Farmers Branch approves $748,600 professional-services agreement for water and wastewater CIP design

The Farmers Branch City Council voted Feb. 3 to authorize a professional services agreement with Berkhof, Hendricks & Carter LLP for design work on the city's 2026 Water and Wastewater System Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in the amount of $748,600.

Shrey Solveraes, director of public works, presented a 20-year CIP organized into five-year snapshots and said the council was being asked to authorize the design phase for the five-year work plan. He described three construction phases for the initial year: Phase 1 estimated at about $5,000,000; Phase 2 at about $4,500,000; and Phase 3 at about $3,400,000. Solveraes said the overall five-year snapshot totals roughly $13,000,000 and that the work addresses aging infrastructure prioritized through a scoring matrix developed with consultants.

On materials, Solveraes told council the city intends to replace aging pipelines with PVC and stated industry expectations for long usable life. He said construction could begin toward the end of this year if the council approves design.

Councilman Neal moved to approve item L2 (Resolution 2026-018) and a second was given; the motion passed. The motion authorized the $748,600 agreement for professional design services and allowed staff to proceed toward design and later construction procurement steps.

Next steps: staff will initiate design with the selected firm, produce project-level scopes and cost estimates, and return to council for construction-phase approvals and budget actions as needed.