Title
Consider approving Resolution No. 2026-018 authorizing the Professional Services Agreement with Birkhoff, Hendricks, & Carter L.L.P., for the 2026 City of Farmers Branch Water and Wastewater System Capital Improvement Plan, in the amount of $748,600; and take appropriate action.
Body
REQUESTER:
Mayor Pro Tem Tina Bennett-Burton
BACKGROUND:
On January 20, 2026, the City Council received a presentation regarding the City’s 2026 Water and Wastewater System Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The City Council is actively evaluating long-term investments in the City’s aging infrastructure to ensure continued service reliability, financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, and protection of public health. As part of this broader effort, in October 2025, the City implemented water and wastewater rate adjustments to begin addressing long-deferred reinvestment needs within the utility system.
A primary driver of the recent rate adjustment is the City’s need to reinvest in water and wastewater pipelines that are more than 60 years old. Targeted replacement of these assets is critical to reducing the risk of system failures, minimizing service disruptions, protecting environmental resources, and maintaining regulatory compliance, such as the Lead Copper Rule Revision (LCRR). Given the system's age, size, and complexity, the pipeline replacement effort is expected to occur over approximately 20 years, consistent with industry best practices for utility asset lifecycle management.
To support Council’s infrastructure investment discussions and long-term capital planning, the City engaged Birkhoff, Hendricks & Carter (BHC) to assist Public Works with developing a data-driven prioritization framework for replacing aging water and wastewater pipelines. This effort focuses on cast-iron (CI) and asbestos-cement (AC) waterlines and establishes a consistent methodology for sequencing future capital projects based on risk, condition, and system performance.
DISCUSSION:
BHC provided Public Works with a comprehensive CIP technical report that includes a prioritized list of recommended water and wastewater pipeline replacement projects, along with an opinion of probable construction cost (OPCC) for each project. This framework is intended to support the City Council’s ongoing evaluation of infrastructure investment needs by providing a transparent, consistent, and defensible methodology for project prioritization. Rather than relying on reactive repairs, the CIP enables a proactive approach that aligns infrastructure investment decisions with risk, system condition, and long-term financial planning considerations.
To execute the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure as outlined in the 2026 Water and Wastewater CIP, the Public Works Department will enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Birkhoff, Hendricks, & Carter to design the CIP for year 1. The scope of services reflects prior City feedback, revised capital improvement program tables, refined deliverable requirements, and the resolution of minor administrative items. This will be year 1 of the 20-year plan to rehabilitate the aging infrastructure, with construction of the initial project anticipated to begin in late 2026.
In support of the City's strategic approach to infrastructure investment and the use of the latest technology and cost-saving components, the agreement incorporates drone-collected aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data into the design phase. This technology reduces reliance on traditional field surveying, improving schedule efficiency and cost savings. Additionally, the design, bidding, and construction administration tasks have been structured into three defined phases to improve project control and transparency. Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) services were revised in response to industry input to align with this phased delivery model.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Professional Services Agreement with Birkhoff, Hendricks & Carter L.L.P. for design services is for $748,600. Funds are available in the Utility Replacement and Improvement Project in the Non-Bond Utility CIP fund.
DISTRICT:
Citywide
POSSIBLE COUNCIL ACTION:
1. I move to approve Resolution No. 2026-018 as presented.
2. I move to approve Resolution No. 2026-018 with modifications.
3. I move to table the issue for further study or take no action.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution No. 2026-018
2. Professional Services Agreement
3. Exhibit A: Scope of Services
4. Executive Summary Memorandum
5. Technical Water and Wastewater CIP Memorandum
6. FY-26 Water and Wastewater CIP Memorandum
7. Presentation