Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

06/01/2021

BACKGROUND

Previously Council authorized a Professional Engineering Services Agreement and an amendment to the original agreement with Ford Engineering, Inc., to design the Elbel Storm Drain and Overlay project. The project includes storm drain extensions in Elbel to address drainage issues; installation of a traffic signal at the Westchester and Elbel intersection; and a mill and overlay of the street surface. The project design in nearly fully complete, making the project ready to go out to bid once construction funding was identified.

Due to the various COVID related cost reimbursements the City of Schertz has received, some excess General Funds are now available for construction of the project. Additionally, this year the City of Schertz received additional “Veterans Exemption Funds.” The budget contained an anticipated $500,000 of “veterans Exemption Funds” being received, but the City actually received $1,000,000. This provides $500,000 more excess General Fund Reserves in the budget.

The proposed budget amendment uses $1,400,000 of excess General Fund Reserves associated with the COVID cost reimbursements and $250,000 of excess General Fund Reserves associated with the additional “Veterans Exemption Funds, for a total of $1,650,000. In order for funding to be made available for construction, Council must approve a budget amendment ordinance.

Proposed ordinance 21-T-23 allocates $1,650,000 for construction of the Elbel Storm Drain and Overlay project. After the project is bid, if additional funding is needed, an additional budget amendment request will be made to Council. Funding that is not used for construction of the project will be returned to the General Fund and be available for other expenditures.

City Council approved this on first reading at their meeting of May 25, 2021.

GOAL

To amend the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget to provide funding for the construction of the Elbel Storm Drain and Overlay Project.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

The budget amendment allows the project to be completed sooner than originally identified in the SPAM 5-year Capital Improvement Plan. It also provides a different funding source for the project than SPAM funding, allowing the SPAM funding to continue to fund projects identified earlier in the 5-year plan. Construction of the project helps minimize existing drainage issues on Elbel, which helps increase pavement longevity; provides a new driving surface; and provides a traffic sign that improves pedestrian and vehicular safety at the Elbel/Westchester Intersection.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Approval of Ordinance 21-T-23 on final reading authorizing the budget adjustment to provide construction funding for the Elbel Storm Drain and Overlay project.

FISCAL IMPACT

Funding for the proposed construction would come from excess General Fund reserves realized by COVID-related reimbursements and excess "Veterans Exception Funds" received.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 21-T-23 on final reading, providing construction funding for the Elbel Storm Drain and Overlay project.

Attachments
Ordinance 21-T-23