title
Minutes for the Stormwater Management Board Meeting on June 17, 2020
body
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Date:
June 17, 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
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 February 20, 2020, Stormwater Management Board Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Farris and seconded by Meredith The minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Wyatt ask Light to discuss the Utility Line Ordinance. Light stated there have been some issues when private sewer laterals have been placed through the storm drainpipe. It is all over this City. It causes problems such as blockages. In some instances, there are junction boxes there just because utility lines are penetrating the storm drain. There are a lot of privately owned sewer lines in the system. It is discouraged heavily but there is no ordinance in place to enforce it. We would like to add some language that gives the ability to say no you can’t do it and you need separation between the two. The City would like to prohibit any new instances where utilities are passing through the storm drains. Meredith stated the 5’ horizontal separation could be a problem for CWL depending on the location. Light stated that something could be added to give exceptions.
Light stated there is 25’ to work with in new construction. Bevill stated that he thought new construction would be easier. Day stated that this ordinance does not state new construction. This section of the ordinance is in the stormwater section and where property is developed in the Code Book. A section can be added to add an exception to in-field development or corridor reconstruction. The 5’ horizontal separation is not the problem. The problem is the penetration through the system. It would be nice to have room to work but it can be eliminated.
Day stated that directional boring is a problem. Light stated that the City wants to add language that gives some enforcement when this problem arises. The attached language is not the language that has to be used. He brought it to the Board for discussion.
Light stated that an exception can be added to redevelopment of a corridor but there is no reason this cannot be done in new construction. The 25’ consist of ROW plus 10’ utility easement. Smith stated that utility corridors are an option. It is done in Northwest Arkansas and works well. Everyone has a designated spot. Smith will get the language and present it at the next meeting. Wyatt and Freeman agreed a standard distance and where they should go is a good idea. Freeman questioned how it would prevent issues with boring. The biggest problem is private plumbers. Light stated an ordinance would give the City enforcement authority when something like that happens. Wyatt stated language should include new developments and standardized locations. Light will get together some language with exceptions.
Light began discussion on duplex exceptions. He stated that when duplexes are submitted to the City, they are not required to submit a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). This is not a problem for individual duplexes. The problem arises when duplexes are built on adjoining lots with one driveway going into a large parking lot that serves all units. There is a section of the Code that states Stormwater greater than 6” cannot be stored in a parking lot. There is a current situation where a developer had an Engineer put together a plan and they have 14” of water stored. The City never saw the plan and even worse is that it was not built to what the Engineer designed, so it is worse in the field. Current site plans include the lot with setbacks and building.
Light stated that not every duplex needs to do stormwater detention ponds but the City should see a SWMP. The City would like to make sure elevations and grades are what they need to be and not creating a long-term problem for the developer and then later contacting the City and wanting to know how the City can fix it.
Clarify that duplexes submit a detailed site plan for infill lots. Infill lots are developed areas and there is a vacate lot that has been built on and the area is already developed. Instead of infill we may say redevelopment of an existing lot with a duplex are required to submit a site plan.
V. OLD BUSINESS
Light informed the Board the City did not get the 2019 Flood Mitigation Grant. The grant would have allowed four additional repetitive loss structures to be torn down. The City will reapply on the next cycle.
VI. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
Wyatt suggested postponing the bus tour until the virus is under control.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Wyatt adjourned the meeting at 8:48 a.m.