HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-07-10 City Council Summary Minutes
Special Meeting
July 10, 2004
1. San Francisquito Creek Flood Control Alternatives, Status and
Issues ................................................................................. 29
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m. ...................... 30
07/10/04 98-28
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 10:05 a.m. PRESENT: Beecham, Burch, Cordell, Kleinberg, Morton, Mossar, Ojakian ABSENT: Freeman, Kishimoto
STUDY SESSION
1. San Francisquito Creek Flood Control Alternatives, Status and Issues
Director of Public Works Glenn Roberts and San Francisquito Creek Joint
Powers Authority (JPA) Executive Director Cynthia D’Agosta gave a
PowerPoint presentation that provided an overview of the JPA’s efforts to
reduce the risk of flooding from San Francisquito Creek.
Mr. Roberts opened the presentation with a description of the JPA’s past
flood control efforts, including the restoration of the San Francisquito
Creek levees downstream of Highway 101. He explained the levee project
provided improved flood protection for residents of Palo Alto and East Palo
Alto downstream of Highway 101 and along Edgewood Drive. Mr. Roberts
noted that the JPA would need the financial and technical assistance of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) to implement comprehensive flood
control throughout the San Francisquito Creek watershed. He indicated
that the cost of the necessary creek improvements is estimated to be in
the range of $100 million. He then described two COE flood control
programs, General Investigation (GI) and Continuing Authorities Program
(CAP), that could be used to fund and implement flood control
improvements for San Francisquito Creek.
Ms. D’Agosta described the roles of the JPA and its member agencies
in working with the COE to implement flood control improvements for
San Francisquito Creek. The roles include contribution of local
matching funds, acquisition of real estate, public outreach and
education, and performance of long-term maintenance. She described
the current status of the San Francisquito Creek GI and CAP projects
that the COE is actively working on in coordination with the JPA. She
noted that the CAP project is a near-term project focusing on the lower
reach of the creek, while the GI is a long-term, comprehensive project
that will examine flood control alternatives for the entire watershed.
She also described the status of project funding at both the federal and local levels. She explained the projects are currently in the
reconnaissance phase, during which COE staff makes a determination
whether or not there is a “federal interest” in proceeding with a flood
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control project. “Federal interest” is justified if the potential benefits
of the project exceed the project costs. She provided a briefing on the
need for the JPA Board to select between a Watershed Study and a
Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration approach for the
GI project. She concluded the presentation by describing the key
issues to be reviewed by the JPA Board at its upcoming meetings.
Mr. Roberts and Ms. D’Agosta answered questions from Council
members regarding the presentation and about other topics related to
San Francisquito Creek. Members of the public addressed the Council
on issues including emergency preparedness, creek maintenance, and
public education and outreach.
No action required.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
07/10/04 98-30