Commission talks drainage, parks
The Brownsville City Commission on Tuesday discussed proposed stormwater response projects, approved a memorandum of understanding with Gladys Porter Zoo to expand the lion exhibit and allocated matching funds for outdoor fitness courts.
City Engineer Carlos Lastra and Maribel Guerrero, assistant director for the Engineering and Public Works department, presented proposed projects that will help the flow of floodwater, including
–the Southmost Waterplein Park construction
–relocation of the Impala Pump Station and Concrete Ditch Lining
–the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and Culvert Improvements
–and the West Brownsville Drainage project.
The proposed Southmost Waterplein Park, according to the Capital Improvement Projects website, “is designed to help mitigate flooding at the intersection known as Four Corners.” It “will allow the City to push retained waters back to the North Main Drain … to reduce flooding, as well as allow for the system to recede to normal water levels.”
The website also states the new park will have “basketball courts, a soccer field and a splashpad playground” that the community can use during dry seasons.
Lastra said the plan is to advertise the project at the end of the year.
The Impala Pump Station is proposed to be relocated near East Avenue, according to the presentation.
Project 3, SCADA and Culvert Improvements, includes the installation of culverts and U.S. Geological Survey sensor stations in two phases.
Lastra said the USGS sensors will help gather data on water flow and levels.
The West Brownsville Drainage project involves installation of a 60-inch reinforced concrete pipe that will help alleviate “approximately 250 acres in West Brownsville,” according to the presentation.
City Commissioner At-large “B” Rose Gowen asked how long the Southmost Waterplein Park would take to complete.
Lastra replied it will take one year to build.
District 3 City Commissioner Roy De los Santos said he would like to see an expanded version of the presentation that includes other projects, such as one that will impact Tradition Estates and one that will impact Old Port Isabel Road.
“Those are projects that the public would love to hear about because it’s going to be a direct impact to all of them, especially for areas that, for generations, have flooded in our city,” De los Santos said.
Guerrero said designs for Tradition Estates improvements are being done internally.
District 4 City Commissioner Pedro Cardenas said it is also important to continue to tell the community where trash goes to avoid clogging drains.
In other business, the commission approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Gladys Porter Zoo “to continue collaboration in the Zoo Master Plan construction phases, particularly the New Lion Exhibit,” according to the memorandum from Roberto Baez, director of the Enterprise Project Management Office.
The MOU allows for “a portion or all of the City’s $2 million of Certificates of Obligation to be used” for design costs of the Lion Exhibit, according to the memo from Baez to the mayor and city commission. The reimbursement will be in an amount not exceeding $1,018,585.
The commission also adopted a resolution accepting $325,000 from the National Fitness Campaign Grant and allocating matching funds from the Parks Development Fees Fund for The Fitness Court in the amount of $660,000.
The funds will be used “to promote and implement a free-to-the-public outdoor Fitness Court,” according to a memorandum from Sean De Palma, Parks and Recreation director.
Cabler Park, Dean Porter Park, Brownsville Sports Park, the Brownsville Events Center, North Brownsville Park and Oliveira Park are among the locations to receive a model of The Fitness Court.
