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Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee met April 6.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee held a meeting via Zoom video conference on April 06, 2023, at 3:30 PM.
District Board and Committee members present: Cindy Chapman, Sheri Cortez, Marsha Fisk Staff members present: Xavier Herrera, Cosme Garcia
Public present: Muhammad Ali – Gauge Engineering, Karen Rogers – M2L, Stephen Polnaszek - NTT, Bill Burhans – Willow Waterhole Conservancy, Russell Schexnayder, Taylor Risien – Gauge Engineering, Naomi Ostfeld, Melvin Hopkins – District K, Marlys Williams, William Conlan – HCFCD, Carolyn Risen – Rep. Gene Wu 137, Sylvester L. (Skip) Reeder III, Kim Hatton, Wilfredo Santamaria – METRO, Taylor M. – METRO, Stephen Costello – CoH
Executive Director Xavier Herrera called the meeting to order at 3:32 PM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 4:32 PM.
THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:
1. Call to order
2. Public Comment
a. Mr. Reeder made a public comment regarding Houston One Voice’s application for an EPA grant.
b. Director Cortez asked for clarification regarding Houston One Voice’s relationship with The City of Houston and Harris County Flood Control District. Mr. Reeder advised that Houston One Voice has a partnership agreement / letter from City of Houston Health Department and Harris County Flood Control District.
c. Director Chapman asked if Mr. Costello would like to comment on the Ruffino matter. Mr. Costello had no comment at the time.
d. Ms. Ostfeld asked Director Cortez if she needed a copy of the letter of support from the Brays Oaks SN. Director Cortez advised that she only needs copies from the municipalities Houston One Voice claims to have a partnership with.
3. Minutes of 03/02/2023 Infrastructure Committee Meeting
a. Committee meeting minutes submitted for reference and review.
4. Updates & Recommendations
a. Receive update from METRO regarding the METRORapid program
i. Mr. Santamaria and Taylor with METRO presented the Gulfton Metro Rapid project.
ii. Director Chapman inquired about the terminus at Beechnut. METRO is still evaluating options for turnarounds, but a transit station is not planned. Planning is still in high level concept phase. Additionally, she inquired as to why the route extended to Beechnut which is highly residential. Mr. Santamaria advised that the 4 Beechnut route has been identified as a route with high rider participation and travels through SW Houston, Medical Center, Third Ward, UH, and ends at East Wood Transit Center. Director Chapman thanked METRO for working on a bus shelter issue and asked that METRO review a request from Westbury High School.
iii. Ms. Hatton inquired if METRO had ridership statistics for the route. METRO does not have ridership statistics available currently. METRO plans to do a study on ridership in the future.
iv. Director Cortez inquired if the presentation was available in the packet. Executive Director Herrera requested that METRO forward the presentation to BOMD staff.
v. Mr. Burhans inquired into a previous bus shelter issue. Mr. Santamaria advised that METRO is working on a project to widen bus pads to accommodate new bus shelters.
b. Fondren Rd. Project update
i. Ms. Rodgers provided an update to the committee. She advised that Steve Campagna with CoH is waiting for the fully executed advance funding agreement from TxDOT. This has caused a delay in the process, as CoH cannot proceed with a schedule until TxDOT executes the agreement. The agreement was passed by city council the second week of March and is now with TxDOT. Additionally, Ms. Rogers is coordinating with her CDA contact to start working on the CDA.
ii. Executive Director Herrera inquired if anything is needed from BOMD. Ms. Rogers advised that regarding the CDA the district can help by confirming what it wants to commit to spend on improvements before the CDA can be structured.
iii. Director Cortez inquired about the funding for the project. Ms. Rogers clarified that TxDOT is funding the project, however, BOMD would be funding any additional improvements or enhancements.
c. Willow Waterhole Greenway
i. Mr. Burhans gave an update on Willow Waterhole. He advised that construction of the Precinct One trail is starting the week of 4/10/2023. This project has been in the planning stages since 2017. Additionally, Mr. Burhans recommends a task order be approved by BOMD for Gauge Engineering to provide construction management services for construction of additional trails.
ii. Mr. Ali advised that the greenways trail project is in the 90% design phase, Prairie Lake is at 60% design, and they are addressing comments from CoH and HCFCD. Additionally, Gauge is working to finalize the Kinder Morgan encroachment agreement. Mr. Ali reviewed their proposed scope of work for construction management services and will provide the district with a written proposal.
iii. Mr. Schexnayder inquired into HCFCD available budget and commented that BOMD can also spend on flood control. Additionally, after the D140 study is complete a study of D112 is going to be completed. A comprehensive solution to take care of both D140 and D112 is needed.
iv. Ms. Hatton advised that Brick Haven Apartments was supposed to be used for detention and the project has not moved forward.
v. Mr. Burhans advised that $30.5 million in HCFCD bond money has been dedicated to the Fondren Diversion Channel / Willow Waterhole.
vi. Director Chapman advised that it may be a good idea to invite CoH to discuss the detention project at Chimney Rock across from the Willow Waterhole Bayou.
5. Adjourn
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:
• This committee had no recommendations.
https://www.braysoaksmd.org/who-we-are/board-materials/