Primary Department: Management and Budget
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Daniel Ramos, Executive Director
Secondary Department: County Engineer
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, County Engineer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): TBD
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):
title
Request for discussion and possible action to authorize use of up to $1.5 million from the Public Contingency Fund for containment and cleanup of chemicals that were released from a Bluebonnet Chemical Solutions facility in Baytown in December 2024.
end
Background and Discussion:
Commissioners Court policy on use of the Public Contingency Fund, formerly called the Public Improvement Contingency (PIC) fund, was most recently amended August 15, 2024 and states that “[c]ontingency funds are to be used for major, unforeseen events […] to respond, mitigate, or recover from an emergency endangering public health, safety, or property.”
On December 10, 2024, a fire was reported at the Bluebonnet Chemical Solutions facility in Baytown. Due to this fire, chemicals were released into the environment, including into channel Q112-05-00, which is a part of the County’s channel system. Additional liquid was discharged into the channel on December 12. Various Harris County departments have been responding to this chemical leak, including the Harris County Flood Control District (FCD), the Harris County Engineering Department (HCED), and the Harris County Pollution Control Services Department. Hazmat International Inc. (HMI) has been working with County departments to contain the spread of any released chemicals. Current estimates for the cost of the cleanup range to up to $1.5 million. Testing is anticipated to be completed in December 2024, and analysis and estimates for cleanup are underway. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will return to Commissioners Court if any additional funding authorization is needed.
For logistical and technical reasons, HCED will issue requisitions and purchase orders and pay invoices, even though other County departments, notably FCD, are most involved in day-to-day cleanup operations. Currently HCED has adequate balance in Public Contingency Fund budget to cover potential expenses, and OMB and HCED will monitor the balance in case any budget transfers are needed. If needed, any such transfers will be submitted for approval at a future Commissioners Court meeting.
Any funds received for this cleanup from litigation or other sources should be returned to the Public Contingency Fund.
Expected Impact:
Using the Public Contingency Fund will allow cleanup to proceed without impacting department budgets or operations.
Alternative Options:
Existing budget from departments can be used instead, but this could potentially impact County operations.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 5. Minimize the impact of climate change and disasters.
County Strategic Plan Objective: R: Enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency.
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): R3: Strengthen the County’s emergency response function.
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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Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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1020 - Public Improvement Contingency (PIC) Fund |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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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 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/9/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/9/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Disaster Recovery related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure,
Attachments (if applicable): N/A