1001 Preston St., Suite 934 Harris County, Texas Houston, Texas 77002 Commissioners Court Agenda Lina Hidalgo, County Judge Rodney Ellis, Commissioner, Precinct 1 Adrian Garcia, Commissioner, Precinct 2 Tom S. Ramsey, P.E., Commissioner, Precinct 3 R. Jack Cagle, Commissioner, Precinct 4 Tuesday, March 30, 2021 10:00 AM Virtual Public Notice March 26, 2021 - NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING 21-1332 Opening Prayer Rabbi Dan Gordon of Temple Beth Torah in Humble. Appearances before court The Clerk of the Court or another person designated by the presiding member of the court shall keep the time for speakers . Those persons who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered to leave the meeting and recognition to speak may be refused at subsequent meetings of the court . Refusal to abide by the court’s order may result in a Contempt of Court Citation. It is the intention of the Harris County Commissioners Court to provide open access to all members of the public of Harris County to express themselves on issues addressed by County government . However, members of the public are reminded that the Harris County Commissioners Court is a constitutional court, created by the State with judicial, administrative and legislative powers. As such, the Harris County Commissioners Court possesses authority to issue Contempt of Court citations. Accordingly, persons shall conduct themselves with proper respect and decorum in addressing the Court, in participating in public discussions before the Court, and in all actions in the presence of the Court . Profane, insulting or threatening language, and racial, ethnic or gender slurs or epithets will not be tolerated . Those persons who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered to leave the meeting and recognition to speak may be refused at subsequent meetings of the Court. Refusal to abide by the Court’s Order may result in a Contempt of Court Citation. 3 minutes A speaker whose subject matter as submitted relates to an identifiable item of business on this agenda will be requested to come to the podium where they will be limited to three minutes. A speaker whose subject matter as submitted does not relate to an identifiable item of business on this agenda will be limited to three minutes if they have not appeared at any of the three preceding court meetings on the same issue . 1 minute A speaker whose subject matter as submitted does not relate to an identifiable item of business on this agenda and who has appeared at any of the three preceding court meetings on the same issue will be limited to one minute. Page 1 of 43 Commissioners Court Agenda March 30, 2021 COVID-19 1. Request by Budget Management for approval to extend authorization 21-1192 allowing employees the option to be paid for all hours worked directly related to the response and recovery of COVID-19 for the period of April 10, 2021 through April 23, 2021. 2. Request by Budget Management for approval to temporarily amend the 21-1194 Harris County Personnel Policies and Procedures to suspend the 75-day benefit waiting period for new employees until April 30, 2021. New regular position employees will be eligible for group health benefits the first day of the pay period following seven days of continuous employment. 3. Request by Budget Management for approval to amend the flexible spending 21-1251 account plan to allow employees to roll over any contributions remaining in their accounts for the 2020-21 plan year, to increase the 2021 maximum contribution limit for dependent care, and to allow employees who are contributing to a flexible spending account in the 2021-22 plan year an open enrollment period to make any prospective changes to their flexible spending elections for the 2021-22 plan year. 4. Recommendation by Budget Management to provide up to eight hours of 21-1326 paid time off for regular employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination and to recover from any side effects caused by the vaccine effective with the current pay period. 5. Request by Public Health Services for approval of one of three options with 21-1207 respect to contact tracing operational funding for April 1-30, 2021. 6. Request by Public Health Services for approval of an amendment to a 21-1285 Memorandum of Agreement with Harris County Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Inc. 7. Request by Public Health Services that the County Judge execute a 21-1268 memorandum of understanding with SPG Houston Holdings, LP, for access to common areas at Houston Premium Outlets as part of the COVID-19 Community Outreach Program for the period of March 31, 2021-March 30, 2022. 8. Request by Community Services for approval of amendments to agreements 21-1274 with United Health Partners, Inc. and Tetra Tech, Inc., in support of the joint City of Houston and Harris County Medical Isolation and Recovery Center to extend the terms of services through June 30, 2021 and add additional funding in the amount of $550,000. Page 2 of 43 Commissioners Court Agenda March 30, 2021 9. Request by the District Clerk for approval to increase Juror Pay for the 21-1247 duration of the pandemic to $50 for the first day and $80 for subsequent days. This would require an additional budget appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021-22 of $1,819,946 to be effective May 3, 2021, to coincide with the beginning of Jury Appreciation Week. Secondly, it is being requested to fund and allocate a budget of $200,000 to publicize the juror pay increase to the citizens of Harris County. In addition, the District Clerk is also asking that Harris County provide free parking at 1401 Congress Parking Garage to individuals who are selected to serve on a jury. 10. Transmittal by the Purchasing Agent of a public health or safety exemption 21-1039 with Guidehouse LLP in the amount of $294,000 to provide technical assistance and testing support to Harris County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program for the period of March 30, 2021-December 31, 2021. 11. Request by the County Judge for discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 21-952 county’s responses to the pandemic, and possible action regarding the same. 12. Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 1 for discussion and possible action 21-1324 to develop an equity framework for Harris County’s allocation of American Rescue Plan funds to effectively address the needs of communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 13. Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 2 for approval of up to $3 million 21-1263 from the COVID Response and Recovery Fund for an overtime initiative for certain units of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office targeting violent and serious crimes. 14. Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 3 for discussion and possible action 21-1210 regarding reopening of the Harris County libraries. County Engineer 15. Recommendation for Discussion and Possible Action on the Allocation and 21-996 Uses of the $31,916,105 Metro Transfer. 16. Transmittal by the Office of the County Engineer, the Harris County Flood 21-1295 Control District, the Harris County Toll Road Authority, the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Harris County Community Services Department, and Harris County Public Health to provide an update on the status of the Infrastructure Resilience Team (IRT) Phase I Progress Report of the Harris County Flood Resilience Plan as outlined by the IRT Court Letter of September 15th of 2020, which is ready for Community Flood Resilience Task Force (CFRTF) input and review. 17. Recommendation that Commissioners Court Approve the transmittal of 21-997 Notices of Road and Bridge Log Changes and for these Road and Bridge Changes to be Reflected in the Harris County Road Log. Page 3 of 43 Commissioners Court Agenda March 30, 2021 18. Recommendation that the Court approve a study report prepared by WSB & 21-1022 Associates, Inc. dba Nathelyne A. Kennedy & Associates for improvements to Salt Water Ditch, agreement approved January 28, 2020, purchase order FCNTL_0000000861, UPIN 20090MF1F301, Precinct 1. 19. Recommendation that the Court approve a study report prepared by Binkley 21-1023 & Barfield, Inc. for Apache Land Subdivision Drainage Improvements, agreement approved January 8, 2020, purchase order FCNTL_0000000404, UPIN 19102MF12S01, Precinct 2. 20. Recommendation for authorization of certain projects, decreeing the projects 21-1026 to be a public necessity and convenience, directing the Harris County Real Property Division to acquire, and authorizing eminent domain if necessary for one (1) fee simple tract for the public project known as Anderson Road - Hiram Clarke Road to Almeda Road - 2018, for the purpose of roadway detention, UPIN 19101MF0XY01, Precinct 1. 21. Recommendation for authorization of certain projects, decreeing the projects 21-1027 to be a public necessity and convenience, directing the Harris County Real Property Division to acquire, and authorizing eminent domain if necessary for one (1) road easement tract for the public project known as Traffic Signal - Woodforest Blvd. at Normandy Dr. - 2018, for the purpose of traffic signal reconstruction with pedestrian related appurtenances, UPIN 19035MF15501, Precinct 2. 22. Recommendation for authorization for Harris County to convey real estate to 21-1028 the City of Baytown for tract 1WLE, a 0.0318 acre waterline easement from the Wallisville Road Reconstruction from Garth Road to North Main Street project and that the County Judge execute the assignment of easement rights, UPIN 18102MF0S601, Precinct 2. 23. Recommendation for authorization for HCFCD to convey real estate to the 21-1029 North Harris County Regional Water Authority for tract E141-00-00-05-601.0, a 2.888 acre right of way easement from the E141-00-00-05-601.0 - Donation to NHCRWA project and that the County Judge execute the assignment of easement rights, Precinct 4.