Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee met April 7

Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee met April 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee held a meeting via Zoom video conference at 3:00 PM.

District Board and Committee members present: Ralph Rieger, Cindy Chapman, Sheri Cortez, Ronald Plotkin, Sylvia Rivas, George Nwanguma

Staff members present: Xavier Herrera, Josh Hawes, Cosme Garcia

Public present: Stephen Polnaszek – Neighborhoods to Trails, Bill Burhans – Willow Water Hole Conservancy, Brenda Jackson, Sylvester L. Reeder III – Houston One Voice, Ben Brewer – BUMC, Rebecca Leonard – Lionheart, Natalye Appel, Barbara Hite – District K, Russell Schexnayder, Aravind Nimma, Marcy Williams, Naomi Ostfeld, Edidiong Obot – Harris County Pct. 1, Steve Campagna – City of Houston (HPW), Nancy Serag-Eldin – City of Houston (HPW)

Committee Chair Xavier Herrera called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 4:52 PM.

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:

1. Call to order

2. Public Comment

a. Mr. Stephen Campagna with Houston Public Works gave an update on the Fondren Paving and Drainage Project. Fondren Road: 4 lanes (existing) from S. Braeswood Blvd. to Creekbend Drive and 6 lanes (existing) from Creekbend Drive to W. Airport Blvd. Mr. Campagna anticipates future updates to coincide with HPW’s 30%, 60%, and 90% deliverables schedule. He will follow-up with BOMD to schedule updates when appropriate.

i. Project by the numbers:

1. 2.2 miles of new pavement

2. 24,000 linear ft. of new sidewalk

3. 2,000 linear ft. of sanitary sewer

4. 15,800 linear ft. of storm sewer

5. 14,600 linear ft. of water lines

6. 7 traffic signals (W. Airport Blvd., Ludington Dr., W. Bellfort Ave., Portal Dr., Creekbend Dr., Willowbend Dr., S. Braeswood Blvd.)

ii. Timeline (subject to change)

1. Design Phase, 18-24 months - Summer 2022

2. Let Date, September 2024

3. Construction Phase, 24 months

4. Construction complete, 2026

b. Director Rivas inquired about a sidewalk buffer. Mr. Campagna stated that the current rendering provides a 4ft. buffer between the back of curb and a shared use walk / bicycle path that will be on both the east and west side of the road.

c. Ms. Ostfeld inquired as to plans to save existing mature trees in the esplanades. Mr. Campagna stated that the city arborist is going to evaluate the trees and believes that the proposed relocation of the water line to behind the curb should help to save some of the existing mature trees. Additionally, Mr. Campagna stated that the city has purchased property to provide better accessibility, turning radiuses, and line of site near the signalized intersections; further studies will be conducted at the intersections. Mr. Campagna will reach out to BOMD to coordinate with other organizations for future updates.

d. Director Chapman inquired as to when BOMD should start to work with HPW on esplanade / intersection improvements. Mr. Campagna stated the need to coordinate regarding when BOMD wants to start to interface with HPW, preferably before design starts. Mr. Campagna will follow-up with appropriate contacts for the project in order for BOMD to begin to interface. HPW will begin to secure funding for the project in July or August of 2022.

e. Mr. Brewer recommended to contact M2L to inquire as to whether they are engaged with the project and to send a copy of the BOMD streetscape proposal to Mr. Campagna.

f. A motion was made by Director Rivas to engage M2L to interface with HPW regarding Fondren Road Paving and Drainage Project; motion was seconded by Director Cortez; motion passed with all in favor.

3. Presentation Draft Master Plan for the Gasmer Redevelopment Property

a. Ms. Leonard presented the draft master plan for the Gasmer redevelopment property. Final master plan scheduled to be delivered by April 22, 2022. Next public open house scheduled for April 30th.

b. Director Chapman inquired as to when and where the public open house would be. Ms. Leonard stated the open house will take place at Westbury High School at 10:00 AM on April 30th, a more detailed presentation will be given at that time. Director Chapman recognized the challenging aspects of the project and stated she believed the master plan team have illustrated a great vision for the property.

c. Mr. Campagna asked when construction would start on the site. Ms. Leonard stated the Levitt Pavilion would likely be the first to start construction, but a definitive date was unknown at this time.

4. Minutes of 3/03/22 Infrastructure Committee Meeting

a. Committee meeting minutes submitted for reference and review.

5. Updates & Recommendations

a. METRO Update

i. No update.

b. Ruffino Hills Redevelopment Update – Letter of Support and Possible Action

i. Mr. Reeder with Houston One Voice addressed the committee and asked that BOMD memorialize its support for the Ruffino Hills Redevelopment project in the form of a letter of support, in order to demonstrate consensus within the community for this project.

ii. Director Rivas stated she will forward HOA contacts to Mr. Reeder.

iii. Director Chapman stated the Westbury Civic Club and Westbury Super Neighborhood organizations are already on record as supporting the project.

iv. A motion was made by Director Chapman to recommend the board consider a letter of support and seconded by Director Rivas. Motion passed with Director Cortez abstaining from the vote.

6. BOMD/WWH Boulder Monument Overview

a. Mr. Burhans proposed that BOMD pay for the repair of 8 stone monuments move to WWH by BOMD.

b. Director Rivas was in favor of the repair and repaint.

c. Director Plotkin recommended Mr. Burhans return with an estimate which could then be recommended to the board.

d. Director Cortez inquired as to who paid to have the monuments moved. Mr. Brewer stated that BOMD contract with SMC to have the monuments moved after Dryad was repaved. Director Cortez agreed with repairing the monuments.

e. Director Chapman agreed that Mr. Burhans should return with bids for the project and stated that this should be considered as a project separate from the Dryad repaving project.

f. Ms. Ostfeld agreed that the monuments should be repaired.

g. Board Chair Rieger to forward contact information of mason to Mr. Burhans.

i. Motion was made by Director Cortez for Mr. Burhans to begin work on a project to repair the 8 stone monuments at Willow Water Hole and seconded by Director Rivas; motion passed with all in favor.

7. Budget Discussions and Possible Actions

a. Board Chair Rieger recommended the following amendments to the approved budget:

i. Line 6-6651 – Engineering Design, amount amended from $0 to $50,000.

b. Director Plotkin stated he agreed with deleting Line 6-6651 and keeping engineering funds in Line 8008 – Misc District Engineering.

c. Director Chapman agreed having some funds for unexpected engineering costs was prudent.

1. A motion was made to move $50,000 from Line 8008 – Misc District Engineering to Line 6-6651 – Engineering Design by BOMD Board Chair Rieger and seconded by Director Cortez; motioned passed with all in favor.

8. Adjourn

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