Council reviews drainage study procurement schedule and discusses road impact fees for future developments

GUNTER, Texas ' City staff told council Feb. 20 they will advertise a request for qualifications for a drainage study, outlined selection and award dates, and discussed whether to adopt new impact fees to fund road improvements generated by new development.

Staff said the drainage study RFP will publish Feb. 27 with a submittal deadline in March and a selection window in mid-March to mid-April; council award could occur May 1 or earlier if a firm is selected. Staff explained the RFP timing followed a grant application that was not awarded; had the grant been received it would have leveraged EDC funds and reduced the city's share.

Separately, staff discussed potential road impact fees that would fund street projects triggered by new subdivisions and rezoning. Estimates presented to council put initial study/implementation costs between $150,000, and staff indicated the engineering firm Cobb Finley would consider funding that study across two fiscal years. Staff gave Oak and Ninth streets as examples of corridors that could see improvements if future developments required expanded capacity.

Why it matters: A drainage study informs infrastructure priorities and can unlock state or regional funding; impact fees create a predictable mechanism to make developers pay for off-site road improvements caused by growth.

What's next: RFP published Feb. 27; council to consider firm selection and award in coming months. Staff will collect flooding-event photos to support engineers' analyses.