Forney council authorizes $95,500 study for citywide stormwater master plan and rate analysis

The Forney City Council on July 15 approved a resolution authorizing staff to seek professional services to produce a citywide stormwater master plan and a separate rate study, with a consultant contract capped at $95,500.

City staff said the master plan and rate study are intended to support creation of a stormwater utility that would fund drainage capital projects and ongoing maintenance. “I’m here tonight to discuss with you the need for a stormwater master plan and rate study and looking for your approval to move forward with such a study,” said Mr. Groves, a city staff member who presented the item.

The master plan is described by staff as a high-level guide to identify drainage projects and build a drainage capital improvement plan; it would not replace detailed engineering designs required at construction. The rate study would recommend customer classes and fee levels needed to sustain operations and capital debt for identified projects.

Staff provided a consultant fee breakdown and timeline. “The master plan is $48,000, part b, the rate study is $37,500, and then $10,000 for implementation for a total of $95,500,” Mr. Groves said. The agenda item requested up to $100,000 to provide contingency funds; staff said the work would be paid from the engineering department’s current operating fund.

Council members pressed staff on timing and scope. Staff said the consultant estimates returning to council with study results in about 10 months and that implementation timing would depend on council decisions about fee structure and further public hearings. A staff speaker noted relevant statute sections for establishing a new utility and public notice requirements, citing Local Government Code 552.041 through 552.054 as the procedural framework quoted in the presentation.

Staff described how a stormwater utility’s rate structure typically differentiates residential and nonresidential customers — for example, residential fees on a per-unit basis and nonresidential fees on a per-acre basis — and how other North Texas cities’ rates vary. The presentation included example ranges from other studies (monthly rates reported between $1 and $21.22 with an average of $5.62), which staff said were illustrative, not the city’s proposed rates.

Council members and staff also described two capital drainage projects already identified that could be funded by a future utility: one near Shands/Mulberry Park estimated around $1,000,000 and another near the new school/O.C. area estimated about $2,000,000 — roughly $3,000,000 total in identified capital needs. Staff emphasized that revenues from a stormwater utility may only be used for drainage-related purposes and could support the issuance of revenue bonds for capital projects.

Council member Ms. Scholzker made the motion to approve the resolution and Mr. Chambers seconded. The motion passed.

Next steps specified by staff: solicit proposals and contract with a consultant, complete the master plan and rate study, then return to council with findings and recommended fee options; staff said the study would include multiple rate scenarios so council can see trade-offs in funding levels and phasing of projects.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting included the consultant cost breakdown, the planned 10-month study delivery estimate, the funding source (engineering department operating fund), and the identification of two near-term capital projects totaling approximately $3,000,000.