The purpose of this Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) is to authorize the execution of Amendment No. 3 to the Engineering Agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. (Freese and Nichols) for additional design, engineering and geotechnical borings for the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R) Levee Improvement Project. The 2014 Bond Program included $350,000.00 for the reconstruction of an existing levee to prevent further deterioration of existing infrastructure and to allow access to Todd Island which includes over 1,000 acres of FWNC&R land which is currently inaccessible due to levee conditions. The original contract with Freese and Nichols Inc., in the amount of $8,951.00 (City Secretary No. 45800) was administratively executed on July 30, 2014. The project scope of the original contract was to assess the current conditions, meet with Staff to determine project objectives and develop alternative design options for restoring the levee and trail system. Contract Amendment No.1 in the amount of $12,060.00 was administratively executed on November 14, 2014. The Contract Amendment No. 1 scope included geotechnical investigations that focused on which design option would be viable to move into final design.
Contract Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $45,093.00 was administratively executed on April 16, 2015. The scope included the development of final design documents of the levee infrastructure that improves the integrity of the levee, provides continual (uninterrupted, year-round) pedestrian and maintenance access to Todd Island, has the ability to pass storm flows, and maintains or improves the wetland habitat in the Lotus Marsh area. The project had reached a 50 percent construction document level when additional flooding and degradation of the levee/cross timbers trail occurred. During this time, the project site has remained in a flooded state requiring the project team to hold meetings with stakeholders to discuss immediate and long term solutions. As part of these discussions, the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) committed to provide pedestrian bridges for the project including a second pedestrian bridge that will be included upriver at the diversion channel area providing long term relief. Amendment No. 3 includes additional project management and coordination during flooding delays, team meetings, geotechnical borings and engineering design to support the pedestrian bridge. The project design costs including the original contract, Amendment No.1, No. 2 and No. 3 total $95,628.00. This project is funded through the 2014 Bond Program and a special donation from the Friends of FWNC&R. Total appropriations are summarized below: Source | M&C | Current Appropriations | Proposed | Total | 34014 - 2014 Bond Program | | $350,000.00 | _ | $350,000.00 | 30105 - Special Donation | M&C G-18228 (June 3, 2014) | $50,000.00 | _ | $50,000.00 | 30105 - Special Donation | M&C G-18781 (June 28, 2016) | $25,000.00 | _ | $25,000.00 | TOTAL |
| $425,000.00 | _ | $425,000.00 |
The anticipated completion of design phase and beginning of construction phase is early September 2016. This project will be partially funded through the 2014 Bond Program. Available resources within the General Fund will be used to provide interim financing for these expenses until debt is issued. Once debt associated with this project is sold, bond proceeds will reimburse the General Fund in accordance with the statement expressing official Intent to reimburse which was adopted as part of the ordinance canvassing the bond election (Ordinance No. 21241-05-2014) and the subsequent ordinance authorizing the issuance of the debt (Ordinance No. 22216-05-2016). Fort Worth Nature Center is located in COUNCIL DISTRICT 7. |
