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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1870 (2)RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the city of Kent, Washington, endorsing the King County Flood Control District Executive Committee's decision to recommend repair and reconstruction of the Briscoe- Desi mon e levee to the King County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors in accordance with the project proposal developed by the city of Kent. RECITALS A. The King County Flood Control District ("District") was established in April, 2007 by ordinance 15728 of the Metropolitan King County Council to protect public health and safety, regional economic centers, public and private properties and transportation corridors. The District is an independent special purpose district and will be instrumental in addressing the backlog of maintenance and repairs to levees and revetments, acquiring repetitive loss properties and other at -risk floodplain properties, and improving countywide flood warning and flood prediction capacity. B. The District has been considering a levee repair and reconstruction project in the city of Kent at the "Briscoe-Desimone" levee along the east bank of the Green River between S. 200" St. and S. 180"" St. These needed levee improvements are urgent and critical. This levee protects a large industrial and commercial area of Kent, Tukwila, and Renton, and four reaches do not meet minimum federal levee safety standards. The City takes the safety of its residents and businesses extremely seriously, and 1 Briscoe-Desimone Levee Resolution that is the primary reason why this work must be conducted immediately. There are approximately 100,000 fobs in the lower Green River Valley, and they, along with others throughout the region, would be impacted by a flood event. C. The City and King County have developed two separate approaches to repairing and reconstructing this section of levee. The County's proposal to repair the four deficient reaches of this levee contemplates a wider levee setback and is over four times more expensive than the City's proposal (approximately $71 million) due to the amount of real estate that must be purchased and number of businesses that must be removed. The County's cost estimate is based on a conceptual plan, which may result in significant fluctuations in the cost estimates as the project proceeds. Additionally, the County has not developed a plan to acquire that funding. The City has developed detailed geotechnical and hydraulic studies along with 30% design plans for its levee repair and reconstruction proposal. The City's cost estimate to complete the improvements needed to bring this levee up to federal standards is $17 million, including $1 million in new riverbank vegetation for salmon habitat. D. There are three federally listed endangered salmon species which live in the lower Green River and rely on the riverbank habitat for their survival. The City proposal allows for stream bank planting of native trees and shrubs which will improve the habitat for these fisheries without detrimentally affecting the flood protection provided by the setback floodwall. E. There is a $7 million state grant for this project which is set to expire in approximately five months, along with $14 million in District budgeted funds for this levee between 2013 - 2015. 2 Briscoe-Desimone Levee Resolution F. Because of the discrepancies between the two plans, the District hired a qualified, neutral third party, Dr. Robert B. Gilbert, PhD, P.E., DGE, from the University of Texas at Austin, to analyze and review both plans. Dr. Gilbert is a nationally recognized expert on levee floodwall design requirements, known for his extensive work analyzing floodwall issues and failures caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav and for his subsequent involvement as part of a national team to develop new national design standards for floodwall design and construction. Dr. Gilbert found that both proposals met the most current national design standards. His overwhelming conclusion is that the City's proposal is the most cost effective means to improve the deficient reaches of the levee to meet federal standards as part of the long term goal of improving flood protection throughout the Green River Valley. G. On Thursday, February 7, 2013, the District's Executive Committee met to select a pro3ect proposal, and at this meeting, the Executive Committee recommended to the Flood Control District Board of Supervisors that Kent's approach with technical recommendations from Dr. Robert B. Gilbert, PhD, P.E., DGE, is the preferred proposal. NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: 3 Briscoe-Desimone Levee Resolution RESOLUTION SECTION 1. - Findings. The Kent City Council finds as follows: a) The needed Briscoe- Desi mon e Levee improvements are urgent and critical. b) The City's proposed setback floodwall is significantly less expensive and can be implemented more quickly than King County's setback levee proposal. c) The city of Kent has a feasible plan to complete the work at the Briscoe-Desimone levee that takes advantage of existing state and District funding. d) The City's design method has been approved by Dr. Robert B. Gilbert, PhD, P.E., DGE, the District's consultant expert on levees. e) The short term flood protection provided by the City's setback floodwall is comparable to the County's setback levee. f) The benefits to fish provided by the City's setback flood wall are comparable to the County's setback levee. g) The comparisons made by Dr. Gilbert, and the decision of the District's Executive Committee to recommend Kent's Briscoe- Desimone Levee repair and reconstruction proposal to the District Board of Supervisors, are appropriate and correct. SECTION 2. - The City Council endorses the District Executive Committee's decision and concurs that the repairs to the Briscoe- Desi mone levee, as recommended by the city of Kent Public Works Department, are the appropriate and correct approach to repair and reconstruct this portion of the Green River levee. 4 Briscoe-Desimone Levee Resolution SECTION 3. - The Kent City Council is interested in providing at least one Councilmember in the Regional Systemwide Improvement Framework (SWIF) process to ensure meaningful representation on behalf of Kent's broad economic development and safety interests. SECTION 4. - The Kent City Council desires to work with the King County Flood Control District on a long-term flood control plan that may include the removal of the setback flood wall at a later date as long as the future plan maintains accreditation. SECTION S. - Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage. PASSED at a regular open public meeting by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, this //!,( day of /;irCICA-rN , 2013. CONCURRED in by the Mayor of the City of Kent this ` .0Aday of 6r ►- , 2013. ATTEST: ^#/zG RONALD F OOR , CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: Id4l� 4/10� (f/14 OM BRUB 0 ER, CITY ATT NEY llf5 Briscoe-Desimone Levee Resolution I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, the day ofA ud 2013. RONALD MOO , CITY CLERK 6 Briscoe-Desimone Levee Resolution