ORDINANCE finding and determining public convenience and necessity for the acquisition of real property interests in connection with the public improvement project known as Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion Project; authorizing the acquisition of fee simple title interest in or easement to one parcel of land required for the project and situated in the Victor Blanco Five League Grant Abstract No. 2, in Harris County, Texas, by gift, dedication, purchase and the use of eminent domain and further authorizing payment of the costs of such purchases and/or eminent domain proceedings and associated costs for relocation assistance, appraisal fees, title policies/services, recording fees, court costs, and expert witness fees in connection with the acquisition of fee simple title interest in or easement to the parcel of land required for the project

WBS S-000065-0002-2

RECOMMENDATION: (Summary)

An ordinance for the NORTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT be passed approving and authorizing the acquisition of parcels by dedication, purchase, or condemnation.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

The Department of Public Works and Engineering is requesting that an ordinance for the NORTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT be passed approving and authorizing the acquisition of parcels by dedication, purchase or condemnation.

This project is part of the proposed Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) expansion which will increase the existing plant’s current water capacity and provide treated surface water throughout the City and to several regional water authority jurisdictions. The proposed use of the property is for the installation of two 108-inch raw water intake lines in support of the NEWPP’s expansion. This project will aid in the City’s water source conversion from primarily groundwater to surface water in order to comply with the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District’s regulatory plan.   

This action authorizes payment for costs of land purchases/condemnations, relocation assistance expenses, appraisal fees, title policies/services, recording fees and other acquisition costs in connection with negotiations to settle purchases; finds a public necessity for the project; and approves and authorizes the condemnation of the land and improvements thereon.  If negotiations to acquire the property cannot be concluded as a dedication or purchase or for any reason for which acquisition by condemnation is warranted, this action authorizes the City Attorney to file or cause Eminent Domain proceedings to be filed and acquire land, rights-of-way and/or easements for said purposes and authorizes payment for the Award of Special Commissioners and court costs associated with condemnation proceedings.  Parcels with a consideration that exceeds the spending authority threshold set by State law will be submitted to City Council as they are finalized. This will expedite the process of acquiring land, rights-of-way and/or easements in support of the NORTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT.

Ordinance 2016-758, passed October 5, 2016

Darrin Ward

Acting Senior Assistant Director- Real Estate

Phone: (832) 395-3154

____________________________

Carol E. Haddock, P.E.

Acting Director

Department of Public Works and Engineering

WBS S-000065-0002-2