SEWARD/ BEAR CREEK FLOOD SERVICE AREA Regular Board Meeting Minutes (Abridged)

Transcription

1 A. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Area board was held on, in Suite 122, Sea View Plaza, Seward. Vice Chairman Randy Stauffer called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m. B. ROLLCALL There were present: BOARD MEMBERS Bill Williamson, Chairman Randy Stauffer, Vice Chairman Bob White TenaMorgan John Eads Comprising a quorum of the flood service area board. Also in attendance were: Jim Hunt, City of Seward Manager Donna Glenz, City of Seward Planner Sue McClure, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Member Dan Bevington, Kenai Peninsula Borough Floodplain Administrator Dan Mahalak, Kenai Peninsula Borough Water Resource Manager Stephanie Presley, Service Area Coordinator Via teleconference: Scott Walden, Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Management Director C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (2:40) MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA: White moved for approval of the agenda. Morgan seconded. Vice Chairman Stauffer called for additions, corrections or deletions to the agenda. VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA: Unanimous. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (3 :20) 1. September 1 ih MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES: White moved for approval of the September 17, 2012 meeting minutes. Morgan seconded. Vice Chairman Stauffer called for additions, corrections or deletions to the minutes with none offered. VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES: Unanimous. Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page 1 oflo

2 Full audio file available on org/minutes E. REPORTS & PRESENTATIONS (4:20) 1. City of Seward Jim Hunt, City Manager reported a. The City declared an emergency on September 19 at 1:15pm. b. Equipment worked around the clock for a week straight. c. The City declared a 60 day emergency September 28th. d. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Alaska Office of Emergency Management Director John Madden came to tour Seward and the city was able to share aerial photos. e. Colonel Lostochi from the US Army Corps of Engineers has shared photos from the City and borough with headquarters. f. Mitigation will take millions and we have put the issue in front of the decision makers and need to keep it there. Donna Glenz, City Planner reported (25: 15) a. Floodplain development permits are required in a flood zone. b. There is no permitting fee and applications are available online at or at the Community Development office at City Hall. c. Any kind of development, including putting fill on a property, will require a permit. 2. Kenai Peninsula Borough (11 :30) Scott Walden, Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Management Director reported a. The Community Meeting Saturday provided a summary of emergency action. b. Small projects were already underway when the emergency declaration occurred. c. The KPB Assembly, on September 28th, extended the disaster declaration for 60 days and appropriated $500,000 for emergency response, recovery and clean up. d. The KPB Roads Service Area is working to get roads useable for winter. e. A preliminary damage assessment is being submitted to the Department of Homeland Security. Teams will be doing an in depth assessment in the coming weeks. Funding will hopefully be available in the spring to begin repairs. f. He supports the flood service area efforts for mitigation. It is important for the public to step up and support mitigation efforts by calling or writing to the appropriate decision makers for funding mitigation projects. g. Mitigation projects that have been completed to date were successful in this event. Dan Bevington, Kenai Peninsula Borough Floodplain Administrator reported a. The KPB Mayor has waived permitting fees during the 60 day declaration. b. Permit applications are required by KPB code c. The permit application process is four pages, including property information, project description and timeframe. d. The emergency permits got out in a timely fashion. Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 oflo

3 e. Any construction in a floodplain needs a permit. This includes most developed areas in Seward. f. The KPB Assembly identified a Seward Mapped Flood Data Area (SMFDA), known areas of flooding not included in the 1981 Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Construction in the SMFDA also requires permits, for example in Lost and Sometimes Creeks. g. Mapped floodways are the most hazardous part of the floodplain. Development activities/ projects within the floodway need to have certification by an engineer that floodwaters will still convey and there will not be a rise to the flood elevations that may affect other properties. h. Any construction including elevating homes, replacing a driveway culvert, dredging require a permit. i. All information and the permit application are available online at / Agencies/Floodplain/Floodplain.htm. J. The Corps of Engineers has a methodology for high water mark staking. Anyone interested in helping with that process, please contact him, Ms. Glenz or Ms. Presley. Marks need to be durable with some labeling. Sue McClure, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Member reported a. The Assembly met on September 28th in a special meeting, to extend the emergency declaration for 60 days and appropriated $500,000 from the general fund for emergency response and recovery. The plan is much of that money will come back from the state. b. The next meeting is October 9th. c. Participated in the tour of the flooding areas with Senator Murkowski and Director Madden. It was a very valuable tour to open eyes. d. There is still one vacant seat on the flood service area board, open to any resident within the service area. Pick up an application at the KPB Seward Annex Office in Sea View Plaza. Stephanie Presley, Flood Service Area Coordinator presented a. A photo slideshow of the flooding and the list ofknown mitigation project needs. b. The water diversion structure on Upper Kwechak Creek is being studied by the Army Corps for armoring/hardening with a possible sediment catch basin. The Section 205 construction project could cost up to $7 million, with a 35% local match required. c. Tiehacker comer on K wechak Creek is in need of an erosion control/ bank stabilization project. d. Stoney Creek Avenue comer on Kweckak Creek. The service area submitted a Hazard Mitigation grant application August 30th for this project. It was also chosen as a priority for state capital improvement project funding. Structures have been built in an abandoned channel that, if inundated, would cut off access to the Questa Woods subdivision. Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page3 oflo

4 e. Kwechak Creek, south of Bruno Road Bridge, near Myrtlewood Circle, requires emergency action on an almost' annual basis due to erosion of the gravel embankments. f. Salmon Creek at Fairweather Avenue, across the Seward Hwy from the Bear Creek Fire Station, washed out two culverts, cutting off access to the Cape Resurrection subdivision. g. Old Mill subdivision includes Grouse, Lost and Sometimes Creek. Grouse Creek overtops the entrance to the subdivision. A temporary culvert was installed during this event. The NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection buyout project was completed this summer, removing 6 properties, and 5 homes from the floodplain. The borough would need to request another buyout project from the funding agency. It would be put in a national queue for possible funding upon a federal disaster declaration. The buyout properties were covered with debris in this flood event. h. Box Canyon Creek water diversion structure washed out during this event and inundated Gentles subdivision, Old Exit Glacier Road, Wilma A venue and Lois Way, as well as impacting Clear Creek properties. The flood service area board voted to submit a grant application or seek other funding to armor this structure. It is estimated to cost $2.1 million. i. Clear Creek at the confluence of Salmon Creek breached gravel embankments and flowed across the Seward Hwy during this event. Salmon Creek will be directed away from Clear Creek as part of the emergency recovery. J. The flood service area will close next week on the Stewart parcels which were purchased with $27,700 from the service area and $215,700 from The Conservation Fund, utilizing US Army Corps compensatory mitigation dollars. The 150 acres from the confluence of Clear and Salmon Creek and parcels north ofnash Road will be used for flood water storage and wetland conservation. k. The Alaska Railroad needs to install a large culvert next to the fish passage culvert the flood service area installed last year under Salmon Creek Road. 1. Nash Road needs to have culverts installed to help convey flood waters. m. The Nash Road Bridge is in need of expansion, as all systems north flow through this bridge. This area would also make a good pick point for gravel and sediment removal. n. The River Debris Clean Up project at the Ben's Country store site, southeast of the Nash Road Bridge, was not completed before the flooding. o. Japp Creek is currently being studied by the US Army Corps of Engineers for a sediment management plan. The Section 205 project could cost up to $7 million, with a 35% local match required from the City of Seward. It is estimated the creek gained 6 feet of sediment deposition during this event. p. Dimond Blvd, otherwise known as the Levee Road, Deickgraeff Road or the dump road, is overtopped by J app Creek anytime there is a heavy rain. As the entire community utilizes the transfer facility his would be a good mitigation project for the City, flood service area, road service area, and office of emergency Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page4 oflo

5 Full audio file available on management to partner on a hazard mitigation grant application. A grant application was started in September. q. Lowell Creek above the dam moved back and forth three times over a few days during this event. The debris from the diversion tunnel has destroyed the top half of the bridge, cutting off access for the Lowell Point community. The City is working with the US Army Corps of Engineers on a long term solution. The Corps study will require a $2 million match from the City. r. A mitigation project was completed in Spruce Creek in During this event, the bridge cell was eroded. This will be part of the emergency recovery. s. Debris from Sawmill Creek was inches from the bottom of the bridge prior to this event, causing flood waters to bifurcate the bridge and flow on both sides, washing out culverts under Nash Road. t. One of the flood service area priority requests for FY20 13 state capital improvement projects is for removal of sediment from under all the DOT and KPB bridges throughout the service area. Dan Mahalak, Kenai Peninsula Borough Water Resource Manager reported a. There are three projects still underway as part of the emergency repair. Salmon Creek, Sawmill Creek, and Spruce Creek will be put back to existing conditions F. PUBLIC COMMENTS- LIMIT 3 MINUTES (1:13:45) Vice Chairman Stauffer commented the flood service area board, on September 1 i\ voted to set aside $30,000 for equipment to be deployed prior to the emergency declaration. He stated the service area is tasked with planning and mitigation and not emergency response. The service area is seeking funding for these mitigation projects. He called for public comment. Tom Sullivan from Myrtlewood Circle stated he appreciates the efforts of the board. There is a massive problem throughout the drainage which needs mitigation and will need a lot of money. He spoke in favor of getting the media, congressional delegations, borough, and state agencies, including the Railroad and DOT, everyone together to work on these solutions. Becky Dunn, owner of Knot-so-Fast on mile 3 of the Seward Hwy, stated she was concerned by the highway in front of her store. It is the one roadway in and out of Seward. Equipment could not get here if something would have happened. DOT should not have let cars go through there during the flood. She spoke in favor of culverts being installed under Seward Hwy. Matt Gray from Bruno Road and the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance thanked all the people who did a lot of work through this huge event and thanked the board for their work over the years. He spoke in favor of giving the rivers more room to move around, and increasing conveyance, including bridges and culverts though the roads. He spoke in Abridged Board Meeting Minutes PageS oflo

6 Full audio file available on favor of more projects like the NRCS Old Mill buyout, giving the steams more room to flow by getting properties out of the way. He stated RBCA could help with fish passage culverts such as Dimond Road. He stressed the need to get the flood insurance rate maps up to date, stating the 1980 maps are one reason why we are in this position, because they let people build. He spoke in favor of the Alaska Railroad and DOT becoming part of the solutions. Bob Reisner, at Seward Hwy on Clear Creek was flooded on September 14th, 19th, and 20th. He stated the biggest problem is the mitigation projects not being feasible. The US Army Corps finds the value and population doesn't warrant the expense of mitigation. The other problem is DNR treating the gravel as a product, instead of a hindrance. He spoke in favor of removing the gravel and getting it out of the area. Vice Chairman Stauffer commented permits are required to work in Salmon Creek. He added there are issues with what to do with the gravel, if it is a navigable stream, and who owns the gravel. John Brown from the Old Mill subdivision asked what will the mitigation efforts be in the future. The creek broke through above the bridge and water ran down Willow Drive. Vice Chairman Stauffer stated the NRCS Old Mill buyout was a major project, but the board has not looked at a lot of other mitigation efforts in that area. The purpose was to give the water someplace to go. The Forest Road Bridge is an issue, the location and height and is being discussed right now. He asked for a staff update. Dan Mahalak stated we are waiting to see what happens with the federal declaration. Those issues are all being addressed, including the phone line utility that runs over head. The borough is trying to get their mind around the amount of material coming down that system alone and how can they alleviate the perpetual emergency response. They are trying to find a balance between the current infrastructure and how it can be improved for a cheap as possible. G. BOARD'S RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS (1 :38:45) Vice Chairman Stauffer called for board member response to public comment. Board Member Morgan thanked the city, borough, operators, and emergency workers for the huge effort during the response. She commented on the Old Mill buyout, move the bridge and road and build a different way into that subdivision. Maybe some type of more permanent solution like retaining baskets. On Nash Road they put two small culverts in where the road washed out, and across from Afognak there were more culverts installed. She spoke in favor of keeping the bridges cleaned out. The board is working with the Army Corps, and has to get the studies done in order to get the funding needed. She added if we can find the right fix, that fix can be for a lot of places. Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page 6 oflo

7 Chairman Williamson stated he has five pages of notes. The $30,000 the board approved for response was probably gone by the end of day Tuesday. One problem was the borough did not have a contractors list for all the people with equipment, and equipment was being used all over the state. There was a greater impact than 1986 because there are a lot more people. Everyone wants to live next to a stream, but it turns into a raging monster, and it keeps getting worse because we have more population. There are not enough money trees to fix the problem. We can come up with a solution one at a time and it will take time. What we really need is legislators who need our vote and will actually listen and do something. If the state wants the gravel they can have it. He added we have to work more as a collective. The Alaska Railroad is one ofthe major problems with doing maintenance. Why is the Seward Hwy lower it in a certain section? These are the things you have to ask. The solution is not getting mad; it is getting them to come together and work together. Board Member White commented the storm didn't get any permits before it showed up. The levee behind Conant's was washed out right behind the buildings and the material did not get back into the system. After the 1986 event, the confluence of Clear and Salmon Creeks came up 6~8 feet in gravel. People keep saying there is no money for dredging, but the port of Anchorage gets millions a year to dredge the harbor. This storm was very unfriendly to salmon and probably destroyed salmon for this year. On the Old Mill buyout, it was definitely great for those who bought out, but we cannot leave the material Lost Creek left on those properties. We know we have to mine the gravel out of the system. The problem is getting cooperation from agencies. The river doesn't take it out of the floodplain, it puts it there. On the FEMA flood maps, they are not based in reality and do not work in a volatile, gravel moving system. Until we can get a handle on cooperation from the state and other agencies, there is no way we can do the kind of damage to the habitat that the streams can do. Board Member Eads commented he has eight acres on Salmon Creek, and every acre was severally impacted by this flood. He had a thousand yards of gravel wash away, but gained a thousand yards of mud. There was a berm built up on the north side of Salmon Creek and it breached in two places. On the south side, they flood from the railroad's temporary culverts and then the water comes in from the back side. There is no escape for the water because it can't go through the Nash Road Bridge. It is a very small area for all that water to go through. The Stewart subdivision is an escape valve for the water; if it wasn't for the water running there, you would see a waterfall along the entire length of Nash Road. Until something is done to create a single channel, it will just be the same every time. We need a plan to do this for the next 100 years. Vice Chairman Stauffer commented he attended a meeting with DOT on Friday. He asked why they hadn't closed the Seward Hwy. He added it was a tough decision to close the road, because then how do you get equipment in. What he knows of flood safety, you don't let people drive through swiftly running water. Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page 7of10

8 H. CORRESPONDENCE & REVIEW OF PAYMENT REQUESTS (1 :59:00) None. I. PERMITS FOR REVIEW (1 :59:00) None. J. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (1 :59:00) None. K. NEW BUSINESS (1 :59:00) 1. Discussion Regarding Flood Recovery and Mitigation Project Priorities Vice Chairman Stauffer called for board discussion on this item. Board Member White stated a major omission was not addressing the sedimentation from Salmon Creek through Eadsville and below Nash Road. It holds all the water up there; there is no place for it to go through. Chairman Williamson commented that right now they are putting things back to where they were. If a federal declaration comes through, we need to address this because it is the biggest problem. Nash Road is a dam. During a high tide the seawater comes in and holds all the stream water back. During this event, he paid close attention to the tides, which affects everything above. He spoke in favor of getting together with the borough and other agencies and work out a solution and plan, including conveyance through Nash Road. Board Member Morgan stated she does not think the board needs to change state capital improvement priorities. Vice Chairman Stauffer agreed with Ms. Morgan. L. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) (2:04:40) 1. KPB Press Release September 25 #2: Personal Property Damages - Online Assessment Available 2. KPB Press Release September 26 #1: What To Do After The Flood Waters Recede 3. Regular Election Reminder October 2nd Stephanie Presley reported a. The borough has an online property damage assessment that will help with the federal declaration. She encouraged everyone to visit the site and enter any damages they have incurred due to this event. b. Well water testing has been scheduled for October 8th, 9th and loth. The KPB Seward Annex Office has test kits which must be completed in the morning and dropped off before noon the same day. There will be a $39 fee for the test. c. The State Individual Assistance Program is one of three or four states to offer this program. Family grants up to $15,700 are available. Applications are being taken Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page8of10

9 Full audio file available on by phone, online and they will set up a Disaster Assistance Center the week of October 15th. d. Reminder that the regular election is tomorrow. M. PUBLIC COMMENT- LIMIT 3 MINUTES (2:07:20) Vice Chairman Stauffer called for public comment. Becky Dunn asked who to talk to about getting culverts installed next to the Seward Hwy. Matt Gray commented we probably have too much gravel. He suggested Metco or other haulers be compensated for hauling where it might do the most benefit for the system. Maybe it would be better if they hauled out of other systems besides the Resurrection. N. BOARD COMMENTS (2:12:25) Vice Chairman Stauffer commented on Mr. Gray's suggestion that sometimes the gravel is not the right kind of gravel to use on the road. Take Lost Creek in Old Mill, there is a borough road below the level of the creek bed, but it is not the kind of gravel you want to build that road up. He called for board comments. Chairman Williamson recommended Ms. Dunn call DOT right of way to discuss culverts. Board Member Morgan commented the service area find someone who wants to buy the gravel and pay the state for it and move it. She added there are a lot of things to do after this flood. Board Member White told everyone to vote. Chairman Williamson thanked everyone for coming out. He added there has been a lot of work and misery and hopefully we can get a federal declaration and there will be funds available for repair. He added we are looking very close at winter. With warm storms coming in, we could have more high water. When someone tells you to leave, leave. Board Member Morgan asked Mr. Gray if there could be some culverts installed this year, maybe on Nash Road. She thanked everyone for coming out and all the hard work everyone has done. Matt Gray stated Nash Road and Dimond Blvd and maybe Phoenix Drive could get fish passage culverts. Vice Chairman Stauffer thanked everyone for showing up. He added it was said that maybe people are getting complacent to the flooding, but he thinks people are working Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page 9of10

10 more together, because it is a community issue. We do need help from the state and the railroad. We need big bucks and they only come from funds approved by congress. Keep pressure on the representatives all the way up to the federal level. He is glad to see that we are working together more. City council members are interested in knowing more about the watershed and other places because it does effect the city, whether it gets flooded inside the city limits or outside. He thanked the public for coming and everyone for the cooperation during this event. There was a tremendous amount of work done by the machine operators working in the streams. He agrees with Ms. Dunn we are running on borrowed time. These flood events and risk factors used are abased on how many people died in the last event. It is only a matter of time before we have some really nasty situations that effects people's businesses and lives. He would like to particularly thank Mr. Williamson who has been working dozens of hours getting equipment deployed during t})is emergency situation. He thanked Mr. Mahalak who was out in the field hours and hours, and taking calls at midnight and jumping up to help people. He thanked Ms. Presley, who was attending a conference when the flood started, then immediately got a barrage of questions from the public and internally. Everyone is working together on long term solutions. 0. ADJOURNMENT (2:20:20) MOTION TO ADJOURN: Morgan moved to adjourn the meeting. White seconded. VOTE ON MOTION TO ADJOURN: Unanimous. With no further business to come before the board, Vice Chairman Stauffer adjourned the meeting at 9:25 pm. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 1St\ 2012 at the Sea View Plaza Building, Suite 122 at 7:00 pm. Steyfianie Pres{ey October 15, 2012 Secretary Date of Approval Abridged Board Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 10