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The Houston Ship Channel Security District, a unique public-private partnership, will continue to improve security and safety for facilities, employees and communities surrounding the Houston Ship Channel. The district leverages installation of proven modern technology and security infrastructure funded by Department of Homeland Security federal grants with maintenance, operations and matching dollars for enhancements provided by the district. Among those enhancements are specific security projects and services which increase preparedness and response capability to mitigate and eliminate potential threats within district boundaries.
District projects and services apply to members within the district.
Members include waterside and landside facilities along the Houston Ship
Channel, as well as associated supply chain and support industry surrounding
its community.
Security
District Legislation - House Bill 3011
HSCSD Fact Sheet
HSCSD Presentation
HSCSD Sample
Petition
Infrastructure improvements include:
- wireless and fiber optic-wired communications system that includes integrated analytics and intelligent video software
- surveillance and detection cameras of multiple styles and types, including closed-circuit TV
- night vision and motion detection technology
- land and water detection components such as radar, sonar, and security sensors
- enhanced radio communication
Services include:
- routine security capability, such as marked patrol boats, patrol cars, all terrain vehicles
- improved rapid response times
- improved information sharing, alerts and notifications
- surveillance of security district geography without infringement on privacy
- a consolidated, multi-agency operational and strategic command and control emergency response structure
Security District members include:
East Harris County Manufacturers Association plant facilities; Maritime company facilities regulated by MTSA (Maritime Transportation Security Act); Port of Houston Authority; and Harris County
Member assessments categories:
Member assessments and contributions for MTSA-regulated facilities fall
into six categories based on various criteria, including facility size.
Annual assessment categories are: $95,000; $65,000; $45,000; $25,000;
$15,000; and $5,000.
Member assessments and contributions for EHCMA facilities fall into nine
categories based on various criteria, including number of employees. Annual
assessment categories are: $250,000; $200,000; $150,000; $95,000; $65,000;
$45,000; $25,000; $15,000; and $5,000.
Exact assessment category recommendations can be found in the HSCSD Presentation
by clicking here.
Partners include:
Harris County Judge’s Office; Harris County Precinct 2; Harris County Sheriff’s Office; TranStar partners – TxDOT, METRO and City of Houston; Houston Ship Channel Security Council; University of Houston; U.S. Coast Guard.
Security District managed by member-dominated board:
The district will be managed by an 11-member board of directors, eight elected from manufacturing/maritime industry membership and three appointed members.
Boundaries include:
The district boundaries encapsulate specific manufacturing and maritime members along the Houston Ship Channel and in associated industrial districts. Although potentially within boundaries, the following are some entities excluded from membership: residential property; most retail or service businesses; utilities.
Q. What is the purpose of the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The ultimate purpose of the Houston Ship Channel Security District is to provide a greater degree of security and safety for facilities, employees and communities surrounding the Houston Ship Channel. The Houston Ship Channel Security District will provide a multi-layered, integrated security strategy which increases the level of security for both waterside and landside facilities in the Houston Ship Channel region, as well as the associated supply chain and support industry surrounding the ship channel region. The projects and services of the Houston Ship Channel Security District are designed to increase preparedness and response needed to address potential security threats within district boundaries.
Q. What is the structure of the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The Houston Ship Channel Security District is a unique public-private partnership that will help improve security within the ship channel area by providing funds for operations and maintenance of improved security infrastructure. The operations and maintenance funds will leverage the more than $30 million of Department Homeland Security grants for infrastructure improvements by funding improved surveillance, patrols, presence, equipment and operational structure.
Q. What are the security infrastructure improvements that are in place?
A. Although for security reasons we cannot give specific details, generally, the infrastructure improvements are part of nearly $30 million in federal homeland security funds that are providing the latest in technology, detection and oversight for security purposes. Some improvements are in place and more are scheduled over the coming years.
Q. Can you give a general overview of the security infrastructure?
A. Generally, we are providing wireless and fiber optic-wired communications systems, software that analyzes video images, high-tech night vision and motion-activated detection equipment; multiple styles of monitoring and detection cameras, including closed-circuit television; and land and water detection components, i.e., radar, sonar, and security sensors, etc. The Houston Ship Channel Security District will include more routine security capability, i.e., marked patrol boats, marked patrol cars, all-terrain vehicles, enhanced radio communication, and a consolidated multi-agency operational and strategic command and control emergency response structure. All of this will lead to improved information sharing, alerts and notifications, and improved rapid response times.
Q. Who created the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The authority to establish a Houston Ship Channel Security District
was granted by the Texas Legislature through H.B. 3011 during the 2007
legislative session and signed into law by Texas Gov. Rick Perry on June
15, 2007. The bill was authored by Representative Wayne Smith and
Senator Mike Jackson. The Port of Houston Authority, Harris County
and private petrochemical, chemical and refining facilities near the Houston
Ship Channel represented by the East Harris County Manufacturers Association
supported the establishment of the Houston Ship Channel Security District
after discussion with local information technology and security professionals
and the Department of Homeland Security officials.
In essence, local government and business leaders, along with information
technology and security professionals, understood the benefits of a dedicated
Houston Ship Channel Security District to deliver improved security for
our region.
Q. Who will lead the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The district will be governed by a board of directors, eight of
whom will be selected to represent the district’s four zones. The
majority of the facility owners in each of four zones each will select
two directors. One additional director will be the executive director
of the Port of Houston Authority or designee, and Harris County Commissioners
Court, and the Harris County Association of Mayors and Councils each will
appoint a director to the district board.
The directors will choose a presiding officer, secretary and other officers
of the board. The directors will be unpaid volunteers.
Q. Do any or all of the local cities have a seat on the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The legislation grants local cities representation on the Houston Ship Channel Security District board through one municipal appointment to be selected by the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association. Although the association is made up of all 36 cities in Harris County, the district representative will be from one of eight cities along the Houston Ship Channel: Baytown, Deer Park, Galena Park, Houston, La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena and Shoreacres. Therefore, each city in the district has the opportunity to serve on the board and to represent the other cities.
Q. How will members of the Houston Ship Channel Security District be assessed?
A. A recommendation for an assessment process is being formulated
by the Houston Ship Channel Security Council, an organizational/steering
committee of civic and business leaders and information technology and
security experts, that is making recommendations for implementation of
the Houston Ship Channel Security District. It is expected that
the recommended assessment process will be approved by an elected board.
Q. What is the proposed recommendation of membership annual assessments?
A. Member assessments and contributions for MTSA-regulated facilities
fall into six categories based various criteria, including facility size.
Annual assessment categories are: $95,000; $65,000; $45,000; $25,000;
$15,000; and $5,000.
Member assessments and contributions for EHCMA facilities fall into nine
categories based on various criteria, including number of employees. Annual
assessment categories are: $250,000; $200,000; $150,000; $95,000; $65,000;
$45,000; $25,000; $15,000; and $5,000.
Exact assessment category recommendations can be found in the HSCSD Presentation
by clicking here.
Q. Who collects and holds the assessed fees?
A. The Harris County Assessors Office will assess and collect the fees, which will then be dedicated for use by the Houston Ship Channel Security District.
Q. Are the fees collected dedicated to the security district?
A. Yes. The fees will be held by Harris County but disbursement of fees for projects will be decided by the board of the Houston Ship Channel Security District, which is to be elected by the members of the district.
Q. How long will this fee structure be in place?
A. The Houston Ship Channel Security Council, an organizational/steering committee of civic and business leaders and information technology and security experts, is making recommendations for implementation of the Houston Ship Channel Security District. The Council is recommending a three-year assessment. However, that will be determined by the board of the Houston Ship Channel Security District, which is to be elected by the members of the district.
Q. What do the assessment fees fund?
A. Generally, the fees are for operations and maintenance of high-technology infrastructure and equipment installed through Department of Homeland Security grants. Ultimately, the board of the Houston Ship Channel Security District, which is to be elected by the members of the district, will determine how the fees are disbursed.
Q. How does a company appeal its assessment?
A. That process will be determined by the board of the Houston Ship Channel Security District. which is to be elected by the members of the District.
Q. How does the Houston Ship Channel Security District handle changes in ownership, size, volume, etc.?
A. That will be determined by the board of the Houston Ship Channel Security District. which is to be elected by the members of the District.
Q. Who determines which Houston Ship Channel Security District projects will be funded?
A. The Houston Ship Channel Security District board of directors which primarily is elected by the members of the District.
Q. What do you mean by primarily elected by the members?
A. According to the legislation establishing the district and the recommendation of the steering committee working to implement the district, there will be 11 members of the board of the Houston Ship Channel Security District. Eight members of the board are elected by and from the security district manufacturing and maritime industry membership for approval by Harris County Commissioners Court. The executive director of the Port of Houston Authority will serve or can appoint a person to serve on his behalf. Two positions are appointed: the Harris County Association of Mayors and Councils will appoint one member; and Harris County Commissioners Court will appoint one at-large member.
Q. Who are the members of the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The district boundaries encapsulate specific manufacturing and maritime members along the Houston Ship Channel and in associated industrial districts. At this time, potential members of the Houston Ship Channel Security District include maritime companies regulated by MTSA (Maritime Transportation Security Act), refining, chemical and distribution companies that are members of the East Harris County Manufacturers Association, as well as the Port of Houston Authority and Harris County.
Q. Who is excluded from membership in the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. Although potentially within boundaries of the Houston Ship Channel Security District, the following are some entities excluded from membership: residential property; most retail or service businesses; and utilities;
Q. What is the estimated operations and maintenance cost for the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The costs are estimated at $4 million per year for the first three years and may fluctuate year to year beyond that.
Q. What do these costs fund?
A. The operating and maintenance funds raised by the Houston Ship Channel
Security District from assessments and contributions will provide operating
and maintenance dollars, as well as some limited matching funds, required
to operate and maintain security infrastructure improvements that are
being funded through more than $30 million in federal homeland security
funds for technology, detection and oversight security.
Q. What are the benefits of the Houston Ship Channel Security
District?
A. First and foremost, the Houston Ship Channel Security District
improves security and safety for facilities, employees and communities
surrounding the Houston Ship Channel.
In addition to providing more than $30 million in improved security infrastructure
for technology, detection and oversight, the Houston Ship Channel Security
District will establish a framework of security operations, including
dedicated and visible law enforcement personnel, marked patrol cars and
patrol boats, as well as continuous surveillance and detection throughout
the security network. Members within the district will receive improved
rapid response to security concerns from the dedicated personnel.
Additionally, the Houston Ship Channel Security District is seeking approval
for the district’s security plan and activities to meet requirements of
pending legislation that could be enacted on members of the Houston Ship
Channel Security District, and to meet individual company requirements
for the ACC Responsible Care Security Code.
The Houston Ship Channel Security District provides a collaborative approach
that is in line with National Infrastructure Protection Initiatives, is
cost-effective by spreading costs over a large membership, keeps individual
company costs for operations and maintenance low, and provides members
oversight and participation in security initiatives through the representative
board.
Q. What is the mission of the Houston Ship Channel Security District?
A. The Houston Ship Channel Security District mission is to continue to improve security and safety for facilities, employees and communities surrounding the Houston Ship Channel. The district leverages installation of proven modern technology and security infrastructure funded by Department of Homeland Security federal grants with maintenance and operations dollars to fund enhancement programs. Enhancements include specific security projects and services that increase preparedness and response capability to mitigate and eliminate potential security threats within district boundaries.
District projects and services apply to members within the district. Members include waterside and landside facilities along the ship channel, as well as associated supply chain and support industry surrounding the Houston Ship Channel community.
Q. Can the Houston Ship Channel Security District be disbanded after establishment?
A. Yes, if the mission of the Houston Ship Channel Security District is completed or if the district is no longer needed to meet the mission, the board of directors can recommend disbanding the district.
Q. How is the Houston Ship Channel Security District linked with the AMSC (Area Maritime Security Council)?
A. The Houston Ship Channel Security District is a separate entity from the AMSC. The Houston Ship Channel Security District is focused only on Harris County; whereas, the AMSC has a regional homeland security focus and covers the ports of Houston, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City. Members of the Houston Ship Channel Security District are engaged with AMSC.
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