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...
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