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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995.09.13 CC Minutes - Browns Creek floodingMINUTES FOR THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING _OF__SEPTEME±ER 1- . _1995 The recessed City Council meeting of September 11, 1995, was reconvened by Mayor Miron at 6:00 PM at the Washington County Public Works building. PRESENT: Goiffon, LaValle, Leroux, Miron City Administrator, Robert Museus City Engineer representative, Pete Willenbring em The u pose for this meeting was to review possible solutions to the flooding problems being experienced along Brown's Creek with representative of adjacent communities, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, MNDNR. Brown's Creek WMO, Washington County ASCS, Washington County Department of Public Works, and area residents. City Administrator, Robert Museus, facilitated the meeting, which identified agency and individual concerns regarding the management of the Brown's Creek watershed, as well as potential resources to help resolve these problems. A list of the concerns and resources is attached separately and made a part of these minutes. A group consensus was reached that four activities must be undertaken in order to resolve the flooding, environmental, and development concerns in the watershed: 1. The future organizational structure of the Brown's Creek. WMO should be defined. Possibilities include transitioning_ the organization to a watershed management district or amending the Joint Powers Agreement among the communities comprising the watershed. This matter was to be discussed further with the assistance of representatives from the Bureau of Soil and Water Resources and DNR at the regularly scheduled Brown's Creek WMO's meeting on September 20, 1995. 2. Conduct a detailed hydrologic, environmental, and regulatory study of the Brown's Creek watershed in order to develop a base of knowledge with which to create an implementation plan for managing the district. If possible, this study is to be based on an area study undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under a Section 25 small flood control project. 3. An implementation plan should be developed for resolving the issues identified by the BCWMO, preferably through the revision to their watershed management plan. 4. Various municipalities should review the existing emergency situation in their communities, and take such steps as necessary and reasonable to resolve critical flooding on as on -needed basis. Goiffon made motion, LaValle seconded, to direct Pete Willenbring from the City Engineer's office to facilitate the development and scope of work for the floodplain study with representatives from the adjacent communities and the Corps of Engineers, and provide a recommended scope of work: to the BCWMO during their meeting of 9/20/95, if possible. All aye. Motion Carried. City Council meeting of 09/13/95 Page 2 LaValle made motion, Leroux seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 FM. All aye. Motion Carried. Robert A. Museus City Administrator RECEIVED ;EP f. 8 1995 BROWN'S CREEK FLOODING PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION MEETING SUMMARY September 13, 1995 Meeting Purpose: To identify all concerns and available resources regarding the Brown's Creek flooding and to set a course of action. Participants: Residents and members of the following organizations: County, Minnesota DNR, Corps of Engineers. OSM, SEH, SWCD, Brown's Creek Watershed Management Organization, Cities of Stillwater and Hugo. Problem Statement: During 1986, and again in 1995, the Brown's Creek watershed suffered from high water elevations. Land -locked basins and areas with poor drainage faced flood conditions exceeding established 100 -year flood elevations. Public roads were covered by water, private septic systems were inundated, and homes threatened. Concerns of increased flooding due to changes in runoff characteristics, lack of public easements on natural drainage channels, environmental issues, and a general lack of hydrologic information on the watershed, are hindrances to solving these problems. Population growth and development in the watershed are creating concerns regarding the rate, volume and quality of surface water runoff, especially as it impacts the lower one- half mile of the creek, which has been designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a protected trout stream. Page 1 of 4 mrja& A: & c:=oVMCRK.WG Page 2 of 4 Brown's Creek Flooding, Cont'd. Concerns: All of the concerns, except those that are highlighted, could be addressed with a good stormwater management plan. The highlighted concerns will need to be resolved with a different course of action. Low homes on land -locked basin (40+) Public roads blocked Farmer's fields Flooded septic systems Possible well contamination Who leads Property loss Public information/insurance Dead trees Downstream effects Trout stream -thermal impacts Financing/cost Intensification of development Cost to repair infrastructure Neighborly relations/conflict resolution Reasonable timeframe for solutions Homes in floodplain (insurance) Erosion/sedimentation. Need for easements Complexity of problem Regulatory changes - zoning, building permits Management objectives Shared electronic information Page 3 of 4 Resources Available: Brown's Creek Flooding, Cont'd. Corp of Engineers: 205 Program - flood control #22 Program - planning assistance grant Cost -share, up to $5 million SEH: (Brown's Creek WMO engineer) Has modeled about 40% of the watershed. Has done a broad, general hydrologic study. DNR: Flood Damage Reduction grant - $40,000 BCWMO: $30,000 from member communities Had intended to apply this to a $60,000 quick and dirty study. Washington County: Meeting rooms. Facilitation assistance. PCA Clean Water Cost -share program, studies or projects to protect or restore Partnership: surface of ground water. BWSR: Wetland Grant - $16,000 immediately from county, more available in 1996 - 50150 match Water Implementation Grant - $18,000 immediately through the county, Challenge Grant money Second generation WMO plans City: Assessments Foundation Money: McKnight, Anderson Page 4 of 4 Course of Action: Brown's Creek Flooding, Cont'd. Two -track approach to address leadership issues and to begin a hydrologic study simultaneously. Leadership Issue: WMO with assistance from DNR and BWSR will discuss its future - remain as is, enhanced joint powers with new authorities allowed by the 1995 legislation, become a watershed district. Attempt to resolve at September 20 meeting of the WMO. Hydrologic Study: 1. Develop scope of work - City Engineers, Corps of Engineers, County Public Works 2. Identify what concerns won't be addressed by the study and determine actions ngeded - OSM 3. Seek resources to conduct study - WMO Short-term impacts: Each community, to the best of its ability, will assist residents with immediate needs. In some cases there may be nothing that can be done in the short term.