ORDINANCE reapproving, passing, confirming, validating, approving, and adopting certain ordinances, resolutions and motions including without limitation motions and ordinances involving the appropriation and expenditure of city funds, revision to a Chapter of the City Code of Ordinances; submission of grant applications, the making of contracts or the granting of rights; special emergency items necessitated by Hurricane Harvey, and other agenda items approved by the City Council on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, more specifically denoted on Exhibit A hereto

On, Thursday, August 24, 2017, the City posted the Agenda for the regular City Council meeting to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 29 and 30, 2017, in Council’s Chambers at City Hall. In preparation for Hurricane Harvey, the Mayor issued a disaster declaration on Thursday, August 24, 2017.  Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Friday, August 25, 2017, between Port Aransas and Port O'Connor, Texas as a category 4 storm.  Its devastating effects soon began to impact Houston. Hurricane Harvey caused catastrophic flooding, other severe weather, and hazardous conditions (including numerous street and highway closures) in Houston that prevented City Council from convening or conducting its open meeting on Tuesday, August 29, 2017. City Hall also sustained damage as result of flooding caused by the storm.  Hurricane Harvey also presented an imminent threat to public health and safety that required immediate action of City Council, including ordinances extending the disaster declaration, renaming a fund designated for disaster relief efforts, and appropriating funds for expenditures related to the Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery efforts. 

To address these special emergency Agenda items and the previously posted Agenda items, pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 29, 2017 was postponed and convened on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  City Council convened on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at the George R. Brown Convention Center and adopted several ordinances, motions and a resolution.  The ordinances, motions and resolution involved the appropriation and expenditure of funds, the creation of an obligation or a contract or the granting of a right, approval of grant application submissions and emergency items necessitated by Hurricane Harvey, the revision of a chapter of the City Code of Ordinances, and other Agenda items. 

The Legal Department is of the opinion the actions taken at the meeting convened on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, were lawful, authorized by and consistent with applicable laws, and became effective as of the dates stated therein for each ordinance, motion, and resolution.  However, out of an abundance of caution and to avoid any need to defend the City in possibly protracted, though meritless, litigation to establish this principle, the Legal Department recommends that City Council reapprove, pass, confirm, validate, approve and adopt the affected ordinances, motions and resolution again.

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Ron Lewis, City Attorney