Government
BY SARAH BRAGER, WESLEY GARDNER & ARIEL WORTHY
Humble City Council approves roughly $326K in purchases for police equipment, software
Humble updates workplace policies Humble City Council members approved updates to two policies regarding workplace relationships and nepotism during the council’s March 26 meeting. The details City Manager Jason Stuebe said an update to the city’s workplace relationship policy will prohibit employees who work in the same department from engaging in romantic relationships. Additionally, Stuebe said the update to the city’s nepotism policy will prohibit related employees from being promoted to positions in which one of the employees would serve in a supervisory capacity over the other employee. A closer look Stuebe noted the updates to both policies are intended to promote professionalism; maintain a respectful and productive work environment; and reduce the potential for conicts of interest, favoritism, harassment or the appearance of impropriety.
Humble City Council members approved roughly $326,000 in purchases from AXON Enterprise for various items for the city’s police department. The details City Manager Jason Stuebe briefed council members on the purchases during their April 9 meeting. Stuebe noted the supplies purchased for the police department had all been previously bud- geted for and will include tasers, body cameras, evidence storage units, live streaming services and My90 feedback platform. A closer look Stuebe said the purchases are coming as part of a ve-year agreement with AXON Enterprise to spread out the cost of equipment over ve years as opposed to purchasing it all at once. “We broke out the payments over the course of ve years, opting to lease items like the body cam- eras, considering their regular and routine turnover due to advancing technology,” Stuebe said. Stuebe said the city is currently in the third year
City of Humble crime stats
First quarter of 2025
First quarter of 2026
150
-36.9%
100
-4%
50
0
Violent crimes
Property crimes
SOURCE: CITY OF HUMBLECOMMUNITY IMPACT
of its agreement with AXON, noting additional purchases will be made in 2027 and 2028. Related highlights Also during the April 9 meeting, city ocials noted a drop in both property and violent crimes in the rst quarter of 2026 compared to the rst quarter of 2025. “I’m very proud of the work that’s been done by the department,” Mayor Norman Funderburk said. “We’re very pleased with the work the men and women are doing out there keeping our streets safe and keeping our residents safe.”
Houston launches budget survey for residents Houston ocials launched their annual survey, inviting residents to weigh in on what should be prioritized in the scal year 2026-27 budget.
New Harris County attorney appointed
Get involved Individual city departments will hold workshops at City Hall from May 12-19. Residents will be allowed to make public comments during all meetings. Alcorn and council member Mario Castillo will also host two budget town halls: • May 16, 10 a.m. at Fonde Community Center, 110 Sabine St., Houston • May 20, 6 p.m. (virtual town hall)
Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin will serve as Harris County attorney eective
At-large council member Sallie Alcorn’s oce launched the survey April 15 in partnership with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. What is it? The survey asks how satis ed residents are with certain topics, including health services, development and permitting, the library, parks and recreation, and public safety. It also asks if residents would like to see the city spend less, about the same or more on those subjects. It also lets participants rank which areas they would be okay with the city spending less funding on. “For the past six years, I’ve asked residents to share their priorities through a budget survey,” Alcorn said in an April 15 news release. “This year, with continued support from Rice University’s
June 15 after commis- sioners approved her appointment April 16. What happened Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and County Judge Lina Hidalgo voted against the decision, disagreeing with the move to appoint Kamin, who is the Democratic nomi- nee on the Nov. 3 ballot, ahead of results from the county attorney election in November. The court’s April 16 decision appoints Kamin to the position for the duration of County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne’s unexpired term, which runs through Dec. 31. Abbie Kamin
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Kinder Institute for Urban Research, the ‘Your Two Cents’ survey has been further re ned to better capture your input.” What’s next The city will also have budget workshops in May. Beginning May 6 at the Budget & Fiscal Aairs Committee meeting, there will be a ve-year forecast and overview. The council will vote on the budget June 3, with the scal year beginning July 1.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
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