Title
Consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement(s) for engineering professional services with Freese and Nichols to study and review the low water flows in Farmers Branch Creek.
Body
BACKGROUND:
At a recent City Council meeting Farmers Branch residents expressed concerns about water flows in the lower end of Farmers Branch Creek. City Council directed City Administration to obtain proposals to study water flows in Farmers Branch Creek. City Administration contacted an engineering firm and developed a scope of work to study the creek flows. It was determined that the analysis should be split into two phases:
1) Review the impact of the Vitruvian project on the creek flows;
2) Study the full Farmers Branch Creek length.
Splitting the study into two phases would allow for potential isolation of the cause or causes of the low flows.
RECOMMENDATION:
At this time City Administration would recommend that the City Council authorize the City Manager to finalize the scope of work and enter into an agreement for engineering professional services with the engineering firm Freese and Nichols, Inc. In the first phase Freese and Nichols would review the Water Rights Permit for Vitruvian Park improvements on the flows to Farmers Branch Creek. The estimated cost for phase one should not exceed $7,500 and Addison has tentatively agreed to pay for 50% of those costs. In the second phase Freese and Nichols would do a hydrologic investigation regarding the low water flows for length of Farmers Branch Creek. The estimated costs for the second phase study should not exceed $30,000.
Once the first phase study is complete City Administration should have a better understanding as to the source of the flow issues and could then determine if the larger study of Farmers Branch Creek is warranted and adjust the scope of work as needed for the second phase study. Funds for these studies shall be allocated from the Environmental Health Dep...
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