PASSEDHouston City Council · 2026-10-27

The City Council approved applying for a federal SAFER grant from FEMA to fund fire department staffing, and authorized the Fire Chief to submit the application, accept any awarded funds, and enter into a grant agreement with FEMA.

What it means for you

If the grant is awarded, Houston Fire Department could receive federal funds to maintain or improve firefighter staffing levels, which would affect emergency response for Houston residents citywide.

Outcome

Adopted — action noted on the official agenda, which assigns Ordinance 2026-0942 but records no vote count. Official agenda of October 27, 2026, with notes of action taken.

Public safety — see all →Citywide

Official sources

Official agenda with notes of action taken — the record posted for this meeting (PDF) ↗

This is the agenda the City Secretary posted with notes of action taken. It records the action and the ordinance or motion number assigned to each item; it does not record vote counts.

How to weigh in

Where: City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002
When: Council meets Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. Public Session — when you can speak — is Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month).
Speak: Register by 3:00 p.m. the Monday before: call 832.393.1100, email speakers@houstontx.gov, or go in person to the City Secretary (City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101). Each speaker gets 1–3 minutes.
Watch: Live on HTV ↗

From the City Council meetings information page. Confirm the exact date on the official agenda before you go.

Quick answersfrom the official record

Who's paid?Houston Fire Departmentminutes ↗

Which fund?Federal Emergency Management Agency, if the grant is awarded.minutes ↗

Who decides?Houston City Council — its 16 members (11 district + 5 at-large) vote; the Mayor presides and also votes. Taken up at the October 27, 2026 meeting — Adopted.official record ↗

The official caption doesn't name a dollar amount — full details in the official minutes ↗

Cite this: https://plaindocket.com/item/real-cs20261027-18 — data from official records via PlainDocket.