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Harris County commissioners to receive pay parity report, Harris Health bond update

Harris County commissioners are set to hear discussion on nearly 350 items, ranging from an update on the 2023 Harris Health voter-approved bond projects and the countywide pay parity project.

The big picture: According to a list of agenda discussion items for the court's Feb. 26 meeting, commissioners will receive an update on the countywide compensation and pay equity project—an effort that kicked off in 2025 and included studying role descriptions and salaries of law enforcement and county employees.

Also on the agenda: Commissioners will also receive an update on the progress of the $2.5 billion bond approved by voters for Harris Health projects. In January, officials with Harris Health announced the fundraising effort led to help support the bond infrastructure projects had reached $99 million, just $1 million short of the district's goal.

Stay tuned: Harris County Commissioners Court meetings are held at 9 a.m. in Downtown Houston. The administration building is located at 1001 Preston St., Houston. Meetings are also available to livestream 

 
Stay In The Know
Harris County ESD 9 officials to discuss status of 2023 Citygate audit recommendations

 
During its upcoming Feb. 26 meeting, the Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9 board of commissioners will review a status report on several growth and efficiency recommendations from a 2023 audit of the Cy-Fair Fire Department.

In a nutshell: CFFD officials will present an up-to-date look at the department’s implementation plan in response to a 2023 audit from consulting firm Citygate Associates, which identified challenges including personnel shortages and service gaps in the community. 

Looking back: Citygate presented its findings to the board in the fall of 2023, and the fire department shortly after released a phased plan detailing how it would implement the recommendations over the next several years, Community Impact previously reported.

Also on the agenda: Other items of note for the Feb. 26 meeting include a status report on an upcoming human resources audit, fire station construction updates and potential changes to ESD 9 policies, per the agenda. 

Stay tuned: The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the ESD 9 Administration Building at 10710 Telge Road, Houston. 

 
Mark Your Calendar
Where to see rising country music stars at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

With the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo quickly approaching, lineups for smaller stages, such as The Junction Stage and The Hideout, have recently been released. 

Located in different spots across the grounds, the stages offer smaller performances that vary in times and prices. 

The Garden Stage: Presented by Cotton Holdings, the stage hosts Texas country music performers during the World’s Champion Bar-B-Que Contest.

  • Feb. 26, 6:15-10:45 p.m.; Feb. 27, 3:30-10:45 p.m.; Feb. 28, 12:30-11 p.m.
  • Open to the public
  • Center of the contest grounds


The Hideout: Known as the rodeo’s very own honky tonk, The Hideout features a spacious dance floor, bars and up-and-coming musicians.

  • March 3-21; music begins at 10:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
  • 21 and up, open to the public
  • Located in a white tent on the west side of NRG Arena

 
Metro News
Coalition for the Homeless to conduct annual Point-in-Time survey Feb. 24-26

Hundreds of volunteers will hit the streets Tuesday night across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties to begin the annual Point-in-Time survey, which catalogues the number of individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in the three counties.

How it works: The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County and The Way Home have been conducting the annual survey since 2011. The survey provides a snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness year-over-year.

Volunteers will count sheltered individuals Feb. 23 as the official "night of record," according to a Feb. 20 news release. Meanwhile, the unsheltered portion of the count will take place over three days—Feb. 24-26.

Why it matters: The count is typically a part of a federal funding process for local homelessness response systems like The Way Home.

"The count helps identify service gaps, geographic shifts and emerging needs across the region and allows the community to track trends over time using a consistent methodology."

 

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