Volume 18, Issue 2 - Friday, January 10, 2020
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Killeen ISD board to consider $265M bond for schools, stadium upgrades
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| | Ellison High School |
The Killeen ISD board of trustees is set to consider $265 million in construction projects for a potential May 2020 bond election.
A bond steering committee finalized its recommendation in December 2019 that is set to be presented to the school board at its January 14 meeting.
Among the suggested bond items are:
- Construction of two elementary schools at $42 million each to open in fall 2023;
- Rebuilding of Harker Heights and Peebles elementary schools at $45 million each to open in fall 2024;
- Renovation of Ellison High School for $35 million; and,
- Improvements to Ellison, Harker Heights, and Shoemaker high school athletic stadiums for $56 million total. If approved by the board, the stadium upgrades would appear as a separate bond item.
The committee also recommended using the district's Strategic Facilities Plan (SFP) Fund Balance to finance the construction of a new $67 million middle school to open by fall 2024 and a new $42 million elementary school to open by fall 2023. Board members have until February 14 to call a bond election for May 2020.
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El Paso Water board OKs $140M for infrastructure construction, design
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| | | Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant | |
The Public Service Board of El Paso Water approved $140 million in infrastructure projects on January 8 as part of a $448.94 million water, wastewater, and reclaimed water budget for fiscal year 2020-2021.
Major capital projects for the new fiscal year include an expansion of the Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant to add a new headworks building.
Other projects are upgrading El Paso Water's treatment system at the Canal plant in Chihuahuita and beginning the multi-year expansions of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant and Hickerson Wastewater Plant.
The utility's budget also will allocate $27 million to future water supply projects that include completing design of the Advanced Water Purification Facility.
Other planned projects at El Paso Water are:
- Will Ruth Pond. This $15.5 million project is in the planning stage. Construction will begin when property acquisitions are complete;
- Montana Vista Wastewater Collection System. Phase 1 is underway. The utility is pursuing state and federal funding opportunities for phases two and three;
- Boone Interceptor Replacement Phase II. This project will replace three wastewater pipelines installed before the 1940s;
- Canutillo Bosque Road Wastewater Lift Station and Force Main. The utility will install more than a mile of force main lines with room for expansion; and,
- Roseway 20-inch Water Line Replacement. EPWater will replace a 1.5 mile water line installed in 1973 and past useful life.
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DISD staff advocating use of bond funds to support public services
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As a Citizens Bond Steering Committee is considering five bond package scenarios all in excess of $2 billion, Dallas ISD staff are exploring unconventional bond projects.
DISD administrators, the district's Racial Equity Office, and a nonprofit partner are advocating a bond referendum that would authorize the district to fund public services that do not exist within a 2-mile radius of some of its schools most in need.
The novel concept is seen as a way to break through the lingering effects of redlining - a federal policy canceled in the 1940s that denied federal services including loans to communities of color and the poor.
Voter approval would enable the district to pay for infrastructure that could support food services such as a grocery, health services such as a clinic, a librarian position, or other public services or staff housed on or close to public schools on district property.
The idea is gaining traction at the district's highest levels. DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said he anticipates requesting board approval for $40 million to $50 million to fund the effort.
DISD staff members are focusing initially on four areas: LG Pinkston High School in West Dallas; Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Oak Cliff; Lincoln High School in South Dallas; and H. Grady Spruce High School in Pleasant Grove.
Other possible bond items under consideration are the replacement of campuses damaged by tornadoes in October 2019 and updates to older campuses that could total $350 million.
Presentation materials from the committee's last meeting on December 3, 2019, highlighted five scenarios to fund facilities, technology, innovation, and academics.
| Facilities | Technology | Innovation | Academics | | Scenario 1 | $2.99B | $335M | $520M | $588.1M | | Scenario 2 | $2.65B | $280M | $465M | $532.3M | | Scenario 3 | $2.30B | $225M | $444M | -- | | Scenario 4 | $2.18B | -- | -- | -- | | Scenario 5 | $976M | -- | -- | -- |
The steering committee is set to review the five scenarios at its next meeting, which is tentatively set for January 14.
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Federal agencies investigating Iranian defacing of Texas agriculture website
Federal authorities are investigating the defacement of the Texas Department of Agriculture website with a pro-Iranian message on January 7, according to the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR).
DIR officials said the department responded quickly and restored the website. The agency's website is not hosted at the state's data center.
Later that day, DIR issued a statement noting an increase in network activity in the previous 48 hours from outside the United States, including Iran. Thousands of hacking attempts were reported. DIR constantly detects and blocks malicious traffic on the networks of the multiple state agencies it serves.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also reported that state officials determined Iran was the source of up to 10,000 hacking attempts per minute on state computers and networks during that time. However, he said that state officials did not have credible information about threats to the state or to the public. Other state agencies that host their own websites did not respond to requests for comment when asked about hacking attempts.
The surge in cyberattacks from Iran follows a lethal strike in Iraq on January 2 that killed Iranian IRGC-Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani while Soleimani was in Iraq. To retaliate, Iran launched missile strikes against U.S. military bases in Iraq. Websites for the South Alabama Veterans Council and Federal Depository Library Program also have been the targets of Iranian-related cyber attacks.
On January 6, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared technical recommendations for IT professionals and providers that encouraged vulnerability mitigation and incident preparation in advance of potential Iranian cyber response.
Two days later, CNN reported that the FBI and DHS issued an intelligence bulletin on January 8 to law enforcement agencies around the country that warned them of the threat Iran poses ranging from "cyber operations to targeted assassinations of individuals deemed threats to the Iranian regime, to sabotage of public or private infrastructure, including U.S. military bases, oil and gas facilities, and public landmarks."
The bulletin also advised that U.S. intelligence believes Iran is planning additional cyberattacks that could cause "temporary disruptive effects" for the U.S. and its allies.
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Travis County designing women's jail
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| | Travis County Correctional Complex facility assessment |
Travis County has plans to design a $79 million women's jail and has begun negotiations with a design firm.
Women are currently housed in three separate buildings at a 30-year-old jail in Del Valle. A nine-month study in 2018 showed it to be a challenge for the women to go to programs and get medical treatment while housed in multiple buildings.
The proposed 350-bed jail is part of a $616 million facilities master plan that would add a new downtown central booking facility, a training academy and health care services building, and a male jail facility by 2040.
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Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
Sereniah Breland, City Manager, City of Pflugerville
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| | Sereniah Breland |
Career highlights and education: I have a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. I have had the great privilege of serving communities of varying size and personality. Those municipal roles have ranged from working at a sanitary landfill to a library to managing fleet and facilities to the city manager role. I find great joy in not only serving the community of Pflugerville, but also giving back to the profession through service in the Texas City Management Association (TCMA).
What I like best about my public service: My driving belief is that all people, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, deserve exemplary service from their government. This charge to be a change agent for all people drives my desire to be a public servant. Knowing that we have the opportunity to make a difference in the daily lives of families keeps me doing what I do.
The best advice I have received for my current job: Create a culture that ignores the fringes and know that a person who is appreciated will always do more than expected.
Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Exhibit kindness and foster relationships.
If I ever had the opportunity to leave work early, I could probably be found: Enjoying Lake Pflugerville and our parks or planning weekend trips in the central Texas region.
People would be surprised to know that I: Cruise as often as possible in my '32 Roadster to meetups and car shows.
One thing I wish more people knew about the city of Pflugerville is: That our city staff members have some of the biggest hearts I have ever seen in local government.
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Weather disasters take toll in 2019
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Texas suffered three of the 14 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters across the United States in 2019, according to a new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
A March hailstorm in North Texas, Tropical Storm Imelda in September, and a series of October tornadoes in the DFW Metroplex wrought billions of dollars in destruction.
A Texas hail storm over the DFW Metroplex caused an estimated $1.6 billion in damages to many homes, businesses, and vehicles, according to NOAA. Oklahoma also received hail damage resulting from the same severe weather system.
NOAA researchers reported Tropical Storm Imelda caused an adjusted estimate of $5 billion in damages. The storm's remnants caused 24 to 36 inches of rainfall over a three-day period across a large area between Houston and Beaumont. The largest storm total, 43.39 inches, was reported at North Fork Taylors Bayou, Texas.
In northern Dallas, numerous tornadoes up to EF-3 intensity with maximum winds of 140 mph tracked across a large section of highly developed northern Dallas and the suburb of Richardson. NOAA estimated the tornadoes caused $1.7 billion in damages to thousands of homes, vehicles, businesses, and other public infrastructure. Additionally, high winds and hail damage also caused damage in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
Nationwide, at least 44 people died and many more were injured during the course of these 14 disasters that totaled approximately $45 billion in damages. The extreme weather with the most widespread impact was the historically persistent and destructive U.S. flooding across more than 15 states. The combined cost of Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi River basin flooding ($20 billion) was almost half of the U.S. cost total in 2019.
During the 2010s, the United States saw a trend of an increasing number of billion-dollar inland flooding events. Even after adjusting for inflation, the country experienced more than twice the number of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters during the 2010s (119) as compared with the 2000s (59).
The billion-dollar disaster damage costs over the last decade (2010-2019) for the U.S. were also historically large - costs exceeded $800 billion from 119 separate billion-dollar events. Since 1980, the nation has sustained 258 billion-dollar disasters overall that have exceeded $1.75 trillion in total damages.
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College Station planning to build $11M athletic complex at Midtown location
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| | Rendering of Texas Independence Ballpark |
The city of College Station is preparing a competitive sealed proposal process for February to contract a firm for the construction of the first phase of a new $11 million athletic facility in the city's Midtown.
Phase 1 of the Texas Independence Ballpark, Midtown College Station will feature four half-sod, half-synthetic fields, covered stands, restrooms, playground, lights, parking, concession area, and batting cages.
The second phase will add four more fields with covered stands, including a championship field, an open play-warm up area, and amenities similar to those built in the initial phase.
Project timeline is 10 to 12 months with construction scheduled to start in 2020.
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State water agency accepting funding applications for project assistance
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is accepting abridged applications for the 2020 funding cycle of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT).
Under the SWIFT program, communities develop and optimize water supplies at cost-effective rates. The program also provides low-interest financing, extended repayment terms and deferrals, and incremental repurchase terms for projects with state ownership aspects. Additional interest rate subsidies are available for rural and agricultural projects.
To be eligible for SWIFT financial assistance, projects must be recommended in the 2017 State Water Plan. Projects that receive priority for financial assistance will be invited to submit a complete application, which will include a detailed financial, legal, engineering, and environmental review.
Application deadline is midnight February 3.
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Council approves funding for Denton City Hall West renovation project
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| | Denton City Hall West |
Denton councilmembers approved $7.5 million on January 7 for design and construction to renovate the City Hall West building, which is no longer used as a city hall.
Maintenance costs continue to escalate for the aging building, and councilmembers expressed urgency in starting construction before those costs become prohibitive.
A citizens committee recommended a $6.6 million restoration and renovation plan in 2018, but questions over how space would be allocated to what organizations caused delays.
In October 2019, city staff members said construction prices are increasing 9.6 percent each year, and the renovation plan could rise to an estimated $8.5 million before construction begins.
City Hall West was built in 1927 to serve as the original Denton City Hall. It underwent several renovations and housed multiple city departments after the current City Hall was built.
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Carthage ISD to issue qualifications request for architectural firms
Carthage ISD trustees recently gave the district superintendent approval to start developing a request for qualifications (RFQ) for architectural firms to assist the district with facilities planning.
Although the district has funded the majority of its facilities, board and staff members agreed on the need for a long-range facilities plan that would improve bond efficiency.
Trustees also sought a plan that would aid in improving security systems at campuses and other district properties.
Officials plan to begin the RFQ process in spring or summer 2020 and select a maximum of three architectural firms for board members to interview.
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Victoria College to expand industrial training facilities with federal grant
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| | Victoria College Technology Center |
Victoria College will use a $3.8 million federal grant to expand its industrial training facilities with the goal of supporting employment in the region's manufacturing industry.
The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration awarded the college the grant that will be matched with $950,000 in local investment to invest $4.75 million in the program.
Expansion plans involve an initial phase to relocate the Process Trade Technology Program to Victoria College's Emerging Technology Complex by fall 2020. The second phase will renovate the William Wood Building to increase enrollment in welding and create lab space for instrumentation and electronics technology. Phase 2 completion is scheduled for the end of 2021.
The third phase, which is pending future funding, will allow for improvements to the process training facilities at the Emerging Technology Complex. College officials said this phase also could include the addition of an outdoor plant simulation lab.
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Hutto to issue RFP for search firms
The city of Hutto will soon issue a request for proposals (RFP) for municipal search firms to assist the city with its effort to hire a new city manager.
Hutto City Council approved the RFP process at its January 2 meeting at which interim city manager Charles Daniels was introduced. He will begin his service with the city on January 13. Daniels previously served as assistant city manager for the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas.
The city approved a separation agreement with former City Manager Odis Jones on November 21, 2019, and he left the city in December to pursue other opportunities.
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Procurement leaders to convene at Public-Private Conference & Expo
March 2-4, 2020 / Dallas, Texas
The Public-Private Partnership (P3) Conference & Expo unites leaders from states and localities, higher education institutions, and public agencies, with industry to discuss infrastructure challenges faced nationwide; and how innovations in project delivery, procurement, life cycle asset management, and technology can help solve critical issues.
Join us at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 N. Olive St., for the year's biggest P3 event as we explore the future of public infrastructure and advancements in the P3 model. Over 150 presenters will discuss active and upcoming projects, sharing key insights for leveraging private sector resources for public infrastructure.
Our 2020 program will present a series of keynotes, case studies, panels, workshops, and diverse networking opportunities designed for attendees to deepen their understanding on the value proposition of P3s, and the role they can play in the delivery of essential public infrastructure.
Connect with over 1,350 participating delegates from around the world for in-depth learning, business development, and networking opportunities with an elite mix of owners, developers, contractors, and service providers engaged in public-private partnerships.
The P3 Conference is designed for all levels in the market including those beginning to explore P3s and seeking to better understand where alternative and accelerated project delivery methods can be applicable.
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Check out our social media links!
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Governor fills 2 public safety posts
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Nelda Blair and Dale Wainwright to the Public Safety Commission for terms set to expire on January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2024, respectively. The commission oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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| | Nelda Luce Blair |
Blair of The Woodlands is a triple board certified attorney and CEO of a law firm. A fifth generation Texan, she is a gubernatorial appointee and secretary of the Stephen F. Austin State University board of regents, former chair of the University of Houston System board of regents, and former appointee to Texas Economic Development Corporation board of directors.
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| | Dale Wainwright |
Wainwright of Austin is an attorney and shareholder at a law firm. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court for 10 years and as judge of the 334th Judicial District Court in Harris County.
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Rio Bravo selects Olivares as city's new administrator
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| | Jesus Olivares |
The city of Rio Bravo has named Jesus Olivares as city administrator.
Olivares most recently served as the city's public works director. Prior to that, he was city manager for the city of Laredo from 2015 to 2017.
He succeeds former City Manager Jose A. Valdez.
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Governor makes criminal justice board changes
Eric Nichols was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice for a term set to expire February 1, 2021. Abbott also named Patrick O'Daniel chair of the board.
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| | Eric Nichols |
Nichols of Austin is a partner with a law firm. He previously served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Texas and as deputy attorney general for Criminal Justice for the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
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| | Patrick O'Daniel |
O'Daniel of Austin is a partner at a law firm, an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law, and a certified public accountant.
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College Station ISD appoints interim superintendent
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| | Mike Martindale |
College Station ISD (CSISD) trustees named Mike Martindale as interim superintendent on January 8.
He takes over for Clark Ealy who accepted a position as superintendent of Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD near San Antonio.
Martindale is CSISD's chief financial officer and deputy superintendent. He previously served in the district as principal of Rock Prairie Elementary School and College Station High School.
His appointment is effective February 3.
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Pharr selects Wylie for interim city manager position
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| | Ed Wylie |
Pharr city commissioners selected Ed Wylie as interim city manager on January 6.
He takes over for Alex Meade who accepted a position to lead a new banking division.
Wylie, deputy city manager for Pharr, served as the city's interim manager in early 2019.
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Cypress-Fairbanks names assistant superintendent
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| | Heather Bergman |
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (CFISD) appointed Dr. Heather Bergman as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction on December 18, 2019.
She takes over for Mary Jadloski who retired after 41 years of service with CFISD.
Bergman most recently served as principal of Dean Middle School. She previously held positions in CFISD as director of instruction and associate principal at Cypress Springs High School.
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Muse returns to Commerce interim city manager role
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| | Ned Muse |
Commerce councilmembers named Ned Muse as interim city manager at a special meeting on December 23.
He succeeds City Manager Darrek Ferrell who accepted a position as assistant city manager in Victoria.
Muse previously served as interim city manager for Commerce in 2016.
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Sherman promotes Philpott to asst. city manager position
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| | Clint Philpott |
The city of Sherman promoted Clint Philpott to assistant city manager on January 1.
He succeeded Steve Ayers who retired as assistant city manager after 30 years of service to the city.
Philpott most recently served as Sherman's director of engineering. Before joining the city, he worked for the city of Lubbock's public utilities department.
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Corpus Christi taps Martinez to direct public works office
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| | Richard Martinez |
Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni announced the appointment of Richard Martinez as the city's new director of public works and street operations effective January 20.
Current Street Operations Director Albert Quintanilla will continue to serve the city and public works department in an assistant director role.
Martinez most recently served as assistant transportation and public works director for the city of Fort Worth. He previously worked for the city of San Antonio as its public works operations manager.
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Plano names Drain sole finalist for chief of police post
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| | Ed Drain |
Plano City Council selected Ed Drain as the city's new chief of police.
He will replace former Chief Gregory Rushin, who was promoted to deputy city manager in September 2019.
Drain has served as the police chief for the Amarillo Police Department since October 2016. Prior to that role, he served as assistant police chief for Plano.
Councilmembers are expected to ratify the selection at their regular meeting on January 13.
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Gov. Greg Abbott has announced these appointments/reappointments from January 3-9:
Adriana Cruz - Austin, Advisory Council on Cultural Affairs
Elie Balesh - Houston, Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
Samantha Kersey - Dickinson, Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
Suzanne Hildebrand - Live Oak, Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (reappointed)
E'Loria Simon-Campbell - Houston, Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (reappointed)
Mary Albin - Mansfield, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Dany Anchia - Dallas, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Bruce Brockway - San Antonio, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Roberto Collazo - Dallas, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Amie Duemer - Lubbock, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Osama Gaber - Houston, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Richard Gibney - Waco, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Anne Ishmael - Houston, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Nichole Jefferson - Dallas, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Tiffany Jones-Smith - San Antonio, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Rita Littlefield - Austin, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Anil Mangla - San Antonio, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Reza Mizani - San Antonio, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Navid Saigal - San Antonio, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Leslie Weisberg - Dallas, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
Francis Wright - San Antonio, Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force
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Texas Water Development Board - Texas Water Service Boundary Viewer
U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics - Pocket Guide to Transportation
IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service - Objectives Report to Congress
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Dozens of public-sector jobs are available. Click here to view all job openings and guidelines for job submissions to SPI. New jobs added this week:
- Office of the Texas Governor - Budget Advisor
- Texas Department of Information Resources - Director I-II
- Texas Department of Information Resources - Data Base Administrator IV
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs - Manager of Physical Inspections
- Texas Sunset Advisory Commission - Policy Analyst
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs - Audit Project Manager
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View our Texas Government Insider and Government Contracting Pipeline newsletter archives
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Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government.
Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers
Editor: Devin Monk
TGI is published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), a research and consulting firm. Founded in Texas in 1995 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace.
To learn more about SPI services, click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.
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