InsideOut at City Hall

The City Needs You
Little-known opportunities for service, networking, and résumé building abound at City Hall. At least 211 of them.
by Annise Parker

City of Houston boards and commissions do an enormous amount of work behind the scenes and provide the opportunity to get involved in your community, perhaps in ways you never considered.

A warning for those future officeholders, entrepreneurs, or socialites just out to pad their résumés: Most city commissions are hard work, volunteer work. But if you’re fortunate enough to be appointed to one that really interests you, you may end up feeling like you’ve made an important contribution to your community and to your personal development. You may have the chance to meet some of the best and brightest from all over this diverse city.

I spent many hours on two commissions: the Houston Police Department Citizen Review Committee and the Police Advisory Committee. The Citizen Review Committee is a 21-member body (divided into three panels) that reviews evidence in cases alleging excessive use of force by police officers. I spent a dozen hours each month reading case files and attending the monthly panel meeting. I became a panel chair and added many more hours reviewing all Internal Affairs Division disciplinary recommendations. Community members Brooks Ballard and Lane Lewis now serve on the review committee, and are also two of the three chairmen.

The Police Advisory Committee was formed in the 1980s and is composed of various representative community groups. They meet monthly with the police chief and his command staff to recommend ways to improve police-community relations. The Houston Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus has been a member since inception. For many years I was the caucus representative. (Ray Hill and I have logged more time with HPD than any non-officers.)

One of the most visible (and most powerful) commissions is the Planning Commission. Twice a month, members review hundreds of requests for plat approvals and variances for developments. This has become a battleground for neighborhood vs. development forces.

The most sought-after appointment is one of the five city seats on the Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) board. Council just confirmed a new slate. They will have a critical role in next year’s vote on the future of transit, especially rail, in Houston

Building and Standards works with the Neighborhood Protection division and the Legal Department to determine if a residential or commercial building should be declared "dangerous." Commission members, many of them neighborhood activists, conduct hearings to determine if a structure needs to be demolished or repaired to be safe enough for occupancy.

The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission helps preserve the city’s historical past by preserving landmarks and historic neighborhoods. HAHC approves certificates of appropriateness for construction and exterior alteration in the city’s seven historic districts. The commission spent almost two years revising the city’s historic preservation ordinance, considered one of the weakest in the country. The ordinance is now being discussed in the City Council Neighborhood Protection Committee, which I chair.

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is one of the most visionary groups in the city. Established in 1984, this commission works to develop Buffalo Bayou from Shepherd to the Ship Channel. Unfortunately, just two years after its creation, Houston’s oil bubble burst and bayou development took a distant backseat to basic city services and downtown redevelopment. Times have improved, and the partnership will announce its new development plan in June. The Neighborhood Protection Committee is expected to preview the plan this month.

If your curiosity remains un-piqued, consider this variety of opportunities:

• Area Agency on Aging, the advisory council of the Houston/Harris County Area Agency on Aging;

• City/County Commission on Children;

• Commission on Disabilities, which advises the mayor and Council. I’ve met with several members who are strong advocates for people with disabilities;

• Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) and almost as many redevelopment boards and management districts;

• Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Municipal Art Commission, and the Read Commission;

• Boards that work closely with departments, such as the Library Board and the Parks Board;

• Technical professional boards that deal with licensing: Air Conditioning; Automotive; Boiler Code Review and Licensing; Electrical; Fire Code Board of Appeals; Helicopter Facilities Licensing; and the Plumbing Code Review Board;

• For environmentalists, the Houston Clean City Commission, which serves as the advisory board to Keep Houston Beautiful;

• The Housing Authority, responsible for federally funded public housing; and the Houston Housing Finance Corp., which lends money to lending institutions. You may recall that HHFC took over Fourth Ward properties when Houston Renaissance defaulted on its loan to develop affordable housing in historic Freedmen’s Town.

Many of the commissions meet during the workday, which requires a flexible schedule and commitment, with the emphasis on commitment. Boards often have trouble making quorum. People who are passionate about parks or redevelopment can waste an hour waiting for enough members to make quorum. Everyone’s precious time is wasted, not to mention paperwork and scheduling that has to be redone.

Many require specific credentials or expertise. It’s extremely hard to be appointed to some boards, such as Metro or the Planning Commission, but numerous boards carry vacancies for months while they beg for new members.

Most boards are mayoral appointments with council confirmation, but a few are Council member appointments with council confirmation. If you are interested in serving on a board or would like more information, contact my office at 713/247-2014 or annise.parker@cityofhouston.net.

If you would like to receive Neighborhood Protection or Fiscal Affairs Committee agendas or my bi-monthly email newsletter, please e-mail or call my office.

The city website is www.cityofhouston.gov. My City Council website is www.ci.houston.tx.us/citygovt/council/1.