Planning & Development Department Director Margaret Wallace Brown gives an update on proposed Livable Places housing recommendations in this narrated presentation. The Planning Commission held a robust debate about the package of recommendations on June 8. The recommendations were approved with overwhelming Commission support with 2 changes described on LetstalkHouston.org. The package was also presented to the City Council Committee on Quality of Life on Tuesday, June 13, and a City Council public hearing was held on June 21.

The Planning & Development Department was honored as the Champions of Diversity City Department of the Year earlier this month. This award honors a City of Houston department and community partners that have been true champions in exemplifying commitment, excellence, and support to the Office of Business Opportunity's mission and the City’s Supplier Diversity Program. PD has been instrumental in supporting OBO's efforts to cultivate an inclusive economic environment by promoting the success of historically underutilized business and disenfranchised individuals. PD assisted in identifying targeted businesses during the underwriting phase of the City’s Small Business Economic Relief Program, which provided almost 1,100 local businesses with economic relief during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. PD has also been instrumental in coordinating the creation of The Ion District in Midtown Community Benefits Agreement which ensures the inclusion of minority and women-owned businesses and individuals in contacting, as well as training and employment opportunities in the Ion District. 

Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum is sponsoring a connectivity study for the intersection at Willowbend Blvd. and West Bellfort Ave. to evaluate safety and walkability recommendations suggested by local stakeholders. The study is part of the Vision Zero Action Plan and helps develop low-cost solutions that can be constructed by Houston Public Works. Castex-Tatum and the Planning Department's Transportation Division met with stakeholders who offered feedback to identify the focus of the study. Gaps in connectivity that limit access to key services and destinations were discussed and identified. Design and implementation of small-scale solutions were discussed to eliminate the connectivity gaps. Stakeholders were provided access to the Willowbend/W. Bellfort Connectivity Study Comment Map, to drop a pin on the map and identify connectivity issues. Staff used this input for the next step of the study: fieldwork while school was still in session. The fieldwork will help the team develop recommendations for safety projects throughout the area.

This summer, the Vision Zero Houston team is expanding educational outreach to participate in the Houston Public Library Camp STREAM at several branch libraries. Vision Zero Coordinator Sofia Font attended four camps to educate kids about the program and traffic safety. At the June 7 Kendall Branch Library camp, our message reached 97 kids from 3rd-7th grade. We provided copies of the Vision Zero word search. Staff will also attend library camps at Blue Ridge Library, Central Library and Carnegie branches. Next month, the team will present at the MADD Southeast Texas Virtual Learning Series to share about the City of Houston's efforts, communication approach and engagement projects with schools.   

Every year, the department honors employees for their outstanding performance, collaboration and customer service. Please help us congratulate this year's winners. Be sure to check out our employees who have reached career milestones in the next issue of the Monthly Planner.

The Planning & Development Department welcomes its summer interns this year as part of the Hire Houston Youth Summer Internship Program. The interns are working within several divisions including Communications, Transportation, Community & Regional Planning, Management & Support and Development Services. The 11 interns are learning on the job and obtaining skills that will guide them when they begin their careers. The paid internship will last eight weeks from June 12 to August 3. Pictured above from left to right: Nicolas Smothers, Alejandro Montejano, Triet Tran, Fahad Quazi, Ella Sparks, Nithishkumar Velmurugan, Timothy Aston, Davian Thompson, Shazil Khan, and Miguel Estrada. Not pictured: Abigail Alvarez.

The Economic Census is the official five-year measure of American business and the economy. According to the Census Bureau, data provided by businesses fuels the most comprehensive economic statistics available, representing all U.S. industries and geographies. By completing the Economic Census, businesses contribute to a wealth of valuable data that can help grow their business. 

Invitations to complete the Economic Census were mailed to selected businesses starting on January 31, 2023. Response is required by law. The due date for the 2022 Economic Census has now passed. Businesses that received an invitation, but have not yet responded should log in to portal.census.gov to access their account. Not every business received an invitation to participate in the Economic Census. If a business did not originally receive an invitation, they may not have been selected to participate and no action is required of them. Read more instructions on how to respond.

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