HomeMy WebLinkAbout191119 Reaction to Task Force draft outlineReaction to Task Force draft outline
Kathy Amlaw - 11/6/2019
LOUIS SEGRETO - 11/11/2019
Here are my comments:
First: I see our top priority as needing current residential flooding information displayed by each of the Edina communities. Without practical data that taxpayers can understand
it will be impossible for the city council to talk in generalities and ask for a enormous tax burden. I am speaking of those residential flooding occurrences that happen because of
rain and / or snowmelt that invade a residents property and/or home and were someone reported this to the city. Meaningful data would show flooding location by address (on a lake, pond,
creek, basin). It would also serve as a work order to show when the call came in, what city services were offered, what services were received and when was that action taken. We could
also tract if this was the first time or the tenth time this home had been flooded. This type of data collection could be started by the person answer the city engineers's phone. This
is simple data collect and would not require hardly any effort on the part of city staff. I assume this data would be put directly on the computer so that data analysis would be easily
available. I have worked successfully with multiple groups to help them support major capital improvement efforts and would be open to working with the city on this effort. This could
be developed now and started within weeks. I feel arming the council with accurate data would be very beneficial.
I AGREE THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DATA DRIVEN/SUBSTANTIATED POLICY MAKERS. AND, I AGREE THAT WE ARE MISSING SOME IMPT. DATA REGARDING OUR CITY'S FLOODING PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD
BE SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT SOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH FLOODING MAY SEE THIS AS A THREAT TO THEIR HOME VALUES IF THEIR ADDRESSES ARE PUT ON A LIST WITH THE CITY. SEEMS
TO ME THAT THEIR ARGUMENT IS MOOT, IN THAT SELLER'S REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURES IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS REQUIRE THAT SELLERS MAKE REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT WATER INVASION INTO THE HOME.
BUT, PERHAPS NO DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED ABOUT YARDS BEING FLOODED? I WOULD THINK THAT FLOODING ANYWHERE ON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WOULD BE A MATERIAL REQUIRED DISCLOSURE, BUT I DON'T
KNOW.
Second: One of our goals is for Edina to be a good neighbor and not just to push flood water down and away to somewhere else and make it some one else's problem. As a result I believe
we have to focus on where we can store more water safely and not harm our own residents. That is the discussion that we need to have very soon.
YES, I AGREE THAT PUSHING WATER DOWN STREAM IS NOT A GOOD OPTION, UNLESS THERE IS MORE CAPACITY DOWNSTREAM AND THE "DOWNSTREAMERS" ARE IN AGREEMENT.
Third: We need to have proactive maintenance of not just the street and roads storm system but the ponds and the basins especially those that have caused flooding to residents. The
issues of flooding on the creeks is already being handled by the multiple agencies that are already trying to address that issue.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THIS 3RD STATEMENT.
Fourth: As for lowering streets I would ask is that something that the city is already doing routinely when the streets are redone? What is the standard at this time and why?
YES, USING OUR STREETS AS TEMPORARY WATER CONDUITS DURING HIGH INTENSITY/PROLONGED/REPETITIVE PRECIPITATION EVENTS SEEMS COMMON SENSE.
Fifth: Green space is great but if Edina is already 98% developed that leave us with only a small area to improve. I think this a fine goal but this will not stop the present or
future flooding.
I THINK THE REAL QUESTION HERE IS: DO WE USE OUR PARKS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND OPEN SPACES AS HOLDING AREAS? I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE DECIDED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WITH PUBLIC IN-PUT
FROM CONSTITUENTS AFFECTED.
Sixth: I think the voluntary acquisition of the five flooding houses on Weber pond needs to see action not more studies. I see this as a goal for 2020.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION. WHILE I UNDERSTAND HOW FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE FLOODING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ARE, WHAT WE DO NOW FOR WEBER POND HOME OWNERS
WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR RESIDENTS IN OTHER FLOODED NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE CITY WILL RUN OUT OF $ AS MORE AND MORE RESIDENTS ARE FLOODED. IT MIGHT BE MORE EQUITABLE FOR THE CITY TO SET UP A FUND WITH A SET ANNUAL $ CAP THAT ALL EDINA RESIDENTS MIGHT APPLY
FOR A VOLUNTARY CITY BUY OUT? ALL IN ALL IT IS PROBLEMATIC: I FORSEE NUMEROUS BATTLES OVER APPRAISED VALUES, ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHO DECIDES, AND I THINK POLITICALLY UNFEASIBLE. UNLESS,
PERHAPS THE AQUIRED HOMES ARE USED TO CREATE ADDITIONAL WATER STORAGE.
Seventh: Educating the residents of Edina will be an easy goal once we have meaningful community data that will clearly identify the present flooding risks and how that risk can
be modified by what the city can do and what they can do.
YES, I AGREE.
Eight: Land use is a very tricky subject for our committee. This week we were approached by someone who wanted our input on possible new construction. Nora and I quickly realized
that we already have the planning committee that specializes in that area and they have the staff to follow up on any code regulations. The current leadership of our city seems to
strongly support new construction and remodeling so I think this is not an area that as a committee we can have much impact.
ASIDE FROM MAKING THE RECCOMENDATION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION "ALWAYS CONSIDER THE EFFECT OF LAND USE CHANGES ON FLOODING AS A POLICY MATTER", I AGREE. I THINK WE WILL GET VERY
BOGGED DOWN TRYING TO MAKE SPECIFIC ZONING & PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS.
Ninth: I fully support a "flood summit"for multiple surrounding committee to share information on how they are tackling their flooding issues. Our committee could spearhead this
effort.
THANKS, I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNICATION INTER-MUNICIPAL. ASIDE FROM MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, I AM WARY ABOUT CONTINUING OUR COMMITTEE'S WORK PAST THE DATE THAT IT WAS
CREATED TO SERVE UNTIL.
Tenth: I do not feel that at this time that an ongoing flood committee is needed after 2020. However, if we can produce results that help the council make reasonable and knowledgeable
decisions, we might be needed.
MY THOUGHT WAS NOT TO HAVE OUR COMMITTEE CONTINUE AFTER 2020, BUT HAVE CERTAIN CITY COUNCIL HAVE A STANDING COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH FLOODING ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. FLOODING IS NOT GOING
TO GO AWAY, AND PERHAPS HAVING THE CITY COUNCIL BE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES AS/OR IDEALLY BEFORE THEY PRESENT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.
THANKS, KATHY, FOR PRESENTING YOUR IDEAS SO CLEARLY. I AM COPYING ON YOU NORA, AND ROSS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO INADVERTENTLY RUN AFOUL OF THE OPEN MEETING RULES. MAYBE THERE IS NO
PROBLEM ABOUT SHARING WITH EVERYONE, BUT YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AND I AM FINE WITH YOUR FORWARDING MY COMMENTS ON.
Hope my comments stimulate some thoughts,
Kathy