PRESENTER: Presenter
Robert Church: Emergency Management Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding for Enhancement to Outdoor Warning and Flood Monitoring Systems Between Guadalupe 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:
Guadalupe 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 $174,511.00 for the installation of sensors within the City of New Braunfels. No funds will be transferred directly to the City; instead, the entire project will be submitted by Guadalupe 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 Memorandum of Understanding establishes the mechanism for Guadalupe County to include the New Braunfels portion of the early warning system enhancements within its regional project submission. Under this agreement, Guadalupe County will oversee and fund all relevant components, including the New Braunfels portion, not to exceed $174,511.00.
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 Memorandum of Understanding, 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: The Guadalupe County project will install six monitoring alarm nodes, enabling the city to track water movement and automatically activate sirens when thresholds are reached.
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 $174,511.00 from Guadalupe County’s $1.25 million Texas Water Development Board grant, the City will not receive any direct funding. Instead, Guadalupe County will include the City’s 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.
Term
The agreement becomes effective upon signing and remains in effect for five years, unless terminated earlier.
Roles & Responsibilities
County Responsibilities
• Procure and install all flood-warning and floodplain-management equipment
• Manage contracting, project oversight, and installation activities
• Allocate funding based on a per-capita model tied to the City’s proportion of County population
• No ongoing financial responsibility after installation is completed and accepted by the city
City Responsibilities
• Provide access to installation sites
• Coordinate closely with the County during planning and installation
• Assume full ownership, operation, maintenance, testing, repair, and future replacement of equipment once accepted
• Maintain compliance with all technical and operational standards
• Carry all operational liability after acceptance of equipment
Operational Control & Liability
Once installation is complete and accepted, the City assumes full operational control and all associated risks. Governmental immunity remains intact for both parties.
Administration & Coordination
Each party designates its Emergency Management Coordinator (or designee) as the key representative. Coordination occurs through the Guadalupe County Office of Emergency Management.
Compliance Requirements
Both parties must comply with state law, TWDB grant requirements, and procurement regulations. TWDB reporting obligations must be supported by both entities.
Records & Reporting
• County retains records related to funding and installation
• City retains records related to ongoing maintenance and operations
• Both cooperate with TWDB reporting needs
Termination & Amendments
Either party may terminate the agreement with 90 days’ written notice. However, termination does not remove the city's responsibility for maintaining already-installed equipment. Amendments require mutual written approval.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval.