The Harris County Commissioners Court met on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 1001 Preston Street to address key infrastructure, public safety, and equity-related issues across the region. Led by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the meeting included discussions on flood bond project prioritization, broadband access, and budget constraints, with several major items specifically affecting residents of Harris County Precinct 3.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey actively participated in the session, advocating for transparency in flood control planning and securing several infrastructure improvements for neighborhoods in North and West Harris County.

What’s New for Precinct 3 Residents

1. Neighborhood Drainage Improvements

• A $514,898 contract was approved for study-phase services for Arcadian Gardens Phase 1 to address stormwater drainage issues in this subdivision.

• A $713,706 agreement with Landtech Consultants will fund design work for Tower Oaks Meadows subdivisiondrainage improvements.

2. Lighting and Safety Enhancements

• The court approved 84 new streetlights for the Barrett Crossing neighborhood, aimed at improving visibility and public safety for local residents.

• A resident petition from Enchanted Oaks resulted in the posting of new “No Overnight Parking” signs to deter commercial vehicles from parking on residential streets overnight.

3. Community Recognition

A resolution sponsored by Commissioner Ramsey honored Kingwood High School for winning state championships in both baseball and softball during the 2025 season.

4. New Development Approvals

Commissioners approved new plat maps in Precinct 3, including LaReserva Back Ranch and a project by Vela Partners LLC.

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5. Commissioner Ramsey’s Fiscal and Policy Contributions

• Ramsey emphasized the importance of transparency in flood bond project selection, proposing a successful amendment to fully fund Quartile 1 projects and evaluate Quartile 2 projects with partner funding by September 2025.

• During the broadband roadmap presentation, Ramsey questioned the data showing fewer connectivity issues in Precinct 3 and encouraged deeper analysis to identify underserved rural pockets.

• He proposed reallocating up to $180 million in flexible ARPA funds to reduce the county’s $300 million budget deficit, particularly to cover jail operations and indigent defense.

• Ramsey called for follow-through on engineering contract scoring reforms, originally approved in 2024 but not yet clearly implemented.

Countywide Decisions Impacting All Harris County Residents

1. Flood Control Equity and Transparency

Commissioners passed a motion to fully fund all Quartile 1 flood bond projects using the 2022 equity framework. The Harris County Flood Control District must deliver by September 18, 2025:

• A complete project schedule

• A public dashboard updated every 6 months

• A feasibility report on funding Quartile 2 projects with co-funding partners

2. Broadband Expansion Roadmap

The Harris County Broadband Roadmap, presented by U.S. Ignite, found:

• 171,000 households lack broadband

• 220,000 rely solely on smartphones

Recommended actions include:

• Launching a Broadband Task Force by October

• Mapping existing fiber infrastructure

• Expanding digital navigator programs

• Developing public-private partnerships with internet providers

3. Mental Health and Jail Diversion Programs

The Court approved over $8.8 million in behavioral health investments:

• $980,594 for Crisis Intervention Response Teams

• $3.37 million to The Harris Center for jail diversion

• Additional ARPA-funded outreach and community stabilization services.

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4. Public Health and Disease Monitoring

Harris County Public Health entered agreements to:

• Track infectious diseases through wastewater testing with the City of Seabrook

• Support training with UTHealth’s environmental medicine program.

5. Budget and Procurement Reform

Faced with a $300 million shortfall, Judge Hidalgo and others signaled:

• Cuts of up to 10% may be required across departments

• ARPA “Flex Funds” may be redirected

• Flood and engineering contract selection must follow transparent scoring procedures

6. Housing and Community Development

The Court:

• Adopted the 2025 HUD Action Plan

• Modified earlier funding years to support affordable housing

• Approved steps to explore Public Facility Corporations to help develop more units.

7. Fleet, Justice, and Cybersecurity Upgrades

• A $684,000 Microsoft contract was approved to modernize the county’s Integrated Justice System

• Multiple TCEQ grants supported fleet electrification across departments and precincts

How to Stay Informed and Participate

Precinct 3 residents can:

• Watch meeting recordings at harriscountytx.gov/Government/Court-Agenda/Court-Videos

• Submit public comment online or attend future Commissioners Court sessions

• Contact the Precinct 3 office with questions or feedback

  • Office: 1001 Preston, Suite 924, Houston, Texas 77002
  • Phone: 713-274-3000 
  • Email: pct3@pct3.com 

Stay with My Neighborhood News for updates on infrastructure, flood control, broadband, and budget decisions that impact your community.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.