Your government, in plain English.

Worth your attention · passed Aug 25

The city council is amending an existing contract with Hydromax USA, LLC for valve assessment, repair, replacement, and testing services, setting the maximum contract amount at $61,945,461.84.

This contract amendment affects Houston residents who rely on the city's water and utility infrastructure, as it covers services that maintain valves in the system.

Why this? verified $61.9M · citywide · daily life: utilities

Also decided Aug 25full meeting →$394M — The council is being asked to approve up to $393,877,973.01 in spending authority over five years to buy technology products and services through several cooperative purchasing agreements with DIR, GSA, NASPO ValuePoint, OMNIA Partners, Sourcewell, TIPS, and BuyBoard for various city departments. This item was previously delayed from the August 12, 2026 agenda. →$12.0M — The council is being asked to appropriate $12,000,000 from the Airport System Consolidated 2011 Construction Fund and authorize a first amendment to a design-build contract with Hensel Phelps Construction Company for renovations and upgrades to the Central Utilities Plant at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. A separate motion would amend a different item (Item 31) to require the unnamed Authority to coordinate with the city's Housing and Community Development Department and get that department director's endorsement before acquiring or developing affordable housing properties. →$5.1M — The council approved a contract with CB3 Consultants, LLC to provide combo truck rental and spill cleaning services for up to five years (three years plus two one-year options), with a maximum value of $5,138,560.78. →$1.3M — The city is hiring HDR Engineering, Inc. to provide professional engineering services for the Sunnyside Detention Basin Project, with $1,345,099.00 set aside from a dedicated drainage and street renewal tax fund. →

This week in 3 things →

The Money→11,368 companies the city has paid, FY2018–FY2026 — search any of them →Biggest council approval: $1.5B →

Your Ballot · Nov 3→119 races · 240 candidates →Every candidate: verified bio, record check, campaign funding →Register by Oct 5 · early voting Oct 19–Oct 30 →

Answers come only from official records, with citations.

INSIDE · 41 council meetings · · 11,368 vendors · 119 races ·

Official council district boundaries · City of Houston GIS. Tap a district to see who represents it.

Elsewhere in Texas? → The statewide races are on your ballot too.