This Week at City Hall

Feb. 22, 2013Office of Council Member Ellen Cohen

One Bin For All – Vote Now!

In the continuing effort to further green initiatives in our city, Houston has developed a “one bin” solution that would allow residents to combine their trash and recyclables, unsorted, into a single receptacle. This revolutionary proposal could allow the city to recycle as much as 75% of all residential trash, while simultaneously making the process of recycling much easier for residents.

Houston is one of the 20 finalist cities chosen by Bloomberg Philanthropies to receive a $5 million grant to help implement the “One Bin for All” proposal. You can help our city achieve this dream by voting in this fan-favorite contest today!

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Downtown Parade

Rodeo season is here again! Houston is home to the world’s largest live entertainment and livestock exhibition, and it all starts this weekend with the 75th Annual Downtown Rodeo Parade. Council Member Cohen and her colleagues will be riding in the parade—be sure to arrive early to ensure a good seat! (Please be aware of the road closures.)

On the Consent Agenda

This week, Council authorized the Memorial Park Conservancy to utilize space in Memorial Park for their headquarters. The new facilities, to be built by the Conservancy but still owned and operated by the City, will include public areas and multi-use space as well as office space. The Conservancy carries on the legacy of its founder, Miss Ima Hogg, in safeguarding Memorial Park against outside development and ensuring that it remains the vibrant green gem of our city for generations to come.

What’s Happening in the Annex

Changes have been proposed to Chapter 26, Houston’s ordinance that governs parking, which in turn affects many aspects of development in our city. Council Member Cohen has been meeting with experts on this issue as well as community stakeholders to determine the best path forward for District C residents. This week she met with representatives from the Organized Kollaboration on Restaurant Affairs (OKRA), a group of independent restaurant and bar owners, to hear their perspective on the proposed changes.