SPIN2026-01 - Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Master Plans Meeting Report
SPIN MEETING REPORT
SPIN Item Number: SPIN2026-01
City Case Number: CP26-0001, CP26-0002, CP26-0003
Project Name: Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Master Plans
SPIN Neighborhood: City-wide
Meeting Date: March 2, 2026
Meeting Location: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, TX
City Council Chambers
Total Attendance: 24
Hosts: Ryan Firestone
City Staff Presenting: Daniel Cortez, Lauren LaNeave, Jeff Ginn
City Staff Present: Ryan Firestone (Assistant to the Director, Planning and
Development Services), Daniel Cortez (Director of Economic
Development and Tourism), Lauren LaNeave (Interim
Director of Public Works), Jeff Ginn (City Engineer)
FORUM SUMMARY:
Presentation:
Comments, Questions, and Concerns:
Q: A comment was made about culvert and channel capacity. How is that looked at, in particular
I am interested in a creek that runs across the front of my property? I think it is Higgins Branch.
A: So, Higgins Branch is federally regulated, so we do have models for that that show what the
capacity is for that stream channel. Obviously, the flood plain is delineated through the FEMA
studies that could be overbank. That would be what is considered the flood plain. I believe that
there is floodway regulations all along Higgins Branch as well. So, that would handle the open
channel capacity. What we study for culverts is mainly our critical drainage infrastructure. When
we say culvert sizing for bridges, that is something we look at independently and then like I said
with our Kirkwood branch study we are starting to combine them into one comprehensive
m d l. h v ’ d f h h h d , bu h v d f H B ch.
Q: So, do you know if Higgins is Shady Oaks Drive?
A: Shady Oaks Drive would be Southfork Kirkwood Branch. That is also in that
Kirkwood/Higgins Branch study. There is the main branch Kirkwood, Southfork, and Higgins
Branch.
Q: I ’ culv . Th d h l y fl .
A: It can be. There are different types of riverine streams. Some are intermittent and some are
constant.
Q: As far as capacity goes, my concern is that it has gotten very deep. The trees are falling into
it, and it gets backed up with heavy rains.
A: In terms of policy, what we would look at based off what I believe you are telling me is to
make sure that we are evaluating a lot of these creek areas that may have debris and ensure
they are clear.
Q: Yes, thank you! So, it is being evaluated?
A: We will ensure its integrated into the policy statement to make sure that we do that.
Q: I think it would be helpful to define what you categorize as an emergency. Are there any
specifications around that? What might be an emergency to me might not be for you.
A: We will definitely look at making sure we have a clear definition within the master plan itself
and it may be a situation where we have to consider with Council in terms of what is considered.
So, we are talking emergency, but when we look at Stormwater in particular, water on a
property traditionally, even as federal guidelines look at, is not necessarily defined as an impact
p p y. I ’ h c u lly y k d f physical structure that it becomes
more of an impact. So, water on a property as it stands today is not necessarily an emergency
as far as the city is concerned especially if it’s within a dedicated easement.
Q: So, it has to flood my house or kill someone before it is considered any emergency?
A: Well no ma’am, we will need to define that in greater detail, and we will go ahead and do that
through policy.
Q: When do you decide to put in culverts or reinforcements, especially for creeks and where
there is water flow.
A: So, there is a couple of mechanisms that that traditionally happen and that is usually done
with private development within the city and the second aspect is that studies and analysis are
d h u h u h c y. Th ’ h v lu h cu y m h ch ’ d h
impacts that the development has had on it. After th p , h ’ h pl c d u
Capital Improvements Program and it is done on a 5-year basis because as you can imagine a
lot of these projects are not inexpensive, they are millions of dollars. So, with the limited funds
we need to sit there and prioritize the greatest risks so that is what we effectively end up doing
and h ’ h d h u h h IP.
Q: A d y u h v ’ c ly b d h v y 5 y v f h f ?
A: Correct, I believe the last time we looked at the fee structure was 2008. The last time it was
changed was 2008, but it was last looked at in 2021 or 2022 I believe.
Q: S , h ul p c h c d mp v m b , h ’
what you are proposing for the future?
A: Right, so essentially what the statement policy is telling us to do is, go ahead and sit there
and establish regular cadence for evaluating the rate structure based off existing conditions and
the knowledge we end up getting from the past. We say 5 years because 5 years is a good
amount of time for us to get a really good analysis and studies of our watersheds and
subsequently of our rate structure.
Q: What does MS4 represent?
A: Municipal Separate Stormwater System
Q: You mentioned to protect life safety and property, so again that could be clarified because I
h v b c m f l m y h h fl d , d ’ ju c m
into the property it is coming in very fast, and I think velocity and depth are something that
should be considered. So, being more specific about some of these requirements I think would
be helpful. If you are going to protect property, things like reinforcing stream banks and
preventing stagnation and working with the homeowners on these issues I think would be very
helpful because right now it is very unclear who is responsible for what, even though there are
some guidelines and I think you can stand on regulations and standards are outdated and
h v ’ b v . M c ll b h HOA uld be great. And then documentation
and record keeping because I have brought examples of violations and you hold me to a very
h h d d d h h v b bv u v l . Th c y’ p h b d ’
have any record of that or documentation and so I think as a city that is absolutely vital.
Additional wording around when there are incidents it will be followed up and there will be
accountability.
A: Excellent, thank you so much.
Q: What is the timeline of the Stormwater plan to go into effect and the specifics you are going
to put into place?
A: So, as far as adopting the policy, this is scheduled to go to Planning and Zoning this
Thursday, but like I said ’ m b c d cum , y f db ck h
within the next month we will definitely incorporate it. It is scheduled to go to City Council in
Ap l. N , m mb h h ’ h lu v y h . Th d c ff go find
the solutions to a lot of the things that are of particular interest to our residents here. If it is
adopted in April, the implementation starts the day after. We will start figuring out and organizing
our work plans accordingly to meet the needs of the community.
Q: Ok y, bu y u d ’ h v y h p c f c h y u b pu pl c f
yet?
A: In terms of capital projects, I would encourage you to look at our Capital Improvements
Program because that is stuff that we are currently funding and it gives a good timeline on
specific projects as they occur.
Q: y u d f h h c y’ p b l y, as far as stormwater control, as well as what a
d ’ p b l y b ?
A: My understanding of the way stormwater works per state law, as far as I am aware of, is the
c y’ p b l y p c publ c f uc u . S , h h k b u h
within the public realm so we would be responsible for protecting that. Anything that is
effectively within private property, whether that be HOA or private resident, that would be their
responsibility. N h h d y h h c y c uld ’ c ll b m
improvements. If we get some direction from Council to move forward in that capacity, then
h ’ h h c y ll d . A f h h ll u m f h p bl f
what, it says that the city is responsible for the public side of things and anything on private
property is what the private owner is responsible for.
Q: So, the water runoff is not water running off of my property it is water running off of all the
new establishments. You have older culvert ditches that are not designed for constant water
flow and also to the individual roads going down the neighborhood, which are 4–6-inch pipes
h c ll p d h y u h v kh l h p pl ’ y d . S , h I m y
to you is this problem is generated from the new improvements of the city but not considering
what the effect is going to be downstream and the effect is where I have a 60-foot to 90-foot
wide stream that flows heavily that is tearing up the embankment and going towards my barn, it
is cutting out a new path. I have reported this about 4 times; I have brought plenty of evidence
d pl pl d I d ’ h ar anything back. That is more than my capacity and what I should
be responsible for because I am not generating any of the water. The water is running through
my property in what is considered an easement. So, that is something that needs to be
considered because what you do upstream needs to be thought of how are you going to
improve that infrastructure to handle that capacity of water because it is beyond it.
A: The way the policy statements are worded right now is to ensure that the city is considering
not just downstream but also upstream impacts to the infrastructure that we end up installing.
Q: I think this gentleman summarized a lot of my thoughts, but I think when we are looking at
plans, when you say the resident is responsible, I believe when he said that when the city is
approving a project that creates more water or diverts water coming towards existing properties,
I think that is the responsibility of the City. I think the city needs to take the onus have
p b l y f h pl h y pp v . I d ’ k f h h c b pu h pl , bu I
think that upstream thinking needs to be put on our city because we have so many people being
effected by this. I think the Brumlow project that you approved for the residential tract. Not to
mention all the other stuff going, that is in a flood plain and I guess FEMA has to do work on that
f h pp v uff, bu y’ ll h v pp v d f h ’ d c c ly h
are all going to suffer.
A: We will definitely incorporate your sentiments and thoughts into it and make sure the
Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council consider it when they adopt the policy
statements.
Q: I have been told by Building Inspections that they calculate the amount of flow by a formula,
but they can never come up with the gallons per minute that they use when they say how much
runoff is coming off a roof or establishment. The engineer uses a formula and I want to say that
it is outdated because it is not current.
A: Well, again the policy is to make sure we update all our Ordinances to reflect current
conditions vs the conditions that were previously adopted whether that be 10, 15, or 20 years
ago.
Q: The question of who has ownership of this property for maintenance purposes and what we
u f d y’ m d p v u m f y u h v y f uc u h , f
there is a pipe, then the city is responsible for maintaining that pipe and not letting it get washed
out. But, the easement that the city owns that they got from the individuals is no longer
maintainable by the previous owner. Now if the City has the maintenance of the erosion on a
sewer easement and everybody says we do ’ h v y b u h d , h v y
about the pipe that is in the dirt. In a public meeting 2 or 3 years ago that question came up with
Mr. Taylor, the City attorney, and why is that the homeowner is responsible for maintaining this
easement and he said the homeowners are not responsible for maintaining that easement. That
infrastructure pipe was being included in the dirt that protected that property. Now on the Jones
Branch, the city has come in and protected the easement on a piece of property addressing the
f c h h p p h h c ’ b d d. I h m l k h y ll h v
to do is protect the infrastructure and the homeowners have the responsibility of the easement.
There has to be clarification on this. The city attorney said one thing in a meeting and Mrs.
LaNeave was there, the Mayor was there, 5-6 homeowners were there and ever since that time
the City has been avoiding the maintenance of that easement even though the city attorney said
the homeowners ’ p bl . Th ’ ll I h v , bu h h b m cl y h
than you guys saying one thing, Public Works, saying one thing , and the city attorney saying
another.
Q: I just want to say that I agree with all of these statements and that there really is no word
about easements in your policy and if you have that included under infrastructure. It is your
easement and it is my property. The understanding we had when we purchased it with an
easement was that it was not going to be used for the type of drainage that it is being used for
and for almost 10 years there was no water at all. Now all of sudden having raging rivers in your
backyard and not being considered a problem. It may even be worth reviewing this standard to
say we need to do something. I think there needs to be a lot more protection and help for us
where we have easements and the policy needs to address it specifically.
A: Y m ’ m.
SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither
verbatim nor official meeting minutes; rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues
and questions raised by residents and the general responses made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken
as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case through the Planning and Zoning
Commission and final action by City Council.
Southlake Connect Results for March 2, 2026, SPIN Town Hall Forum