Consideration of and action on the acceptance of an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to jointly fund the Deer Park Gardens (Phase 1 of 8) neighborhood Drainage Improvements Project.
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Summary:
As you may recall, the consulting engineering firm CobbFendley was hired to perform the engineering services to develop alternatives to alleviate flooding associated with the 2017 Hurricane Harvey rain event. At the direction of City Administration, the firm has been active in assisting the City with flood mitigation studies, design and other consulting services.
Concurrently, City of Deer Park - Administrative Staff had been in discussions with: Harris County - Precinct 2, Harris County Flood Control (HCFCD) and Harris County, referred to as (“local agencies”), looking for potential financial assistance with drainage projects in the City of Deer Park.
In January 2021, Harris County Precinct 2 sought potential Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and maintenance projects to be funded in partnership with other area agencies to serve the citizens of Harris County. This program applies only to the allocation of Harris County resources: funding for study, final design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of capital and maintenance projects.
These discussions included several meetings with Staff from local agencies. These discussions continued over several months, and became productive as Administration and Staff alerted the local agencies about: studies taking place in Deer Park, and other actions the City had taken to alleviate ponding and perform flood mitigation. Local agencies appreciated this proactive approach, and the City showed the work done to begin resolving local issues.
The City was able to show empirical evidence, maps and locations effected by historical rain events, with verification and recommendations for improvements, via studies produced by CobbFendley. The local agencies said they were willing to assist with “shovel ready projects” and asked the City to submit an application for their upcoming Partnership Project.
In February 2021, the City submitted a Partnership Project Request Form (attached for your reference) to the local agencies to request assistance with drainage improvements. Harris County Flood Control has agreed to a 50/50 cost share to fund the entire project including:
1. Construction
2. Engineering and Related Services
City Staff as well as City Attorney Fox have reviewed the agreement and found it acceptable. The proposed agreement, signed on XXXXXXXX by the Harris County, Senior Assistant County Attorney, Laura Fiorentino Cahill, is attached for your consideration and approval.
The final steps for the agreement are: acceptance by the City of Deer Park - City Council and the returned for consideration and approval by Harris County Commissioner’s Court. No additions, omissions or changes are anticipated, and approval by Harris County Commissioner’s Court is expected. Once approved by the Harris County Commissioner’s Court, the City will perform per the terms of the ILA.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
This project will be joint funded, per the terms of the ILA, with City of Deer Park drainage bond funds and funding associated with this HCFCD ILA.
Recommended action
Staff recommends Council accept the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), for an amount not to exceed $232,328, to fund the neighborhood Drainage Improvements Project per the terms of the ILA.