Res 2023-001/approving an Interlocal Agreement with Hays County providing for the County to fund $2,000,000.00 toward the purchase of easements and right-of-way for the Purgatory Creek Improvements Project

Home Browse Search

• Permitting Requirements — Conducting services and preparation of environmental permitting documents for the entire Purgatory Creek project area (Phase 1 and 2) required by various agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineers,Texas Parks and Wildlife,etc. • Invasive Vegetation Management—The removal of invasive vegetation within the project area and as identified in the project's Riparian Vegetation Management Plan. • Phase 2 Area Trails —Working with the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF) and San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA)to build natural trails in the Phase 2 Area. These natural trails will be located within areas that will not be impacted flood mitigation improvements and in advance of the City project which will convert the natural trials to a permanent concrete trial. The City's role is to acquire easements and the SMRF and SMGA team will construct the natural trials. This phase considers a grant of$150,000 received by SMRF from the TPWD and not allocated for easements or ROW acquisition. • Phase 1 Designs Completion—Coordinating with the consultant team regarding the preparation of scope of services to complete the designs for the Phase 1 Area. POSAC Requested Funding Uses—POSAC funding will be used to conduct services to acquire easements and right-of-way (ROW) identified in the Purgatory Creek Improvements project. For the Phase 1 Area, funding will be used to acquire easements and ROW identified for improvements including flood mitigation and multi-use trails. For the Phase 2 Area, the acquired easements and ROW will be used for multi-use trails only. In addition,the POSAC funding for real estate acquisition considers the following: • Secures and protects land for multiple uses • Connectivity including o Connecting the San Marcos River to the Purgatory Creek Natural Area o Connecting historic/culturally neighborhoods including Dunbar,Victory Gardens and East Guadalupe. • Greenspace,trails, riparian and wildlife corridors • Flood mitigation • Water quality improvements (infiltration) o Located in an urban area • Enhance existing and planned trail plans • Continuation of work with community non-profit groups, private property owners and citizens including the San Marcos River Foundation and the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance. • The easement and ROW areas were identified in the PER and 30%Designs considering Purgatory Creek improvement design characteristics including natural channel designs and multi-use trail alignments. • The easement and ROW areas are located within the Special Flood Hazard Area defined by FEMA for Purgatory Creek. • There are no structures currently being used for either residential (homes) or commercial uses located within the easement/ROW areas proposed to be acquired. • The requested POSAC fund amount was based on PER and 30% Design findings. In addition, approximately 75%of the funds is anticipated to be used for the purchase of real estate. Attachment 1 Purgatory Creek Improvements Location Map — reflects the general location of the Purgatory Creek Improvements project. Preliminary locations of areas to be to be acquired are presented