HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd1998-010
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE NO. 98-10
WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is acting as the lead local agency for project adminis-
tration on behalf of the City of Seward; and
WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is seeking to create a $20,000 fund to demonstrate to
the federal and state governments local cornmitment to maintenance and the need for
future funding; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward will introduce a Flood Mitigation and Maintenance Fund in the
next budget cycle to address the remaining $10,000 that demonstrates to the federal
and state governments local cornmitment to maintenance and the need for future
funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
HEREBY ORDAINS that:
Section 1.
This is a non-code ordinance.
Section 2.
The City of Seward recognizes the one-time large-scale nature ofthe debris
and sediment removal project in the Resurrection River Delta and commits
to the ongoing maintenance of the Resurrection River Delta.
Section 3.
The City of Seward will work through the Kenai Peninsula Borough
Emergency Management Office as the lead local agency coordinating the
efforts to install and maintain a comprehensive flood mitigation solution to
the Resurrection River and Japanese Creek.
Section 4.
Subject to available resources, the City of Seward will financially, adminis-
tratively, or politically support the Kenai Peninsula Borough in ensuring that
the Resurrection River channel will be maintained to the post-project
configuration of the debris and sediment removal project performed by
FEMA with the federal and state Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.
Section 5.
The City of Seward will ensure the performance of this commitment on an
annual or as needed basis, within projected maintenance costs, the need to be
determined by the State of Alaska Hydrologist, the Borough Emergency
Management Coordinator, and the City Engineer, and as permitted by all
appropriate state and federal regulatory agencies.
Section 6.
The City of Seward will introduce a Flood Mitigation Fund during the
FY2000 budget cycle, with funding subject to City Council approval, that
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE NO. 98-10
helps ensure adequate funding for flood mitigation and annual, or as needed,
maintenance for flood mitigation projects.
Section 7.
That this ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days following its enactment.
ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, this
28th day of September, 1998.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
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AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Blatchford, Callahan, Clark, Gage, King, Orr, Satin
None
None
None
ATTEST:
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Patrick Reilly
City Clerk
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Sponsored by: Janke
Introduction Date: September 10, 1998
Public Hearing Date: September 28. 1998
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE NO. 98-10
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, RECOGNIZING A LOCAL COMMITMENT TO THE ONGOING
MAINTENANCE OF A FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT IN THE RESURRECTION
RIVER
WHEREAS, the City of Seward is threatened by many forms of natural disaster and hazards
including floods, earthquakes, fires, and tsunamis; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward received two federal and state natural disaster declarations within
nine years for flood events associated with the Resurrection River and Japanese
Creek; and
WHEREAS, during each of these two events the City of Seward was completely shut off, with no
road, air, or railroad traffic able to leave or enter the City; and
WHEREAS, each ofthese two flood events caused a tremendous amount of damage to public and
private facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Resurrection River Flood Mitigation Task Force was established by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in May 1997 to bring all applicable
federal, state, and local agencies together to develop a comprehensive flood
mitigation plan for portions ofthe Resurrection River and Japanese Creek along with
a prioritized list ofprojects to be completed; and
WHEREAS, FEMA used this innovative model to determine the proper course of action for
federal and state Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding; and
WHEREAS, the comprehensive plan developed by the Resurrection River Flood Mitigation Task
Force includes five major components listed in priority order: debris and sediment
removal in the Resurrection River Delta; expansion of the highway and railroad
center bridges; completion ofthe Japanese Creek levee; and the North Forest Acres
road/levee; and
WHEREAS, completion of the components contained in the task force comprehensive plan along
with continued maintenance are critical to protect public resources in and around
Seward, Alaska, including the airport, the Seward Highway, the Alaska Railroad, two
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE NO. 98-10
military camps, a residential subdivision, the City's industrial yard, and the City's
small boat harbor; and
WHEREAS, flood mitigation has proven to be cost effective across the nation and in the State of
Alaska, particularly when a comprehensive solution is developed; and
WHEREAS, the first priority project is debris and sediment removal in the Resurrection River
Delta because it represents the greatest flood mitigation measure from a hydrological
perspective; and
WHEREAS, debris and sediment removal in the Resurrection River can be done in a controlled
and environmentally sensitive manner in conjunction with all appropriate local, state,
and federal regulations as compared to removal during a flood fight; and
WHEREAS, though debris and sediment removal in the Resurrection River Delta is not a
structural improvement, it is designed to be a large-scale, long-term project; and
WHEREAS, the federal and state Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding is capable of
completely funding the debris and sediment removal project in the Resurrection
River Delta and FEMA has been requested to fund this top priority project; and
WHEREAS, following the large-scale debris and sediment removal project in the Resurrection
River Delta by FEMA it is essential that the channel be maintained to the post-
project configuration on an annual or as needed basis; understanding that debris
moved in future flood events is outside the scope of this project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough recognize that use of Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program funding by FEMA for debris and sediment removal is
unique and places the burden on the local agencies to maintain the project; and
WHEREAS, the projected annual cost for maintenance of the debris and sediment removal project,
as determined by the task force, is $30,000; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough will perform maintenance in
the river delta as needed, within projected maintenance costs, at times to be
determined by the State of Alaska Hydrologist, the Borough Emergency Manage-
ment Coordinator, and the City Engineer, and as permitted by all appropriate state
and federal regulatory agencies, and contingent on funds being appropriated by the
City Council; and