Houston, TX
Municipality in Texas
United States
Houston, TX adopts Interactive Kiosk Experiences for improved wayfinding and connectivity
Twenty-five kiosks from IKE Smart City are the first round in a citywide effort to improve pedestrian experiences. The dual-sided touchscreen kiosks connect users to city service directories, maps of local attractions, and mobility recommendations. Residents stay connected on the move because each kiosk is a Wi-Fi hotspot with a 75-foot range. Houston plans for at least 10% of all IKE units to be placed in underrepresented neighborhoods.
Houston, TX
United States
Houston, TX improves efficiency for Animal Enforcement Officers by requiring microchipping for pets
The Houston City Council approved an ordinance requiring all pets be microchipped within a year. A pet owner's license and rabies vaccination data will be matched to the microchip eliminating the use of metal tags. This change will allow BARC Animal Enforcement Officers to scan and return a pet to its owner while the officers are in the field, eliminating the need to bring the animal back to the shelter for intake.
Houston, TX
United States
Houston, TX Health Department tests wastewater for COVID-19 and identifies Omicron outbreaks
The Houston Health Department and Houston Water routinely test the city's wastewater for the virus that causes COVID-19 and recently started testing samples for the Omicron variant. Residents infected with COVID-19 shed the virus in their feces and the wastewater data is used to quickly identify outbreaks and target interventions to stop the spread. The wastewater samples revealed Omicron at eight of the city's 39 wastewater treatment plants before the first confirmed case.
Houston, TX
United States
Houston, TX launched a website to track the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds and spending plans
The City of Houston launched a website that details the city's plans for utilizing the $600 million in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city's plan is to use the majority of the funds to protect the salaries of first responders but the plan also includes support for rental relief programs and the Houston Airport system. The website will track these funds in order to build trust with residents through transparency.
Houston, TX
United States
Houston, TX launched the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Awards & Recognition Programme
The Houston Mayor's Office and Green Building Resource Centre launched the "Green Stormwater Infrastructure Awards & Recognition Programme" to encourage new green development projects. The awards programme uses a committee of partners in the fields of resilience and conservation to evaluate projects. The specific criteria for judging include "location and impact to adjacent communities", "proposed maintenance plans", and "efforts for conservation, preservation or incorporation of native flora".
Houston, TX
United States
Houston, TX adds self-service capabilities to 311 portal with Virtual Agent chatbot
Visitors to Houston 311 create their own service requests by clicking Report a Problem. The chatbot asks for location-specific information about common issues like potholes and water leaks. Virtual Agent automatically checks for duplicate reports. Requests are assigned to teams rather than individual contacts for expedited resolutions. Houston added Virtual Agent and a more powerful Customer Relations Information System to free the 311 Call Center for complex issues.
Houston, TX
United States
Houston, TX clears paths for sustainable development with GSI Expedited Permitting Pilot Program
The program reduces barriers to green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects like permeable pavement and green roofs. City officials will work with at least 10 qualifying projects to refine its permitting process through August 2022. Participants demonstrate alignment with the Resilient Houston matrix before prioritized electronic reviews. The finalized permitting process and an existing GSI tax abatement program move Houston toward its goal of 100 GSI projects by 2025.
Houston, TX
United States