ORDINANCE finding and determining public convenience and necessity for the acquisition of real property interests in connection with the public improvement project known as the 42-inch water line from West Bellfort Avenue to Bissonnet Street along Braes Forest Drive and Centerpoint Energy Fee Strip Project authorizing the acquisition of fee simple title interests in or easement interests to four parcels of land required for the project and situated in the Louis Cotton Survey Abstract No. 1012, the E.R. Campbell Survey, Abstract No. 1632, the .T. & B.R.R. Survey, Abstract No. 1184, and the John R. Black Survey, Abstract No 134, all 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 fess in connection with the acquisition of fee simple title interest in or easement to the four parcels of land required for the project - DISTRICTS J - LASTER and K - GREEN

SUBJECT: Recommendation that an ordinance for the 42-INCH WATER LINE FROM WEST BELLFORT AVENUE TO BISSONNET STREET ALONG BRAES FOREST DRIVE AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY FEE STRIP PROJECT be passed approving and authorizing the acquisition of parcels by dedication, purchase, or condemnation.

WBS  S-000900-0112-2

RECOMMENDATION:  (Summary)

An ordinance for the 42-INCH WATER LINE FROM WEST BELLFORT AVENUE TO BISSONNET STREET ALONG BRAES FOREST DRIVE AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY FEE STRIP PROJECT be passed approving and authorizing the acquisition of parcels by dedication, purchase, or condemnation.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

This project is part of the Surface Water Transmission Program and provides for the design and construction of a 42-inch water line.  The proposed water line will help distribute additional surface water from the Southeast Water Purification Plant to the City’s southwestern portion of the existing distribution system, while achieving goals to decommission existing groundwater plants and improve water system pressures.  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, and is part of the City’s long range water supply 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 42-INCH WATER LINE FROM  WEST BELLFORT AVENUE TO BISSONNET STREET ALONG BRAES FOREST DRIVE AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY FEE STRIP PROJECT.

Darrin Ward

Acting Senior Assistant Director, Real Estate Services

Phone (832) 395-3154

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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E.

Acting Director

Department of Public Works and Engineering

WBS S-000900-0112-2