A new report finds that Houston might not be holding private partners accountable for promised infrastructure improvements.
A city program meant to improve infrastructure and spur economic development lacks oversight and accountability for private partners, according to Houston’s city controller.
The controller's audit concerns agreements in which a private company completes infrastructure improvements and is later reimbursed by the city.
But several companies selected for projects did not fulfill all their commitments before being reimbursed, the audit found. Documentation of the process was also inconsistent, from eligibility requirements and project evaluation to fee payment.
City officials have disputed some conclusions of the report, but also agreed that they could "a better job" documenting and formalizing procedures.
FULL STORY: Controller’s audit raises questions about Houston economic development program
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
