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Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee met July 7.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee held a meeting via Zoom video conference at 3:30 PM.
District Board and Committee members present: Etan Mirwis, Ralph Rieger, Cindy Chapman, Ronald Plotkin, Steve Moore
Staff members present: Xavier Herrera, David Hawes, Josh Hawes, Cosme Garcia
Public present: Bill Burhans – Willow Waterhole Conservancy, Bill King – Willow Waterhole Conservancy, Stephen Costello – CoH, Russell Schexnayder, Ben E. Brewer III – BUMC, Naomi Ostfeld, Michael Mauer – M2L, Karen Rogers – M2L, Tommy Artz – Cobb Fendley, Karolena Serratos, Muhammad Ali – Gauge Engineering, Taylor Risien – Gauge Engineering, Trudy Holmes, Perdida Chavis – District K, Barbara Richards, Melvin Hopkins – District K, James Wesselman
Executive Director Xavier Herrera, on behalf of Committee Chair Etan Mirwis, called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 4:38 PM.
THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:
1. Call to order
2. Public Comment
a. Bill Burhans reported WWGC was awarded a grant from the Cullen Foundation of $1 Million in June and addressed the new task orders that will be presented to the committee.
b. Karolena Serratos spoke in support of agenda item 5.
3. Minutes of 06/09/22 Infrastructure Committee Meeting
a. Committee meeting minutes submitted for reference and review.
4. Updates & Recommendations
a. Spellman Detention Basin Project update
i. Mr. Costello reported that all three parcels are now owned by the city. The old cold storage facility is in the process of being demolished. Costello anticipates the project going to bid in September. Project is funding through CBG HUD funds, which means the funds can hold be used for the development of greenspace. Federal resources cannot be used for trails or other amenities.
ii. Mr. Costello gave an update on the Ruffino Detention Project. Grant application for $96 Million to convert the Bellaire portion to regional detention and to construct channel improvements on Keegans Bayou East of 59 and West of Beltway 8. The grant is a FEMA grant under COVID hazard mitigation grant program. Funds are administered by The Texas Division of Emergency Management.
iii. Mr. David Hawes advised he may have identified a funding solution for trails at the Spellman Detention Basin.
iv. Committee Chair Mirwis stated that BOMD wants to be proactive regarding infrastructure projects in the district and reiterated the district’s eagerness to utilize any available resources. Mirwis asked for clarification as to whether the library was also being demolished, Mr. Costello answered in the affirmative.
v. Board Chair Rieger advised the district may want to look into reimbursement for a hydrology study it had commissioned. Mr. Rieger also mentioned that $150,000 reimbursement from CoH for Dryad has been approved. Executive Director Herrera confirmed reimbursement is eminent.
vi. Mr. Hopkins requested a copy of the committee meeting recording. BOMD staff will follow-up.
b. Fondren Rd. Project update
i. Ms. Rogers stated that she is currently working to setup a meeting with Steve Campagna with CoH – HPW in order to receive an update and to get an idea of what kind of public outreach the city plans to do.
ii. Ms. Ostfeld inquired as to if the community will have any input into the redesign. Ms. Rogers advised that M2L is attempting to setup a meeting with the senior project manager to have the discussion before funding is secured.
iii. Committee Chair Mirwis asked for clarification as to what stage the project is in and for details regarding HPW’s request for funds from city council. Ms. Rogers advised that she would investigate further.
iv. Mr. David Hawes had the same inquired. Ms. Rogers clarified that the funds were for the redesign of the project. Mr. Hawes advised that we need to clarify that the CIP money is going to be for redesign.
v. Ms. Chavis advised she would follow-up with HPW to get a status of the Fondren project.
c. Kidner Trails update
i. Mr. Brewer advised that a planned presentation to the Kidner Foundation is planned in September. Task orders for Prairie Lake will be presented – some of
the schematic designs may be presented at the September meeting.
5. Consider funding the one-time operating cost of nine (9) streetlights on Honeywell St. in an amount not to exceed $1,462.00.
a. Committee Chair Mirwis expressed support for this agenda item and that the district should be more proactive in identifying areas that need lighting.
b. Director Plotkin made a motion to send the agenda item to the board for consideration. Motion was seconded by Director Chapman.
c. Board Chair Rieger inquired as to why there was a charge for the streetlights. Expressed support for the item, however, reiterated the importance of having additional lighting on the street that may go beyond what HPW suggested in the survey. Chair Rieger advised district should reach out to the appropriate council member regarding additional lighting.
d. Director Chapman advised that the district may want to budget funds for lighting projects.
6. Consider Gauge Engineering and M2L task orders for Hike & Bike Trail – Willow Waterhole Greenway
a. Mr. Ali reviewed the Gauge Engineering proposal for professional engineering services for Prairie Lake Hike and Bike trails and parking lot design.
i. Director Plotkin made a motion to send the agenda item to the board for consideration. Motion was seconded by Board Chair Rieger.
b. M2L proposal for professional services for Prairie Lake Hike and Bike trail landscape design.
i. Board Chair Rieger made a motion to send the agenda item to the board for consideration. Motion was seconded by Director Plotkin.
7. Consider Cobb Fendley task order for Design Administration and Observation and Material Testing for the Proposed Recreational Peir at Willow Waterhole
a. Mr. Artz reviewed the proposal for the construction observation and administration of the recreation pier project.
i. Board Chair Rieger made a motion to send the agenda item to the board for consideration. Motion was seconded by Director Plotkin.
8. Consider Gauge Engineering task order for Engineering Consulting Services on the Fondren Road Project
a. Mr. Ali reviewed the Gauge Engineering proposal for professional engineering services regarding the Fondren Rd. Project.
i. Committee Chair Mirwis inquired as to Gauge Engineering’s experience with such projects. Mr. Ali advised that Gauge has worked on access management issue before.
ii. Board Chair Rieger inquired as to who is responsible for utilities in these projects. Mr. Ali advised that Gauge is able to review utility issues if necessary as part of miscellaneous support.
iii. Committee Chair Mirwis advised that the committee would like to review CoH plans in order to give feedback and come up with a list of things that may not work in the favor of property owners. Mirwis inquired as to how soon the district could have an initial meeting. Mr. Ali advised that as soon as the proposal is approved Gauge can reach out to CoH and find out the status of the roadway schematic.
iv. Ms. Ostfeld inquired as to whether the district can ask CoH to consider certain proposals / changes to the initial plan. Committee Chair Mirwis advised that he expects for the district to give feedback.
v. Director Chapman made a motion to send the agenda item to the board for consideration. Motion was seconded by Director Plotkin.
9. Adjourn
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