Primary Department: Fire Marshal
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Laurie L. Christensen, Fire Marshal
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
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 update and reclassify a position effective January 10, 2026.
end
Background and Discussion:
Our current staffing structure relies on only one canine handler, creating a significant operational and personal burden as this individual is consistently on call to provide canine services. This approach is not sustainable and does not support an appropriate balance between workload, readiness, and employee well-being.
A second full-time canine handler will enhance our ability to meet mission requirements by expanding deployment capacity, improving response reliability, and increasing availability for mutual aid and investigative support throughout Harris County. While part-time positions were previously intended to supplement investigative needs, their utilization has been limited due to variable personal schedules and inconsistent availability, resulting in diminished operational value.
Consolidating one part-time role into a full-time position ensures a more efficient and impactful use of allocated resources. This conversion supports improved service delivery, strengthens our investigative capability, and provides a more effective staffing model for the benefit of the county and the communities we serve.
The funding for this request is derived from consolidating three existing part-time Investigator positions into a single full-time Investigator position.
Expected Impact:
Enhances our ability to meet mission requirements by expanding deployment capacity, improving response reliability, and increasing availability for mutual aid and investigative support throughout Harris County
Alternative Options:
None
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
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): 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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Location: Countywide
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Investigations |
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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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1000 - General Fund |
$28,153 |
$ |
$28,153 |
$158,941 |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$28,153 |
$ |
$28,153 |
$158,941 |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$28,153 |
$ |
$28,153 |
$158,941 |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items 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 Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
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- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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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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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/8/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/10/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Tanisher Spiller, HR Manager, Standards, Evidence, and Compliance Division / HR Group
Attachments (if applicable): 3441, and Fire Investigator job description