambers
City Hall
901 Bagby, Second Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Helpful City Council Links