PRESENTER: Presenter
Robert Church, Emergency Management Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of an Interlocal Agreement for enhancement and maintenance to Outdoor Warning and Flood Monitoring Systems Between Comal County and the City of New Braunfels.
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DEPARTMENT: Fire - Office of Emergency Management
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Comal County received $1.25 million in Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) grant funding to expand and enhance outdoor warning and flood-monitoring systems. From this amount, the County has designated a pro rata allocation of up to $553,185 for the installation of sirens and sensors within the City of New Braunfels. No funds will be transferred directly to the City; instead, the entire project will be submitted by Comal County as a regional initiative, with the County managing all project administration and making all payments, including those for work completed within New Braunfels city limits.
Purpose & Authority
This Interlocal Agreement (ILA) establishes the mechanism for Comal County to include the New Braunfels portion of the early warning system enhancements within its regional project submission. Under this agreement, Comal County will oversee and fund all relevant components, including the New Braunfels portion not to exceed $553,185. Additionally, the ILA provides for shared cost participation between the County and the City for ongoing maintenance of the early flood-warning system.
ISSUE:
By structuring the partnership around shared risk-reduction goals and jointly funded infrastructure, New Braunfels and its partner counties can create a synchronized early-warning network. This network will provide faster detection of dangerous flood conditions, deliver more consistent public messaging, and strengthen operational coordination across emergency management agencies. The approach ensures that TWDB funding produces measurable improvements in public safety, technological capability, and inter-jurisdictional collaboration.
Through a coordinated ILA, the City and County can jointly invest in technology upgrades that improve regional situational awareness and streamline flood-response operations. These improvements include automated flood-monitoring sensors that can activate sirens without manual input, strengthen communication pathways between jurisdictions, and share real-time data dashboards covering Comal, Guadalupe, and New Braunfels.
Project Details: Update New Braunfels’ sirens to TWDB Standards. All sirens must have two power connectivity sources, such as commercial electrical power and solar with battery backup, and two forms of operational connectivity, such as cellular or satellite service, fiber, and/or VHF radio. To meet TWDB compliance, New Braunfels will add commercial power to five siren sites and solar power to three. All eight sites will receive cellular and fiber connectivity, while existing VHF radio capability will remain as a third communication pathway.
The Comal County project will include the following New Braunfels flood-siren improvements as part of the City’s allocated portion of the grant funding:
o Procure and install all flood-warning and floodplain-management equipment
o Manage contracting, project oversight, and installation activities
o Bringing commercial power to 5 sirens
o Adding solar to 3 sirens
o Installing 10 new alarm nodes
o Maintaining and testing the City’s UltraVoice Sirens and Alarm Nodes
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Although the City of New Braunfels has been allocated up to $553,185 from Comal County’s $1.25 million Texas Water Development Board grant, the City will not receive any direct funding. Instead, Comal County will include the City’s flood-siren and early-warning system enhancements as part of the County’s regional project. The County will manage all project administration and will pay for the New Braunfels portion of the work up to the allocated amount.
City Cost-Share Responsibilities
New Braunfels agrees to fund the following as part of the maintenance agreement:
• 100% of the annual cost for one Traffic Control Technician supporting system maintenance. Approximately $65,000 annually.
• Make a one-time 50% contribution toward capital equipment: a bucket truck, crew-cab pickup, and field laptop totaling $134,337.50
• Annual subscription cost for the dashboard. Approximately $83,000 annually
• The City will test and maintain its 4 Mechanical Sirens
Duration
The agreement remains in effect from execution through December 31, 2031, unless terminated earlier.
Governance & Coordination
Designated contacts include the New Braunfels City Manager and the Comal County Judge. Both entities coordinate integration and operational activities through these authorized representatives.
Liability & Legal Considerations
Each party is responsible for its own actions or omissions and does not waive sovereign immunity. Venue is established in Comal County. Failure of either party to appropriate funds in future fiscal years automatically terminates the agreement.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval.