CITY & COUNTY
Top city & county stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
FEMA ood map, MAAPnext release expected in 2023
Harris County to initiate work on projects for $1.2B bond package
Chamber pursues management district on FM 1960
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023
FLOOD MAPS: FROM MODELING TO ADOPTION The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Harris County Flood Control District have been working on concurrent ood mapping projects for Harris County. MAAPNEXT PROJECT (completed) Work on HCFCD's Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project begins. 2019 The HCFCD reports being 70% done with ood plain maps, projecting FEMA will release preliminary maps in spring or summer 2022. May 2021 Jan. 25, 2022 The HCFCD reports being 96% done with its work and shifts its projection for FEMA’s map release to summer or fall 2022. Feb. 22, 2022 The HCFCD says it has sent mapping data to FEMA. FEMA expects to release preliminary ood insurance rate maps, or FIRMs, in 2023, at which point the MAAPnext dashboard goes live. HCFCD and FEMA will hold open houses. 2023 RELEASE OF PRELIMINARY MAPS 18-24-month period after release: • Residents have 90 days to provide feedback on the FIRMs, which may be revised before being nalized. • Communities have six months to adopt or amend ood plain ordinances based on the new FIRMs. SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
THE 2022 BOND PACKAGE
Although commissioners split the vote to put the bond on the ballot 3-2, voters signaled their approval for all three propositions during the Nov. 8 election. More details on individual projects are expected in 2023.
BY HANNAH BROL & RACHEL CARLTON
BY RACHEL CARLTON
Carl Apple, director of communications for the county’s engineering department, said his department is working with the Oce of County Administration to develop an implementation strategy for bond projects, and he anticipates a “busy year” with the process of bidding and assigning projects beginning in 2023. “We’re preparing for that to begin to happen in the coming months; within the next few months we’ll all know more about the process, including opportunities for public engagement,” Apple said. Projects will eventually be presented to Commissioners Court for approval. As of press
HARRIS COUNTY The Federal Emergency Management Agency will release Harris County’s preliminary ood insurance rate maps sometime in 2023, according to Harris County Flood Control District ocials. The HCFCD projected in a May 2021 update that FEMA would release the maps in the spring or summer of 2022, but has continually pushed back its estimate. FEMA ocials could not conrm a specic release date. Local ood control entities partner with FEMA to provide information for those maps, which show ood risk and mandate ood insurance in high-risk areas. HCFCD Planning Division Director Ataul Hannan said FEMA’s maps have not been updated countywide since 2007. Work on the countywide update began in 2019 with the advent of the Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project, or MAAPnext, which uses updated rainfall and topographic data to create comprehensive maps and ood risk tools that residents will be able to access with an online dashboard. Ocials said MAAPnext’s dashboard will complement the release of FEMA’s maps. A process will then begin to revise the maps before they become ocial in late 2024 or 2025. Early in that process, residents will have 90 days to comment on the maps, and communities will have to adopt or amend their ood plain management ordinances.
Proposition B
Proposition C
Proposition A
BY EMILY LINCKE
HARRIS COUNTY Voters gave the go-ahead Nov. 8 on three Harris County bond propositions totaling $1.2 billion for public safety facilities, roads and parks. As previously reported by Community Impact , Proposition A allocated $100 million for public safety facilities; Proposition B allotted $900 million for roads, drainage and multimodal transportation; and Proposition C designated $200 million for parks. Each of the three propositions were approved by voters with 55.55%, 69.08% and 63.33% of all votes in favor, respectively.
$100M for public safety facilities
$900M for roads, drainage and multimodal transportation
HARRIS COUNTY In hopes of targeting crime along FM 1960 between Cutten and Cali/Hafer roads, the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce continues to work toward the creation of a local management district. Since October 2021, the HNWCC has been meeting with utility districts along FM 1960 concerning a $3.9 million contract with the Precinct 4 con- stable’s oce for full-time patrol services along the corridor. Chamber President and CEO Bobby Lieb said he hopes to wrap up presentations in February and to negotiate a joint powers agree- ment for the districts in 2023. The districts could fund the contract through general funds or by levying a tax on businesses.
$1.2B TOTAL
$200M for parks
Construction wrapping up on George H.W. Bush Community Center Harris County Precinct 3 ocials hope to wrap up construction on the George H.W. Bush Community Center—located in the Cypress Creek Cultural District at 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring—in the rst quarter of 2023. Construction began on the $4.5 million project in November 2021. Upon completion, the 24,500-square-foot community center will feature a grand hall, a kitchen, classrooms and multiple gathering spaces for the community. The new community center is located in the Cypress Creek Cultural District. (Emily Lincke/Community Impact)
VOTER APPROVAL
55.55% 69.08% 63.33%
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORCOMMUNITY IMPACT
time Jan. 11, specic bond projects slated for the Spring and Klein community had not been announced. The rst Commissioners
Court meeting of the year was Jan. 10, when newly elected Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones began her four- year term.
SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239
NORTH LOUETTA 1614 Louetta (281) 350-1198 KUYKENDAHL 13313 Kuykendahl (281) 873-5220
LOUETTA 7314 Louetta (281) 370-1986
WILLOWBROOK 6927 FM 1960 W (281) 580-1734
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