Houston is facing a lawsuit from government accountability advocates after city officials renewed membership in the Houston-Galveston Area Council, costing $93,000 in dues, despite a voter-approved city charter amendment requiring otherwise.
The lawsuit, filed by Fair for Houston, claims the city violated the charter by failing to secure proportional representation on the regional planning council as mandated by Proposition B, which Houston voters approved in 2023.
Prop B requires Houston to either achieve representation in H-GAC proportional to its population or to withdraw from the organization.
Houston, which accounts for over 30 percent of the regional population, currently holds just two seats on H-GAC’s 37-member board.
Fair for Houston’s legal action targets Mayor John Whitmire and the city council, seeking an injunction to force compliance with the charter amendment. The group argues that by renewing membership without fair representation, city officials are disregarding the will of the voters.
City Attorney Arturo Michel wrote to Texas Scorecard, “While the City of Houston remains committed to advocating for fair and equitable representation within regional governance structures, the course(s) of action outlined by Fair for Houston is not one the City is able to pursue at this time.”
The City will continue to engage through established channels to advance meaningful reforms, but it will not adopt the resolution as demanded because the City does not have the ability or authority to follow through on its terms.
Michel argued that the city cannot unilaterally withdraw from a municipal planning organization,
Michel explained the process to withdraw: “Redesignation may only be done by agreement between the Governor and units of general purpose local government representing at least 75 percent of the existing planning area population (including the largest incorporated city, based on population).”
“In other words,” Michel said, “The City cannot comply with the Charter provision without cooperation from other H-GAC members and the Governor, and thus far such cooperation has not been forthcoming.”
Fair for Houston contends this violates the charter. According to the plaintiffs, they filed the lawsuit after city officials ignored a demand letter that was sent in April.
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