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Minutes for the Stormwater Management Board Meeting on January 16, 2019
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Date: January 16, 2019
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 Meredith
Jeremy Bevill
L.J. Byrant (8:33 a.m.)
Charles Coleman (8:41 a.m.)
Marvin Day, Vice-Chairman
Jeannie Gillis
Jerry Farris
Woody Freeman
Garry Meadows
Bob Harrison
Rick Wyatt
Officials & Staff:
Harold Perrin - Mayor
Derrel Smith - Director of Planning & Zoning
Craig Light - Chief City Engineer
Roger Gibson - Stormwater Manager
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 November 26, 2018, Stormwater Management Board Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Day and seconded by Farris. The minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Light stated the City has a July 31st deadline to submit the updated Stormwater Management Plan for the new MS4 permit. The original plan was adopted by the City Council 4 - 5 years ago. Two minor changes were made to the attached updated plan. (1) Replaced storm drain stenciling with storm drain covers and (2) removed the reforestation section from the plan. Light stated there has been discussion about putting up signage to identify water basins as part of public outreach. This has not been added to the updated plan. The Board was ask to read the plan and bring any comments to the next meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Roger Gibson.
Gillis questioned what happens when Jonesboro reaches a 100,000+ population. Light stated the city would become a Phase 1 Community and with that come additional rules and standards.
Light said the Board was given some information regarding low impact development at the last meeting. He ask if there were any desires to go forward with low impact development. Light suggested setting up a webinar to view as a group that would give some background information and a better understanding what it entails. Day ask if the City would get CRS credits for low impact development. Light answered yes. The City doesn’t disallow low impact development, it’s just doesn’t encourage it.
Chris Kidd, President of the Northeast Arkansas Homebuilders Association (NEAHBA), introduced himself. He will be serving on the Board for the tenure of his presidency.
Light introduced an ordinance that would modify the membership of the Board to amend the ordinance to appoint the President of the NEAHBA by title and not name. The ordinance will be put in Legistar for City Council approval.
V. OLD BUSINESS
Light attended the meeting held in Brookland to discuss the FIRM maps. It is expected to take between 18 - 24 months to get the FIRM maps. The City has provided FEMA
with the Corp maps for Phases 2 and 3. They have commented that they match up fairly well but cleanup will have to be done. The City will still use the ’91 maps until the Corp study is completed. Light stated that he hopes both maps are completed in the same timeframe. Gillis questioned when Phase 4 would be completed. Light stated that when Phases 2 and 3 are completed, they are going to go back to Phase 1 and make it a 2D model. They will then begin Phase 4. Phase 4 is the Valley View area and currently no floodplain is identified. The entire study should be completed in three years.
Gibson stated that three of the five homeowners have committed to sell their property. The information is in Legistar and will go to City Council for approval in February. The others have until February 15th to respond.
VI. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
Wyatt wanted to make the Board aware an attendance policy that was adopted by the City Council.
Bryant ask for an update on the Stormwater Utility Fee. Light stated the consultant is waiting on the City to make a decision on how to address vacant property before they can present the complete proposal. Most communities choose to ignore vacant property in regards to charging a fee. There is no fee because the fee is based on impervious area on developed property. A council member made a request to charge for vacant property. The consultant suggested setting a cap and assume a 15% runoff on vacant property to set a fee. (ex: set the cap at 15 acres - property owner of 15 acres would pay the same as 300 acres) The other suggestion was too take the cap off the property and charge by the acreage. Schools would pay a large fee. The City is leaning towards ignoring vacant property. Vacant property will have natural storage with trees and runoff is usually not a problem. Vacant property is unimproved property (farm land, wooded area, etc) There is no model for vacant property.
Light stated a final decision on the vacant property needs to be made to complete the study. The City knows what it needs to operate the utility and the fee will be set based off that amount. The amount to be collected is somewhat set but further discussion with the Mayor is needed before a final decision is made. There has been discussion of setting a fee per 500 sf of impervious area per parcel.
Meadows questioned if commercial property with detention in placed would be charged a fee? Light answered yes. Credit may be available but that will be in Phase 2 of the process which in not in the original scope of the study. Gillis ask if all hard surfaces are measured? Light stated yes it has already been done. Aerial photography was used to determine impervious area for commercial property and AR County Data was used to determine residential property. If there is a dispute, it will be brought to the Board for a decision.
Wyatt ask what happens if the property owner does not pay? Light stated the consultant has an amount built into the proposal for non-collection. They City may file a lien
against the property and it will have to be paid if the property is sold. Foreclosure may also be an option for non-payment.
Day stated he feels there is not enough information for the Board to make a decision on the vacant property issue. Bryant ask if other communities have exception for non-profit organizations. Light stated there are ways to give credit but the standard practice and the most equitable way is to charge everyone. The Utility will charge the City of Jonesboro. It will be paid out of the General Fund. The Board will see the final report and a given the opportunity to adjust, if needed. Upon on completion of the Stormwater Utility, the Board will recommend to City Council for approval.
Farris stated the Arkansas Soil & Water Education Conference & Expo will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at First National Bank Arena. Information will be emailed to the Board.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Wyatt adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m.