ORDINANCE approving and authorizing the submission of a grant application under the TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND to develop a Stormwater Modeling Tool for Sims Bayou Watershed and to initiate the One Water Collaborative Planning Process; declaring the city’s eligibility for such Grant; authorizing the Director of the City of Houston’s Department Houston Public Works (“Director”) to act as the City’s representative in the Grant application process, to accept such Grant Funds, if awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the program

SUBJECT: 

The Director of Houston Public Works recommends that City Council adopt an ordinance approving submission of a grant application under the TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD (TWDB) Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) to develop a Stormwater Modeling tool for the Sims Bayou watershed; declaring the City’s eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Director of Public Works (Director) to accept and expend Grant Funds, as awarded, and to accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the Grant and to extend the budget period.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended City Council adopt an Ordinance approving the submission of a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to develop a Stormwater Modeling tool for the Sims Bayou watershed and initiate the One Water collaborative planning process.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

Authorized under the 86^th Texas Legislature’s Proposition 8 on November 5, 2019. TWDB FIF funds will allow the City to develop a dynamic model of the local drainage system in the Sims Bayou watershed as part of its Stormwater Master Plan and initiate a One Water planning process to establish collaboration between watershed partners and stakeholders.

It is recommended that City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments and documents with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant program and to authorize the Director or her designee to act as the City’s representative with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the term and/or budget and project period not to exceed five years, if extended by TWDB during the project period, and which does not require cash matching funds. The City’s local match will be appropriated during the contract award from Fund 4042 – Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund -Drainage Charge and Fund 8300 – Water & Sewer System Operating Fund.   

FISCAL NOTES:

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

Funding for this item is included in the FY2021 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.

_________________________________

Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E.

Director

Houston Public Works

$3,937,500.00 Federal State Local Pass Through Fund DDSRF - Fund 5430

$   787,500.00 Local Cost Share - Fund 4042

$   525,000.00 Local Cost Share - Fund 8300

Maureen Crocker

Assistant Director, Transportation & Drainage Operations.

(832) 395-3222