Embedded Files
Resolution 6562-21 Public Purpose Approved October 12, 2021 $776,000
Storm damage adjacent to 1833 Paulette Drive Oct 6, 2021
The city was aware of this problem for several years, and it is noted in the council minutes from 2020. Homes were flooded, property was damaged and in some cases raw sewage entered homes on October 6-7, 2021.
The Green Valley Drainage Study by Schoel Engineering identified sites in this neighborhood where the city had not maintained city infrastructure (e.g., culverts under city streets) creating a flood hazard in 5-10 year rain events.
In 2020 the position of the city was apparently to 1) not clean culverts under city streets 2) to have the city attorney determine whether or not the city would maintain stormwater infrastructure.
It appears that the city can change the policy.
Adjacent to 1833 Paulette Drive $69,000 allocated for repairs
Adjacent to 1833 Paulette Drive $69,000 allocated for repairs
The problems in Green Valley were well-known. Residents had reported problems and the city commissioned the Green Valley Drainage Study prior to Oct. 6, 2021.
From the council minutes February 17, 2020 (direct quotes from minutes):
A resident reported: He lives on Paulette. At the very bottom of the hill, all of the debris washes down. It washes through the storm drain easement, which frequently gets clogged up…. He is not asking for them to come through and clean up his yard. He is asking that they consider working on the storm drain easements so that they flow more adequately. This is an older neighborhood. His house, yard, and backyard got flooded. The easement sits stagnant in the summer time. They usually have snakes during that time period.
The Mayor (Mr. Smith) asked Mr. Corley (the city attorney) to explain the City’s current position and why the take that position. Mr. Corley stated that he would speak with more individuals after the meeting about the law. A few issues that the City is unable to do is to perform work on private property to benefit a private citizen without a broad public purpose to benefit the City. He thinks that most of drainage easements questions or complaints that they hear about are not owned by the City or has not been accepted for maintenance by the City. Those were put in place by the developers who originally built the neighborhoods and private property. Those easements were either owned by the Home Owners Association and the City cannot maintain those easements. What happens if they evaluate each complaint as it comes down to see if it is in an area where the City has accepted maintenance or is in a public right of way and if any of those conditions are true, they can fulfill that work, but in most cases they cannot. He stated that they would be happy to look at that specific situation and work with them any way they can. He stated that he could also give them the legal backup for that.
A critical question: Are costs to maintain stormwater infrastructure greater than costs to repair damage when infrastructure is not maintained?
Debris indicates the extent of the flooding on Paulette; note debris under the auto, along both sides of the drain.
Paulette
Paulette
Water overtopped the road damaging stormwater infrastructure and sanitary sewer infrastructure on Paulette. Notice the buckled pavement.
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