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City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 1999 • Page 6 1 Ranallo stated the City has experienced flooding problems for many years. He added in 1987, 2 the City Council retained the engineering.firm RCM to review solutions to the City's flooding 3 problems, who recommended that at least 10 homes would.need to be-taken, and Silver Point 4 Park would need to be removed. He stated the Council at that time voted to do nothing. 5 Ranallo stated in 1991 the Council hired another firm, Barr Engineering, after further flooding 6 problems occurred. He added that Barr also recommended the removal of many homes and 7 Silver Point Park, and the Council again voted to take no action. 8 Ranallo stated more flooding problems occurred in July 1997, and the Council was accused of 9 being a "do nothing" Council, taking no action to solve the City's problems. He added that 10 residents expressed concern to him that children and streets were unsafe. He expressed 1 l frustration that the Council was harassed and took abuse because they had done nothing to solve 12 the problems in the past. 13 Ranallo stated that the Council in the past has not had the fortitude to condemn people's homes, 14 a policy which he has never supported. He added he has not had a single resident in the right 15 location come forward since 1997 to offer to sell their home. He expressed concern that 16 residents want the Council to solve the problem as long as it does not affect their property. • 17 Ranallo stated he would support a solution to the problem which would not affect residents, but 18 he is unsure whether such a solution exists. He reiterated that he would not wish to see anyone 19 removed from their home, and the Council would have hoped not to condemn the property. 20 Paul Archambault, 2716 Pahl Avenue, stated he has lived in that location for 19 years, and has 21 been aware of flooding problems in that area during that time. He asked whether the engineers 22 can say with complete certainty that the removal of the homes will solve the flood water 23 problem. 24 Mr. Willenbring stated the design for Pahl Avenue provides a high degree of certainty that 100 25 year flood protection for structures in that area will be achieved. He added the design sets up a 26 model which is commonly used to evaluate flood protection. 27 Mr. Archambault asked whether WSB could guarantee their design and take responsibility for 28 any damage which might occur. Mr. Willenbring stated there is no guarantee that there will 29 never be flooding, and storms such as the 1987 flooding often exceed the 100 year storm for 30 which the system is designed. He reiterated that structural flood protection could be guaranteed 31 during lesser storms. 32 Mr. Archambault stated, by his calculations, the removal of the home at Pahl Avenue would 33 provide I% flood mitigation which would not meet the necessary acre feet. Mr. Willenbring • 34 expressed his disagreement with that calculation.