Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton, Interim Executive Director
Managing Department: Universal Services
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Sindu Menon, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Mobile Health Expansion - Animal Control Services
Project ID (if applicable): NI051
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $515,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $515,000
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of the Final Investment Memo for the Mobile Health Expansion - Animal Control Services project for an amount of $515,000 and request for approval of commercial paper funding in the amount of $515,000.
end
Project Description:
The Harris County Public Health Mobile Health expansion project includes adding six (6) new animal control officer positions to increase animal control response, education, and enforcement for the Veterinary Public Health Division. An additional six animal control vehicles are needed to facilitate these animal control services across unincorporated Harris County. The project aims to increase the amount of service requests completed and decrease all response times. The total project budget is $515,000.00, and the project is expected to be completed within 12 months of approval.
The primary purpose of this project is to enhance animal control and wellness services in Harris County by procuring six Animal Control Officer (ACO) vehicles for expanded field operations.
The key tasks include:
1. Purchasing six ACO vehicles
2. Purchase and upfit the vehicles with specialized temperature control compartments for secure animal transport and comfort, and storage for essential equipment.
3. Install the required signage
The desired end of the project is a fully operational fleet of ACO vehicles integrated into the Harris County Animal Control Services program, enabling expanded coverage and response in priority areas. The anticipated benefits include improved response times, increased capacity to serve animals, and enhanced public safety by providing accessible animal control services directly to the community.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Purchase ACO Vehicles |
$471,000.00 |
Q3 2025 |
|
Purchase Equipment and Upfitting ACO Vehicles |
$38,000.00 |
Q4 2025 |
|
Design and Install Vehicle Graphics for ACO Vehicles |
$6,000.00 |
Q4 2025 |
|
Total |
$515,000.00 |
- |
Justification & Alternatives:
This project addresses a critical need for enhanced animal control in Harris County, where communities face public safety challenges related to stray animals. Increased access to efficient animal control is essential for public safety, community well-being, and animal welfare. By acquiring six Animal Control Officer (ACO) vehicles, we aim to:
• Increase the response and capacity of animal control services.
• Reduce the number of stray animals and dog bites.
• Enhance community engagement through accessible pet care and education.
This project supports the following Priority Outcomes and/or Goal Areas:
• Public Safety: Enhancing the safety of communities by reducing dog bites and stray animal populations while ensuring humane handling of animals.
• Animal Welfare: Decrease the number of at-risk animals that would need immediate care.
• Community Engagement and Welfare: Educating residents on responsible pet ownership and providing direct support to needy communities.
The success of the project can be measured through the following performance metrics:
• Number of Animal Control Responses: Tracking the number of calls, response times, and community educational outreach efforts.
No alternative solutions have been proposed at this time. The deployment of Animal Control Officer (ACO) vehicles represents the best approach to achieving the program’s goals, as this mobile strategy allows direct presence in the community. Enabling animal control services to respond quickly to community needs, reach underserved areas, and engage directly with community members. By using ACO vehicles, we maximize flexibility and accessibility, ensuring that animal control services are available where they are needed most.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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$- |
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Total |
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$- |
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- |
County Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N: Improve the health behaviors of community members.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): O4: Increase community health care capacity.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Decision Analysis Matrix Score (rubric on last page):
Previous Court Action:
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Action Taken |
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Address:
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
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Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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$ |
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$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Commercial Paper |
$ |
$515,000 |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$515,000 |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$515,000 |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
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Anticipated Court Date: 1/23/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/23/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, the Assistant County Attorney, 12/6/2024
Department Approval by: Alexey Gruber, Director of Operations & Technology Services
OMB CIP Team Approval by: Amiel Chen, CIP Manager, 12/18/2024
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: N/A
Project PeopleSoft ID: NI051
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Mobile Health Expansion - Animal Control Services project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
OMB Financial Management contact: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget
Decision Analysis Matrix scoring tool - Commissioners Court has approved the rubric below for scoring capital projects. Please complete the last two rows for OMB review.
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Scoring option |
Strategic Plan alignment (3x weighting) |
Evidence base |
Impact on outcomes |
Cost effectiveness |
Ease of implementation |
Collaboration / partnerships |
Environmental sustainability |
Equity |
Total |
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-1 |
Antithetical to one or more aspects of the Strategic Plan |
Evidence shows net negative impact on the intended goal |
Impact is clearly negative |
Costs expected (or shown) to outweigh benefits |
County has no/limited existing capabilities and dependencies are likely to impede |
Could negatively impact relationships with partners |
Negatively impacts environment and/or climate change mitigation efforts |
Inequitable |
n/a |
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0 |
Does not align to a Strategic Objective |
Evidence base is not well defined or measurable |
Size of impact on one or more strategic outcomes is negligible or unclear |
Net comparison is unclear |
County has no/limited existing capabilities or dependencies are likely to impede |
Does not involve collaboration with partners |
Net neutral impact on environment and/or climate change mitigation efforts |
Does not consider equity to a meaningful degree |
n/a |
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1 |
Aligns to a Strategic Objective but not to a Strategic Initiative |
Limited evidence-based research on outcomes; may have qualitative/theoretical support |
Outcomes are defined but without target levels and/or expected impact is moderate |
Moderate direct/indirect benefit relative to costs |
County has existing capability to implement or dependencies are unlikely to impede |
Moderately expands County leverage through collaboration with partner(s) |
Marginally positive impact on environment and/or climate change mitigation efforts |
Considers equity to a meaningful degree, but not comprehensively |
n/a |
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2 |
Aligns to a Strategic Objective and a Strategic Initiative |
Outcomes are directly supported by evidence base or credible research supports anticipated outcomes |
Outcomes are clearly defined and include target levels; expected impact on outcomes is high |
Significant direct/indirect benefit relative to costs |
County has existing capability to implement and dependencies are unlikely to impede |
Significantly expands County leverage through collaboration with partner(s) |
Positively impacts environment and/or climate change mitigation efforts |
Considers equity meaningfully and comprehensively |
n/a |
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Score (-1,0,1,2) |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
20 |
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Rationale |
A strategic plan for the Mobile Health Expansion is in place to implement the Animal Control Officer’s work. |
A data-driven landscape analysis was conducted to identify areas with the highest needs for animal control services that will receive services as part of the Mobile Health Expansion. Services are directly related to decreasing animal incidents in the community. |
We expect an increase in the number of ACO calls, improved call response times, improvements in catching animals and addressing related animal control concerns, and increased community member education. |
The animal control officers directly benefit the community by mobilizing animal control services directly to the community. Minimizing the impact of animal incidents (dog aggressiveness, bite investigation, and patrol calls) and calls for confinement in the community. |
Six animal control officers are being hired as well as two additional staff members to support the Mobile Health Expansion and funding is available to support this initiative helping increase capacity. |
This initiative promotes collaboration with the precinct as they are investing in the Mobile Health Expansion as well as community organizations to increase access to services and education. |
Direct impact on the community’s environment by decreasing the number of stray animals and related animal control issues improving community and animal welfare. |
A landscape analysis was used to strategically select areas within Harris County with the most need based on various health indicators. These areas experience high levels of social vulnerability and disproportionate animal control issues. |
n/a |