Stormwater Committee

Stormwater Committee Meeting September 25, 2023 Chesapeake City Hall, Human Resources Training Room 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:10 PM. 2. Roll Call: Roll was called by Barbara Brumbaugh. Committee Members in Attendance: Markiella Moore (Committee Vice Chair) Michael Poyner Michael Battle Cory Wolfe (Assistance City Attorney) Crystal Bloom (Engineering Manager) Barbara Brumbaugh (PW Environmental Program Manager) Absent Committee Members Roger Baxter (Committee Chair) - excused Traycie West-Pinkoski (excused) Vic Nicholls (excused) Mario Aponte Kevin Walker Others in Attendance: Jannelle Logan – (PW Stormwater Engineer IV) Barbara Gavin – Elizabeth River Project Citizens in Attendance: None 3. Meeting Minutes There was no quorum so the August 2023 minutes could not be approved. 4. Guest Speaker - Barbara Gavin, Elizabeth River Project o Barbara introduced Barbara Gavin, River Star Homes Program Manager at Elizabeth River Project (ERP). o Barbara G. provided an overview of the non-profit ERP organization and showed a presentation to the Committee. o ERP full time staff has grown to 32, and up to 40 seasonally. -1-  o ERP now has funding to do their “State of the River” assessment more frequently. At this time all Chesapeake tributaries have received a “C” grade in this assessment. o Barbara G. provided an overview and accomplishments of the River Star Homes Program which is a partnership contract between the City of Chesapeake and ERP, and funded by the City. o An overview of the BMP verification process was provided. o Several projects completed in Chesapeake were highlighted. o Barbara G. discussed the ERP Watershed Action Plan that was updated in 2022. o An overview of the new Ryan Resilience Lab (the new ERP office) was provided. It will be opening in fall 2023. The Resilience Lab is intended to be a model in reliant construction and will be open for public tours. o Mike B. asked how staff will get to work if Colley Ave is flooded. Barbara G. said that everything is adaptive. o Markiella asked why BMPs that do not go through the verification process automatically fail. It is because the practice could not be verified to still be in place and functioning. BMPs on private property require participation from the property owner in the verification process. o Mike P. asked how far south the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River extends. It ends around the Chesapeake Locks, where the Intracoastal Waterway/ Albemarle Chesapeake Canal begins. o Mike P. asked where contaminated dredge material goes when it is removed during cleanup projects. It varies depending on the contaminant, but must go to a location approved to take the material. Barbara G. noted that clean dredge material can be sprayed on wetlands to raise the elevation. o Mike P. asked about high school internships with ERP. Barbara G. discussed the partnership that ERP has with local elementary schools utilizing the ERP learning barge. ERP also works closely with Norfolk State University to run water quality analyses. Barbara G. mentioned the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Associates Degree for high school students. This program provides training specific to green infrastructure. ERP does have 4 internships with Norfolk State. Students shadow the ERP staff. o Mike P. asked if ERP does mussel habitat. Barbara G. responded that they only install oyster castles and artificial reefs. o Barbara G. will provide additional information to be shared with the Committee. 5. PW Operations Report – Barbara Brumbaugh o Barbara presented the Operations Report that covered August 2023. o The report was revised in accordance with the discussion at the August 2023 meeting. o There is now a column in the report showing the Open WOs on the first and last day of each month. -2- 6. Engineering Update – Crystal Bloom, Janelle Logan o Crystal reported on the Rainfall Assessment activated after the recent named storm Ophelia. The assessment is set up to check flooded areas. It is a windshield inspection to capture conditions of the peak rain event. o During Ophelia there was 3-5 inches of rainfall across the City. According to the duration and NOAA data this was a 5-10 year storm. o The City has a Lake Warden program. Various lakes (wet ponds) around the City have level gauges. Citizens volunteer and are assigned to report to the City on lake levels. The program is only activated during rainfall events. o During this storm there were road closures starting between 4AM and 5AM due to a moderate high tide. o City staff typically tries to conduct the assessment about halfway through the rain event, but due to safety concerns they didn’t go out until after the rain event. o Crystal explained the process for utilizing data to determine the storm frequency. o Markiella asked how many water level gauges the City has. o Mike B. asked who is responsible for sending out storm alerts. Crystal said that Emergency Management sends them and there is an alert program citizens can sign up for. o Mike B. asked if the assessment program corresponds to high levels and peaks. Crystal clarified that the Rainfall Assessment documents what actually happened during an event. The information can be used in future grant applications or to determine where projects are needed. o Crystal also has asked Traffic Operations to take photos when they are out placing “High Water” signs. o The Police notify Traffic Operations of flooded roads so that signs can be placed, but sometimes Traffic Ops goes out to areas that tend to flood proactively. o Markiella noted that the only 2 departments interested in tidal flooding are Traffic Operations and Police. o Crystal noted that Emergency Management documents property damage from flooding. o Markiella thought that tidal flooding would be of interest to Public Works. o Janelle presented the Flooding Heat Map. PW-Operations records flooding calls that come in and keeps a map of these locations. It is a snapshot of what is happening at various times. o Markiella asked how the information is used. Janelle said it is used to determine maintenance needs, determine needed drainage improvements, and calibrate modeling. o Janelle presented an update on the Southern Chesapeake Watershed studies. -3-  o In SC-5 data processing and modeling are underway. In SC 1-4 model updates are underway. o For SC-5 modeling updates are scheduled to start in October 2023 and expected to be finished in December 2024. o Markiella asked if the watershed studies will make recommendations for projects. Janelle said there will be proposed improvements at the worst locations. o Janelle presented an update on CFPF Round 4. There is a cap of $7.5 million per locality. The City intends to submit applications for two road elevation projects to raise sections of Battlefield Blvd and Deepwater Drive. There will also be an application for the Oakdale area BMPs and drainage improvements. o Markiella asked if there is a cost estimate for (raising) Bainbridge Blvd. Crystal said the City submitted a letter of intent to apply for a $75 million project. This is a NOAA grant, not CFPF. o Janelle responded to last month’s request regarding the Resilience Plan. She said the City’s consultant is compiling the comments from other departments and they will be distributed to the Committee. o Markiella asked if PW is working with Planning on the Industrial Waterfront Study. They are. o Crystal announced that Janelle is leaving the City of Chesapeake to take a position in Virginia Beach. 7. MS4 Update – Barbara Brumbaugh o Barbara noted that the City has been working on the MS4 Annual Report to VDEQ due by October 1, 2023. o The City will be negotiating a reissued MS4 Permit with VDEQ. 8. Old Business/New Business o Markiella asked staff to look at the Comp Plan update and how flooding is being addressed. The City will strive to incorporate guidance from VMRC. o The Stormwater Committee could submit comments on the Comp Plan. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm. Minutes approved by the Committee _____________________________ Date _____________________________ -4-