Keep Woodland Heights Beautiful! Volunteer Opportunities by Michael Graves

According to Keep Houston Beautiful's 2020 Litter Study, released in 2021, we have some cleaning up to do! While the study indicates significant improvements over the years, it also averages out that there are still 50 billion pieces of litter on the ground or about 152 pieces of litter for every American. But here's the inspiring part-one of the driving forces behind this tidying up is VOLUNTEERS! People just like you who have rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves, reached for a trash bag and pitched in to be a part of the solution. Your efforts have made a significant impact, and we're proud of what we've achieved together.

In our Woodland Heights neighborhood, we can all help by looking at our greenspaces and parks and engaging in ongoing cleanup activities sponsored by the Woodland Heights Civic Association's Beautification Committee and the Friends of Woodland Park. Both organizations are working tirelessly to minimize the impact littering makes in our greenspaces and parks, and your participation is crucial in this ongoing effort.

The Woodland Heights Civic Association is working hard to care for the Watson and Norhill Esplanades, Ley Plaza Park, and its Butterfly Garden, the North Houston Avenue Esplanade (near Main Street and Houston Avenue). The Friends of Woodland Park concentrate on keeping one of Houston's oldest parks clean, with numerous volunteer work days and events.

Mark your calendars for the next WHCA Beautification Work Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 21st, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.The focus will be Ley Plaza Park (corner of White Oak and Gladys Streets). This is a great opportunity to join your neighbors in making a visible difference in our community.

The Friends of Woodland Park also have events focused on the environment and our feathered friends who live there from September 20th to the 22nd. September 20th celebrates World National Cleanup Day, the 21st features a Fall Bird Survey, and September 22nd is a cleanup at Woodland Park.

Both groups are always looking for people - individuals, groups, businesses, corporations, clubs, etc. - interested in devoting a few hours to volunteering for a good cause. There's a role for everyone, and your contribution, no matter how big or small, is valued. Upcoming neighborhood events and cleanup dates for both organizations can be found on the Woodland Heights Civic Association and Friends of Woodland Park Event Calendars on their respective websites.

Take a Book. Share a Book. by Woodland Heights Civic Association

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend...
...Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
- Groucho Marx

"Take a Book. Share a Book." This is the rallying cry of the nonprofit organization Little Free Library, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their goal "is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes."

A stroll through our neighborhood indicates that many of our neighbors feel the same way and have built their own free library boxes to share their favorite books with others. With the start of a new school year just beginning a few weeks ago, it seemed only fitting to highlight the Little Free Libraries across our neighborhood. Their offers are for young and old alike, all sharing these neighborhood libraries for all who love reading.

For information on the Little Free Library World map visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/ enter your zip code and you'll be able to find LFL near you. There are also a variety of other other resources to help you build a LFL of your own, information on how to set up your library, and ways to stock it with books.

For more information on the Little Free Library organization, including how to become a Little Free Library Steward, resources to replenish your book collection, or kits to build your own library, they have resources available to support you. Visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/books/ for more information and to replenish your book collection for your readers.

WHCA - Member Meeting August 20, 2024 by Michael Graves

As is our habit, Woodland Heights Civic Association held a Member's Meeting in the library at Travis Elementary School on Tuesday, August 20th.

These meetings are your opportunity to engage with the WHCA board and committees, both to catch up on things going on in the neighborhood and provide feedback. It's your opportunity to both hear and be heard. The meeting got underway just after 6 p.m. on the hottest day of the summer to that point.

CM Mario Castillo
After an initial welcome to the 30-ish members assembled, the agenda began with Council Member Mario Castillo and Sabrina Salts, Director of Special Projects, District H. CM Castillo was invited in advance with a list of questions from neighbors.
 
The Council Member began by highlighting the District H Patrol Program. He described it as, "…a public safety initiative that is geared towards nuisance level quality of life issues. So, think illegal dumping, homeless encampments, junk motor vehicles that are abandoned, overgrown lots, aggressive panhandling, loitering, those sorts of things. These are things that people do call HPD 4, and oftentimes, they just don't get to them right away. There's obviously a limited number of officers. They're focused on high level, emergent problems. This is a program that can be utilized by anyone in District H to go to districthpatrol.com. There's a form you fill out, there's a certain criteria of nuisance problems that this program will address, and those get routed to Sabrina. Sabrina sends them to the proper HPD command".

He went on to address CenterPoint's recent flurry of tree trimming, which has caused concern among neighbors. “They have been coming through and doing some tree trimming. This is this is in their purview. There are some regulations about how much they can cut, which I think y'all have been pretty proactive about letting them know that, even putting notices on the trees themselves.”
 
He continued, "It's not necessarily CenterPoint out there doing the trimming. They're hiring a number of contractors to go out there and do that. When that happens, you can have sort of a lapse in standards. You're putting a lot of folks out there to do a job and not necessarily looking at every single tree they're cutting to see if it meets your standards. So that's where your eyes and ears play an important role. I'm happy to be a conduit between CenterPoint and the neighborhood, to ensure that what they're doing is in compliance. If there are issues, definitely send my office a photo and an address.”
 
The Q&A with Mario went on for a full 30 minutes and covered much more detail than I can get into here. The one big takeaway from the discussion is that 311 is important. The city’s 311 system is the primary way to report issues to the city. Every 311 report is issued a ticket number. City departments are held accountable for addressing their various 311 issues. You can open 311 tickets;

  1. By calling 311

  2. Using the Houston 311 app

  3. Or via the web

If you feel the city is not responsive, you can contact the council members' team at districth@houstontx.gov. Be sure to include the 311 ticket number when contacting them.

Lights in the Heights & BASH Committees address the gathered neighbors.

Lights in the Heights

Ashely Allison and Lauren Snead followed Mario with news about planning for Lights in the Heights and the LITH Bash. Ashley announced the featured streets for LITH 2024: Byrne, Euclid, and 7 1/2th.  The festival hasn't been on this route since 2019. Memorial Hermann  Hospital in the Heights has once again returned as the presenting  sponsor.

Council  Member Carla Cisneros submitted the winning design for the event logo.  It merges the themes of Space City with the Travisaurus from the Travis  Elementary playground. A cloisonné ornament based on the logo is available in the WHCA online store. Order yours today!

Lauren announced the LITH Bash, which will be held Friday, November 15th, at Eureka Heights Brewing.  There will be good music, food, drink, and live and silent auctions,  all in support of Lights in the Heights. She expects there will be an  early bird sale for bash tickets. Remember to Save the Date—details will follow in upcoming newsletters and on social media. Proceeds from the LITH Bash will help fund LITH.

Both committees seek volunteers to assist with all aspects of the Bash and LITH. If you are interested in volunteering, email LightsInTheHeights@gmail.com. It's a great way to get in the holiday spirit while being a part of your neighborhood!

WHCA Board
Each member of the WHCA board in attendance introduced themselves and gave a brief description of their role and recent activities.

Along the way, Director of Beautification Ryan Taylor acknowledged the assistance of Pat Rutledge, Louise Moss, and Tiffany Tyler in recent projects. He further noted several planned workday events in the coming months, starting with Ley Plaza Park on Saturday, September 21st.

I closed out this summary highlighting the unexpected requirement that WHCA move all its worldly possessions out of the storage unit at I-10 and T.C. Jester. That building was damaged by Hurricane Beryl, such that all ground-floor tenants were forced to move out with rather little notice. The WHCA board opted to move to Big Tex Storage on 11th Street. The move itself was undertaken by Louise Moss, Estella Espinosa, and myself.


Guest Speaker - Whole Home Backup Power Affordable Backup Power Presentation

At each member's meeting, we have a guest speaker on a topic broadly of interest to the neighborhood. In the past, we've had naturalists, beekeepers, and bird watchers, among many others.

On this occasion, I gave a presentation I created, June's Derecho. It describes what Stella and I have learned in recent years as we've implemented An Affordable Strategy for Whole-Home Backup Power. It's a set of notes providing guidance on how to run an entire home, including central air conditioning, for much less than the $15-20K that it typically costs to install a dedicated standby generator.

This was the third time that I've given this presentation. The first was online using Zoom. A recording of that session is available, and the slides are also available here. About a third of the assembled crowd stayed all the way to the end, which was around 7:40 p.m.

Yard of the Month - 2624 Reagan by Michael Graves

"The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway."
- Michael Pollan, American Author, Food & Plant Expert

We, James Muhl and I, purchased their home in 1978. The three lots on Reagan and Gladys streets were the former parsonage of a neighborhood Lutheran church. In the past 46 years, the house has been raised, restored, and remodeled, and the three lots brought back together to create a garden that is a habitat for wildlife. Patricia is both a Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist. She and James have built crushed granite and brick paths that wind around flower beds, two wildscapes, a vegetable garden, and a large pond.

Historic Woodland Heights by Michael Graves

Did you know the Woodland Heights neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Houston? It was originally created by The William A. Wilson Realty Company, which began developing Woodland Heights in 1907 on 136 acres of land that was once part of John Austin's Mexican land grant. In 2011, the Woodland Heights neighborhood became a Historic District for three significant reasons: it illustrates Houston's development between 1907 and 1925, its association with William Wilson and other notable residents, and its architecture. According to the COH Planning and Development Department's Historic Preservation Manual for the Woodland Heights:

"Most of the buildings in Woodland Heights are one-story and two-story houses. The neighborhood also contains a few duplexes and four-plex apartment buildings. The most common type of house is a wood-framed bungalow. A bungalow is a one-story house with a low-pitched roof, wide eaves, and a large front porch. The bungalow was one of the most common house forms in Houston's suburban neighborhoods between 1905 and 1925. Some bungalows have Craftsman details."

Preservation Houston will conduct a Woodland Heights Architecture Walk on Sunday, September 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. As the name suggests, this is an exterior-only walking tour designed to highlight the 20th-century architectural styles in our neighborhood. If you're interested in taking the tour, be aware that advance tickets are required, as no tickets will be sold on the day of the tour. You can find more information, including ticket prices for this event, on Preservation's Houston website.

Is your home one of the historic-style homes found in our neighborhood (foursquare, cottage, or bungalow)? During this tour, you can learn more about your style of home and understand why so many residents work hard to preserve it. Hall, one of Woodland Heights residents, created and leads the WHCA Venerable Home Program (also referred to as the 100+ Club) to recognize homes over 100 years old,

"Working together, I believe we can preserve this community...Fortunately, we have lots of original homes, and we want to recognize and encourage others to preserve and care for them. That is the thought behind the WHCA historic site designation."

One hundred and thirty homes currently carry the proud designation of being members of the 100+ Club; you can see their signs proudly displayed in their homeowner's yards. To add your home to the 100 Club+ list, you must meet the following criteria 

  1. A home must be at least 100 years old (to verify your home's age visit HCAD)

  2. Homeowners must be current members of the WHCA (to join or renew your membership, visit the WHCA website)

Then contact Debbie Hall at debhall945@gmail.com. Is your home a candidate for the 100 Club+ list? Our neighborhood has homes built as early as 1881. Join us!

2024 LITH - We Have A Winner! Beat the Rush - Order Yours Today! by Woodland Heights Civic Association

This is a mock-up of the 2024 Lights in the Heights Ornament. It is not to scale or an exact replica of what the final cloisonné ornament will look like.

A big THANK YOU to all the artists who submitted their designs during the 2024 Open Call for Ornament/Logo Design contest. It is now official we have a winner!

We extend our heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS TO Karla Cisneros for her winning design which recognizes both the Bayou City, NASA, and a favorite Woodland Heights unofficial mascot.

Accompanying her entry and why it is a fitting tribute for consideration, the artist, a proud member of our community, said, "While most people don't necessarily associate dinosaurs with Christmas, here in the Woodland Heights, the "Travisaurus" at Travis Elementary School has sparked the creation of playful and fanciful dinosaur-themed decorations during Lights in the Heights. Imagining our neighborhood T-Rex as an astronaut is a nod to Houston's identity and historic role in space exploration."

"Travisaurus" will be the official logo design for all 2024 Lights in the Heights merchandise, which will be available for pre-order at the Woodland Heights store. In addition, the logo will be featured on signage for this year's event. You can place your order today to be sure you get your ornament! Proceeds raised will be used to secure street closure permits, security and police presence, and provide port-a-cans in addition to signage and other necessary items, helping to make the Lights In the Heights event in December a memorable one.

The 1930 Model A Ford Coupe Leads the Way by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Photograph of a 1930 Model A Ford Coupe

Charles Philpott, a proud member of the Restorer Model A Ford Club of America, drove the red 1930 Model A Ford Coupe that led the 4th of July Kids Parade around the Norhill Esplanade. This vintage automobile, a cherished part of his family's history, has been in their possession for an impressive 64 years.

His father, a man of remarkable skill and dedication, restored cars as a hobby. The red Ford Coupe, a symbol of his passion, was not one of his restoration projects. Charles fondly recalls that of the cars his father restored, "Some were in absolutely horrible condition when he got them. His most challenging restoration was a 1928 paddy wagon from the Chicago area."

Tom Philpott, a dedicated Restorer Model A Ford Club of America member, wrote about that particular vehicle. For those interested in its restoration, we've included Mr. Philpott's story. Click on the button below to read his article. His son Charles, a man committed to preserving his father's legacy, provided a copy of his article.

2024 WHCA 4TH OF JULY KIDS PARADE! by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The WHCA Annual 4th of July Kids Parade was well attended and provided families with a chance to get together and celebrate the U.S.'s 248th birthday!

Kids and parents arrived with their favorite rides decked up to join the parade around the Norhill esplanade. Before the parade they were treated to popsicles, glow sticks, and festive beads to keep cool. Think Tacos was on hand for any hardy bites. Their tacos were excellent and enjoyed by many. Their tacos were excellent and enjoyed by many.

Special thanks to Constable Lemons and Constable Early for being on hand to watch over everyone and ensure a safe ride. We appreciate their always being on hand when called on.

Since 2011, Woodland Heights Civic Association has administered a Constable Patrol Program, serviced by Harris County Precinct One. Our Constable Patrol Program is a supplemental police force, currently two deputies, hired to patrol our neighborhood for two 40-hour shifts per week. This program is funded solely by paid subscriptions. Please help us sustain both of our patrol shifts and encourage your neighbors to join — the more members we have, the more patrol coverage we can support. If you would like to support the WHCA Constable Patrol visit our website and sign up!

JOIN US FOR THE WHCA ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY KIDS PARADE! by Woodland Heights Civic Association

2023 Annual 4th of July Kids Parade Participants

Join us on July 4th from 6-8pm at Norhill Esplanade for our annual WHCA 4th of July Kids Parade!

Date: July 4th, 2024

Time: 6 pm - 8 pm

Location: Norhill Esplanade

Get ready for a evening of fun with your friends, family, and neighbors. Gussy up your kids bikes and meet us at the Norhill Esplanade so they can participate in this annual bike ride/parade!

  • Charles Philpott will lead the parade in his 1930 Model A Ford Coupe.

  • The Constable Patrol will be on hand for security and parade festivities assistance.

  • Think Tacos will be on hand for food and drinks

  • WHCA will provide fee bottled water and popsicles (until they run out).

The event is open to the neighborhood, making it a perfect opportunity to connect with your neighbors and foster a sense of unity.

So mark your calendars and let's make this 4th of July celebration one to remember. We look forward to seeing you there and creating cherished memories together!

LIGHTS IN THE HEIGHTS PLANNING IS UNDERWAY! by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Lights in the Heights, a heartwarming holiday gathering that has been a part of our community since 1988, is scheduled for December 14, 2024. The planning for this beloved event is currently underway, and we warmly invite you to contribute! Your participation is what makes this event truly special. Here's how you can get involved in the planning:

Call for Ornament Designs

Imagine your design becoming the official Lights in the Heights Logo for 2024 and featured on the annual Lights in the Heights ornament! We're calling on all our creative neighbors and friends to be a part of Lights in the Heights history by submitting their design ideas to the Committee.  The chosen design will be showcased on signs, posters, letters, T-shirts, and tree ornaments. As a tradition, the artist's name will be included on the underside of the ornament and mentioned on the card that accompanies it. Don't miss this unique opportunity to contribute to our community's history. Please email your submissions to LightsInTheHeights@gmail.com by July 1, 2024.

Safety Tips for Bikers and Pedestrians in Woodland Heights by Alana Redmond

Woodland Heights  is a great place for people to explore and stay active. However, with a rise in pedestrian fatalities due to cars, it is important to stay cautious and follow safety tips. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, pedestrian fatalities increased 15.24% in 2021 compared to the previous year, and pedestrian deaths have more than doubled in the past ten years.

To ensure safety while outside in Woodland Heights, it is important to follow these seven safety tips:

  • Be visible

  • Cross the street in well-lit areas

  • Ride defensively

  • Follow the rules of the road

  • Put your phone away

  • Understand stopping distances

  • Look both ways when crossing the street

Following these tips can help prevent accidents and keep you, your friends, or your family safe. Pedestrian and cyclist safety is essential in Woodland Heights, a neighborhood popular for walking and cycling. By remaining vigilant and following safety guidelines, cyclists and motorists can share the road safely in this community. 

Read More

Houston Chron: Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane' by Alaina Hebert

Houston Chronicle publishes: “Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane'“ - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Freeway-foes-across-the-state-band-together-17416345.php

Among the projects drawing alarm:

Houston’s $9.7 billion-plus project to widen I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, which will add two managed lanes in each direction and rebuild the downtown freeway system and the obsolete interchange with Loop 610.

Austin’s $4.9 billion rebuild of I-35 through the heart of the capital, which would replace the clogged two-tier freeway with a single buried road that adds two carpool lanes in each direction. Opponents have said this will divide the city further.

El Paso’s planned widening of I-10 through the downtown area, which would build on overall widening of the freeway to the New Mexico border meant to facilitate border trade and ease traffic.

Dallas’ proposed I-345 redesign to bury the freeway between downtown and Deep Ellum, which opponents have called unnecessary. They have advocated for removing the freeway entirely.
— Dug Begley, Staff writer, Houston Chronicle

Sample Comment for TXDOT I-10 Elevation by Alaina Hebert

Below is a sample comment submitted by Woodland Heights neighbor:

The project as proposed isn’t needed because in the last 20 years the referenced section of I-10 has only

been impassable due to flood waters on three occasions lasting for no more than 24 hours each.

Raising this roadbed as proposed will not allow traffic to flow unimpeded because a mile of so west

there is the same rare flooding issue on the I-10 roadway between Washington Ave. and TC Jester.

Traffic can easily be routed around these rare hazards via I-610 as it has before.

The more pressing problem is improperly permitted tractor trailer haulers who collide with and damage

the Houston Ave. bridge over I-10. This hazard closes the highway multiple time during the year for

extended periods of time. The much more cost effective solution is to simply rebuild the Houston Ave.

bridge over I-10 (one direction at a time so it remains passable). It would cost less than 10% of what the

current proposal costs. As a taxpayer who funds these projects, I want my tax dollars to be spent wisely.

Or perhaps for even less cost a height monitoring and warning system could be built along I-10 to

directly notify truckers that their load is too tall and that they will cause a bridge collision if they do not

exit and re-route.

I can’t help wondering if the public isn’t being fully informed as to the true nature of the proposed

project. Since the proposed “improvement” doesn’t actually allow for traffic to flow unimpeded

because of simultaneous roadway flooding less than two miles west of the location. There must be

some other unmentioned purpose or benefit to TXDOT for the proposed project. Could it actually be

related to the long delayed and strongly objected to I-45 project? It isn’t helpful to your cause to not be

fully forthcoming about goals and motivations.

Currently there exists a natural sound barrier and air quality provider in the form of a stand of native

trees and shrubs between White Oak Bayou and I-10 just east of Taylor St. That native forest and animal

habitat needs to remain no matter what. So if we cannot stop this wasteful project from occurring I

strongly recommend that all the needed detention for 500 year flooding events be constructed under

the new proposed roadway. You already plan to use this area for detention. Why not simply excavate

deeper and provide all the necessary detention there and not remove our neighborhood’s highway

sound and pollution barrier?

If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, then I insist that you provide the neighboring

communities (on both sides of the highway) a third party water engineering study proving that in the

event of a flooding event like occurred in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey) that the planned detention built

under the proposed elevated roadway will hold the same amount or more acre feet of water that rose

on I-10 during that flooding event.

If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, and TXDOT by agreement builds all the requested

detention under the elevated roadway, it will do so in such a way that the public can use it as an

amenity; specifically like the one previously built west of Yale St. along White Oak Bayou near Rutland

St. and 5 th and 6 th Streets.

If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, TXDOT will use all known noise deadening designs and

materials on the proposed roadway to reduce noise in the adjoining communities and erect sound walls

covered by vegetation if the roadway exceeds the height of the existing forests along the highway.

Greater Heights Super Neighborhood 15 Council by Alaina Hebert

https://www.facebook.com/events/407988114648691?ref=newsfeed

Details

Event by Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council

107 W 12th St, Houston, TX 77008

Duration: 2 hr

Public · Anyone on or off Facebook

The second quarter meeting of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council (GHSNC) will be in person at the historic Houston Heights City Hall and Fire Station.

The main guest presentation will be from members of the Houston Planning Department on the Walkable Places and Transit-Oriented Development ordinances, so that GHSNC members and members of the public can have a better understand of these programs and how they might apply to our area. Other items on the agenda include TxDOT’s proposal to raise lanes on I-10 between Heights Blvd and I-45, updates from the stakeholder members, and other items of mutual interest.

The update on the 11th Street Safety Improvements project previously scheduled for this meeting will take place at a separate City meeting 6:00 PM the following night via Microsoft Teams Live. Visit www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-street-bikeway for details.

11th Street Safety Improvements by Alaina Hebert

August 17, 2022 - upcoming virtual public meeting

The project has moved into 100% design. On August 17, 2022 the City of Houston will host a virtual public meeting to share project updates. This will include an exciting opportunity to repave portions of 11th Street, how the repaving (street rehabilitation) will be phased, and phasing construction of the bikeway.

Virtual Meeting Details - https://www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-street-bikeway

When: Wednesday, August 17th at 6:00PM - 7:00PM

Where: Microsoft Teams Live event - https://bit.ly/3P2McBy(External link)

Purpose: share information about 11th Street including upcoming repaving and bikeway construction, timeline and phasing, and answer questions from the community related to these topics.

I-10 Elevation/Expansion Works Against Resilient Houston and Climate Action Plan Update by Alaina Hebert

City of Houston Joint Committee Meeting on

Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure (TTI) & Public Safety and Homeland Security (PSHS)

  1. Committee Agenda - https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/tti.html

  2. TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal

  3. Public Comment Form

Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326
TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076

I attended and spoke at the Thursday, August 8, 2022, City of Houston Joint Council Committee on Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure & Homeland Security. I was pleased to hear the focus on Flood and Extreme Heat and Cold resilience prioritized natural restoration as mitigation.

The TXDoT proposed I-10 from Heights to I-45 expansion does the opposite of all the recommendations and efforts by Chief Zachariah. The expansion would replace trees, greenspace, and natural features for hot concrete.

I can hear I-10 from Bayland and Beauchamp St at night and it sounds like a speedway.
The additional concrete, loss of sound dampening natural features, and increased elevation will amplify the sound far into neighborhoods.

This is a quality of life issue for 1,000s of residents and our critical natural resources. Please speak out during the comment period through August 26, 2022.
— Alaina Hebert

https://www.woodland-heights.org/events-1/2022/8/4/city-council-meeting-tti