Like all infrastructure assets, the City of Allen plans for growth and development by maintaining and updating long-range plans.  Specifically, with respect to wastewater (sewer) infrastructure, this involves estimating flows from a variety of uses (both existing and future) and modeling those flows to ensure we have the capacity in-place prior to the need from development.  This effort uses computer modeling in conjunction with actual measured flows in active sewer lines (i.e. flow-monitoring, using flow meters as data collectors temporarily installed in select manholes).  Consequently, there are two components to the contract accordingly.

Birkhoff, Hendricks & Carter is an engineering consulting firm that maintains our existing model and provides updates and guidance to staff as the demands of growth dictate.  The last time the model and master plan was updated was in 2011.

The timing for an update has not only come due from a "house-keeping" standpoint, but is now convenient as the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) will be commencing flow-monitoring in our community soon, in response to their recent commitments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The Capacity Maintenance and Operations Management (CMOM) Program compels NTWMD to perform flow-monitoring at locations where our lines intersect theirs.

Under this contract, our flow-monitoring will compliment the work by NTMWD to include locations further upstream into our system.  This timing is ideal, as we will be able to calibrate our model precisely to the measured flows in NTMWD lines, increasing the reliability of our model and further satisfying our own commitments to the EPA.

Funding for this expense will derive from two parts: $40,000 will be paid from the Water & Sewer Utility Fund (within the approved FY18 operating budget) and the balance of $49,600 will be paid from unprogrammed Water & Sewer Capital Funds.

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement for Professional Services with Birkhoff, Hendricks & Carter, LLP  for the Wastewater Modeling Update in the amount of $89,600.

I make a motion to authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement for Professional Services with Birkhoff, Hendricks & Carter, LLP for the Wastewater Modeling Update in the amount of $89,600.