La Porte awards $12.3 million contract for Brook Glen drainage improvements

The La Porte City Council authorized the city manager to execute a construction contract with Branch Construction Group for the Brooklyn (Brook Glen) Subdivision Drainage Improvements, accepting the lowest responsible bid of $12,318,155 with a construction contingency of $1,231,815 for a total authorization near $13.55 million.

Engineering staff described a multi‑phase project developed since August 2022 to replace undersized storm sewer, repave streets and reduce ponding in a neighborhood that falls largely in the 500‑year floodplain. The project is coordinated with regional mitigation, including an interlocal agreement with Pasadena for a 100 acre‑foot detention pond and two basins that together will provide additional detention capacity.

Staff reported Branch Construction Group submitted the lowest responsive bid and that the design engineer recommended award. City staff said they performed reference checks and finance reviewed the contractor's audited financials, finding them to meet working capital thresholds. Councilmembers asked about lessons learned from prior local projects; staff said contract provisions were revised to incorporate corrective measures learned from those experiences.

Councilmember Englekin moved to approve the award and council carried the item on a voice vote. Staff said phase 1 addresses the majority of storm sewer and roadway problems and phase 2 is about 90% designed pending funding.