`Primary Department: Flood Control District
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Tina Petersen, Ph.D., P.E., Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE 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
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by the Flood Control District of an update on the 2018 Flood Bond Program and ongoing rebaselining efforts, reflecting program activity, project delivery updates, and implementation progress through Q1 of calendar year 2026.
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Background and Discussion:
Following Hurricane Harvey, Harris County voters approved the historic $2.5 billion 2018 Flood Bond Program, which has been more than matched with $2.8 billion in partnership funding from local, state, and federal entities. Since program inception, the Flood Control District has taken the concepts approved by voters and continued advancing flood risk reduction projects across varying stages of planning, design, procurement, construction, and completion.
As the program progressed, evolving implementation challenges, project delivery conditions, partnership funding variability, inflation, and regulatory delays required continued evaluation of program delivery. In 2025, following direction from Commissioners Court and ongoing coordination with Court Offices and the Bond Working Group, the Flood Control District undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the program to collaboratively review program data, evaluate cost impacts, and consider scenarios to maximize value under funding constraints. In September 2025, Commissioners Court unanimously approved the Flood Control District to move forward with a rebaselining effort focused on strengthening program structure, improving operational consistency, and addressing longstanding financial and system-level complexities inherited from earlier phases of bond program implementation.
The rebaselining effort included extensive review and reconciliation of all 181 Bond ID allocations, project budgets, schedules, and financial systems across the program, while maintaining the integrity of the overall Bond Program. The effort was completed in April 2026 and has positioned the Bond Program with improved financial alignment, stronger program controls, enhanced transparency, and a more structured framework for long-term program and reporting success.
Expected Impact:
This transmittal advances the County’s goal of improving clarity around the delivery of the 2018 Bond Program by demonstrating continued progress through Q1 of calendar year 2026.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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09/18/2025 |
117 |
Direction to maintain and quarterly update the public 2018 Flood Bond dashboard, provide regular project progress updates to Commissioners Court, apply the 2022 Prioritization Framework to project funding and Bond IDs, prioritize Quartile 1 and partnership projects, and convene the 2018 Flood Bond Working Group quarterly to review project schedules, spending, reallocations, and material project changes requiring Court approval. |
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06/26/25 |
2 |
Direction to fully fund Quartile 1 projects under the 2022 Prioritization Framework, report project schedules and recommendations to Commissioners Court, develop and maintain a publicly available Flood Bond Project Dashboard with project status and prioritization information, and create a framework to assess previously unscored projects with significant community impact. |
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03/27/25 |
28 |
Direction for OCA and FCD to develop a 2018 Flood Bond spending and project delivery plan by Precinct through June 2026, identify funding sources to close the Subdivision Drainage Program gap, provide updates and recommendations on current and future Flood Bond projects, and coordinate on improvements to the County’s electronic financial system to establish a single system of record for County finances. |
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02/27/2025 |
128 |
Direction to provide a comprehensive report of the 2018 Flood Bond Program and provide quarterly updates. |
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02/06/25 |
271 |
Direction for Office of Management and Budget, Flood Control, County Engineering, and relevant departments to provide recommendations for closing the Harris County Engineering Department Subdivision Drainage Program funding gap and ensuring implementation of the Flood Bond framework, including a full financial analysis of completed, active, and unfunded projects, available funds, contract changes, and updated prioritization scores. |
Location: N/A
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 6/11/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Yesenia Martinez, Commissioners Court Coordinator, Flood Control District
Attachments (if applicable): N/A