November 18, 2024
2025 Schedule of Board Meetings
The Board of Directors adopted the following schedule for meetings for calendar year 2025: January 27, March 24, May 19, July 28, September 29th, and November 17th.
Risk-Based Asset Management & Capital Planning Program – Optional Task 4
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to exercise optional Subtask 4A (Apply Finalized Risk Criteria Across All BRA Owned Assets) of the Professional Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers for development of the Risk-Based Asset Management and Capital Planning Program in an amount not to exceed $198,646.
Internal Evaluations and Recommendations Regarding Disposition of Certain Tracts of Land Owned by the Brazos River Authority at Possum Kingdom Lake in Young County, Texas
The Board resolved to retain ownership of tracts PK0383, PK0261, PK0374, PK0302, PK0318 to support efforts presented at the November 18, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting.
Possum Kingdom Flow Control Gate Replacement Project
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute an Agreement with Municipal Valve & Equipment Company to provide gates, actuators, and other ancillary component parts to carry out the Flow Control Gate Replacement Project at Morris Sheppard Dam in an amount not to exceed $750,000.00.
Water Sale Policy Updates
The Board adopted changes to the “Contract Terms, Renewals, and Extensions” section of BRA Water Sale Policy 6.5 as presented at the November 18, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting.
Surplus Personal Property
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to dispose of the surplus items presented in the November 18, 2024, meeting under the terms and conditions that are in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO, in certain instances, to continue to use and/or maintain previously authorized surplus property in a manner that is in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority until appropriate replacement property is received and placed in service.
Determination of Interruptible Water Available for 2025
The Board approved a Safety Factor of 0.25 for use in determining the amounts of Interruptible Water to make available in calendar year 2025. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to make up to 53,683 acre-feet of Interruptible Water available in calendar year 2025.
Authorization of Texas Water Development Board Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer Study
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to contribute up to $100,000 to the Texas Water Development Board’s Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer Study to further develop the understanding of the relationship between groundwater and surface water systems. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute any required contracts or inter-local agreements with the Texas Water Development Board that are necessary to facilitate the contribution and execution of the scope of work for the study.
Board Attendance
The Board, pursuant to its enabling legislation Section 8502.0091, granted Director Mike Khan excused absences from two regularly scheduled Board meetings in calendar year 2024.
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September 30, 2024
Medical Insurance Contract
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to enter into all agreement(s) necessary to continue the relationship with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to provide the Brazos River Authority with a fully insured medical plan at the rates quoted for the 2025 plan year.
Williamson County Regional Raw Water Line Phase III Pumps
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with CDM Smith, Inc., for all activities associated with the permitting, engineering, design, bidding, construction phase engineering, and resident project representative services for the expansion of pumping capacity to approximately 56 million gallons per day at the Williamson County Regional Raw Water Line intake structure on Lake Stillhouse Hollow and associated improvements to the pipeline and appurtenances in an amount not to exceed $11 million.
Copper Ion Generator Project
The Board approved and authorized an amendment to increase the Fiscal Year 2025 Williamson County Regional Raw Water Line Copper Ion Generator Project budget and corresponding customer contributions by $500,000 from $0 to $500,000 to cover timing differences in project delivery.
Surplus Property
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to dispose of the surplus personal property presented at the meeting under the terms and conditions that are in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to continue to use and/or maintain previously authorized surplus property in a manner that is in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority until appropriate replacement property is received and placed in service.
Valley View Investment Advisor Contract Renewal
The Board authorized the renewal of the contract for investment advisory services with Valley View Consulting, LLC for two additional years, ending November 12, 2026.
Equalis Group, LLC Master Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a Master Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with Equalis Group, LLC.
Application for an Extension of Time to Commence and Complete Construction of Allens Creek Reservoir
The Board authorized and directed the General Manager/CEO to execute and facilitate the pursuit of an application to extend the existing deadlines for commencement and completion of construction on the Allens Creek Reservoir.
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July 29, 2024
Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Operating Plan (Budget) Workshop and Adoption of Budget
The Board of Directors resolved that the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Operating Plan and Multi-Year Capital Improvement Plan (Budget), as presented to the Board at the July 29, 2024 meeting, be approved and adopted, including the following provisions:
- that the General Manager/CEO is authorized to make expenditures and enter into contracts for expenditures as listed in the Budget, in accordance with the Brazos River Authority’s General Operations Practices, Policy 2.01, Authority And Responsibilities Of The Board Of Directors And General Manager/Chief Executive Officer;
-
that the General Manager/CEO is authorized to make adjustments in the individual line item amounts of the Budget provided that the total amount expended shall not exceed the total amount authorized for each operating division as follows:
| Water Supply |
$ 74,524,390 |
| Cost Reimbursable |
$ 18,184,672 |
|
Total Operating Budget
|
$ 92,709,062
|
| Water Supply |
$ 38,069,000 |
| Cost Reimbursable |
$ 5,042,000 |
|
Total Capital Budget
|
$ 43,111,000
|
- the Board adopted the Multi-Year Capital Improvement Plan as presented in the Budget;
- the Board approved and adopted a rate of $99.50 per acre-foot of water annually for Fiscal Year 2025, for both the System Water Rate and the Interruptible Water Rate;
- the Board approved and adopted a rate of $69.65 per acre-foot of water annually for Fiscal Year 2025, for the Agricultural Water Rate;
- the Board approved and adopted a methodology for quarterly payments or monthly payments to include a multiplier to be applied to the annual payment to allow the Brazos River Authority to recover interest lost on any unpaid balance plus a Service Charge for administrative costs, including, but not limited to, costs involving the billing, accounting and collecting for the quarterly or monthly payments;
- the Board resolved that the methodology used to determine the multiplier consists of applying the current savings rate the Brazos River Authority would be earning on the funds if paid in full annually to the unpaid balance on a monthly or quarterly schedule to determine lost interest, and that the Service Charge shall remain at $20.00 per invoice to cover additional administrative costs for billing, accounting and collecting the associated payments; and
- the Board approved and adopted an annual interest rate of 5.0% and a daily interest rate charge of .0136986% (5% ÷ 365) to be applied for quarterly and monthly payments for Fiscal Year 2025.
Cyber Liability and Data Breach Response Coverage (Cyber Coverage) Interlocal Agreement
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute an Interlocal Agreement with the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TML) for Cyber Liability and Data Breach Response Coverage (Cyber Coverage).
Risk-Based Asset Management & Capital Planning Software
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute a contract with NEXGEN Asset Management for a Computer Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to further support the development of BRA’s Risk-Based Asset Management and Capital Planning Program at a not-to-exceed cost of $865,514.
Water Resource Modeling Contract for Lake Whitney Reallocation
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute a contract for water resource modeling services required in conjunction with the Whitney Lake Reallocation Feasibility Study as determined necessary by the General Manager/CEO for an amount not to exceed $280,000.
Copper Ion Generator Project Budget Amendment
The Board of Directors approved and authorized an amendment to increase the Fiscal Year 2024 Williamson County Regional Raw Water Line Copper Ion Generator Project budget and corresponding customer contributions by $330,000 from $1,846,000 to $2,176,000 to cover timing differences in project delivery.
Possum Kingdom Water Quality Modeling Contract
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a contract for the development of the Possum Kingdom Water Quality Model with Aqua Strategies in an amount not to exceed $2,973,843. The Board of Directors also authorized the General Manager/CEO, if he deems it appropriate, to increase the contract value by an amount not to exceed 10% of the original contracted amount for additional services.
Authorization of 2024 Interruptible Water in the Little River System
The Board of Directors resolved that no new Interruptible Water Availability Agreements shall be authorized for diversion from Lake Proctor unless the Stage 1 Drought Watch condition is terminated prior to December 31, 2024. The Board also approved a Safety Factor of 0.25 for use in determining the amounts of Interruptible Water to make available in calendar year 2024. Also, the Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to make an additional 13,023 acre-feet of Interruptible Water available for the Little River reservoir sub-system in addition to the 41,913 acre-feet currently approved for a total of 54,936 acre-feet of Interruptible Water available for calendar year 2024.
Lake Limestone Tainter Gate Construction Engineering Services
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to amend the 2018 Professional Services Agreement with Stantec for engineering services associated with the Lake Limestone Tainter Gate Replacement Project by increasing the total not-to-exceed fee from $4,237,655 to $6,183,339.
Executive Session
The Board resolved that the sustained, exemplary performance by the General Manager/CEO warrants an annual salary increase of four percent of his existing salary and justifies a one-time merit bonus of sixteen percent of his existing salary.
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May 20, 2024
Texas County & District Retirement System Plan
The Board of Directors resolved that the Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS) plan provisions for Brazos River Authority non-retirees, remain the same for the 2025 plan year; and that the TCDRS plan provisions for Brazos River Authority retirees remain the same for the 2025 plan year; and that the required TCDRS employer contribution rate will be 8.81% for the 2025 plan year.
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Amendment for Cost Reimbursable Operations
The Board authorized and approved amendments to the Fiscal Year 2024 Cost Reimbursable Operating Budget as follows: Increase the Fiscal Year 2024 Cost Reimbursable Operating Budget and corresponding revenues from $17,100,662 to $18,100,662, an increase of $1,000,000.
Drought Contingency Plan Update
The Board resolved that the Drought Contingency Plan, as presented at the May 20, 2024, Board of Directors’ Meeting and prepared in conformance with the requirements of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, is adopted and supersedes the Drought Contingency Plan dated April 29, 2019; and that the General Manager/CEO is directed to submit the adopted Brazos River Authority Drought Contingency Plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Water Conservation Plan Update
The Board resolved that the Water Conservation Plan, as presented at the May 20, 2024, Board of Directors’ Meeting and prepared in conformance with the requirements of the Texas Administrative Code, is adopted and that this newly adopted Water Conservation Plan supersedes the Water Conservation Plan dated April 29, 2019; and that the General Manager/CEO is directed to submit the adopted Brazos River Authority Water Conservation Plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Lower Brazos Regional Flood Planning Group Contract Authorizations
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to enter into and execute a Regional Flood Planning Contract with the Texas Water Development Board to support the Lower Brazos Regional Flood Planning Group activities for the second cycle of regional flood planning. They also authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement for an amount up to $2,491,100 with a technical consultant on behalf of the Lower Brazos Regional Flood Planning Group to prepare the 2028 Lower Brazos Regional Flood Plan.
DeCordova Bend Dam Trifecta Project
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a professional services agreement with Walter P. Moore to perform engineering services for the DeCordova Bend Dam Trifecta Project in an amount not to exceed $3,808,886.
Executive Session
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a contract amendment with Gannett Fleming Inc. to perform engineering services up to and including review, design, RPR, and construction oversight for the De Cordova Bend Low Flow Facilities Project in an amount not to exceed $361,900. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a contract/change order with Marine Dividing Solutions, LLC to perform additional construction and remediation services for the De Cordova Bend Low Flow Facilities Project Dam in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.
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March 25, 2024
Memo Of Understanding – Gulf Coast Water Authority Desalination Study
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gulf Coast Water Authority and the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to participate in a regional seawater desalination feasibility study led by the Gulf Coast Water Authority and conducted in compliance with the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program and Desalination Construction Program Feasibility Study Review Process. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to contribute up to one-third of the local match funding required for the study effort in an amount not exceeding $150,000.00.
Authorization of 2024 Interruptible Water
The Board of Directors authorized the General Manager/CEO to make up to 41,913 acre-feet of Interruptible Water available for calendar year 2024 and approved a safety factor of .25 for use in determining the amounts of Interruptible Water to make available in calendar year 2024. The Board of Directors resolved that no Interruptible Water Availability Agreements shall be authorized for diversion from the Little River reservoir sub-system (Lake Proctor, Lake Belton, Lake Stillhouse Hollow, Lake Georgetown, and Lake Granger) or from locations downstream of the reservoirs within the Little River reservoir sub-system to the confluence of the Little River and Brazos River. They further resolved that if drought conditions improve and inflows produce a significant increase in reservoir storage within the Little River reservoir sub-system during calendar year 2024, the authorization of Interruptible Water within the Little River reservoir sub-system may be presented to the Board for consideration at a later date.
Concrete Assessment and Service Life Extension
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute Amendment Number 2 to the professional services contract with Gannett Fleming Inc. for Phase III of the Concrete Assessment and Service Life Extension project, increasing the total not to exceed amount by $300,000.
Possum Kingdom Elevator Repairs
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a Service Provider Contract with ThyssenKrupp Elevator for an amount not to exceed $800,000 for repairs and upgrade of the two elevators located at Morris Sheppard Dam.
Bee Mountain Properties
The Board resolved to retain the BRA-owned properties known as the Bee Mountain Properties to support the BRA’s efforts to preserve and protect the natural resources of the Brazos River basin.
Surplus Personal Property
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to dispose of the presented surplus personal property under terms and conditions that are in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to continue to use and/or maintain previously authorized surplus property in a manner that is in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority until appropriate replacement property is received and placed in service.
Executive Session
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to continue legal services with Naman, Howell, Smith and Lee, PLLC, in a total amount not to exceed $400,000 and authorized the General Manager/CEO to pursue all legal remedies afforded to the Brazos River Authority to address the lawsuit brought forward against the Brazos River Authority by Sandom Baumgardner; and re-affirmed its resolve to responsibly manage and protect its property interests on Brazos River Authority Lands and Lakes.
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January 29, 2024
Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
The Board of Directors accepted the Brazos River Authority’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year ending August 31, 2023, and approved its filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The Board also resolved that the Chief Financial Officer is designated to file the report and the annual filing of the affidavit with the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
East Williamson County Water Treatment Plant Expansion Engineering Design Contract
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to negotiate and execute a professional services contract with CDM Smith, Inc., for all activities required for the permitting, engineering, design, and construction oversight services for expansion of the East Williamson County Water Treatment Plant and associated raw water pumping capacity to approximately 24 million gallons per day, in an amount not to exceed $15,412,369.
Retirement Committee Membership
The Board resolved that the Retirement Committee shall be comprised of no more than nine members and no less than five members selected from the Board of Directors. The Board also resolved that Presiding Officer Flores’s appointment of the following individuals to serve as members of the Retirement Committee:
- Ford Taylor, Chair
- Christine Giese
- Judy Krohn, Vice Chair
- Jen Henderson
- Helen Jimenez
- John Henry Luton
Appointed members of the Retirement Committee shall serve on the Committee until a successor is appointed.
Human Resources Policy Changes
The Board approved the revisions to the Human Resources Policy Manual, as presented and discussed at its January 29, 2024 meeting, to be effective February 1, 2024.
Agreement with Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc.
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to enter into a three-year agreement with Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. for federal legislative and regulatory consulting services for an amount not to exceed $250,000.
Brazos River Authority Investment Policy
The Board adopted the Brazos River Authority Investment Policy, including the Investment Strategy Statement, Approved Broker/Dealer List, and Approved Training Sources as presented to the Board of Directors of the Brazos River Authority on January 29, 2024.
Ratification of the 2024 Rates for the Replacement Water Supply Agreements (2-Tier Contracts)
The Board ratified the 2024 rates of $30.37 per acre-foot for Election Use Water and $15.18 per acre-foot for Option Use Water as adjusted in accordance with the formula stated in the existing Replacement Water Supply Agreements.
Construction Contract for the Environmental Laboratory Project
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute a contract with Mazanec Construction Company, Inc. for construction services required to complete the Environmental Laboratory and Boat Storage/Workshop Buildings Project for an amount not to exceed $11,348,585. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to approve Change Orders as deemed appropriate by the General Manager/CEO, subject to the aforementioned not to exceed value and applicable law. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to expend up to an additional $265,000 for ancillary equipment and expenses for the completion of the project.
Surplus Personal Property
The Board authorized the General Manager/CEO to dispose of the presented surplus personal property under the terms and conditions that are in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority. The Board also authorized the General Manager/CEO to continue to use and/or maintain previously authorized surplus property in a manner that is in the best interest of the Brazos River Authority until appropriate replacement property is received and placed in service.
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