Council approves intersection safety wall, $100,000 design for public-works building and advances water-well work

The Bunker Hill Village City Council on Sept. 21, 2021 approved a package of public-works measures focused on safety and infrastructure design.

Traffic engineer Manu Isaac presented four options to prevent vehicles from breaching the city's existing bollards and fencing at the Bunker Hill Road and Taylorcrest intersection. The council voted unanimously (5-0) to approve Option 2, which constructs a high-impact wall on city right-of-way between the city's fence and the homeowner's fence. Staff recommended Option 2 as it maintains existing landscaping and was presented as a two-step safety approach. The engineer estimated Option 2 at $27,000; staff recommended a $5,000 contingency for a total not-to-exceed cost of $32,000 to be funded from the street maintenance and operations budget (01-8830). The council's motion excluded flashing lights on the adjacent City of Houston advance-warning sign.

On capital planning, Public Works Director Steve Smith reported that Site Work for Water Well No. 5 has been advertised for bids with award anticipated in October; a 36-hour test began Sept. 20 and concluded Sept. 21. City Attorney Loren Smith said he is in negotiations with Granite Construction to seek reimbursement for repair or replacement of Water Well No. 1 and hopes to report back in October or November. Engineering repairs to northbound Bunker Hill Road totaled 154 square yards at a cost of about $35,000 so far (budgeted at $60,000), staff said.

Council also approved a contract with PGAL for final design of the City's Public Works and Disaster Operations building in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Councilmembers said the two emergency events earlier in the year (February winter storm and Hurricane Nicholas) reinforced the need for improved disaster operations facilities.

Staff will return with contract documents and project schedules as bids and designs are finalized.