The Director of the Houston Health Department (HHD) recommends City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the Third Amendment between the City of Houston (City) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) (TCEQ Contract No. 582-23-40032) for the PM 2.5 Micrometers air quality monitoring. This third amendment extends the contract term to August 31, 2026, and has an award amount of $122,859.32 and raising the contract maximum amount to $499,857.78 for FY 2026.
Specific Explanation:
The original grant contract was processed and fully executed under Controller Contract No.79838 NCA (No Council Action), with an effective date of October 14, 2022. The First Amendment was processed and executed under Controller Contract No. FC79838 NCA, with an effective date of August 1, 2023. The Second Amendment was processed and executed under Controller Contract No. C79838 NCA, with an effective date of June 26, 2024. The amounts of the original contract and the first and second amendments totaled $376,998.46 which were under the high value grant threshold and did not require council action.
Amendment 3 has an FY26 award amount of $122,859.32 and raising the contract maximum amount to $499,857.78 which makes this a high value grant. Pursuant to Administrative Policy 4-1, Grant Acquisition, Management and Compliance, city council approval is required for grants over $400,000 for the entire grant contract period. TCEQ elected to utilize its third of three one-year renewal options in accordance with Special Term and Condition, Article 1.
This contract requires the City to continue to operate and maintain air monitoring equipment at two (2) air monitoring network station sites located at the Clinton and Wayside locations in Houston, Texas. The data collected is used specifically to measure the Particulate Matter (PM) in the air. The Federal Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set air quality standards, including those for PM, to protect both public health and public welfare. The work reports and invoices for cost reimbursement are forwarded to TCEQ quarterly.
HHD also requests City Council to authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments and documents with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant assistance program, and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City's representative with the authority to apply for, to accept and expend subsequent supplemental awards, if any, and to extend the term and/or budget and project period not to exceed five years, if extended by TCEQ during the project period and if it does not require cash matching funds.
Grant Source:
The funding source for this project is from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality through the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Fiscal Note
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
______________________________
Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A.
Director, Houston Health Department