This Week at City Hall

Aug. 22, 2014Office of Council Member Ellen Cohen

Mobile Food Units Considered at Committee

Council Committee on Quality of Life Chair Cohen and her colleagues heard presentations from the Houston Department of Health and Human Services and theHouston Fire Department on proposed changes to Houston’s mobile food units regulations. Changes under consideration include:

  • Allowing food trucks to operate within 100 feet of existing outdoor tables and chairs
  • Allowing food trucks to operate within 60 feet of another food truck
  • Allowing food trucks to utilize propane within the downtown and Texas Medical Center areas

Quality of Life Committee meetings are viewable online via HTV (under the Committees and Commissions tab).

Chef Chris Shepherd Receives Key to the City

Mayor Parker and Council Member Cohen declared Tuesday, August 19, 2014 as Chris Shepherd Day in the City of Houston. A graduate of the Art Institute of Houston, Chris is the owner of executive chef of the nationally-acclaimed District C restaurant, Underbelly. He recently received the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest. Mayor Parker presented Chris with the Key to the City for his contributions to Houston’s reputation as a world-class culinary city.

Renovations Celebrated at Mandell Park

Recent renovations to District C’sMandell Park were celebrated at a special gathering of residents, volunteers, and City officials. Friends of Mandell Park President Skip Almoneyhighlighted the new amenities, which include a wheelchair-accessible community garden, upgraded pathways lined with Mexican sycamores, rain gardens, and a state-of-the-art composting station. Mandell Park is located in the Castle Court neighborhood of Montrose.

What’s Happening in the Annex

Council Member Cohen met with Katy McConnell and Dr. Bob Sanborn of Children at Risk, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of young Houstonians in need through research, education, and public policy advocacy. The group develops comprehensive data to help inform policy decisions related to public education (including annual school rankings), human trafficking, health and nutrition, and other issues that affect disadvantaged children in Houston. Discussion centered on the launch of Children at Risk’s new early childhood initiative and how they can partner with District C.