Primary Department: Sheriff
Primary Department Head/Elected Official:
Secondary Department: County Engineer
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): 2022 Prop A - Public Safety Bond (Multiple Projects)
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A - Multi-Project Capital Program
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): Per individual project contract requirements
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Choose an item.
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to authorize additional funding in the amount of $19,730,000 for the 2022 Proposition A Public Safety Bond Program to fund validated scope requirements across eight (8) law enforcement facilities, increasing the total program authorization from $100,000,000 to $119,730,000.
end
Background and Discussion:
In November 2022, Harris County voters approved Proposition A, authorizing up to $100 million in general obligation bonds for public safety capital projects. In May 2024, Commissioners Court approved a project list through File #24-2817, authorizing $82.69 million across eight (8) capital improvement projects, with $7.31 million retained as a contingency reserve, and $10 million identified as administration allowances for OCE.
Since that authorization, the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) and the Office of the County Engineer (OCE) have been jointly advancing these projects through design, procurement, and pre-construction phases. As the projects progressed through programming requirements and into design development, HCSO, OCE, and contracted professional services all identified operational requirements and resilience enhancements not included or accounted for in the original baseline feasibility studies. These professionally validated items were identified as original operational project requirements by HCSO and further refined through OCE and contracted architectural services during the project development phase. This ensures that each facility can adequately support its law enforcement mission, particularly considering Harris County's exposure to severe weather events, power disruptions, and growing public safety demands. Most importantly, this investment will provide sorely needed modern training facilities that will serve the HCSO, all 8 Constables, and the HCFMO for decades to come.
Additionally, updated cost estimates reflect market escalation between the 2022 baseline and current design phase pricing. OCE has reviewed the validated scope requirements and believes them to be reasonable. The Office of Management & Budget (OMB) supports the recommendations of HCSO and OCE findings identified through contracted professional services. OCE has confirmed that delivery of all eight (8) projects at the validated scope level requires additional appropriation.
The updated cost estimate across all eight (8) projects totals $119.73 million after applying the $7.31 million contingency reserve. The program carries a net cost variance of ($19.73 million) requiring additional appropriation. The updated cost estimate across all eight (8) projects does account for future escalation, design, and owner contingencies.
Expected Impact:
Approval of the additional $19.73 million authorization will enable delivery of eight (8) fully operational public safety facilities that meet current life safety codes, enhanced officer safety standards, and enhanced operational resilience requirements. The validated scopes, including the following:
• full facility emergency generators for some structures,
• ballistic barriers,
• mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure including roofs at Patrol District V & VI,
• structural remediation at Patrol District V & VI,
• deluge and training tanks at the Swift Water Facility,
• flexible and mobile training interiors and FFE design at the Active Shooter Training Facility,
• replacement steel baffles at the Firearms Complex,
• lime and select fill at the Precision Driving Course,
• security infrastructure at the Vehicle Crime Processing Facility,
All represent investments that have been identified as necessary to bring each facility to mission capability. All projects are on track for construction starting in Q3 2026 and Q1 2027, with respective completions targeted by Q2 2028 for all projects.
Alternative Options:
Alternative 1 - Approve Additional Authorization: Commissioners' Court authorizes an additional $19.73 million, increasing total program authorization to $119.73 million. All eight (8) projects proceed with validated scopes as described in this request.
Alternative 2 - Proceed with Original Scopes within $100M Voter-Approved Authorization: OCE and HCSO would bring back a revised recommendation within the originally approved $100 million voter-approved authorization. Under this alternative, the validated scope of items outlined above would be prioritized by life safety, code, and operational requirements, ultimately deferring or removing project attributes, reducing the effectiveness of the project's intent and in worst case scenario, eliminating one (1) or more of the public safety projects.
Note: Bid dates for several projects begin as early as Q1 2026.
Fiscal Summary:
|
Funding Item |
Amount |
|
Voter-Approved Bond Authorization (2022 Prop. A) |
$100,000,000 |
|
Allocated to Projects (May 2024 - File #24-2817) |
$82,690,000 |
|
Administration (May 2024 - File #24-2817) |
$10,000,000 |
|
Contingency Reserve Applied |
$7,310,000 |
|
Updated Program Cost Estimate (Validated Scopes) |
$119,730,000 |
|
Additional Authorization Requested |
$19,730,000 |
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: R: Enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): R3: Strengthen the County’s emergency response function.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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Nov 2022 |
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Voter approved Proposition A, authorizing up to $100M in public safety bonds |
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Apr 4, 2023 |
143 |
Commissioners’ Court approved HCSO Swift Water Training Facility |
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Aug 8, 2023 |
File #23-14373 |
Court authorized OMB to develop cost estimates for potential projects |
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May 7, 2024 |
File #24-2817 |
Court approved nine projects; OCE directed to proceed |
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May 7, 2024 |
24-2788 |
Acquisition of the existing building at 17154 Butte Creek Rd., Houston, TX 77090 and the adjoining property at 17031 Alcove Ln., Houston, TX 77090 |
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June 25, 2024 |
24-4015 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the Response to Active Shooter Training Facility project in the amount of $110,000. |
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June 25, 2024 |
24-4016 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the Training Academy Expansion project in the amount of $280,000. |
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July 15, 2024 |
24-4037 |
Request for approval to utilize a CMAR (Construction Manager-at-Risk) delivery method for the Harris County Sheriff's Office Swift Water project |
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September 19, 2024 |
24-5813 |
Advertisement for construction manager at risk for the construction of the Sheriff's Office Swift water training facility for the Office of the County Engineer (240317). |
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September 19, 2024 |
24-5815 |
Advertisement for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of expansion for the Sheriff's Office Training Academy Facility for the Office of the County Engineer (240306). |
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September 19, 2024 |
24-5716 |
advertisement for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the Sheriff's Office Active Shooter Training Facility for the Office of the County Engineer (240302). |
|
December 10, 2024 |
24-7405 |
Authorize negotiations with Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, Inc. for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of expansion for the Harris County Sheriff's Office Training Academy Facility for the Office of the County Engineer, and the county, at its sole discretion, may discontinue negotiations and proceed to negotiate with the next ranking vendor(s) if unable to agree to an executable contract (240306) |
|
December 10, 2024 |
24-7963 |
Authorize negotiations with Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, Inc. for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Active Shooter Training Facility for the Office of the County Engineer, and the county, at its sole discretion, may discontinue negotiations and proceed to negotiate with the next ranking vendor(s) if unable to agree to an executable contract (240302) |
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January 9, 2025 |
25-0047 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the Academy Firearms Complex project in the additional amount of $300,000 for a total CP funding of $330,000. |
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January 23, 2025 |
25-0505 |
Approval of an award on the basis of highest overall evaluation with Kitchell Contractors, Inc. for construction manager at risk for the construction of the Sheriff's Office swift water training facility for the Office of the County Engineer, and the county, at its sole discretion, may discontinue negotiations and proceed with the next ranking offer if unable to agree on executable agreements (240317) |
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January 23, 2025 |
25-0618 |
Approval to utilize a CMAR (Construction Manager-at-Risk) delivery method for the New HCSO Active Shooter Training Facility |
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January 23, 2025 |
25-0617 |
Approval to utilize a CMAR (Construction Manager-at-Risk) delivery method for the Harris County Sheriff's Office Training Academy Expansion |
|
February 13, 2025 |
25-1089 |
Approval on the basis of highest overall evaluation and authorize negotiations with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the expansion of the Sheriff's Office Precision Driving Course for the Office of the County Engineer |
|
February 13, 2025 |
25-1092 |
Approval on the basis of highest overall evaluation and authorize negotiations with Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc. dba RDLR Architects, Inc. for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the expansion of the Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Crime Processing Facility for the Office of the County Engineer |
|
March 27, 2025 |
25-1921 |
Approval of an award on the basis of successful negotiations with the highest overall evaluation and that the County Judge execute an agreement with Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, Inc. in the amount of $1,139,006 for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of expansion for the Sheriff's Office Training Academy Facility for the Office of the County Engineer (240306) |
|
March 27, 2025 |
25-1527 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Training Academy Expansion project in the additional amount of $1,000,000 for a total CP funding of $1,280,000. |
|
March 27, 2025 |
25-1528 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Response to Active Shooter Training Facility project in the additional amount of $1,000,000 for a total CP funding of $1,110,000. |
|
April 10, 2025 |
25-2391 |
Approval of an award on the basis of successful negotiations with the highest overall evaluation and that the County Judge execute an agreement with Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc. dba RDLR Architects, Inc. in the amount of $668,600 for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the expansion of the Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Crime Processing Facility for the Office of the County Engineer (240397) |
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April 10, 2025 |
25-2378 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the HCSO District 6 Expansion project in the amount of $600,000. |
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May 8, 2025 |
25-2899 |
Approval of an award on the basis of successful negotiations with the highest overall evaluation and that the County Judge execute an agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,276,588 for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the expansion of the Sheriff's Office Precision Driving Course for the Office of the County Engineer (240386) |
|
May 8, 2025 |
25-2594 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the Precision Driving Course project in the additional amount of $1,500,000 for a total CP funding of $1,630,000. |
|
May 8, 2025 |
25-2595 |
Approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the Vehicle Crimes Processing Facility project in the additional amount of $1,000,000 for a total CP funding of $1,070,000. |
|
May 22, 2025 |
25-3325 |
Approval of an award on the basis of successful negotiations with the highest overall evaluation and that the County Judge execute an agreement with Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, Inc. in the amount of $961,712 for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the Sheriff's Office Active Shooter Training Facility for the Office of the County Engineer (240302) |
|
June 26, 2025 |
25-4003 |
Approval of an award on the basis of successful negotiations with the highest overall evaluation and that the County Judge execute an agreement with PGAL, Inc. in the amount of $1,224,898 for professional architectural and/or engineering services for renovation and improvements design of the new Harris County Sheriff's Office patrol station for the Office of the County Engineer (240380) |
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August 7, 2025 |
25-4867 |
Execute agreements with Kitchell Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $15,000 for the master term and conditions and the pre-construction services for construction manager at risk for the construction of the Sheriff's Office Swift Water Training Facility for the Office of the County Engineer |
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August 26, 2025 |
25-5209 |
Approval to purchase a certain tract for a negotiated price for Harris County for the public project known as 310 Fisher Road - HCSO - Vehicle Crime Processing Facility Expansion - Prop A, tract number 1, for $190,000.00 |
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December 11, 2025 |
25-7448 |
Approval of a project scheduled for advertisement for construction manager at risk for the construction of the Harris County Sheriff's Office Training Academy Expansion for the Office of the County Engineer (250346). |
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March 19, 2026 |
26-1971 |
Discussion and action regarding the 2022 Public Safety Bond Projects |
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March 31, 2026 |
26-2122 |
Execute agreements with Kitchell Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $8,168,295 for the Guaranteed Maximum Price for construction manager at risk for the construction of the Sheriff's Office Swift Water Training Facility for the Office of the County Engineer |
Location:
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Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 5/14/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: HCSO Director Mike Lee or Assistant Director Sean Williams
Attachments (if applicable):