Primary Department: Flood Control District
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Tina Petersen
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID: Z100-00-00-P044
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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):
title
Request by the Flood Control District for approval to provide additional funding to the United States Army Corps of Engineers in an amount not to exceed a total of $500,000, with $425,000 to be authorized for federal activities as described in Agreement No. 2024-25 and $75,000 to be authorized for technical assistance as described in Agreement No. 2024-26 to support Phase 1 of the SAFER Study and to continue with the two Memoranda of Agreement executed on June 4, 2024 (Bond ID Z-08).
end
Background and Discussion:
The Solutions for Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and Resilience (SAFER) Study is a new feasibility study that the Flood Control District has initiated, following Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 as amended by Section 161 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (33 U.S.C. § 2231). The goals of this study effort are to reduce flood risks and strengthen resiliency within Harris County, and to better prepare the region to withstand the flood risks of today and those of the foreseeable future.
Two Memoranda of Agreement were established with the Flood Control District (approved in Commissioner’s Court on June 4, 2024) to provide funding for USACE to provide model review and NEPA compliance, as well as providing guidance and technical assistance on the SAFER study. The previously approved funding is now nearly completely spent, and additional funding is necessary to continue working with USACE.
Support from USACE for federal activities will be crucial to make sure HCFCD is applying policies and criteria correctly, especially with updates related to federal procedures for water resources feasibility studies that are currently underway for federal projects. Therefore, it is recommended that Commissioner’s Court authorize funding for $500,000, total, for services outlined in the MOAs for federal activities and technical assistance (agreement nos. 2024-25 and 2024-26) with the USACE and continue with the Memoranda of Agreement.
Expected Impact:
The approval of funding will allow USACE to provide federal activities and technical assistance in support of the SAFER Study as outlined in the Phase 1 Scope of work for USACE.
Alternative Options:
The alternative would be to not provide funding for USACE federal assistance support. Failure to provide the payment will increase the risk that significant comments, and potential costly revisions, will be required for the SAFER Study submittals once the final reports are turned in for review.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): H2: Evaluate the feasibility and potential impacts of substantial, large-scale flood mitigation measures to provide equitable and transformational regional benefits.
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: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
June 4, 2024 |
199. |
Request for approval of two memoranda of agreement with the Department of the Army, in the amount of $20,000 each, for the Undertaking of Federal Activities Relating to the Solutions for Adaptive Flood Mitigation Equitably Empowering Resilient Communities Section 203 Study and for the Provision of Inherently Governmental Functions and Technical Assistance Relating to the Solutions for Adaptive Flood Mitigation Equitably Empowering Resilient Communities Section 203 Study (Project ID Z100-00-P044, Agreement Nos. 2024-25 and 2024-26, Countywide) |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
4.a.5 - Planning Services |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Bonds |
$ |
$113,625 |
$113,625 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$113,625 |
$113,625 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$113,625 |
$113,625 |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 5/22/2025
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: Dena Green, HCFCD - Partnerships & Programs, 346-284-4220
Attachments (if applicable): Request Letter