Council selects engineering firm for CDBG road grant, designates signatories

The city council on March 5 voted to award engineering services to Gilpin (Gilpin Engineering) for work on a Texas Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application and subsequent project implementation for road improvements in a targeted low‑to‑moderate income neighborhood.

Staff said the city issued a request for qualifications, received seven responses and an evaluation committee that included the mayor and mayor pro tem recommended Gilpin. The council approved resolution 03‑2026 to engage the firm for grant pre‑application and implementation services. Staff noted the grant is for roughly $750,000 and that the city’s required local match is about 5 percent (approximately $37,500); the project would not go into effect until 2027 because of the grant timeline.

Council also approved a related resolution to designate authorized signatories for CDBG matters administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, specifying the appropriate city staff and elected officials for contract and grant documents. Those procedural steps are required as part of the grant application and administration process.

Staff said they would coordinate scheduling and potentially bundle bids with neighboring Dripping Springs to improve pricing; formal bidding and construction would follow grant award and scheduling in 2027.