Gwendolyn F. Climmons

This Investment Policy for Fort Bend County establishes comprehensive guidelines and procedures for the prudent and systematic investment of county funds, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, including the Public Funds Investment Act. The policy prioritizes the safety of principal and maintenance of adequate liquidity, followed by optimizing yield. Key objectives include diversification, maturity management, quality investment management, and transparent disclosure. The policy outlines specific investment strategies and responsibilities to safeguard county assets and achieve financial goals through disciplined investment practices.

This Investment Strategy Statement for Fort Bend County details the framework for investing available funds in compliance with State and Federal Regulations, applicable Bond Resolution requirements, and its adopted Investment Policy. It establishes core priorities including investment suitability, preservation and safety of principal, liquidity, marketability, diversification, and yield. The strategy outlines tailored investment guidelines for General Operating Funds, Construction and Capital Improvement Funds, and Debt Service Funds, aiming to enhance interest earnings and mitigate investment risk while meeting each fund's unique cash flow and liquidity requirements.

The Steering Committee meeting focused on the Brazos River Corridor Recreation Master Plan. Key discussions included receiving an update from the GIS Subcommittee and reviewing sample surveys from past and current RTCA projects, noting the advantages of electronic surveys while emphasizing the need for brevity and visual aids. The committee thoroughly reviewed the Community Processes Matrix to determine preferred methods for gathering community and stakeholder input, ultimately deciding to employ targeted electronic surveys (using Survey Monkey and potentially Mindmixer), conducting interviews (including with landowners and local government officials), and planning for future Planning Workshop(s). Next steps involve identifying stakeholders for interviews/focus groups, determining survey audiences and costs, and exploring social media options for awareness.

The meeting focused on the Brazos River Corridor Recreation Master Plan. Key discussions included a presentation on GIS capabilities and the potential for a Public Map Viewer, with next steps involving continued GIS database maintenance and password-protected access for committee members. The committee also discussed a polling initiative by the Trust for Public Land (TPL), brainstorming specific questions regarding TPL's benefits, polling scope, conservation easements, and associated costs. Furthermore, the group brainstormed essential data and venues for collecting public and stakeholder input, such as desired information on future land uses, connection values, gap analysis, stakeholder visions, and ground-truthing documentation. Methods for public input included online surveys, attending existing group meetings, and community forums.

This document outlines Fort Bend County's Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2024, covering the period from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025. It details the recommended projects and funding allocations for federal programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The plan specifies the projected use of funds across various categories such as public infrastructure, public services, housing rehabilitation, and homeless services, with the aim of addressing identified community needs through these federal grants.