ITEM TITLE:
#22-03 - Formally Establishing the Flood Mitigation Task Force
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Detter, City Manager
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution formally establishing the Flood Mitigation Task Force
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
During the summer 2021 strategic planning workshop, City Council provided direction that any existing or future temporary citizen advisory group (otherwise known as a task force) shall be formally established by resolution to ensure clarity of mission, scope, member composition, and timeline.
The applicable excerpt from Council Policies & Procedures is also attached for reference.
Specific direction was provided to present a recommendation to Council regarding the future of the Flood Mitigation Task Force. The recommendation would be either (A) the group had fulfilled its purpose and could sunset, or (B) the group had work remaining to accomplish and would be formally established as a task force by Council resolution.
Members of staff, appointed community task force members, and the City Council support formal establishment of the Flood Mitigation Task Force on a temporary, short-term basis to finish three remaining tasks related to flood mitigation:
1. Continue to work with staff regarding the issuance (if possible) of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources permit for the Lowe River under AS 38.05.872.
2. Submit a recommendation to City Council on a final Lowe River flood control project, to include raising the height of the existing dike infrastructure, as well as identifying and making repairs to erosion damaged areas.
3. Create and submit to City Council for approval a flood mitigation maintenance plan for the Lowe River, Valdez Glacier Stream, and Mineral Creek, to include a mechanism for oversight and regular reporting on maintenance progress.
These remaining three tasks related to flood mitigation do not fit the mission, purpose, or scope of an established or standing citizen advisory group, and are therefore appropriate to be addressed by a task force.
The current Flood Mitigation Task Force met on December 15, 2021 to review, discuss, and amend a draft resolution to recommend to City Council. Members present at that meeting gave unanimous consensus to recommend the resolution following several minor edits to clarify meeting frequency, maintenance plan follow-up, and the need to include a final report to Council.