This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Deputy Assistant Director

The Business Services  Branch, led by Deputy Assistant Director James A. McCoy, provides a variety of budgeting, accounting, and administrative services to the  Department of Public Works and Engineering, engineering contractors, other City of Houston departments, and private citizens. These services are supported through three primary areas:

Financial Planning

Financial Planning consists of the Accounting and Budget, Materials Management and Records Management Sections. The Accounting and Budget Section manages the Public Utilities Division annual Fiscal Year (FY) budget. It administers over $300 million of operations and maintenance and capital equipment expenditures and ensures compliance with all applicable city, state and federal policies and procedures. The Materials Management Section processes the purchase orders, and purchasing card transactions in accordance with established city guidelines in order to procure the necessary supplies and services required to support the operating activities of the division. The Records Management Section is charged with overseeing the creation, storage, and destruction of the division’s memos, records and files, as outlined in city and state directives.

Administrative Services

The Contracting Section provides contract support to the operating branches in the Public Utilities Division by insuring that all professional services are authorized, allocated, and paid according to the service contract and City policies. The Warehousing and Distribution Section insures that there are adequate supplies, materials, and equipment available to respond to operational activities on a daily basis. In addition, it tracks the storing of emergency supplies and equipment that might be needed during a crisis event. The Vehicle and Fixed Asset Section is responsible for the establishment, implementation, and maintenance of policies and procedures governing fleet equipment. Transportation related services include tracking of fleet and fixed asset inventories, and the proper ordering, receipt, and disposal of the division’s rolling stock. The Training Section works with the operating branches to provide employees with proper certification, maintenance, and safety training to insure employees are properly trained and protected from possible injury, creating a safer working environment.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

The Data Management Section creates and maintains geospatial data for the City's water distribution and wastewater collection systems. The Applications Section focuses on data analysis and the implementation of GIS technology and its capabilities.

Drinking Water and Wastewater Operations use GIS technology to develop preventive maintenance schedules and design facility master plans that help support the division’s operating budgets. Availability of the data and data mapping supports decision-making regarding the maintenance and planning of infrastructure facilities.

GIS Services also provides mapping documents for work order job tracking, density maps to analyze specific problems, proximity maps to study the impact of infrastructure alignment, and identifies specific infrastructure components, such as community sewers and service connections.