Rosenberg council approves speed humps, awards water and drainage contracts and authorizes eminent domain; reviews facility designs

Rosenberg City Council voted unanimously to authorize speed humps on Walder Avenue South, awarded construction contracts for a groundwater storage tank and a drainage mitigation project, accepted a federal hazard‑mitigation subgrant for generators at three city facilities, and approved several resolutions to begin eminent‑domain proceedings for parcels needed for drainage detention ponds.

The actions came during a meeting that also included design briefings on a new emergency services complex (fire station No. 4, fire administration and an emergency operations center) and a public‑services complex (public works, fleet and administrative offices).

The Walder Avenue request began with resident Alvin Blinka, who said, "I'm here on behalf of our the rest of our neighbors down Walder Avenue in requesting speed humps on our street. We have noticed a lot more traffic recently. And of this traffic, a lot of it is going way too fast." City staff summarized a neighborhood petition and a traffic study showing 19 of 22 homes (about 86%) supported speed‑hump installation. Staff told council the measured 85th‑percentile speed was 30 mph — not meeting the policy's automatic speed threshold — but that council retains discretion to approve for other reasons. The council approved the installation, with staff estimating the cost of three speed humps at $8,700 and saying installation would follow a planned street overlay.

Why it matters: the council's vote advances localized safety measures requested by residents while tying installation to the city's resurfacing schedule to avoid rework and extra cost.

Key contract awards and grants

- Water plant ground storage tank: Council approved Resolution No. R‑3814 to award Bid No. 2025‑01B for Water Plant No. 8 ground storage tank to DN Tanks LLC for $4,949,800 and a contract term of 531 calendar days. Staff said the project is in the FY2025 capital improvement plan and the tank must be operational before the Fort Bend Subsidence District’s groundwater‑reduction mandate (60% reduction) takes effect Oct. 1, 2027. A staff summary noted the project will provide redundancy and allow tank maintenance without shutting down the plant.

- CDBG MIT drainage/rail crossing project: Council approved Resolution No. R‑3813 to award Bid No. 2025‑23B for the CDBG MIT flood and drainage mitigation project (Adder Ditch North, railroad crossing) to T Construction LLC for $515,397 and 150 calendar days. Staff said one bid was received and the Texas General Land Office approved a noncompetitive procurement.

- Hazard Mitigation Grant (generators): Council approved Resolution No. R‑3822 accepting a subgrant under the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for replacement generators at city hall, the police station and Fire Station No. 2. Staff reported the project total is $614,398, FEMA/TDEM will reimburse 90% (stated as $552,958.20) and the city’s share is 10% ($61,439.80). Staff also said a management cost shown in the award letter is covered at 100%.

Eminent domain authorizations for drainage project parcels

The council voted to authorize the city manager (or designee) to begin eminent‑domain proceedings on multiple parcels needed for detention ponds supporting the CDBG MIT drainage program. Resolutions read and approved included R‑3817, R‑3819, R‑3818 and R‑3823. Staff said negotiations remain ongoing on some parcels but council action was needed to keep the overall project schedule moving. Council members repeatedly emphasized negotiation is preferable, but approved staff's requests to begin condemnation procedures if necessary.

Design updates and other discussion

Architects and consultants presented updates on two bond‑funded projects: the emergency services complex (bonded at $18.5 million for design and construction) and a larger public‑services complex on Airport Drive (professional services and construction funded from the bond issuance plus grants and other sources). Martinez Architects’ Karen Roman reviewed layouts, including an apparatus bay, dorms, administrative areas and an emergency operations center for the fire complex; the estimated professional fees and construction costs presented for the emergency services complex were $1,747,050 and $16,752,950 respectively (total $18.5M bond). For the public‑services complex, consultants described three buildings (public‑facing administration building, public works and fleet maintenance), indicated a target bid opening in winter 2025, and listed professional services and construction cost estimates drawn from bond funding and other sources.

Council discussion focused on timing, accessibility and future needs: members asked about overlay timing tied to the Walder Avenue speed‑hump installation; asked for confirmation the water tank site is owned by the city; raised questions about adding a second elevator in the public‑services complex for redundancy and ADA convenience; and discussed long‑term debt service tied to the previously approved bond issuance. Finance staff confirmed bonds were issued in April 2024 and that annual debt service averages cited in the briefing were roughly $3,600,000 per year (city staff provided the figure during discussion). Several council members urged staff to refine cost impacts of design changes such as adding a second elevator or conduit for future electric‑vehicle charging.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: motion carried (unanimous). (Motion and vote recorded at meeting.)

- Speed humps, Walder Avenue South (between West Street and Baymoor Road): Motion to approve installation (contingent on coordination with overlay schedule) — moved by Councilmember Moreno; seconded by Councilmember Trevino; approved unanimously. Staff reported 19 of 22 homes supported the request (86%); estimated cost $8,700 for three humps; 85th‑percentile speed measured at 30 mph (below automatic threshold), but council approved under discretionary clause (policy R‑3008 referenced in staff summary).

- Resolution R‑3814 (Bid No. 2025‑01B) — Water Plant No. 8 ground storage tank: Award to DN Tanks LLC, $4,949,800; 531 calendar days; motion made by Hector, seconded by Jessica; approved unanimously.

- Resolution R‑3813 (Bid No. 2025‑23B) — CDBG MIT Adder Ditch North railroad crossing: Award to T Construction LLC, $515,397; 150 calendar days; motion made by Felix, seconded by Jessica; approved unanimously. General Land Office approved noncompetitive procurement due to single bid.

- Resolution R‑3822 — FEMA/TDEM Hazard Mitigation Grant subaward (generators): Subgrant accepted; total project $614,398; FEMA/TDEM share reported as $552,958.20 (90%); city share $61,439.80 (10%); motion made by Hector, seconded by Jessica; approved unanimously.

- Resolutions authorizing eminent‑domain proceedings for multiple parcels (R‑3817, R‑3819, R‑3818, R‑3823): Council voted to authorize initiation of condemnation proceedings if negotiations fail; motions read into the record and seconded; votes unanimous. Staff said negotiations continue and eminent domain is a contingency to keep project schedules.

What the council did not decide

Council received but did not act on several items: the emergency services complex and public‑services complex were informational updates only; a single‑family residential development item was placed back on the table (council voted to table the item for further staff work and negotiation with the MUD).

Who said what (selected quotes)

- Alvin Blinka, 11920 Walder Avenue (resident): "I'm here on behalf of our the rest of our neighbors down Walder Avenue in requesting speed humps on our street. We have noticed a lot more traffic recently. And of this traffic, a lot of it is going way too fast. We've got new families that have moved in, and they have children. And that is our biggest concern is the safety of these children."

- Rigo (city staff): "At least 75% of the property owners or residents must support the installation of the speed humps in order to proceed... 19 of the homes stated that they were in support... This equates to about 86% of the property owners being in support." (staff executive summary on speed‑hump policy and data)

- Staff (on water tank): "This project is included in the fiscal year 2025 capital improvement plan... The additional storage tank must [be] constructed and placed into operation in advance of the 60% groundwater reduction mandate by the Fort Bend Subsidence District, which is in effect on October 1, 2027."

Next steps and follow-ups

- Speed humps: staff will coordinate installation timing with the county road overlay schedule and notify neighborhood contacts; council instructed staff to avoid installing humps prematurely if resurfacing is imminent.

- Contract award documents: staff will finalize contracts with DN Tanks LLC and T Construction LLC and attach proposals as exhibits to the relevant resolutions.

- Grant administration: city manager authorized to execute subgrant documents for R‑3822 and proceed with procurement as required by FEMA/TDEM.

- Eminent domain: staff will continue negotiations and proceed with condemnation filings only as necessary to keep the CDBG MIT drainage project on schedule.

- Design items: architects will return with refined cost estimates for suggested changes (additional elevator redundancy, EV charging/conduit, and any ADA accommodations) and updated schedules.

Sources: public meeting transcript of the Rosenberg City Council meeting; staff executive summaries and bid summaries read into the record; presenters from Martinez Architects and city finance and engineering staff (as recorded in the meeting transcript).