Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
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):
title
Request for approval to purchase gas cards and/or gift cards for incentives in an amount not to exceed $3,750 for various Essential Worker Board community events through September 30, 2025.
end
Background and Discussion:
On November 30, 2021, Commissioners Court established the Harris County Essential Workers Board (EWB), adopting the EWB Bylaws and directing the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO) to launch the EWB. The purpose of the EWB is to provide feedback and recommendations to DEEO and other relevant Harris County Departments and, where appropriate, serve in an advisory capacity to Commissioners Court on Harris County programs, policies, and initiatives that recognize and support workers.
One of the board’s goals for the current year is to increase engagement and build stronger connections with the community. They plan to host several events throughout the year to strengthen communication channels and allow workers to more easily voice their concerns.
Expected Impact:
Attendance and participation are critical for the board's engagement with the essential workers community. Gas cards or gift cards are proven to be effective tools to incentivize community involvement. The board will follow the Harris County’s accounting procedures regarding program gift cards. Based on event budget and best practices, we set a limit for each card not exceeding $15 per person per event. This ultimately facilitates the board’s goal of connecting with their peers and providing meaningful outlets for discussion, leading to solutions that can improve the overall well-being of essential workers in Harris County.
DEEO has the funds to purchase the incentives within its budget; no additional funding is being requested.
Alternative Options:
The Commissioners Court can choose to not approve this item, and the board will continue to host events; however, participation will not be incentivized, and potential barriers for community participation would not be mitigated.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 3. Make our economy more inclusive.
County Strategic Plan Objective: Choose an item.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): L1: Design a set of policies for Harris County to set dynamic living wage rates and ensure essential worker protections and high-quality benefits for all Harris County contracts, employees, and economic agreements.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
6/4/2024 |
440 |
Transmittal by DEEO on behalf of the Harris County Essential Workers Board describing their inaugural town hall held on April 15, 2024 |
|
1/9/2024 |
236 |
Transmittal by DEEO of Essential Workers Board’s 2023 Annual Report |
|
1/31/2023 |
162 |
Approval of the stipend policy for the Essential Workers Board (EWB) members |
|
5/10/2022 |
281 |
Approved DEEO establishing a Stipend Policy |
|
11/30/2021 |
251 |
Creation of the Essential Workers Board |
Location:
Address (if applicable): Countywide
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Essential Workers Board |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$3,750 |
$3,750 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$3,750 |
$3,750 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$3,750 |
$3,750 |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
|
|
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: 1/23/2025
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:
Jie Wu, Director, Program Planning & Innovation, Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity
Bryonne Cummings, Assistant Director Policy, Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity
Attachments (if applicable): N/A