2021 03 11 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
March 11, 2021
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on
Thursday, March 11, 2021, at 5:30 P.M., in the Council Chamber of the Baytown City Hall, 2401
Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Laura Alvarado
Jacob Powell
Charles Johnson
Mike Lester
Heather Betancourth
Kevin Troller
Karen Horner
Leticia Brysch
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor Pro Tem
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Mayor Capetillo convened the March 11, 2021, City Council Regular Work Session with a
quorum present at 5:30 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Member
Johnson who arrived at 5:31 P.M., and Mayor Capetillo and Council Member Presley, who
were both absent.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding the City of Baytown Storm Water
Master Plan.
Director of Public Works and Engineering, Frank Simoneaux presented the summary of
results from the 2020 Master Drainage Plan. He introduced Mr. Al Flores and Mr. Jacob,
representatives from Dannenbaum Engineering, the consultant firm who completed the
study, as well as introduced Mr. Irwin Burton, the City Engineer, and Mr. Jesus Fabela,
Drainage Foreman.
Mr. Simoneaux stated that the objectives of the study were to understand the existing
drainage system and patterns, put that into a computerized model to further understand
the effects of different types of improvements, and how that would affect the city's
drainage, and to identify drainage improvements that could be implemented to improve
drainage within the city. He noted that prior to 2020, the City's CIP did not really have
any drainage projects included and further noted that most of the master plans that he has
seen focused on high-level studies which just looks at regional projects and detention, but
he instructed Dannenbaum Engineering to provide recommended improvements that
would be more usable and could translate easily into capital improvement projects, which
they did.
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March 11, 2021
Page 2 of 3
Mr. Simoneaux stated that the evaluation process included a meeting with city staff,
whereas, the areas of town that were known to have recurring flooding problems were
identified. He stated that during the year 2020, the Drainage Ordinance and the Floodplain
Ordinance was updated, which changed some of the work Dannenbaum had to do, and
they did without charges to the city. He stated that twenty of the twenty-one systems
reviewed require some level of improvement.
Mr. Simoneaux stated that West Baytown, Danubina, Fayle, James, and North Alexander
were all identified as having recurring drainage problems. He stated that each of the
twenty-one systems were categorized as two different priorities based on the level of
ponding with a two-year storm event. He stated that if the ponding was greater than one
foot beyond the right-of-way with a two-year storm event it was categorized as a high
priority system, the priority systems had from zero to one foot of ponding within the right-
of-way, and the lower priority systems did not have any ponding in the right-of-way.
Further during the presentation, Mr. Simoneaux stated with regards to the high priority
system, there were three areas identified, a large area in Danubina and two (2) adjacent
areas in West Baytown. He stated that Danubina was by far the largest and most
expensive system for improvements which was broken into three different phases with
the first phase being the Harris County Flood Channel Improvements that includes a
detention pond and trunk line. He noted that this area was submitted for funding under
CDBG last fall; however, during the process of the master plan there were no final
numbers. He noted that the grant was submitted less than the cost and if approved there
would have to be some partnership opportunities with Harris County, especially
considering the part of the improvement that includes their channel. Additionally, he
provided maps demonstrating what would happen when improvements are done. He
further noted that the maps were only estimates being in the model stage, but more
accurate data would be available from the survey after the final design.
With regards to West Baytown, Mr. Simoneaux stated that there were two drainage areas
with improvements broken into different phases with Phase 1 being the trunk line going
down Oklahoma. He noted that this area was submitted for funding under Harris County
Partnership Grant applied for in January and staff was waiting on a response, which if
received, would be an approximate fifty percent grant.
He went through the other priorities in the same manner as the previous by providing a
map of the estimated improvements. He stated that the James area drainage improvements
include the detention it shared with Danubina and that the cost was included in the
detention required for that area. He stated that although the tension would be located in
the same place, staff would estimate how much was needed for that particular project.
Additionally, he noted that other improvements included some strong drainage pipe.
With regards to the Narcille area, Mr. Simoneaux stated that there was a detention system
shared with the Vine area that would need some channel improvements and storm
drainage pipe. He stated that the North Alexander area needed detention and storm
drainage improvements and was submitted under a CDBG grant last fall, in which staff
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March It, 2021
Page 3 of 3
is waiting for a response. He stated that the West Main area needed detention and storm
sewer improvements and that the Rollingbrook from Garth to Main area was much
improved under the proposed conditions. Additionally, he stated that the North Main at
State Highway 146 needed detention and storm sewer upgrades and noted that the
remainder of the systems were listed as low priority systems.
In summary, Mr. Simoneaux stated that there were twenty projects identified with three
being high priority, seven being priority, and ten being low priority. He stated that all
systems proposed were storm sewer improvements that would capture the five-year event
and further stated that the hundred -year event would be contained within the right-of-
way. He stated that the next steps were to identify funding sources for all of the projects
and seek opportunities for right-of-way. Lastly, he stated that it would be better to
purchase vacant land now for the detention before it develops and further noted that staff
would coordinate with the Hams County Flood Control on any project.
Council Member Alvarado inquired where and if the Mississippi Street trunk line was
included in the Master Plan and further noted that it was not included with the grant for
the Harris County. In response to Council Member Alvarado's inquiry, Mr. Al Flores with
Dannenbaum Engineering stated that the area in question was on the West Baytown
drainage improvement. Council Member Alvarado further commented to continue and
concentrate on the Oklahoma trunk line as work was already done in that area. Mr.
Simoneaux stated that he believed that the mentioned trunk line was in Phase 2 of the
proposed improvements, but he would verify.
Council Member Lester noted that District 6 was approximately two-thirds of the overall
general map and the numbers associated with the area was huge and typically meant that
they were going to get pushed further and further back. He also noted that Districts 6, 2,
and 1 were at the bottom end collecting the water from other areas. In response to Council
Member Lester's comment, Mr. Simoneaux stated that staff would seek outside funding
to assist with such issue.
b. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
for March 11, 2021.
There was no discussion for this item.
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Pro Tem Betancourth adjourned the March
11, 2021, City Council Regular Work Session at 5:53 P.M.
M
Angela Jacki6n, Acting City Clerk
City of Baytown