[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6531750,"mediaKeyId","3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c","parentId",3462687,"title","Houston Parks recruiting lifeguards: starting pay $16 with $250 signing bonus; applicants 15 and older eligible","audioSeconds",135,"startMs",417105,"endMs",552655,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c&start=417&end=552","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c/thumbnail_417105.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531750/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-Parks-recruiting-lifeguards-starting-pay-16-with-250-signing-bonus-applicants-15-and-older-eligible","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531750-ea288f62c4b5f71729eb743b25f58573/orig.mp4?Expires=1774996413&Signature=l62zKdctV3NCn6uj0j8RAOgV1LI2qC6hKFyFKdPYAAot7B1S7qAunhpBiCDXLccL~VNETLOyNCAvWC3otYwqnbt9QGThDF9d4vl2deOKLVTyxaulCMHH9RmX-jC0ycto9U6sC2JwPEo-0d4sWC30xTdPSj0d7hFdSo4VLsqImp8h5MnPxx1rwPnJW1iJGlJhmdIrAz4ZF2~eIuUlQ76MBA4MzG9aLQJq5-1ibeDF-q4rkW2U8PQe9yOYDbzouItlO-5zc7akl4NNORp9b5wbpTmS76crDPcVpKNJ19rGnV07b1Ps7vlySPTqZ3IcsCsTcOTM6~DzTyPOl8JhDmkvnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Houston Parks and Recreation is ramping up lifeguard recruitment and training to staff 37 operable public aquatic centers this summer, senior superintendent Ray Durwan said on City Pulse.

The broadcast reported lifeguard starters will earn $16 an hour plus a $250 signing bonus and may earn up to $20 an hour with experience. Anyone 15 years of age or older is eligible to apply; the city is offering weekend training through June, with classes that began in February. The program is presented as both a seasonal job and a potential pathway into first-responder careers.

Ray Durwan, who began working as a city lifeguard in 1987 and now serves as senior superintendent for aquatic services, said recruitment and training are rigorous but that the positions can be rewarding. A trainee quoted on the broadcast said, \"I think the job is pretty fun...it feels kind of fulfilling to know that your job will go towards helping people.\"

City Parks directed interested applicants to HoustonParks.org and to click \"swimming\" to sign up. The broadcast did not give a detailed staffing target for each pool or the total hiring goal beyond staffing the 37 centers reported as operable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - City Pulse - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Houston Parks and Recreation is running lifeguard training through June to staff 37 operable aquatic centers. The broadcast said starting pay is $16 per hour with a $250 signing bonus and potential to earn up to $20 per hour; candidates can apply at HoustonParks.org.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531756,"Houston settlement will shift $120 million to drainage and streets; city to seek dismissal",91,176170,267935,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c&start=176&end=267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c/thumbnail_176170.jpg","/articles/6531756/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-settlement-will-shift-120-million-to-drainage-and-streets-city-to-seek-dismissal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531756-d07735c10b8e4d8fabbec0f16fe4f7f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774996413&Signature=gu1xgeO-UdVtjlhTeqoc9IGSHev4U7jKyeuFPyxwPc1GU69RgOaqAmfZsB1PDdz58IwaFpbutlIWI~mNaqN1Kvz51pKrp5PWpJ9J2DZ6FTndr8UCbSubT1cWN8ozMnb0h47VK5jtX4Wwc9w6nRLRZiQsVdP5zhtO1QRmsGVACxZ53IM07l8syOsBkQ5Bg61aAd0VafwkxnQ7Yedn2dzw9y~tmRSMAituUnvMniKZ1PLROoY7B2X4eyw0EBpaw~MFBcNeJgpkO6bONtm8oe74d4Grl6jHV4b-ikO5F8mGHRxgYyayZgvP4cQEMXfUkrer7Q6gs3rhlRkMGlHsZX6wHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials announced a settlement with plaintiffs Bob Jones and Alan Watson that will redirect an estimated $120,000,000 toward drainage and streets over the next several years, officials said on the City Pulse broadcast.

The settlement follows a lawsuit by engineers Jones and Watson who argued the city had not directed rebuild-Houston drainage fees to their stated purpose. The broadcast reported the city lost the legal challenge and Mayor John Whitmire negotiated a settlement intended to use drainage fees as plaintiffs and officials said Houstonians intended.

Officials said the reallocation will boost next year's combined drainage and streets commitment to about $500,000,000. Mayor Whitmire acknowledged the budgetary strain created by taking about $120,000,000 out of general operations and said the administration will present a plan to replace that amount in future budgets. The city and plaintiffs are scheduled to return to court in a few weeks to ask a judge to formally dismiss the case.

The broadcast did not provide the terms of the settlement, a schedule for the increases, or the precise mechanics of how the funds will be moved within the city's accounting. The plaintiffs named in the broadcast are identified as engineers Bob Jones and Alan Watson.","City officials said a settlement with plaintiffs Bob Jones and Alan Watson will reallocate roughly $120 million toward drainage and streets over coming years, increasing next year's commitment to nearly $500 million; officials said the city will ask a judge to dismiss the lawsuit in a few weeks.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531760,"Houston council, Mayor Whitmire approve new contract with Houston Police Officers Union",156,18615,175390,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c&start=18&end=175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3462687-b64acb2103246ee57b875d99664f7d5c/thumbnail_18615.jpg","/articles/6531760/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-council-Mayor-Whitmire-approve-new-contract-with-Houston-Police-Officers-Union","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531760-bd38f192324137104616f6153b6a6df6/orig.mp4?Expires=1774996413&Signature=bJx2pKLNK42IWEZ-XaDw1CSwRqBND05S-bDRZ5I8H~rDwx2Exfdc6G~AkAxBIdbZszVG8y6OMekPh9L~6aA-NQBUjGbKwvqvIXxOh~IoqLEGLVSF~5c93lGABzBAgIHw-eiHMwLpSwYp27XNxFMiI~DdZ4gfpkjuVCeHNN9jzJOOPCoJCOXm~LH7lN6JoyIVBe6tWkWf-HbU05lMSJKRyd-E4-sVBEi9qs6ozSlTCgZwcQO5PT90ApjIdMvkdn0gBeDVU5LdLG5t8LLd52TWxk6tPGxHyoKW1tJP0BX8GSw5clYhfLVGeiVEj~ue6rwsfaGInukbAWFD83fPRBu7ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Council members joined Mayor John Whitmire in a unanimous vote at the council's last meeting before Memorial Day to approve a new contract with the Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU).

The contract, which HPOU approved in a separate ratification vote by 97 percent, raises starting pay for Houston Police Department recruits and updates incentives officials say are designed to improve recruitment and retention. The host Travis Lemons described the agreement as \"position[ing] the Houston Police Department for long term success by providing a strong competitive edge in recruiting top tier talent.\"

Chief Harden represented the department in negotiations, and the administration credited a negotiation team mentioned on the dais for their work. City officials said the updated pay structure and incentives are intended to make a career in the Houston Police Department more sustainable and to attract officers from other departments.

The council vote came as part of the city's broader budget work ahead of the fiscal-year planning season. City leaders framed the contract as one step in balancing the city budget while aiming to maintain public safety staffing.

No specific implementation dates or detailed pay tables were provided in the council remarks reported in the broadcast. The union's internal ratification percentage (97 percent) was reported on air as part of the coverage.","At the city council's last meeting before Memorial Day, members and Mayor John Whitmire voted unanimously to approve a new contract with the Houston Police Officers Union; the union separately approved the deal by 97 percent. City officials say the contract raises starting pay and is aimed at improving recruitment and retention.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Houston Parks recruiting lifeguards: starting pay $16 with $250 signing bonus; applicants 15 and older eligible

Houston settlement will shift $120 million to drainage and streets; city to seek dismissal

Houston council, Mayor Whitmire approve new contract with Houston Police Officers Union