Loading...
R-00-03-09-10B1 - 3/9/2000E5/ /) Vrw ANNE LAND, City Secretary RESOLUTION NO. R 00 03 09 - 10B1 WHEREAS, Travis County is submitting a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board for a Regional Drainage Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Gilleland Creek Watershed, and WHEREAS, this project is a regional flood control planning project that will result in the elimination or significant reduction of flood damage in the Gilleland Creek Watershed, and WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock wishes to show its support for this grant application, Now Therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, That the City Council hereby declares its support for the submittal of a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board by Travis County for a Regional Drainage Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Gilleland Creek Watershed. The City Council hereby finds and declares that written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which this Resolution was adopted was posted and that such meeting was open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted upon, all as required by the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended, and the Act. RESOLVED this 9th day of March, 2000. K:\ aeoaCS \RRSacuTI \R0030981.WPa /Sc r ROI A. STLUKA, J , Mayor City of Round Rock, Texas DRAFT RESEARCH AND PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION REGIONAL DRAINAGE PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR GILLELAND CREEK WATERSHED (INCLUDES HARRIS BRANCH) TRAVIS COUNTY Prepared by: DANNENBAUM ENGINEERING CORPORATION Consulting Engineers January, 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Description Page I INTRODUCTION/PROJECT CATEGORY 1 II GENERAL INFORMATION 3 III FINANCIAL INFORMATION 5 IV PROJECT DESCRIPTION 10 V NOTIFICATION /ASSURANCES 15 EXHIBIT I MAP OF PLANNING AREA EXHIBIT II LIST OF COUNTIES, CITIES, AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS IN PLANNING AREA EXHIBIT III DETAILED SCOPE OF WORK - ENGINEERING EXHIBIT IV DETAILED PROJECT TASK BUDGET - ENGINEERING EXHIBIT V DETAILED PROJECT EXPENSE CATEGORY BUDGET - ENGINEERING EXHIBIT VI PROJECT WORK SCHEDULE BY TASK EXHIBIT VII COPY OF CERTIFIED LETTERS SENT TO CITIES AND ALL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS EXHIBIT VIII RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO TWDB FOR FUNDING BY TRAVIS COUNTY EXHIBIT IX FLOOD DAMAGE DATA SECTION I - INTRODUCTION/PROJECT CATEGORY The purpose of this application is to secure funds to assist Travis County (the "County ") in conducting a Regional Drainage Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Gilleland Creek Watershed (includes Harris Branch). This project is a regional flood control planning project that will result in the elimination or significant reduction of flood damage in the Gilleland Creek Watershed. The watershed is located in Travis County and covers approximately 46 sq. mi. of land. Refer to Exhibit I for detailed watershed planning boundaries. Travis County will be the lead agency for the project and has the support of the City of Austin, the City of Pflugerville, the City of Manor and the City of Round Rock. Phase I of the Regional Drainage Plan will address the updating of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) to accurately depict current flood hazards. The pressure of development makes completion of this phase crucial as current permits are based on old information which could lead to future flooding losses as development occurs in currently unknown flood hazard areas. Phase II (future) will address proposed flood control improvements in the Gilleland Creek Watershed. This initial study will be used as a pilot project for other watersheds and will be evaluated at the regional level for cost effectiveness. It will meet the following criteria: Phase I 1. To coordinate this Regional Drainage Plan with other public entities such as the Cities of Austin, Manor, Pflugerville, and Round Rock and any other interested parties as deemed necessary. 2. To develop a baseline condition (hydrology and hydraulics) of existing flooding in the watershed necessary to update the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. 3. To investigate placing a network of gages at key locations in the watershed and to connect them to the existing City of Austin network. Phase II 1. To develop structural and non - structural flood control alternatives of sufficient detail to serve as preliminary engineering designs of chosen alternatives for projected flood control needs in the Gilleland Creek Watershed. 2. To select from the various flood control alternatives a cost effective, implementable combination plan that would reduce or eliminate flooding damages and minimize the environmental consequences while allowing continued watershed development. 3. To determine and evaluate the cumulative impact of flood control measures proposed for the ultimate development condition. 4. To recommend an interim drainage plan to relieve existing flood prone areas with a plan that is compatible with the overall watershed plan. 5. To assess the site - specific environmental consequences of alternative flood control improvements and to determine the potential for mitigation of environmental damages. -2- A. Applicant's Legal Name and Address This application is filed on behalf of: Travis County 411 W. 13th Street Austin, Texas 78701 Attention: Mr. Steve Manilla, P.E. B. Applicant's Official Representatives SECTION II - GENERAL INFORMATION 1. The Director of Planning and Engineering is: Mr. Steve Manilla, P.E. Phone No. , Fax # E -Mail Travis County 411 W. 13th Street Austin, Texas 78701 2. Consultant: The consultant will be selected by the County through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. C. Participating Political Subdivisions City of Austin P.O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767 City of Manor 201 E. Parsons Street Manor, Texas 78653 City of Pflugerville 100 East Main Street, Suite 100 P.O. Box 589 -3- Pflugerville, Texas 78691 -0589 City of Round Rock 2008 Enterprise Drive Round Rock, Texas 78664 D. Creation Statute and Legal Authority The legal name of the applicant is Travis County, Texas. The County Judge and four (4) Commissioners constitute the governing body of the County. The County has the power and right to design, construct, operate and regulate drainage channels, and regional detention facilities inside Travis County. For areas inside City limits, an implementation program would be coordinated with the appropriate jurisdictional entities. The County has notified all cities, and political subdivisions within the planning area. Refer to Exhibit VII for copies of notification letters. E. Request for Proposals — Texas Register The application is in response to a published Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop flood protection plans for areas in Texas. The RFP was published in the January 28, 2000 edition of the Texas Register. -4- SECTION III - FINANCIAL INFORMATION A. Total Project Cost The total project cost for Phase I, the subject of this application is expected to be $283,060 and to be completed in twelve (12) months from notice to proceed. A future Phase II is expected to have a cost of $204,306 bringing the total cost for completion of the project to $487,366. B. Local Matching Contribution (Hardship) This application is not requesting assistance for the State under hardship requirements. From general revenue funds, the County (leading entity) intends to provide fifty percent of the cost, or $141,530. An inter -local agreement between the County, and the cities of Austin, Manor, Pfugerville and Round Rock will be made separately for their share of participation in the project. It is expected that the City of Austin will contribute $70,765 from its General Fund to the County for the project. The County will contribute $50,000 in -kind match in the form of topographic survey and $20,765 from its General Fund. C. Requested State Assistance The amount of financial assistance requested (Phase I) in this application is $141,530 which represents fifty percent of the total estimated Phase I project cost. These funds will be used to defray the engineering costs of the Regional Drainage Plan. -5- D. Potential Sources and Amounts of Funding for Implementation It is anticipated that the County will fund the implementation of this Regional Drainage Plan by selling capital improvement revenue bonds based on revenue to be received from the receipts of the annual ad valorem taxes levied on taxable property in Travis County. The County anticipates that a capital recovery charge or per acre "impact fee" program will be enacted and adopted by Commissioner's Court. The future program will require all developers to pay a certain contribution cost per acre to help defray the County's planning and capital improvement cost of major channelization and regional drainage facilities needed to allow additional development and to provide adequate flood protection to the Gilleland Creek Watershed residents. It is anticipated that the regionalization of drainage facilities will include large storm water detention facilities, which could also serve as conservation and recreation facilities. The County plans to promote development of parks and recreational facilities at the regional detention sites by collecting funds from private donations, grant funds as well as the Texas Local Parks, Recreation and Open Space Fund as administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Projects identified as mutually beneficial to Travis County, City of Austin, City of Manor, City of Pflugerville and Round Rock will be implemented through inter -local agreements between agencies. -6- E. Demonstrated Need for Project and Funds 1. Need for Project: Regional Flood Control Project - The need for the project is demonstrated by the existing 100 -year flood plain and flood damages associated with it. The Gilleland Creek Watershed has about acres of land in the 100 -year flood plain which equates to % of the watershed's land area. Flooding problems within the region have been identified in the past by residents' complaints. Drainage and flooding issues have become more pronounced with the expansion and urbanization in recent years. Rapid growth in this area is expected to continue as developers are continually seeking permits for construction from the County. The current flood hazard mapping is based on old information and thus does not accurately reflect flooding problem areas. By allowing development to continue based on out of date information, it is possible and indeed probable that future flood losses will increase as houses are built in flood hazard areas that will only later be identified through updated modeling. In an effort to prevent these potential losses, the County is committed to updating the modeling in a timely fashion. With the added development and more rapid runoff, the existing channels will become increasingly inadequate to contain flood waters. Gilleland Creek and its major tributaries are crossed by numerous bridges which further restrict the passage of flood waters and increase flood stages. Flood waters generally block transportation arteries, causing interruption of economic activities, school attendance, -7- utility service, etc., and increases the activities of rescue and repair crews. The need for a comprehensive Regional Drainage PIan, which would include various land use regulations, channel enlargement and rectification plans, and locations for regional detention facilities, which can be identified by all drainage entities within the watershed. Only with a comprehensive Regional Drainage Plan can entities within the watershed economically and efficiently manage drainage systems within their jurisdiction and thereby significantly reduce or eliminate flooding damages. The County believes that now is the time to begin long range planning to meet future regional flood control needs without creating long term problems. The regional drainage implementation plan that will be formulated in the future Phase II portion of this study will provide a reliable, cost effective flood control project to decrease or eliminate existing flooding problems and to allow for the watershed's projected future growth. 2. Need for TWDB Funding Assistance The project planning area falls into several jurisdictions, including Travis County and the cities of Austin, Manor, Pflugerville and Round Rock. The only practical approach to evaluating and implementing flood control measures in the Gilleland Creek watershed is to develop a drainage plan on a regional basis without regard to the political boundaries. Due to the large expenditure a regional drainage plan requires and the fact that several small entities are involved and affected, TWDB funds are requested to insure the development of a regional plan. -8- Should the Texas Water Development Board approve the County's requested grant in the amount of 50 percent of the cost of the study, the remaining funds will be funded by the County and participating cities out of general revenue funds. 3. Planning Boundary The planning boundary, which corresponds to the natural Gilleland Creek watershed boundary (Travis County) is shown on Exhibit I. -9- SECTION IV - PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. Geographical Area for Planning The geographical area for this Regional Drainage Plan consists of the Gilleland Creek watershed, which contains approximately 46 square miles located in Travis County near the Austin Metropolitan Area. The channels included in the study are Gilleland Creek and Gilleland Creek Tributaries 1, 2 and 3 as well as Harris Branch and Harris Branch Tributaries 3, 4 and 5. Exhibit I shows graphically the planning area boundaries. Included in the planning area are Travis County and the cities of Austin ETJ, Manor, Pflugerville and Manor (see Exhibit II). The County intends to develop a County Regional Drainage Plan. This geographical planning area was chosen as a demonstration project in a pilot program to aid in setting standards for the remaining watersheds in the County. B. Description and Assessment of Existing Facilities The main stream of Gilleland Creek is primarily in its natural state. Improvements to lateral drainage channels have been made by the various developments that have taken place in the watershed. Extensive natural flood plains exist within the watershed. The Gilleland Creek watershed includes approximately _ acres of land located within the flood plain. There are approximately 384 houses located in the flood plain. Assuming three residents per house, the population within the flood plain is 1,152 people. The average estimated property value in the flood plain according to the Appraisal District is $29,257. Historically, the watershed has experienced severe flooding, such as (Include Information) -10- C. Description of Existing and Projected Needs As mentioned previously % of the watershed's land area is located within the flood plain, creating a significant problem for residents. Additionally, flows within the channels are restricted by numerous bridges, which restrict flow and increase flood stages. The flooding problem found in the watershed threatens the public when flood waters block transportation arteries, increasing the activation of rescue and repair crews and interrupting utility service and economic activities. A regional drainage plan is necessary to alleviate the flooding so that the activities and welfare of the public are not disturbed. The rapid growth experienced in the 1990's in the Austin metropolitan area has stimulated a large population growth in the Gilleland Creek Watershed proposed planning area. This expanding development will increase the peak runoff rates and further increase flooding along current channels as capacities are reached unless the appropriate drainage planning and implementation of facilities is carried out. An overall Regional Drainage Plan would be more cost effective and efficient than individual facilities constructed for each development. In addressing concerns about increased runoff, a need for long term regional planning is evident to accommodate anticipated population growth due to the fact that several jurisdictional entities are involved. In order to fully address the flooding hazards in the area, a Regional Drainage Plan would have to be formulated, adopted and implemented. Implementation of facilities may include additional channel rectification and a regional storm water detention system. D. Socio- Economic Data The work force in the Gilleland Creek watershed includes a large number of professional and skilled tradesmen and laborers. Most are employed in Austin, Manor and Pflugerville. Commuting to work may involve driving distances of from 5 to 20 miles each way. The current population in the planning area is 27,154. The current per capita income in the Austin Metropolitan Area is $20,079, with an unemployment rate of 2.0 %. An area economic analysis indicates that healthy growth and development are likely to continue. The Regional Flood Control project would provide the necessary drainage infrastructure for growth and future development. E. Cost Effectiveness of Proposed Flood Protection Solutions A cost comparison between current practices and proposed regional flood control solutions will be conducted as a measure of cost effectiveness. For instance, proliferation of on -site detention basins compared to a few large regional basins will be looked into from the hydrologic, cost and operational standpoint. Additionally, the cost of limited channel improvements by developers will be compared with coordinated regional channel improvements. In resolving existing flooding, a comparison will be made between channel, conveyance and downstream impacts versus regional detention to control runoff increased. A set of criteria will be formulated to assess cost effectiveness. F. Flood Protection Planning Recently the following flood protection planning has been done: -12- (Include Information) The proposed Regional Flood Control Plan will collect, evaluate and update all the previous and on -going major studies that may have an affect on the formulation of the overall Regional Flood Control Plan. G. Scope of Work, Schedule and Budget 1. Scope of Work The purpose of this study is to produce an implementable plan to protect the planning area from flooding and to allow orderly watershed development. Exhibit III contains a detailed engineering scope of work. Included in this scope is a description of both Phase I and II. Phase I is the basis of this application. 2. Project Time Schedule This study is expected to be completed within twelve (12) months of receiving a formal notice to proceed. Refer to Exhibit VI for a bar chart schedule of the project tasks, separated into Phase I and II. 3. Project Budget The overall project budget for the mentioned study (Phase I) is estimated to be $283,060. It is anticipated that the overall cost of the study will be shared with the State on a 50 -50 basis. Refer to Exhibit IV for a detailed project task budget and Exhibit V for the project expense category budget. -13- 4. Project Staff Qualification The consultant designated by the County for this project is to be selected. H. Specific Application of the Planning Project to Meet Service Needs It is the intent of the County to research and develop an implementation construction program that will allow the County to plan and develop channelization projects, regional flood control facilities, as well as non - structural measures that will assure the planning area long -term safe flood control protection. This implementation program will also research and develop a plan that, where applicable, may utilize proposed regional detention for both flood control and regional recreational facilities. In this way the flood protection and planning needs of the entire watershed will be addressed. Monitoring Study Progress A Liaison Committee will be created to ensure the Regional Drainage Plan receives input by all the entities throughout the project. Additionally, as can be seen in the Detailed Scope of Work (Exhibit III) quarterly status meetings are scheduled to coordinate with the various agencies. -14- DATE: March 3, 2000 SUBJECT: City Council Meeting — March 9, 2000 ITEM: 10.B.1. Consider a resolution of support for the submittal of a grant to the Texas Water Development Board by Austin and Travis County for the Gilleland Creek Watershed Study. Staff Resource Person: Jim Nuse, Public Works Department.