CC MEETING: January 9, 2024
DATE: January 3, 2024
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Jonathan Wheat, P.E., Director of Engineering
Marc Guy, Assistant City Manager
Title
Consider A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate And Execute A Professional Services Contract with Halff Associates, Inc. For Engineering Services Related To Preparing A Site Development Engineering Feasibility Study For A 121-Acre City-Owned Property At The Southwest Quadrant Of President George Bush Turnpike And IH-35E In An Amount Not To Exceed $560,000.00.
Body
In November 2020, the City purchased an approximately 121-acre site bounded by IH-35E to the north and east, President George Bush Turnpike to the north and west, and a Dallas Water Utilities property to the south. The City’s intent is to prepare a master plan to guide future development of the property. The site was previously owned by NTTA.
In January 2023, the City Council TOD Committee discussed a five-step master planning process and recommended initiating step one -- an engineering study to determine the feasibility of site development and potential land uses.
This contract will provide the professional services required for the City to proceed with master planning the property and will include reclamation and conceptual grading calculations, cost estimates for land preparation, Geotech analysis, utility capacity analysis, topographic survey and a historical and endangered species review.
Consultant selection was performed using a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) method whereby engineering firms submitted a two-part Statement of Qualifications which was evaluated by a staff committee.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Halff Associates, Inc. has submitted a proposal to the City to perform the professional services for the project in an amount not to exceed $560,000.00. The budget for this project is $500,000.00. Due to the potential economic development opportunities presented by the site, staff recommends that a detailed and in-depth project scope be pursued to ensure that a full assessment is made of the site’s development capabilities. Funding is available in the Transit-Oriented Development Fund and was approved in the FY23 budget as an adjustment to the base budget (ATB). Staff recommends that an additional $60,000.00 be added to the project budget.
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY:
This project will support the City Council’s strategic objectives and vision of building a community that families and businesses want to call home by:
- Sustaining quality of life - This project will allow the City to determine land use and development feasibilities for a City-owned property which may offer significant future economic value to the City.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends City Council approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a professional services contract with Halff Associates, Inc. for engineering services related to the Site Development Engineering Feasibility Study project for the former NTTA site in an amount not to exceed $560,000.00.