Harris County commissioners requested additional information to create a new county committee that aims to streamline the process for moving infrastructure projects forward at the county level. The action follows concerns regarding the county's transparency and efficiency in addressing large infrastructure needs.
The big picture
County Administrator Erica Lee Carter presented the committee's structure and scope during the June 11 meeting, stating it will focus on creating standardized processes and procedures for infrastructure-related projects across all county departments. The proposed members include a representative from each commissioner's office, HCFCD, Office of the County Engineer, Harris County Toll Road Authority and will be chaired by the county administrator.
"This committee would ensure we stay laser focused on your priorities and institute plans," Carter said. "We would try to have more consistent protocols across departments for project-based. We would want to make sure our costs, our budgets and schedules had reduced bureaucracy and red tape. We would look at our delivery speed and increase accountability and, of course, overall rate the level of excellence."
According to agenda documents, the committee would also keep track and create standardized reports for multiple infrastructure initiatives that have been operating under their own committees, including:
- Downtown Master Plan
- Vision Zero workgroup
- Transportation Master Plan
- Hardy Connector committee
- 2018 Flood Bond workgroup
- Subdivision Drainage workgroup
- Infrastructure Goal Area Committee
- Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force
As part of the committee, Carter outlined a chief infrastructure officer role, which would provide day-to-day administration of the committee.
The discussion
Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said while he enjoyed the concept of a single committee to provide oversight on a number of infrastructure projects, he was concerned that a new committee would only add additional steps to a project. Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia shared the sentiment.
"I am going to want to have a conversation to ensure that the primary goal of this is not to create more bureaucracy, but it's absolutely to affect the efficiency and more timeliness of project delivery, so that we can get more things done sooner rather than later," Garcia said.
Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey also agreed with the concept, but wanted assurances that the committee would have regular, actionable items that moved county infrastructure projects forward in a meaningful way.
"I'm not really interested in our people spending a lot more time having to do [committee meetings]," Ramsey said. "But if there's great benefit, somebody, when they leave the meeting, they should say, 'Man, we solved three problems today that have been plaguing us.'"
Garcia and Ramsey were also concerned about the hiring or designation of a new position without additional details regarding the actual day-to-day duties of the CIO, who would report to the county administrator.
The action taken
Commissioners ultimately requested that Carter bring additional information on how the committee would take actual actions on moving countywide projects forward. Ellis and Garcia both requested that Carter meet with departments like county engineering and purchasing to also get buy-in from county employees who work closely with such projects.
Carter said she may be able to bring additional information to the next business court meeting June 25.
