The City Council approved a package of capital contracts and related actions intended to repair and upgrade the city's sanitary sewer, storm drainage and street network.

Items approved included: awarding the Phase 6 sewer-line replacement contract to King Solution Services LLC (Houston) after staff recommended the second-lowest bidder due to reference and experience checks; an award to BDS Constructors LLC (doing business as MK Constructors) for citywide ditching (Phase 3); rejection of bids for the Wall and Avenue C lift station rehabilitation project; approval of change order #2 and final payment to Texas Drainage Inc. for citywide ditching Phase 2B; procuring RedZone Robotics for a sewer-line sensor/inspection project; awarding pavement-marking and street-rehabilitation contracts; and awarding a contract to Legacy Commercial Contractors LLC for an Orange Avenue 20-inch waterline replacement from Fannin Street to Foresight.

Nut graf: Staff and council discussed why some low bids were rejected and why certain out-of-town firms won awards — staff said local companies were often unable to supply the references or the specialized experience needed for newer trenchless processes such as pipe bursting.

Public works staff explained pipe-bursting as a trenchless method that replaces aging pipe by pulling in a fused, solid-wall high-density polyethylene pipe through existing service openings while minimizing excavation. "Most of these lines that we are replacing would have been installed as early as the forties, probably until the early seventies," a staff member said when describing the age of the system.

Council members asked about change orders, insurance for vehicle replacement related to ambulance purchases on the consent agenda, and whether local bidders had opportunities under the city preference rules; staff described the legal and practical limits on local preference and said many specialized contractors operate out of the Houston metro area.

Ending: With approvals in place, staff said work will proceed on the listed streets and utility corridors; staff emphasized coordination so pipe and utility repairs occur before paving to avoid cutting new pavement.