How We Built a Compliance-Ready Website That Transformed Community Engagement for Houston’s Memorial Heights TIRZ
Problem:
When Memorial Heights Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Five needed a new website in 2018, they faced a unique challenge that many government entities struggle with: how do you create an engaging, user-friendly website while staying compliant with strict legal requirements?
The TIRZ 5 Board was operating with outdated communication methods that made it difficult for community members to access important information about public meetings, development projects, and board decisions. They needed to comply with the Texas Open Meeting Act, which requires transparent public access to government information, but their existing setup was falling short.
Board members were spending countless hours manually managing document distribution and struggling to keep the community informed about critical infrastructure investments that would directly impact local residents and businesses. Without a proper digital presence, they risked losing community trust and failing to meet their legal obligations for transparency.
The board knew they needed more than just a basic website—they needed a dynamic platform that could serve both their compliance requirements and their goal of building stronger community relationships.
Approach:
We started by sitting down with TIRZ 5 board members to understand not just what they wanted, but what they actually needed to accomplish their mission. Through these discovery sessions, we identified four critical functions the website had to deliver:
Document Management System: We built a robust system that automatically organizes and displays meeting minutes, agendas, financial reports, and project updates in compliance with Texas Open Meeting Act requirements. This eliminated the manual work of document distribution while ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
Community Engagement Tools: We implemented newsletter sign-ups and FAQ sections that allow residents and business owners to stay informed about developments that affect their properties and investments.
Flexible Board Directory: We created an easily updateable directory system that keeps community members connected with the right board members and staff contacts.
Scalable WordPress Foundation: Rather than building a static site, we chose WordPress to give TIRZ 5 the flexibility to grow and adapt their content as their community development projects evolve.
Throughout the process, we prioritized simplicity and usability. Government websites are notorious for being difficult to navigate, so we focused on clean design and intuitive information architecture that serves both tech-savvy users and those less comfortable with digital platforms.
Success:
The new website transformed how TIRZ 5 communicates with their community while ensuring full compliance with state transparency requirements.
Board members now save hours each month on administrative tasks, as the automated document management system handles the distribution and organization of meeting materials. The streamlined process means they can focus on their core mission of driving community development rather than wrestling with paperwork.
Most importantly, the website has become a central hub where residents and business owners can easily access the information they need about infrastructure projects, meeting schedules, and development opportunities in their area. The platform successfully balances the technical requirements of government compliance with the user experience expectations of modern web users.
The scalable WordPress foundation means TIRZ 5 can continue to expand their digital presence as their community grows and their projects become more complex, without needing to rebuild from scratch.
