InsideOut at City Hall

by Annise D. Parker

FINAL REPORT

After three terms, the at-large councilor sums up

Few people are fortunate enough to be paid for doing work they love.

Although I have mixed feelings about leaving, I am extremely satisfied with the ordinances I’ve shepherded through the political process. My checklist is almost finished. My disappointments have been few.

At the top of the disappointments list is our election defeat on domestic partner benefits, though the vote margin was razor thin. It was a huge blow to be prohibited for the foreseeable future from providing a city employee benefit that most major companies and many large cities offer.

Another concern is term limits—that well-intended system of three two-year terms. The public is not well-served by expensive elections every two years that require elected officials to campaign 25 percent of their term. The public is not well-served by elected officials who tend to jockey for position before their six years runs out because they ran for council to get an advantage in a future partisan race.

But I am proud of these ordinances and accomplishments in which I served a major role:

GLBT

Non-discrimination ordinance. City Council passed the long overdue non-discrimination ordinance for city employees. The ordinance, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity, set the tone for a new era in city government. Soon after taking office in 1998, Mayor Lee P. Brown issued an executive order, but it was tied up in court for three years. Council passed a similar ordinance in 1984 only to see it overturned in a referendum a year later. This time we did it!

Appointments. John Paul Barnich and Steve Kirkland became the first openly gay municipal court judges and have since been reappointed. Boards and commissions have also grown more diverse.

Hate crimes. As a council member, I testified before the state committee that reported the inclusive hate crimes bill that finally passed the legislature. I was joined in Austin by a representative of the Houston Police Department and the new hate crimes task force.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Hot-sheets motels. I helped push for increased distances to keep these small motels, which cater to prostitutes and clients, farther away from neighborhoods, schools, churches, and day-care centers.

Natural areas ordinance. This short ordinance allows people to create planned natural areas to encourage birds and wildlife in their yards and neighborhoods without violating nuisance ordinances.

Noise ordinance. Last year council unanimously passed a stronger noise ordinance in response to the police department’s number-one citizen complaint. At last, officers don’t need sound meters to ticket drivers with booming radios (illegal if audible more than soft) or to cite someone whose bass vibrates the neighbors’ windows. Unfortunately, HPD officers haven’t been as eager to enforce the statute as I would like.

Subdivision ordinance amendments. After heated public and private battles, Houston adopted its first density cap for development in 1999. The cap allows 27 single-family homes per acre inside Loop 610. I had fought hard for 24, but even more council members favored 30.

The ordinance outlines development standards for the entire city, including requirements for lot sizes, street widths, open spaces, building setbacks, and curb cuts. I introduced two successful amendments to limit density, one for prevailing setbacks and one for prevailing lot sizes, both on a block-by-block, majority basis.

Tree and shrub ordinance. This protects trees on city rights-of-way, including in residential areas. Property owners are not allowed to cut or remove most trees in the right-of-way or plant certain trees. The ordinance also requires developers to plant more approved trees in the property’s interior, not just around the perimeter.

Signage. The Downtown Scenic District limits billboards in the downtown area while the new Spectacular Signage ordinance, which was weakened at the last minute, limits large electronic signs downtown.

As with billboards, the city still has too many bandit signs, but the bandit sign division has dramatically increased enforcement. I played a small role by fighting for funds to hire two more employees.

FINANCIAL

Rainy Day Fund. I introduced a budget amendment to create a substantial rainy day fund ($20 million) so the city could be prepared for emergencies such as Tropical Storm Allison. The larger fund also may help improve the city’s bond rating and therefore save taxpayers money.

Any Lawful Purpose (ALP) Fund. Partly through my efforts, council finally agreed to stop raiding the water and sewer fund for non-related purposes.

Increased homestead exemption for senior citizens. I introduced the budget amendment to raise the exemption. It is gradually rising over five years.

ARTS

Civic art ordinance. I sponsored it and fought off a recent effort to repeal it as “frills.” Like the state program, this ordinance sets aside a small percentage of large city construction project funds for “civic art”—in this case, not just paintings in building lobbies or outdoor sculpture, but also any aesthetic component such as water features or period streetlights on bridges.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND BARC

HIV/AIDS and Hep C. Each year my budget priorities have included increased funding for HIV/AIDS and, last year, more funding for Hep C.

BARC funding. I have fought for more funding—not less—for the Bureau of Animal Control so the division doesn’t lose ground in complying with National Animal Control Association recommendations. Most of the time, I have been successful, but BARC remains one of the city’s most under-funded divisions.

Exotic animals. This was my first successful ordinance effort. With few exceptions, wild animals, such as large cats, bears, and large poisonous snakes, can no longer be kept in the city.

OTHER ORDINANCES

Valet parking. This ordinance brings some order to the downtown valet parking situation by requiring, among other things, valet companies to park vehicles off the street.

Pesticide use review. At my suggestion, parks and public works reviewed pesticide use to ensure that the most environmentally friendly products were used, and not overused.

PENDING ITEMS

Pooper scooper. By the time you read this, council may have passed a pooper scooper ordinance, making Houston possibly the country’s last major city to adopt one.

Dog park. Houston may soon join the long list of cities and counties (including Harris) with dog parks. A committee has narrowed the site list and is using funds raised at the recent annual city birthday party, which I chaired, to create the fenced dog park.

STALLED ITEMS

Deed restriction database. I have been pushing for a simple deed restriction database for six years. We came close. We did adopt a streamlined deed restriction affidavit so that anyone seeking a building permit could declare that they are complying with existing deed restrictions and make it easier to enforce deed restrictions if they are being violated. We also instituted an e-mail notification system to let neighborhoods know when a building permit is issued. The planning department agreed to study the feasibility of creating an inexpensive, but effective, database of the city’s 800-plus deed restrictions. So far, no success.

Dumpsters. We still need an ordinance to regulate dumpster locations and disposal hours to reduce noise as well as to require solid fencing to hide them.

Historic preservation. After two years of hard work, a slightly tougher historic preservation ordinance failed to clear an October 28, 2002, committee meeting. Council members Mark Ellis and Michael Berry introduced motions to weaken what may be the country’s weakest preservation ordinance. On advice from the legal department and preservation community, the mayor declined to move the amended ordinance to the full council.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you as one of five at-large council members.

Annise Parker, who is concluding her third term as the first openly GLBT person on Houston City Council, faces a December 6 runoff election against Bruce Tatro for city controller. She has contributed a monthly column to the magazine since 1998. Her website is www.ci.houston.tx.us/city govt/council/1.

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