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Minutes for the Stormwater Management Board Meeting on July 15, 2020
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Date:
July 15, 2020
Location:
Municipal Center
First Floor Conference Room
300 South Church
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Time:
8:30 a.m.
Opening:
In Attendance marked in bold
Members:
Susan Merideth
Jeremy Bevill
L.J. Bryant
Charles Coleman
Jerry Farris - 9:45 a.m.
Woody Freeman
Jeannie Gillis, Co-Chair
Chris Kidd
Brett Provost
Matt Taylor
Rick Wyatt, Chairman
Officials & Staff:
Harold Perrin - Mayor
Derrel Smith - Director of Planning & Zoning
Craig Light - Chief City Engineer
Roger Gibson - Stormwater Manager
Marvin Day, Craighead County Judge
Eugene Neff - Road Superintendent
Bobby Clark - ASU
Tracey Cooper - Secretary
I. CALL TO ORDER
Wyatt called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
*Minutes for the June 17, 2020, Stormwater Management Board Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Kidd and seconded by Bryant. The minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Gibson explained the attached 2020 CRS Progress Report explains what the City has done and will do in regards to stormwater. The City is currently ranked a Class 8. The report is necessary to maintain the rating. Wyatt ask what a Class 8 ranking means. Gibson explained the Class 8 ranking gives the citizens of Jonesboro a 10% discount on flood insurance. Light stated a Class 1 ranking is the best and gives a 50% discount. Light stated the City is close to getting the number of points required to become a Class 7 when the Hazard Mitigation Plan is submitted. There have been changes in what is needed to get points. Some items used to get points that used to be voluntary are now required. Light stated there will have to be changes to some building codes to get better class rankings. Bryant questioned how much the discounts saves the citizens. Light stated there are less than 2,000 policies that average about $500.00
Gibson stated the new FEMA Flood Maps will not be released until June 2021. Light stated before the maps can be adopted by ordinance, the public will have 90 days to submit comments. The public comment period will be in 2021. Light said the FEMA maps and the Corps maps are close.
Wyatt gave the Board a handout explaining Flood Maps and Flood Zones. Light explained that flood insurance is available even if you do not live in flood zone. If you don’t have flood insurance and you get flooded you will not qualify for grants or flood assistance. You also will not qualify for grant assistance programs through FEMA if private insurance is purchased. Bryant questioned if FEMA adjust premiums based on claims. Light answered no. Light stated there is a 25% chance property will flood during a 30-year mortgage if it is in a high risk area. He explained that 25% of the City is in a regulatory flood zone.
Light stated the City did not get the Hazard Mitigation Grant for the buyout of four additional homes with repetitive losses. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has money to buy the structures. It will be 75/25 money. The City’s estimated cost would be $75,000. Light will talk to the Mayor. It will be a 2021 or 2022 expense. Bryant ask if the property would be under the same restrictions as the properties purchased with the first grant. Light stated yes. The City transferred one of the properties purchased to CWL.
V. OLD BUSINESS
Light stated that the attached utility corridor language is what is used in Northwest Arkansas. Wyatt stated all utility companies would have a certain place to install utilities. Meredith questioned if it would be for new construction. Light stated it will be used for new construction and when things are replaced. Gillis asked how big the ROW/easement is. Smith stated 25 ft. ROW and 10 ft. utility easement. Smith stated that with utility corridors, if the utility is placed in the wrong place, the City can remove it and charge the company. Light stated that in new construction sewer and water go in first and cable is last.
Light recapped that there is an exemption in the ordinance that a SWMP is not required for residential homes and duplexes. The issue is developers are buying adjacent lots for duplexes and having a common parking area. The City needs to have more insight into what is going on with duplexes to make sure developers are meeting the necessary requirements and not creating a flood hazard. Light suggested a detailed site plan be submitted for all projects. Submitting a plan does not mean stormwater detention has to be built it would just allow City officials to ensure all requirements are met in terms of stormwater storage. Light stated that this would mainly apply to in-fill lots. Language will be developed and brought to the Board for review. Kidd suggested a tiered flow chart.
VI. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
Wyatt stated the bus tour is still on the table for a later date.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Wyatt adjourned the meeting at 9:33 a.m.