SUBJECT: Interlocal Agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County Flood Control District for Brays Bayou, flood control project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend City Council adopt an Ordinance approving the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County Flood Control District for the Brays Bayou, flood control project.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD)is partnering with the federal government through the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) on several active flood control projects across Harris County, Texas. The USACE has approved completed discrete segments of the Brays Bayou flood control project (“Brays Bayou”) for reimbursement of the federal cost share in the amount of $43 million dollars, but has not issued reimbursement payments to HCFCD for such completed discrete segments, which has not allowed HCFCD to complete Brays Bayou in a timely manner.
In order to expedite the completion of Brays Bayou the City intends to enter into a loan agreement with the Texas Water Development Board for $43 million (“TWDB loan”) for the purpose of providing funds to pay for bridge construction, modifications and replacements for up to eight bridges for Brays Bayou. The citizens within the jurisdiction of City and HCFCD will benefit from flood damage reduction that will be achieved by expediting the federal flood control projects.
The HCFCD is willing to repay City from federal reimbursements HCFCD receives from USACE for completed discrete segments of Brays Bayou as described in the Brays Bayou Project Partnership Agreement.
The Houston Public Works recommends that Interlocal Agreement between the City of Houston and HCFCD be approved and authorized allowing the City to advance funds to HCFCD to expedite the flood control project.
_____________________________________
Carol Ellinger Haddock. P.E, Director
Houston Public Works