2001-08-20 Meeting Report (Neighborhood Sewer Project)Issues Relating to the Proposed Phase IV Neighborhood Sewer Project
(including Hunter's Creek, Trail Creek, Shadow Creek, and Randol Mill
Estates)
Question and Answer Summary from S.P.I.N. #5 and #12 Neighborhood Meeting August 20, 2001
NOTE This draft is a work -in- progress and does not yet include all of the answers to all of the
questions. We will post these questions and any others that are raised along with available
answers on the City's website as soon as possible (www.ci.southlake.tx.us
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. Are the plans for this project already "cast in stone" could the residents on Shumaker
Street be added into the Hunter's Ridge installation phase of the project? Answer
There is a project under design currently that will run sewer to Shumaker a future
project, which is scheduled to begin in March, 2002.
B. Can diagrams of the plans be placed on the internet for individual review? Answer Yes.
C. Is there a listing of phone numbers to distribute so that people can call regarding
questions that arise? When would this be completed? Answer The phone numbers for
the construction process will be posted on the project sign and/or distributed in a
mailout prior to construction
D. If this project is to be competitively bid as one project, does that mean that there will be
one contractor who completes the project? Answer Yes.
2. PROJECT TIMELINE CONSTRUCTION ISSUES
A. In what order would the construction occur among the subdivisions? Answer It has not
been set in stone to date, but it is apparent that the most urgent needs are in the Randol
Mill Estates subdivision. This is likely where the construction will begin first.
B. On the plan for Shadow Creek, does the construction of the sewer improvements stay
completely within the road and the existing right -of -way? Answer The main sewer line
stays within the road and right of way, but the service lines will be extended to the
property lines on the east side of Shadow Creek Court. This means that some
vegetation may be disturbed and replaced, depending upon the situation.
C. If the City runs into surface runoff issues during construction of the sewer improvements,
has there been research into the feasibility of installing culverts? Answer The
contractor will be required to allow water to drain so as to prevent large water ponding
during construction. The installation of culverts under the roadways has not been
considered in this project.
D. Will residents be denied access to their driveways for any length of time during
construction? If so, specifically what amount of time are we looking at? Answer It is
possible that some driveways may be closed during construction. Typically, this lasts
for only a few days.
E. In regards to the Trail Creek plan, is the sewer proposed to go on the north side of the
street, because there are other utilities located on the south side of the street? How far
away would the proposed sewer be from these other utilities? Answer The sewer line
on Post Oak Trail is planned to be installed on the West and North sides of the street
because there is a water line running along the East and South sides. The water line
and sewer line will be approximately 30 feet apart.
F. What is the difference between open digging and directional boring? Answer Open
digging involves cutting a trench along the path of the proposed sewer line and laying
Phase IV Sewer Project Q A Summary Page 1 (?1'4
Issues Relating to the Proposed Phase IV Neighborhood Sewer Project
(including Hunter's Creek, Trail Creek, Shadow Creek, and Randol Mill
Estates)
Question and Answer Summary from S.P.LN. #5 and #12 Neighborhood Meeting August 20, 2001
the pipe in the trench. Directional boring involves using a machine called a driectional
drilling rig that digs a hole, starting at ground level and provides a tunnel for the line
to be installed in. This is a less disruptive process, and it has now been decided to use
directional boring on this project.
G. Are any of these subdivisions in doubt of being included in the project, or are all set to
move forward? Answer All projects are set to move forward
H. Is construction set to start all at one time upon finalization of the contract? Answer The
contractor will likely not move in to all subdivisions at the same time, although he will
probably be working on more that one subdivision at one time.
L If there is a roughly 200 day project timeline to complete construction in all of the
subdivisions, does that allow a homeowner to roughly divide the timeline amount by 4 to
estimate the number of days that the contractor will be in a particular subdivision?
Answer Not necessarily. The exact amount of time in the subdivision depends upon
how many resources the contractor allocates to the project at a given time. This will
not be known until just before the project starts.
3. HEALTH ISSUES STATE LAW ISSUES
A. Some subdivisions property owners have health issues with septic systems already
why would the City not address the construction timeline in priority order by
subdivisions that have health issues? Answer The plan is for the subdivisions with the
most difficulty in septic systems to be the first ones that the contractor will start work
in.
B. Health issues should take precedence over survey issues will that be the City's position
on project prioritization? If not, why is that the case? Answer Yes.
4. SURVEY ISSUES
A. Several years ago, residents in Hunter's Creek responded overwhelmingly that they
wanted this project completed, and a sewer line was run down Dove Creek shortly
afterwards. The Contractor came out and asked residents where to locate connections
and staked the property, since then residents have not heard any more until recently. 3
questions asked:
Why has nothing been done since then? Answer The project referenced is the N -3
sewer line, which is a "trunk line" that serves the drainage basin in the area. This
line happened to run along the backs of some of the properties in the Hunter's
Ridge addition. These property owners were provided a sewer tap on that line. If it
is more desirable for these property owners to tie into the rear, as opposed to the
front of the line, they may be able to tie on to the existing line.
Does the City inspect the work and require the contractor to repair erosion issues
related to the construction? Did they have erosion control regulations and enforce
those regulations in relation to the sewer installation in Dove Creek? Answer
Inspection is performed on all city projects. Although it is not known the exact
details of the N -3 (referenced Dove Creek sewer line in the question), erosion
control requirements will be enforced on this project.
Phase I V Sewer Project Q A Summary Page 2 of 4
Issues Relating to the Proposed Phase IV Neighborhood Sewer Project
(including Hunter's Creek, Trail Creek, Shadow Creek, and Randol Mill
Estates)
Question and Answer Summary from S.P.LN. #5 and #12 Neighborhood Meeting August 20, 2001
What happened to the funds allocated for the sewer installed in Hunter's Ridge
several years ago? Answer Current Public works staff is not aware of funds being
allocated in years past for Hunter's Ridge. The funding for the current project
comes from the 199912000 fiscal year Capital Improvements Program. There has
not been any other funding for this project in recent years.
B. When were the survey cards for this project mailed out? Answer The survey cards were
mailed the week of August 6, 2001
5. SEWER CONNECTION ISSUES REQUIREMENTS
A. Does the City recommend plumbers for individual homeowners to contact so they can
connect to sewer upon completion? Answer The city does not recommend specific
plumbers. Several good plumbers exist in the area.
B. What are the restrictions when a homeowner is ready to tie on to sewer upon completion
of the project? Answer The City's Impact Fee Ordinance, (Ordinance No. 657 -A),
requires that residential property owners pay a ,$1300 impact fee in order to tie on to
city sewer. In addition, there is a $40 inspection fee that is typically paid by the
plumber performing the work and passed through to the homeowner.
C. Will a "drop line" be installed for each individual property in order to connect to the
sewer upon completion of the project? Answer The city will install a service line from
the sewer main to the property line. It will be the responsibility of the property owner
to extend the service line from the property line to his/her home.
D. In Post Oak Trail, will homeowners be required to connect to sewer upon completion?
Answer The city council is currently not enforcing the requirement for property
owners to tie on to city sewer once it is available. It is possible that this will change in
the future.
E. Is there not already sewer present along Dove Road, north of the Shadow Creek
subdivision? If so, are connections possible for the neighborhood into that line?
Answer There is a sewer line running north and south along the rear property line of
the lots on the west side of Shadow Creek. This line crosses Dove, but does not run
along Dove. The proposed project will extend aline down Dove from this existing line
to the intersection of Dove and Shadow Creek Ct., and down Shadow Creek.
6. FINANCIAL ISSUES
A. What is the cost to tie on to sewer at this time? What is the impact fee assessed for?
Answer The cost to tie on to City Sewer is $1300. This fee was instituted to offset the
impact of additional sewer demand on the sewer system.
B. Is sewer usage fee based upon winter or summer consumption? Answer Sewer rates
are based upon consumption on a month -to -month basis. The residential sanitary
sewer rate schedule is the following:
Residential Sewer Rate Schedule
0 2,000 gallons $9.50
2,001 and above $1.92 per 1,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons
Phase IV Sewer Project Q A Summary Page 3 (?1'4
Issues Relating to the Proposed Phase IV Neighborhood Sewer Project
(including Hunter's Creek, Trail Creek, Shadow Creek, and Randol Mill
Estates)
Question and Answer Summary from S.P.LN. #5 and #12 Neighborhood Meeting August 20, 2001
Maximum Rate $24.86 per month
C. If someone wants to wait a year or two after completion of the project to connect to the
sewer, would the City still assess the $1,300 fee, or would this amount be subject to
increase at some point in the future? Is there the ability to "grandfather" homeowners at
the $1,300 level? Answer If a resident decided to wait to tie on to the sewer line, there
is no way to "grandfather" the $1300 fee. Residents would be subject to whatever
increases came about after the project.
D. If homeowners are confident that the project will move forward and that they wish to
hook on upon project completion, can they go ahead and pay the impact fee and not risk
paying a higher amount in the future? Answer Residents may pay the fee at any time.
E. Wasn't there a bond issued for the neighborhood sewer program? If so, does the $1,300
impact fee accomplish any type of cost recovery? Answer The $1300 fee contributes
only slightly to the actual cost per property owner of the project The cost per property
owner can be as high as $30,000 or higher, depending on the location and situation.
The difference in the project cost and revenue generated by the participation fee is
funded by bond sales.
7. STREET ISSUES
A. In regards to streets, what is the timeline from the end of the project that the contractor
would be responsible to repair damages to the street that were due to the construction
project? Answer The contractor is required to complete street repairs prior to the
completion of the project. City staff will not release the retainage (a percentage of the
payment to the contractor that is withheld to the end of the project) until all street
repairs are made.
R Recently there was sewer construction over on Sunshine Lane, and the contractor scraped
the road surface. Who will be repairing the road, and when would this repair be
completed? Answer The contractor will be required to repair damaged surfaces. If
the damage is superficial and has not damaged the foundation of the road, each
location will be assessed on a case -by -case basis to determine if it is better to cut the
street and replace it, or leave it alone. Sometimes, more damage can be done trying to
repair the street than is caused by the original incident.
C. When will North Peytonville be surfaced rehabilitated? Answer
Phase IV Sewer Project Q A Summary Page 4 (?1'4