Floodplain Permit Committee Meeting

FLOODPLAIN PERMIT COMMITTEE MEETING 201 West Gray, Building A, Conference Room D Monday, April 5, 2021 3:30 p.m. Minutes PRESENT: Shawn O’Leary, Director of Public Works Scott Sturtz, City Engineer Ken Danner, Subdivision Development Manager Jane Hudson, Director of Planning and Community Development Lora Hoggatt, Planning Services Manager Bill Scanlon, Citizen Member Sherri Stansel, Citizen Member OTHERS PRESENT: Carrie Evenson, Stormwater Program Manager Todd McLellan, Development Engineer Amy Shepard, Staff Douglas Hartwig, Crafton Tull & Associates Hannah Ables, Meshek & Associates, LLC Harris Wilson, Meshek & Associates, LLC Barbara Schindler, Resident Scott Heiple, Resident The meeting was called to order by Mr. Shawn O’Leary at 3:31 p.m. Item No. 1, Approval of Minutes: All seven members of the committee were present, and Amy Shepard called roll. Mr. O’Leary called for a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of March 15, 2021. A motion was made to approve the minutes by Mr. Scott Sturtz. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bill Scanlon. Mrs. Shepard called roll for approval, and the minutes were approved 6-0, with Ms. Sherri Stansel abstaining. Item No. 2, Floodplain Permit Application No. 627: Mr. O’Leary stated this application is for the installation of a section of public waterline on the south side of West Franklin Road and west side of North Interstate Drive, which is to be located Floodplain Permit Committee Meeting April 5, 2021 Page 2 in the Little River floodplain. Dr. Carrie Evenson gave the staff report for Floodplain Permit Application No. 627. Dr. Evenson said the Applicant is Battison Properties, LLC and the Engineer is Douglas Hartwig with Crafton Tull & Associates. Dr. Evenson said Mr. Hartwig was in attendance via Zoom and will be representing the applicant. Dr. Evenson said this project will install approximately 800 linear feet of new 12 inch waterlines generally located on the south side of Franklin Road and the west side of North Interstate Drive near Ruby Grant Park. Dr. Evenson said the installation of the new waterlines will be primarily through open cut methods where the contractor will dig a trench, install the waterline, test and disinfect, and then restore the area to a condition as good as or better than prior to the project. Dr. Evenson noted that where necessary to minimize damage to other infrastructure or to reduce traffic impacts, such as the section of waterline to be installed under Franklin Road, the waterline will be installed using boring methods. Dr. Evenson said the floodplain will be returned to the original lines and grades and any excess spoils will be removed and disposed of outside the floodplain. Dr. Evenson reviewed aerial photographs of the area, the site plan, and the floodplain on the property. Dr. Evenson reviewed the applicable floodplain ordinances and confirmed all ordinance requirements have been met. Dr. Evenson said staff recommended approval of Floodplain Permit Application No. 627. Mr. O’Leary asked if there were any comments from the applicant or representatives; hearing none, he asked for questions or comments from the public. Mr. O’Leary asked for questions from the committee or a motion. Mr. Ken Danner recommended approval of Floodplain Permit Application No. 627. Ms. Lora Hoggatt seconded the motion. Mr. Sturtz asked if the channel would be open cut to install the waterline. Mr. Hartwig said that during the last meeting with staff, the waterline location had been altered to Floodplain Permit Committee Meeting April 5, 2021 Page 3 be closer to the street. Mrs. Shepard called roll, and the committee voted to approve the application 7-0. Item No. 3, Floodplain Permit Application No. 628: Mr. O’Leary said this application is for a restoration project on Merkle Creek immediately north of Iowa Street and a tributary on the north side of Cleveland Elementary School in the Merkle Creek floodplain/floodway. Mr. Todd McLellan gave the staff report for Floodplain Permit Application No. 628. Mr. McLellan said this application is for resoration of Merkle Creek and reviewed an aerial photograph of the project location. Mr. McLellan said the Applicant was City of Norman Public Works Stormwater Division represented by Dr. Evenson and the Engineer was Hannah Ables with Meshek & Associates, LLC. Mr. McLellan noted all parties were present. Mr. McLellan said Merkle Creek just north of Iowa Street has experienced severe erosion of the east bank over time and the tributary north of Cleveland Elementary School has become overgrown with brush, debris, and silt, and the banks are very steep and severely eroded. Mr. McLellan said both areas are in need of rehabilitation to address these issues and make these areas easier to maintain on a regular basis. Mr. McLellan said the proposed improvements to Merkle Creek include bank stabilization and placement of fill for approximately 280 feet along the east bank of the creek. Mr. McLellan said the stabilization measures include filling and grading the bank to a 3:1 slope and placing turf reinforcement mat on the graded area. Mr. McLellan said the tributary channel modifications include removing debris and brush and constructing a trapezoidal grass-lined channel from the outfall structure to the confluence with Merkle Creek. Mr. McLellan said the contractor for the project has not been selected yet and engineer’s estimate for the project is $773,773.00 with an estimated completion date of August 2021. Mr. McLellan said the work is scheduled for completion this Floodplain Permit Committee Meeting April 5, 2021 Page 4 summer while school is out of session. Mr. McLellan presented an aerial photograph of the project location and the floodplain and floodway footprint of that property. Mr. McLellan said the project engineer has performed a hydraulic analysis that has determined there will no rise in the Base Flood Elevation due to this project. Mr. McLellan reviewed the site plans and current photographs of the site location. Mr. McLellan noted the erosion reflected in the photographs of the stream banks. Mr. McLellan verified the application meets all applicable ordinance requirements and said that staff recommends approval of Floodplain Permit Application No. 628. Mr. O’Leary asked if there were any comments from the Applicant or representatives. Mr. Harris Wilson and Ms. Hannah Ables with Meshek & Associates, LLC, said the staff report was thorough and did not have anything additional to add. Mr. O’Leary asked if there were questions or comments from the public. Mrs. Barbara Schindler said her property backs up to the creek and she is thankful for the project. Mrs. Schindler asked what material would be used to stabilize the banks. Dr. Evenson said the product identified for bank stabilization is called Flexamat, which is a concrete grid product that allows grass to grow up between the panels. Mr. Sturtz asked if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is requiring a 404 permit on the tributary. Dr. Evenson said the entire project was presented to the USACE for approval, and that Meshek & Associates, LLC, were in the process of responding to comments from USACE. Dr. Evenson said that the permit was anticipated to be issued within 30-45 days. Mr. Sturtz noted that he grew up near the stream and has fond memories of jumping in the creek. Mr. Sturtz said he is excited to see the project coming forward and the restoration of Merkle Creek. Mr. Sturz complimented the project, the products chosen, and he recommended approval of Floodplain Permit Application No. 628. Mr. Scanlon seconded the motion and asked for some Floodplain Permit Committee Meeting April 5, 2021 Page 5 additional education on how streambank projects are prioritized and selected. Dr. Evenson agreed to review that process with Mr. Scanlon. Mr. O’Leary said this project, due to its proximity to Cleveland Elementary, was most likely requested by Norman Public Schools and has been in progress for 10 years. Mrs. Shepard called the roll, and the committee voted to approve the application 7-0. Item No. 4, Miscellaneous Discussion: a) Mr. O’Leary stated that there are two pending applications for the April 19, 2021 meeting. b) Mr. O’Leary said the May 3, 2021 meeting has no pending applications and the deadline for submittals is April 14, 2021. c) Mrs. Stansel asked about the status of Floodplain Application No. 615, for the replacement of utility transmission poles. Dr. Evenson said she had not received an update but would follow up with the applicant. Mr. Danner asked if there had been any consideration of a fee increase for submitting a Floodplain Permit Application. Mr. O’Leary said he had not heard about any discussion of fees and would begin discussion and report back to the committee. Item No. 5, Adjournment: Mr. O’Leary called for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Sturtz motioned to adjourn and was seconded by Mr. Scanlon. Mrs. Shepard called roll, and the motion was approved 7-0. Meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.