Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drainage Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tomball staff seek grant administrators and engineers as several drainage projects move toward contract stage
Summary
Council reviewed proposed professional-service agreements and construction contracts for multiple drainage projects including a CDBG-administered Hampton Place storm sewer, local sidewalk/drainage repairs, and an M-121 channel design; staff said agreements would only be executed if grants are awarded or funds are available.
City staff asked the Tomball City Council at its May 5 workshop to approve or place on a future agenda several professional services and construction contracts tied to drainage projects across town, including a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administration contract, a local drainage repair contract, and a design contract for a channel identified in the city's drainage master plan.
Megan (city staff) described a proposed professional services agreement with Langford Community Management to administer a Texas Community Development Block Grant application and, if the grant is awarded, to administer the grant for the Hampton Place storm sewer improvements. The proposed Langford contract would not exceed $75,000 and staff said the firm’s services would be reimbursed only if the grant is awarded; the grant application had a preliminary score and award notification was expected in June or July.
Megan also presented a contract with Topwater Construction Services (through Tipps USA) to repair drainage and sidewalk erosion behind homes between Polaris Boulevard and Wickford Drive where sand and undermining had damaged the sidewalk near a Tomball ISD frontage. Staff described the work as removing unstable soil, repacking and stabilizing the area and repairing drainage outlets; council described the work as maintenance to prevent further sidewalk collapse. The transcript did not specify a contract dollar amount for that repair.
Finally, staff proposed a professional services agreement with AIG Technical Services to design improvements for the M‑121 West Channel Segment C — a channel that begins north of Medical Complex Drive and extends to the Harden Ditch behind the public works building on James Street. The AIG design contract amount is $74,985; staff said the design would be funded from drainage impact fees collected over the last 10 years and described the fees as available for projects in the approved ten‑year list.
Council members asked how consultants are selected, whether efficiencies could be gained with a master agreement for recurring design work, and whether services would be coordinated with the EDC. Staff said RFPs are required for grant‑eligible vendors and that consultant selection considers prior project context; staff agreed to explore consolidated agreements or annual packages where practical.
No contracts were executed at the workshop. Megan said the Langford contract would only take effect if the CDBG grant is awarded and that engineering and consultant work for awarded grants would be reimbursed through grant funds.
