The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) is requesting City Council approval of an ordinance authorizing the submission of an electronic grant application and the acceptance of funding from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA), under the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, in support of the FY26 Houston Auto Crimes Task Force/34 (HACTF/34) grant. The grant amount is $2,402,936.00, with a required City cash match of $540,634.00 and a required In-kind contribution of $1,886,064.00. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will allow the City to use a portion of employee salaries to satisfy the Cash Match requirement.  If awarded, this will mark the 34th year of HPD receiving this funding, which supports efforts to reduce auto theft in Houston and surrounding areas. The grant period will run from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026.

 

Total project amount is: $4,829,634.00. 

 

 As the lead agency, HPD has strengthened its partnerships with other law enforcement entities, including the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Police Department. These partner agencies provide personnel to support the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of individuals engaged in motor vehicle and auto parts theft. Grant funds will be used to cover personnel costs, including classified and civilian overtime, as well as professional and contractual services, travel to MVCPA conferences and board meetings, supplies, and equipment such as leased vehicles and tracking devices. Additional eligible expenses include air cards, monthly phone charges, a forklift, thermal surveillance equipment, and investigative software.

 

The Houston Police Department also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.

 

Fiscal Note:

Funding for this item is included in the FY26 Adopted Budget.  Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.  

 

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

 

 

 

 

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J. Noe Diaz, Jr. 

Chief of Police