Stormwater Committee

Stormwater Committee Meeting February 27, 2023 Human Resources Training Room 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:04 PM. 2. Roll Call: Roll was called by Barbara Brumbaugh. In Roger Baxter’s absence, Markiella Moore, the Committee Vice Chair, acted as Committee Chair. Committee Members in Attendance: Markiella Moore (Acting Committee Chair) Todd Reigle Traycie West-Pinkoski Michael Poyner Kevin Walker Crystal Bloom (PW Asst City Engineer) Cory Wolfe (Assistance City Attorney) Barbara Brumbaugh (PW Environmental Program Manager) Absent Committee Members Roger Baxter (Committee Chair) Vic Nicholls Mario Aponte Michael Battle Laura Mae (Alternate) Others in Attendance: Ross Brockwell – (PW Operations Administrator) Jannelle Logan – (PW Stormwater Engineer IV) Citizens in Attendance: None 3. Meeting Minutes Minutes from the January 2023 meeting were approved. -1- 4. PW Operations Report – Ross Brockwell o Ross noted that roadside ditch calls increased due to rain events. o There are backlogs in a few Operations categories due to staff shortages and equipment issues. o Mike P. asked where debris from ditch cleaning is dumped. Typically it goes to the Higgerson Buchanan Construction Demolition Debris (CDD) landfill. Some is sidecast where allowed and appropriate. o Structure cover 1 of 2 was past the service goal. o Ditch and pipe work was mostly on time. o Mike P. asked about the sidewalk category. These are repairs, not really related to stormwater. o Ross showed before and after photos of some recent jobs including: Pleasant Ridge Rd lead ditch; Prescott Circle off George Washington Highway. Markiella asked if this was a CSR, it was and there was a prior project at this location so Ops tries to do maintenance here. o Ross showed another RC mower video. Markiella asked where it was cutting. It was a BMP. o Kevin asked what a “BMP” is, it is a stormwater management/treatment facility. o The remote controlled mowers are a lot easier than a bobcat. There is a smaller footprint and a lower training threshold. o Todd asked if 25 is a typical number of cave-ins. Yes it is. 5. Engineering Update, Dominion Blvd Drainage – Janelle Logan o Janelle put together a presentation about drainage under Dominion Blvd as a result of the bridge construction and whether there were any impacts to adjacent neighborhoods. Markiella requested this information at the January meeting. o She presented an overview of the area. This area includes drainage to the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. o The drainage of Fernwood Farms, Dominion Lakes, and Dominion Pines were shown. The southern portions of these subdivisions drain directly to the Elizabeth River. o Kevin asked if these neighborhoods would be approved today. Crystal said that by today’s standards the finished floor elevation needs to be 2 feet above base flood elevation and the road height would be higher. o Janelle showed that pre and post development drainage stayed the same. The original box culvert was replaced with triple box culverts which were lowered 5 inches. The culverts are submerged and added additional drainage capacity. There were no impacts to the upstream areas. o Mike P. asked what percentage of additional capacity was added. Janelle said that the original water surface elevation was 6 feet and it was lowered to 5 feet 6 inches. Crystal noted that the model accounts for tidal flow. o Markiella mentioned that she understood that an outfall ditch near Pinewood Run was closed off. Janelle asked where it was located. This was unclear. -2-  o Markiella asked if the City has a wetlands staff person and whether they were consulted during this review. They were not. o Markiella asked what “upstream” means. This is the upstream (neighborhood) side of the culverts. She asked if tidal flooding was considered. It was in tailwater. o Markiella noted that a developer wanted to build on Pinewood Run but her understanding is that the area is now in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) area due to the replacement of the Dominion culverts and the fact that water now comes up in the ditches and backs up in the street. o Kevin asked what drove this Dominion analysis. Markiella requested it at the January meeting because residents are concerned about flooding. o Kevin asked what will happen now that the analysis is done (note: the culvert work was done years ago, the analysis and presentation were at the request of the Committee). Markiella believes that lowering and enlarging the culverts is causing the flooding. o Mike P. asked if the culvert opening was increased due to upsizing the culverts. Crystal said yes, that is always looked at. o Todd asked if water stays longer. Crystal noted that there has always been an opening with the original culvert under Dominion Blvd so it really hasn’t had an impact. o Todd asked how long the original culvert has been there. No one is sure. Todd noted that the culvert was moved north of the original one. o Mike P. asked if a hurricane hit the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River whether there is any way to slow or stop the flow with gate valves. Crystal said that products are out there and Janelle noted that it would only be useful at certain elevations. Once the road is overtopped by water a gate valve won’t work. o Traycie asked if the CBPA/RPA boundary is driven from a manmade BMP. o Crystal pulled up the CBPA map in the area and showed it. 6. MS4 Update – Barbara Brumbaugh o No update this month. 7. Bylaws Update – Corey Wolf o The revised bylaws will be distributed prior to the next meeting. o The Clerk’s Office must approve them prior to a vote by the Committee. 8. Old Business/New Business o None -3- The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 pm. Minutes approved by the Committee _____________________________ Date _____________________________ -4-