Title
Consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an Agreement to Share Costs with the Brazos River Authority for an engineering study related to the return of water to the Colorado River basin.
Body
Round Rock currently has water under contract with the Brazos River Authority (BRA) that was made available under HB1437 that allows up to 25,000 acre-feet of water to be transferred from the Colorado Basin to the Brazos Basin. Of the 25,000 acre-feet, Round Rock has 20,928 acre-feet of this water under contract.
Because there is currently a 25% surcharge on the contracted water from Lake Travis, the City is working with the BRA and the Lower Colorado River Authority on conducting a study to identify ways to offset future rising water costs as a result of No-Net-Loss from the HB1437 water.
On May 26, 2011, the BRA and City awarded a contract to K. Friese and Associates to assist with the developing options that will allow the BRA and Round Rock to return water to the Colorado Basin to meet the No-Net-Loss requirement. This contract was between the BRA and K. Friese for a contract that was a not-to-exceed amount of $100,000. Round Rock agreed to pay to the BRA 50% of the costs associated with the study. The BRA and City have received the various options provided by K. Friese for this initial contract and now would like to further evaluate the next steps in pursuing the options that could ultimately limit future rising water costs to the City. This contract for the next steps will be for an amount not-to-exceed $120,000, and will be shared at 50% each between the BRA and City.
Cost: $60,000.00
Source of funds: Utility Fund
Recommended Action
Staff recommends approval.