The Wastewater Master Plan is one of the City’s eight master plans and documents an approach to satisfying the City’s wastewater needs. It is a guidance tool used to ensure that wastewater infrastructure capacity is adequate to service growth and development in the City and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
In accordance with the Sugar Land Way and the City's commitment to maintaining its infrastructure, staff annually conducts comprehensive reviews of the City's eight master plans and identifies the appropriate time to update each plan. Last year, Long-Range Planning Division staff reviewed the annual reports of each master plan and recommended beginning an update to the Wastewater Master Plan (last updated in 2012) in Fiscal Year 2019. The Planning, Public Works and Engineering Departments coordinated efforts to evaluate and to recommend the most qualified firm based on experience.
Staff has made significant progress since the 2018 annual report, including the following:
- Issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) statements for the project;
- Reviewed statements of qualifications from the five (5) firms who responded to the RFQ;
- Interviewed two (2) short-listed firms and identified a recommendation for the most qualified firm; and,
- Worked with the recommended firm to develop a draft project proposal and scope of work.
Freese and Nichols, Inc. was selected through the RFQ process in accordance with City Policy PU-109 for procurement of professional services, for a contract amount of $349,000.00. The scope of work for the proposed services includes the following:
- Evaluate and update planning policy;
- Analyze lift station peaking factor report/prepare summary mapping;
- Develop wastewater System inventory and update hydraulic model;
- Conduct lift station and adjacent manhole survey and measure downs;
- Conduct wastewater model calibration;
- Develop population and wastewater flow projections;
- Conduct existing and future wastewater system capacity analyses;
- Incorporate wastewater asset management studies;
- Incorporate reuse strategies from the IWRP;
- Develop wastewater capital improvements plan; and
- Prepare master plan report summarizing policies and capital needs.
The scope of work provides for the development of an updated Wastewater Master Plan that will identify a comprehensive strategy for the City’s future and will also support and further define Goals A: Safe Community, D: Environmentally Responsible Community, F: Great Neighborhoods, I: Regional Business Center of Excellence, J: Balanced Development and Redevelopment, K: Community Pride, and their related objectives found in Chapter 5 of the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan. The FY19 Wastewater Master Plan Update will expand the current planning area to include the annexed areas of Greatwood and New Territory, incorporate recommendations from the Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP) and address current policy needs, specifically the south of the Brazos River with respect to growth and development. Once the contract has been executed with the planning consultant, the process is expected to take 20 months.
The Wastewater Master Plan is considered a sub-plan of the overall City’s Comprehensive Plan. The opportunity for public input will be provided at City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission public hearings. City Council is identified as the legislative body required to adopt the plan and will provide their strategic direction during the process. Additionally, the Planning and Zoning Commission will also provide input and feedback on the draft plan and render a recommendation to the City Council prior to their consideration of adoption.
Funding for the Wastewater Master Plan Update is available in the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Budget in the Utility Fund.
The Planning and Public Works Departments recommend City Council approve a Professional Services Contract with Freese and Nichols, Inc. in the amount of $349,000.00 to update the City of Sugar Land Wastewater Master Plan.