May 3, 2000
 

Members Present: Ron Latham, Chair Bob Friedman Tom Kartrude

Frank Williams Arolf Salo Ray Street Dick Walker

Jay Goodwin Dave Franzen Darrell Fields Bud Meyers

Staff Present: Ken Lanfear

Sandi Young

Mike Cavanaugh

After reviewing the Stormwater Task 6 Technical Memorandum of March 13, 2000 from Brown & Caldwell and then touring the five areas on April 19, 2000, the SAC used this meeting to evaluate the proposed solutions against the following four considerations:

     1.   Is the proposed solution “mechanically do-able?”
     2.   Will we be moving a flooding problem from one region to another?
     3.   Do we think that the regulatory agencies will give their blessings to the proposed solutions?
     4.   Can we afford the solutions?

Because the proposed stormwater system will not be one large system, rather it will consist of five
(5) smaller systems, the SAC was able to discuss and evaluate each of the five (5) systems on a
stand-alone basis against the four considerations.

Out of order, but necessary, the first question had to be - Will the regulatory agencies agree to the
proposed solutions?  Public Works Director Lanfear stated that he and Jim Hansen of Brown &
Caldwell had met with members of the regulatory agencies (i.e., COE, DSL, DEQ, etc.) who at first
glance said the proposed solutions could be approved.  Public Works Director Lanfear agreed to
document the results of those discussions and write a confirmation letter to the regulatory agencies of their agreement in concept.

Having the answer to the regulatory question, the SAC then moved on to review the five (5) areas
against the other 3 questions.

Section 5-2, Florence Northeast Region:

It was agreed that proposed solution A was acceptable.  The only problem was that part of the
construction, the ditch north of Munsel Lake Road, would take place in the County.

Proposed solution B was basically cleaning out the 42nd Street ditch behind Happy Place to the out-fall into Munsel Creek.  Since this would allow the stormwater from the Highway 101 region to get to the creek faster and in greater volume than previously, there is some doubt expressed about the impact on the creek at the 35th Street bridge and Munsel Creek Loop.

Proposed solutions C, D, and E would have to be deferred to another time according to Public Works Director Lanfear.  These projects would have to be implemented by developers as part of their project.  There was discussion for Sections C, D, and E that future development of these parcels would require on-site retention of stormwater.

Section 5-3, Florence Central Region:

It was agreed that proposed solutions A, B, and C were acceptable.  Proposed solution D, the
armoring of the 35th Street ditch from Rhododendron to the river was added. There was discussion of flooding in front of 24 Coast Guard Road.  The Public Works Director stated that the installation of a simple catch basin hooked up to existing pipe discharging the water into the river would cure the problem.

Section 5-4, Florence Southwest Region:

Proposed solution A was acceptable.  Proposed solution B has already been implemented.  Proposed solution C, from the area of the Post Office (replace undersized pipes) was added.

Section 5-5, Florence Southeast Region:

The proposed solution was acceptable.  Discussion resulted in adding the culvert under Highway
126, which ODOT is scheduled to replace.  This effort is anticipated for 2001, when 126 is widened.

Section 5-1, Florence Northwest Region:

This area is outside the City limits.  It presents the problem of having the County to accept our
solution and criteria for reviewing development, including Stormwater factors.

Idylewood has already implemented solutions to their major flooding problems by using pumps.
Based upon the level of rain received during the winter of 1999/2000, the solution worked well.

While we understand that the Northwest Region will, at some point in time, be annexed into the City,
no readily apparent system has been proposed for the area in which Heceta South housing exists.
The location and topography will cause this area to be difficult to impossible to drain via gravity.
Heceta South and some area to the west are at elevations lower than the surrounding area.

There appears to be no easily implementable solution for the Heceta South area beyond pumping
stormwater west to the Driftwood Shores outfall.

The 11 SAC members at the meeting were unanimous in their voting on the solutions proposed for each of the five areas.

(Signed)
Dave Franzen, Secretary

(Signed)
Ron Latham, Chair