Harris County ESD 13

November 2023 Property Tax Rate Election

julia.peterson@hcesd13.org (Julia Peterson) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:35:29 GMT

On November 7, 2023, Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13 will be having an Election.

What is an Emergency Services District?

An Emergency Services District (“ESD”) is a local political subdivision of the State created by an election(s), that provide fire, rescue, EMS and other emergency services. Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) are authorized by the Texas Constitution, Article 3, Section 48-e, and Chapter 775 of the Texas Health & Safety Code.

ESDs may collect a sales and use tax and/or property taxes to support or provide these services. ESDs are governed by a Board of five (5) Commissioners who are either appointed or elected. There are more than 340 emergency services districts operating in Texas across 90 counties.

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13 (“HCESD 13”) also known as Cypress Creek Fire Department is an ESD that is governed by five (5) elected commissioners and is funded by property taxes. HCESD 13 is made up of about 150 firefighters and provides fire suppression & rescue first response services to a 25 square mile district and to the greater FM1960 area in conjunction with our automatic aid departments.

History of Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13

In 1976, the Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department was created. In 1984 voters approved the creation of the Harris Rural Fire Prevention District No. 13. District Commissioners were appointed by the Harris County Commissioners Court and the District entered into an agreement with Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department to provide fire protection and prevention services within the common service areas in exchange for revenue provided by the District.

In October 2003, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the new designation, based on the Texas Legislature passed in September, 2003, changing Harris County Rural Fire Prevention District No. 13 to Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13.

In April of 2016, the District hired first full-time firefighters. Cypress Creek Fire Department is a Public Protection Classification (PPC) ISO-rated Class 3 department that staffs trained, career and volunteer professionals. PPC’s are reviewed for fire protection and fire prevention capabilities and are rated on a scale from 1 through 10, with a 1 being the best and 10 being the worst.

Cypress Creek Fire Department services approximately 80,000 residents within 25 square miles of unincorporated Harris County about 20 miles northwest of downtown Houston, Texas. Currently the District has 46 full-time personnel, 64 hourly personnel and 30 volunteers.

Growth of Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13

The communities within the District have experienced a large growth since the beginning of the District. In 1980 the District had a population of about 19,000 residents. Since 2023, the District has a population of over 80,00 residents and over 33 square miles of service. Recent residential and commercial developments have increased and have created a larger demand for District services.

What is a tax approval election?

Each year an ESD has to establish a Budget based on the year’s Tax Rate. Creating a budget and adopting a property tax rate to support that budget are major functions of a taxing unit’s governing body. The maintenance and operation tax rate are the tax rate that is levied by an ESD to fund the operation and maintenance of the District. Operations at HCESD 13 are funded through a combination of ad valorem property taxes and sales and use tax revenue. The ad valorem property tax amount for all ESDs is limited by the Texas Constitution at a rate of $0.10 per $100 of assessed property value; the local sales and use tax rate of HCESD 13 is 1% of the maximum 8.25% state sales tax. The combination of these two revenues funds the strategic plan and overall District goals for HCESD 13.

What will the ballot look like?

The November 7, 2023 ballot for HCESD 13 will read as follows:

Proposition A:

“Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $0.091852 per $100 valuation in Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13 for the current year, a rate that is $0.006225 higher per $100 valuation than the voter-approval tax rate of Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13, for the purpose of maintaining fire protection and rescue services. Last year, the ad valorem tax rate in Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13 was $0.091852 per $100 valuation.”

What does this mean for my property taxes?

Ad valorem property tax for an ESD cannot be higher than $0.10 per $100 of assessed property value per the Texas Constitution. The 2022 Tax Rate for HCESD 13 was $ 0.091852 . The Board for HCESD 13 adopted its 2023 Tax Rate to be $0.091852, which is the same rate as 2022.

Why is an Election needed if the Tax Rate adopted is the same as last year?

Under the Texas Tax Code, a voter approval tax rate provides the taxing unit with about the same amount of tax revenue it spent the previous year for day-to-day operations, plus an extra three and a half percent increase for those operations, and sufficient funds to pay debts in the coming year. The voter approval rate does not account for new property or growth. The taxing unit is required to hold an election to approve the tax rate on the next uniform election date if it adopts a tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval rate calculated for the District. The voter approval rate was calculated by the Harris County Tax Assessor. This year, HCESD 13’s voter approval rate for 2023 was $0.085627, which is significantly lower than the 2022 voter approval rate of $0.089962. By keeping the 2023 tax rate the same as the 2022 tax rate, this will help for the purpose of maintaining fire protection and rescue services.

How much more will I have to pay if the Proposition passes?

Zero dollars per $100,000 on a home. Since the 2022 Tax Rate was $0.091852 and the adopted 2023 Tax Rate was $0.091852, the difference in dollars is zero per $100,000 on a home.

If the change is zero dollars, why does the ballot say the rate is higher?

The difference in cent value is from the current year voter approval rate and not comparing the previous tax rate to the current adopted tax rate. This is not a difference between last year’s adopted rate and this year’s adopted rate. There is no rate difference between the 2022 Tax Rate and the 2023 Tax Rate.

How will my Property Taxes be used?

If the proposition passes by a majority vote, property taxes collected will be used to fund personnel for fire services, training, purchase of apparatus and equipment for firefighters, repair, update or replace any apparatus needed, keep equipment up to standard and the purchase of land to provide services throughout the District.

How much does it take to protect a firefighter?

A firefighter’s uniform known as bunker gear costs an average of $4,000 per firefighter. The average cost of a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), which provides firefighters the greatest amount of airway protection from toxic gas and harmful particulates resulting from a fire is $5,000. With 150 firefighters, this costs the District $1,350,000.00 just to make sure that firefighters are protected.

How much does a firetruck cost?

The average price for a ladder truck is $1.8 million. The additional equipment needed for the ladder truck is an average of $300,000, for a total of $2.1 million. The average ladder truck that is on the road today that is used to put out fires’ costs $2,000,000.

What happens if the Proposition does not pass?

If voters do not approve the proposition on the November 7, 2023 ballot, the ad valorem tax rate would decrease from $0.091852/$100 valuation to $0.085627/$100, which is a total revenue loss of $705,532 for the District to be funded and continuing to maintaining fire protection and rescue services.

What voter precincts can vote on this Proposition?

125, 244, 442, 478, 479, 481, 484, 486, 519, 597, 602, 609, 688, 694, 768, 805, 823, 828

Where do I vote and when?

Early voting will begin October 23, 2023, and go through November 3 2023, and Election Day will be November 7, 2023.

Early voting will be conducted between Monday, October 23, 2023, through Friday, October 28, 2023, 7AM – 7PM; Sunday, October 29, 2023, 12PM – 7PM; Monday, October 30, 2023, through Friday, November 3, 2023, 7AM – 7PM. Election Day will be conducted on November 7, 2023, from 7AM – 7PM. Here is a link where you can find your nearest polling place. REMEMBER, you can vote at any location that is open in Harris County during Early Voting and on Election Day! https://www.harrisvotes.com/Vote-Centers

Information Prepared by: Krystine Ramon, Attorney

Station 25 Welcomes HART

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:33:11 GMT

Holistic Assistance Response Teams (HART) is headed to Cypress Creek.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 6, 2023

Contact: Julia Peterson, Office Assistant/PIO (281) 894-0151 pr@hcesd13.org

CCFD STATION 25 WELCOMES HART

CYPRESS, TX – As of Thursday June 15, 2023, personnel from the HART teams will begin responding from Cypress Creek Fire Department Station 25.

“The HART program aims to improve community health and safety by quickly providing response to residents experiencing homelessness, behavioral health issues, or non-emergency health or social welfare concerns, and to reduce unnecessary law enforcement or hospital-based interventions for non-emergent 911 calls.” ( https://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/chvps/hart )

In their pilot year of operations (March 2022 – March 2023), HART personnel served 1,362 residents on scene and successfully secured nearly 400 social service connections to citizens in need.

HART currently has six teams, each staffed with a Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). These two-person teams operate in 10-hour shifts from 7 am - 12 am, 7 days/week. Kathi Yost, Director of Operations with DEMA, says the organization has hopes of moving to 24/7 operation in the District I area soon.

HART personnel have been operating out of former Ponderosa Fire Station 61 and are now working to expand their service area. Having a foothold at CCFD Station 25 will help to improve response times and increase their coverage.

CCFD Fire Chief, Richard Lieder, shared a brief message with the department ahead of the HART teams’ arrival, where he stated, “the HART crews are a valuable part of the first responder community, and they do great work. Please welcome them into our stations and make them feel at home”.

For more information, please reach out to Julia Peterson, Office Assistant/PIO, at (281) 894-0151 or via email: pr@hcesd13.org .

CCFD Announces ISO Rating of 02/2Y

Mon, 22 May 2023 16:13:52 GMT

CCFD Announces ISO Rating of 02/2Y

Successful Sales Tax Election Leads to the Improvement of the Fire Department

CYPRESS, TX - Effective August 1, 2022, Cypress Creek Fire Department (CCFD) has been awarded an ISO rating of 02/2Y. This change of status comes just 3 years after a successful sales tax election in the Cypress Creek community. An ISO rating is a score given to fire departments by the Insurance Services Office. The score is based upon many factors that determine how prepared a community is for fire emergencies. Fire departments are graded based on emergency communications capabilities, water supply review, personnel, training, and community risk reduction. The ISO assigns a final score based on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the highest score.

A superior ISO score reflects not only the fire department but the area or community as well. An ISO rating is mutually beneficial to both the department and the community, as many insurance companies provide discounts to homeowners in areas with low ISO ratings.

Previously, CCFD held an ISO rating of 03/3Y. As of August 1, 2022, CCFD has been granted a split ISO rating of 02/2Y. This new rating follows 3 years of department-wide improvements, all of which have been made possible by a successful sales tax election held in May 2019.

ISO rating of 2/2Y places CCFD in the top 6.1% of rated departments in the USA and the top 14.8% of rated departments in Texas.

ISO 2 applies to properties within 5 road miles of a fire station and within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant. ISO 2Y applies to properties within 5 road miles of a fire station and more than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant.

By obtaining 1% of available sales tax revenue in our territory, CCFD has not only been able to build, equip, and staff an additional fire station, Station 25, but also provide increased training to our growing personnel, and purchase new equipment department-wide to better our response time and performance.

You can find more information on ISO ratings by visiting https://www.tdi.texas.gov/fire/fmppcfaq.html .

Inside the Fire Servcie: The Importance of a Clean Set of Gear

Mon, 22 May 2023 16:07:17 GMT

Inside the Fire Service: The Importance of a Clean Set of Gear

As a TCFP compliant department, Cypress Creek Fire Department (CCFD) must adhere to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standard on selection, care, and maintenance of structural fire personal protective equipment.

The ensemble that firefighters don while responding to a major incident is referred to as "turnout" or “bunker gear”, this includes the coat, pants, hood, helmet, gloves, and boots. The bunker gear coat and pants are made up of an outer shell to protect the firefighter from the elements, a moisture barrier to keep the firefighter dry during suppression, and a thermal liner to keep the firefighter protected from extreme heat. Together, these three layers are called a composite.

The NFPA 1851 compliance requires that all gear be inspected once a year. This inspection process involves advanced cleaning, hydro-testing the moisture barrier, and repairing any damage found. This cleaning process also works to remove contaminants that contain carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals.

Turnout gear is vital to the safety of firemen, but if not cleaned and maintained properly, compromised gear can pose a major hazard to firefighters. Bunker gear is made from a unique blend of Nomex® and Kevlar® and is designed to withstand extreme heat. It must also be handled with extreme care to maintain its integrity. Gear should not only be inspected for contaminants and damage, but care should be taken to keep UV light exposure to a minimum as it can be extremely damaging to the integrity of the fabric.

CCFD Captain Felix Smith explains that “We do our best to keep gear lockers from being close to garage doors in addition most of our bay light is LED which NFPA recommends in gear storage areas. We need to avoid having it in the bed of open pickup truck beds or in the back seat of a car where sunlight can shine on it. The best way we as members can help is when transporting gear your gear must be in a gear bag or tote.”

Along with protection from UV light, Cypress Creek Fire Department has taken several steps to help prevent cross-contamination and protect its firefighters from cancer-causing toxins. All CCFD bunker gear is sent to Lion Group Inc. for routine cleaning and maintenance. Once the gear has arrived at the Lion facility, it undergoes a multi-step inspection & cleaning process to ensure its quality.

Lion employees break down the gear, separating each layer of the composite to inspect for damage at every level. The outer layers of bunker gear are washed separately from moisture barriers and thermal liners to help prevent further contamination. After the wash, each piece is closely inspected and tested before moving on to the drying room. Bunker gear must be drip-dried rather than put into a dryer. Tumbling a set of bunker gear in a clothes dryer would cause unnecessary damage to the Kevlar and Nomex fabric, quickly diminishing its lifespan.

All repairs are logged and completed by a team of seamsters and seamstresses. Cleaning and repairs are done by hand to preserve the integrity of the gear.

Nidia of Lion Group Inc. shared that she and her team in South Houston “think about the fact that this firefighter might be saving [their] life in the middle of the night someday” while working with a set of gear. It’s this way of thinking that sets Lion apart from other companies and why CCFD is a proud Lion Group Inc customer.

Additionally, in 2021, the department successfully outfitted all its members with 2 complete sets of bunker gear. This was done so that when one set is dirtied, it can be bagged & cleaned while the second set is ready to go in service, free of damage and toxic chemicals.

Making sure that turnout gear is clean and damage-free is one of the many steps firefighters must take to protect themselves from the immediate and long-term dangers of fighting fire.

Station 25: Now Fully Operational

Mon, 22 May 2023 15:58:56 GMT

Station 25: Now Fully Operational

Construction of Cypress Creek Fire Station 25 began in December 2020 and was commemorated with a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site.

Nearly five years of planning and just over one year of construction have finally come to fruition. On January 24, 2022, Station 25 became fully operational at 06:00. Among Station 25’s first shift on duty are Captain A. Carrasco, Engineer Operator L. Ramirez, and Firefighters P. Carter, C. Sturgis, and V. Munoz.

New Engine 25, which was added to the department’s fleet in August 2021, will be housed behind the new stations’ bright red, accordion-style doors.

This new station and apparatus will greatly enhance CCFD service to the southern area of the district. Full-time staffing will allow for shortened response times. In addition, Station 25’s location along Beltway 8 will allow for improved automatic aid service with neighboring departments such as Northwest FD and Cy-Fair FD.

CCFD Administrative Chief staff is currently planning to hold an unveiling ceremony at Station 25 sometime in March 2022, to celebrate this success with our community.

For more information, contact Cypress Creek Fire Department at 281-894-0151.

"Putting Your Emergency First"

Mon, 22 May 2023 15:54:09 GMT

"Putting Your Emergency First"

Area Emergency Services Districts unite to provide a Dispatch Center for the future .

North Harris County, Texas – Five independent Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) join forces to build a new Emergency Dispatch Center for fire response and emergency rescue calls. The new Texas Emergency Communications Center (TECC) will be the Public Safety Secondary Answering Point (SSAP) for five ESDs that serve nearly half a million people and multiple Fortune 100 businesses in North Harris County.

ExxonMobil, Hewlett Packard, Chevron, and Amazon have made major commitments in the area over the last decade. More commercial and residential development has naturally followed. Amid this evolution, the separation of Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) from Harris County ESD No. 11 left other ESDs in a difficult position over 9-1-1 dispatch services. Each ESD came to the same conclusion, that the CCEMS and ESD 11 separation simply highlighted the need to develop an Emergency Fire Dispatch center for ever-evolving North Harris County.

“Our fire departments serve communities that are quite different today than even a decade ago,” said TECC Board member and Assistant Fire Chief of Spring Fire Department Robert Logan. “All of these new facilities and neighborhoods led us to the conclusion that we can no longer do what has always been done.”

“It is the natural next step in this area’s evolution to have a dedicated service to dispatch Firefighter/EMTs,” said Lori Broadrick, who will serve as TECC’s Executive Director. “I’m excited to lead this mission to ensure the best fire, rescue, and emergency medical technician response possible from the moment you call 9-1-1. It is our mission to put your emergency first.”

“The hiring of an experienced communications center leader is a great step forward to providing the high-quality dispatch services that our ever-changing area needs,” added Mike Jenkins, TECC and ESD 28 Board President. “As Lori has begun building a team that shares her commitment to public service, we are thrilled to be moving forward and embracing the future of our communities.” ESD 16 Commissioner Mike Pate shared that “Lori, the TECC Board, and its consultants know what the dispatch center of the future needs to be, and that’s what will be developed. This project is in great hands.”

“Initially, the TECC dispatch center will be housed in an ESD 16 / Klein Fire Department facility located at 16810 Squyres Road,” added Broadrick. “The Cypress Creek EMS Communications Center will continue to serve the area as the 9-1-1 call center during the transition.”

TECC is a non-profit corporation developed and funded by Harris County ESD No. 7 (Spring Fire Department), ESD No. 13 (Cypress Creek Fire Department), ESD No. 16 (Klein Fire Department), ESD No. 28 (Ponderosa Fire Department), and ESD No. 29 (Champions ESD) to dispatch fire, rescue, and emergency medical first responders .

Cypress Creek Fire Department Peer Support Program

Mon, 22 May 2023 15:47:58 GMT

Cypress Creek Fire Department Peer Support Program

All,

It is with great pleasure that I am announcing the formal launch of our Cypress Creek Fire Department Peer Support Program. This newly formed platform will give our personnel the ability to reach out to Peer Support Group members who are trained in assisting with a myriad of different issues that may occur both on and off duty.

The Peer Support Group members will eventually have emblems to wear so that they are easily identified. There will be lists at the stations and a QR code to use to request assistance. Scanning the QR code will take you directly to a confidential email address to submit your request so that the program director or assistant director can guide you to the best peer support member based upon the issue presented, and the member’s background and expertise.

Finally, I wanted to thank everyone for their patience in this process, and certainly the volunteer Peer Support Group members who are willing to take time out of their busy lives for the improvement of our department and the firefighters within. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself or any of the other personnel below or review the Emotional Wellness Policy that is located in the emergency reporting library.

2021 Cypress Creek Peer Support Group:

Jason Corthell – Program Director, B Shift
Elizabeth Fletcher – Assistant Program Director, Safety Officer
Jack Johnson – Full-Time Hourly
James Jones – Full-Time Hourly
Terri Kimble – Spouse Liaison
Vince Kimble – B Shift
Ryan McCarroll – Part-Time Hourly
David Perez – Volunteer
Chad Strong – C Shift
Lance Wilson – C Shift
Nancy Wilson C Shift

Best Regards,

Jason Corthell

Assistant Fire Chief Jason Blackman Appointed to NFPA Committee

Mon, 22 May 2023 15:41:40 GMT

Assistant Fire Chief Jason Blackman Appointed to NFPA Committee

CYPRESS, Texas – Harris County ESD #13, Cypress Creek Fire Department, would like to congratulate Assistant Fire Chief Jason Blackman on his recent appointment to the Committee on Respiratory Protection Equipment, a sub-committee of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

These committees are made up of a diverse group of stake holders including industry, equipment manufacturers, fire service personnel, and regulators. Members must undergo a lengthy application process before being appointed to a committee.

Committee positions are very prestigious and require a high level of expertise on subject matter, as the work they accomplish is extremely technical in nature. CCFD is honored to have one of its own now inducted to an NFPA committee.

The NFPA Committee on Respiratory Protection Equipment has jurisdiction over NFPA Standards, 1852, 1981, 1984, and 1989. These standards establish criteria for the implementation and care of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs), Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS), and Breathing Air Quality for Emergency Services Respiratory Protection. Chief Blackman will be participating in the process that reviews and revises these national standards on a regular basis.

Standards set and reviewed by the NFPA are enforced by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP), “a Texas state governmental agency takes with overseeing and regulating all paid fire departments, and firefighting standards within Texas” (tcfp.texas.gov). Therefore, changes to NFPA standards have a direct impact on CCFD operations.

Due to the frequency of standard revisions, TCFP allows for Fire and Emergency Departments to upgrade the components to no-more-than two standards above the manufactured standard on any issue. To maintain compliance, Fire Departments must constantly update their equipment, policies, and procedures.

To ensure Firefighter safety and compliance with NFPA Standards, the US Department of Transportation, and TCFP, all respiratory equipment is required to have a limited lifespan. For instance, each SCBA cylinder, or air tank, worn by Firefighters has a lifespan of approximately 15 years before it needs to be replaced.

CCFD is in the early stages of a project to update its SCBA equipment in order to remain within NFPA and TCFP compliance. The department has budgeted $750,000 and the project should be completed by the years 2022-2023.