title
Stormwater Management Board Meeting Minutes for January 18, 2017
body
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Date: January 18, 2017
Location: Municipal Center
First Floor Conference Room
300 South Church
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Opening: Chairman Beisner called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
In Attendance marked in bold
Members:
Dewaine Beisner, Chairman
Jeremy Bevill
Charles Coleman
Marvin Day, Vice-Chairman
Darrel Dover
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
Others:
Mike Foster, Pickering
Carlos Wood
Roy Cooper
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Beisner. Bob Harrison replaced Mark Morris on the Board. The position is held by the President of the Northeast Arkansas Homebuilders Association. Harrison is the new President.
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Minutes for the November 16, 2016, Stormwater Management Board Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Wyatt and seconded by Day. The minutes were unanimously approved with the correction that Day adjourned the meeting at 9:34 a.m.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
Light presented a resolution for review. The resolution was requested by the Board regarding the enforcement of existing residential and commercial building codes. These codes are on the books but have never been enforced. The resolution is for the City Council to give Staff authorization to enforce the provisions of the code. Light explained that currently not enough information (no site plan) is submitted when requesting a permit. He stated that most of the houses that flooded during the May 24th event were not in a flood zone. Enforcement is a proactive step in correcting this type of flooding.
Wyatt made a motion to forward the resolution regarding the enforcement of existing residential and commercial building codes to City Council for them to give authority to staff to start enforcing the codes already on the books. Second by Day. All voted Aye.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Cooper requested VR-01-17 be presented to the Board first due to another meeting on his schedule. Carlos Wood explained Mr. Cooper wants to complete the complex he started in the 80’s. The property is located at 4502 Access Road. He further explained the request is for a new addition to the existing building to be constructed with the same floor level as the existing building. According to City code, any new construction build in a floodplain must be 1 ft. above the BFE and according to FEMA any substantial improvement (50% or more of total cost) to an existing structure be brought into compliance with current code. The existing structure is at the BFE. There was discussion of the flooding that occurred on May 24, 2016. The existing building did flood due to that event. Cooper explained at the time of the flooding, the ditch had not been properly maintained causing water flow to be restricted. Light explained that based on flows the May 24th event was a 25-year event not a 100-year event. The 1 ft. above BFE requirement is based on a 100-year flood event.
Wyatt questioned if there is no access between the buildings, is it still considered a substantial improvement. Light stated FEMA will consider it one building. Harrison motioned to grant the variance to build the new building at the same elevation as the existing building. Seconded by Gillis. Roll was called. The votes were as follows:
Beisner - yes, Bevill - no, Day - no, Gillis - yes, Farris - no, Meadows - no, Harrison -
yes, Wyatt - no.
The motion was denied.
Mr. Cooper ask for clarification of his options. Light stated the Board could make a motion to allow the existing structure to remain at the current elevation. After a brief discussion, Harrison made a motion to grant a variance to not raise the existing structure and not have a separation of the structures. The new structure will be built 1 ft. above the BFE. Seconded by Wyatt. Roll was called. The votes were as follows:
Beisner - yes, Bevill - yes, Day - yes, Gillis - yes, Farris - yes, Meadows - yes,
Harrison - yes, Wyatt - yes.
The motion was passed unanimously.
VI. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
Light stated that he and Gibson would meet to discuss training for the group. They will give a presentation at the next meeting possibly the next two meetings.
Meadows stated a workshop is planned with the drainage districts to discuss steps to consolidate active and inactive districts. Wyatt suggested Meadows invite a representative from the drainage districts to the meetings.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Beisner adjourned the meeting at 9:49 a.m.