Council hears $50M drainage needs; staff recommends $15M–$20M packages focused on Lois Branch and erosion control

Richardson — City engineering staff on Monday presented proposed drainage candidates for a 2026 bond program and recommended focusing on high‑benefit flood‑prevention and erosion‑control elements within a shorter bond proposition.

Staff explained the city is organized into 12 drainage basins and reviewed recent condition assessments and watershed studies. On the largest single item, staff gave a total cost estimate of $25.2 million for a multi‑phase Lois Branch/Lois Lane project and described a four‑phase approach. "The total cost for this from stem to stern is $25,200,000," the presenter said; phases 1 and…