TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Adam Lindsay, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Sheila Thomas-Ambat, Public Services Director
DATE: October 7, 2024
RE:
Title
Discussion of a Potential Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Grant
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
6
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: Safe and Secure Community
Goal III: High Quality Built Environment
Executive Summary:
Staff is seeking Council guidance on pursuing a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant for Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) to assist with debris and sediment removal and stabilization of the embankment under the former Siple Avenue. Through EWP, NRCS may pay up to 75% of the construction cost of eligible recovery measures. The City would need to identify the remaining 25% in cost, with potential funding sources being state grant funds or funds provided by the property owner.
Background:
On October 8, 2024, as a result of Tropical Storm Debby, the privately owned section of Siple Avenue failed and washed out. Members of the Rayconda subdivision have reached out to the City to see if there is any recovery assistance that could be provided to restore the former road.
Siple Ave is a former City street that was constructed over and atop a private dam in the Rayconda subdivision. For some time, Siple Avenue was the only public access for a portion of the Rayconda Subdivision. On August 24, 2015, City Council unanimously voted to acquire property by condemnation for the purpose of constructing Pinewood Terrace as an alternative city street for access to the subdivision. The City Council unanimously voted to close Siple Avenue for safety reasons due to the Rayconda Dam being classified as high hazard. Per the Resolution, Siple Avenue was to be permanently closed September 30, 2017. Although Siple Avenue remained open, the City did transfer its right of way to the homeow...
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