Harris County Commissioners Court Agenda – October 23, 2018

A meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court was held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, in the Courtroom of the Commissioners Court of Harris County for the purpose of considering and taking action on matters brought before the Court. The agenda items include multiple recommendations and requests from the County Engineer, Flood Control District, Grants Department, Fiscal Services & Purchasing Department, and the Commissioners Court itself. The majority of the proposed agenda items concern multiple flood control and mitigation improvements in the form of infrastructure projects such as improved flood conveyance, general drainage improvements, and the maintenance of local bayous and watersheds. The entire Harris County Commissioners Court agenda can be found at agenda.harriscountytx.gov. The next meeting of the Court is scheduled for November 13, 2018.

1. County Engineer:
   • Recommendation that the Court authorize the negotiation with Cobb, Fendley, and Associates, Inc., for on-call engineering services for the Engineering Dept. and Flood Control District in connection with the county-wide outfall replacement program.
2. Flood Control District:
   • Recommendation that the County Judge execute amendments/agreements with: 1) the City of Houston to construct and maintain hike and bike trails along various units and precincts within the county, with no funds required by the district; 2) Landtech Consultants, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $150,000 to provide surveying services in support of the county-wide floodplain re-study and district projects; 3) Geotest Engineering, Inc., in the additional amount of nearly $55,000 to provide materials engineering and testing services in support of the channel modifications to Brays Bayou in the Brays Bayou Watershed in Precincts 1 and 3; 4) Harris County to construct and maintain public hike and bike trails beginning at Spring Creek Park and ending in the Spring Creek Watershed in Precinct 4, with no funds required by the district.
   • Recommendation for authorization to initiate and proceed with a major maintenance project along Cedar Bayou in the Cedar Bayou Watershed in Precinct 2.
   • Recommendation for authorization to initiate and proceed with planning, design, and construction of improvements to district infrastructure for: 1) multiple channel conveyance improvements in the Clear Creek Watershed, Brays Bayou Watershed, and Little White Oak Bayou; 2) floodplain preservation in the Spring Creek Watershed and the Cypress Creek Watershed; 3) general drainage improvements in the San Jacinto River Watershed; 4) a partnership project to reduce flooding risks in the Clear Creek Watershed; 5) stormwater detention basin in the Addicks Reservoir Watershed.
   • Recommendation that the court adopt the updated Harris County Flood Control District Policy, Criteria, and Procedure manual for approval and acceptance of infrastructure.
3. Grants:
   • Request by the Flood Control District for authorization to accept amendments to agreements with the Texas Water Development Board to extend the end date to September 30, 2019 for the 2014 Flood Mitigation Assistance Program and the Texas Dept. of Public Safety to extend the end date to March 30, 2019 for the 2015 FEMA Home Acquisition Program.
4. Fiscal Services and Purchasing:
   • Request for approval of renewal options with: 1) Environmental Southwest for tree planting and maintenance services for the Flood Control District from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2019 at a cost of nearly $1.2 million; 2) Bownds Wholesale Nursery, Inc., to supply various trees and related items for the County from December 1, 2018 to November 30, 2019 at a cost of nearly $75,000; 3) Extreme Under Brushing, LLC, for property boundary vegetation removal and pruning for the Flood Control District from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2019 at a cost of around $86,000.
5. Commissioners Court:
   • Request from the Commissioner of Precinct 4 that the County Judge execute an interlocal agreement with MUD No. 286 and for the utility district to contribute funds totaling $18,000 to reimburse the cost of materials to construct a hike and bike trail along Cypress Creek from Jones Road to Cypresswood Drive.