Council approves $75,000 capped contract with Westwood for preliminary trail design and oversight
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Summary
Town Council authorized a professional-services agreement with Westwood for trail planning, engineering and inspection, reducing the proposed cap from $95,000 to $75,000; the motion passed 4–1 with Council Member Bridal dissenting.
The Town of Argyle voted June 16 to authorize a professional‑services agreement with Westwood to advance planning and engineering for a new neighborhood trail and loop project in town. Council directed staff to change the resolution’s contract cap from $95,000 to $75,000 and to have the mayor, rather than the town manager, execute the agreement.
Town staff said an earlier Westwood proposal from December 2024 to enable planning and engineering work totaled about $49,000; staff later sought a larger scope that would carry the project through final design and construction-phase inspection. Following negotiations, Westwood and staff agreed to reduce staff’s working cap from $95,000 to $75,000 while keeping flexibility to add tasks if necessary.
Staff explained the scope includes a feasibility phase with alternatives (surfaces, alignments, cost comparisons), geolocation and inventory of existing trees and a tree‑assessment/arborist component. Staff emphasized the firm would provide construction administration and inspection services if the project proceeds to construction. Council members asked whether tree protection and potential savings from locating infrastructure around trees had been considered; staff said the plan intentionally geolocates trees to inform engineering and manage costs.
Council also discussed procurement rules: staff explained Westwood was procured under an existing competitive process through an interlocal agreement with Denton (quotation: “we worked through the city of Denton's procurement agreement”), and that engineering services are procured by qualifications under the state Professional Services Procurement Act rather than low‑bid public solicitation.
A motion to approve the Westwood resolution with the reduced not‑to‑exceed amount and with execution by the mayor carried 4–1; Council Member Bridal cast the lone dissenting vote. Staff said they will return with feasibility deliverables and continue to manage the project to stay under the established cap, and that the scope includes on‑site inspection if construction follows.
The approval does not authorize construction; it funds planning, survey, engineering and inspection work to ready the project for bid and construction.
