Residents at the town hall pressed city officials on public safety, asking for increased visibility at parks and trails, timely enforcement of chronic problem gas stations and clarity about Houston Police Department data use and policy.

Rob Block, a Northside resident, asked whether the city supports HPD use of an ICE database reported in the Chronicle and whether the budget could restrict HPD from immigration enforcement. He said he had “seen…HPD is now doing immigration enforcement” and asked whether budget language could limit that activity.

Council Member Alcorn said he had heard questions about the issue at a legal budget workshop but did not have conclusive information at the town hall and directed residents to an HPD budget workshop scheduled for Tuesday for more discussion. Alcorn added, “I don't have a lot more information other than that” and offered to get residents a longer answer after further review.

Several residents, including Miss Holston and Jack Filinski of Neartown Montrose Super Neighborhood, said they were concerned about property and neighborhood services that they said were being reduced by budget cuts; Miss Holston specifically asked for greater police visibility on the Harrisburg Hike and Bike Trail and at Eastwood Park. Alcorn said the administration has put additional funding toward public safety raises to attract officers and that public safety remains a top priority for council and the mayor.

Sam Wagner asked whether the larger share of the general fund devoted to police and fire would have performance indicators; Council Member Alcorn said performance measures are an important focus of the Ernst & Young work and that departments are working with the consultants to improve KPIs; Alcorn said quarterly dashboards will publish KPI progress online.

Ending: Officials encouraged residents with questions about policing and other departments to attend the HPD workshop and other departmental budget hearings next week; they said they would follow up on specific policy questions raised at the meeting.