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DeKalb County, Illinois |
Minutes of the
Stormwater
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 2, 2011
The DeKalb County Stormwater Management Planning Committee (SMPC) met on June 2, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the DeKalb County Administrative Building, Conference Room East, in Sycamore, Illinois. In attendance were Committee members Ken Andersen, Roger Steimel, Bill Lorence, Joel Maurer, Donna Prain, Pat Vary, Joe Misurelli, Bill Nicklas and Paul Miller. Also in attendance was County Assistant Planner Rebecca Von Drasek.
1. Roll Call -- Mr. Miller noted that Tom Thomas, Norm Beeh, and Mark Biernacki were absent.
2. Approval of Agenda -- Mr. Lorence moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Nicklas, and the motion carried unanimously.
3. Approval of Minutes -- Ms. Vary moved to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2011 meeting, seconded by Mr. Nicklas, and the motion carried unanimously.
4. Costs for Watershed – Approach to Stormwater Management
Mr. Miller explained that the Committee, at its meeting of March 10, 2011, had discussed ideas and approaches to taking a watershed approach to stormwater management. The Committee appointed a sub-committee to undertake the initial research on a watershed approach, using the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River as the first watershed. The sub-committee was to consider, among other things, what aspects of a watershed approach would require technical expertise.
The sub-committee met on March 23, 2011. John Wills of the engineering firm Wills Burke Kelsey Associates, Ltd. discussed the different approaches the County could take toward stormwater management and watershed plans. At the conclusion of the March 23, 2011 meeting, it was agreed that the SMPC would be most interested in developing a “theory of the flood”, that is, an understanding of what existing conditions resulted in undesirable flooding, and what steps can be taken to minimize the negative impacts.
Mr. Miller requested “ballpark” cost estimates at the sub-committee meeting for accomplishing some of the tasks related to developing a theory of the flood for the headwaters of the Kishwaukee River watershed. Mr. Wills provided the following estimates for the Committee’s review:
Task:
1. Determine and map the boundaries of the watershed; 2. Identify and map where stormwater enters and exists the watershed; 3. Identify and map the important geographical features, including topography, waterways (natural and manmade), soils, significant vegetation, and existing stormwater management facilities (including ditches and drain tiles);
Estimated cost for these first three: $12,000;
4. Determine what should be the proper release rate for that watershed (some could be higher or lower than the current standard of 0.2 cfs per acre and 0.15 cfs if within 1½ miles of a municipality);
Mr. Wills estimated (with certain assumptions) a cost of $15,000 for “up to three separate sub-watersheds (assuming a hydraulic model already exists; if not, a cost of $45,000 for surveying and hydraulic modeling);
5. Identify existing stormwater problems, both flooding and water quality;
Estimated cost: $9,000;
6. Identify needed or desirable stormwater, grading, water quality, and erosion control regulations to mitigate flooding damage, enhance groundwater recharge, and improve the quality of existing waterways;
Estimated cost: $8,000; and
7. Identify needed or desirable stormwater facilities to mitigate flooding problems and improve water quality;
Estimated cost: $30,000
The ballpark cost estimates total between $74,000 and $119,000, depending on the extent of current hydraulic models.
Ms. Vary asked how the information proposed by Mr. Wills goes beyond what the Committee has already done. Mr. Miller responded that the additional information would add a necessary level of detail to maps.
Mr. Nicklas noted that the estimates were only a general ranges of the cost for the work. He offered that Sycamore may be willing to commit some funds if the County were going to initiate the study and would assure the City of the County’s intention to complete the study.
Donna Prain arrived at 3:05 pm
Mr. Lorence observed that the Village of Maple Park had already commissioned a similar study for a portion of the watershed.
The Committee briefly discussed the chosen watershed, being the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River. In addition, the Committee discussed Evergreen Village and the ongoing mitigation efforts to remove the homes from the floodway.
Mr. Steimel asked about the bridge on State Route 64 east of downtown Sycamore, which is within the watershed . Specifically, he asked if a future replacement of the bridge would alleviate flooding. Mr. Lorence responded that increasing the capacity would not be required with reconstructions and at some measure would require elevating the road, which Mr. Lorence thought would be unlikely. Mr. Nicklas noted that the City of Sycamore’s review had indicated that it may not matter much how much capacity the bridge allowed the flooding would still occur.
Ms. Vary asserted her understanding was that Phase 2 of the Stormwater Management Planning Committee would outline steps for future and prioritize the projects which would be implemented in Phase 3. The Committee agreed and noted that the proposed project list would be the completion of Phase 2.
Ms. Prain suggested that the Committee may have good enough information for items one through three of Mr. Wills project list. She noted that item four would be hard analysis which would yield an item that the County and municipalities could act on.
Ms. Vary questioned the order of the project items, she opined that item five might need to be completed before item four.
Mr. Miller read for the Committee Mr. Wills an explanation of item four.
The Committee briefly discussed the cost benefit analysis which would need to be completed between buying out properties or constructing facilities to protect or minimize flooding impacts to the properties.
Ms. Prain cautioned that solving the problem in one area may create new problems for others.
Mr. Steimel observed that a large portion of the chosen watershed is located within Kane County.
The Committee debated the availability of funds for these types of projects. Mr. Nicklas asserted that in his opinion money could eventually be found.
Mr. Miller emphasized that any plan resulting from the itemized study of the watershed would require implementation through revisions of Ordinances and strict enforcement of watershed requirements resulting from the study.
Mr. Maurer suggested that if the Committee is going to pursue the watershed approach that it was important that the designer of the study package the possible solutions in a phased approach, to be in keeping with economic realities the County and municipalities will face in implementation.
Ms. Prain agreed that there needed to be varying levels of response.
Mr. Miller read from Mr. Wills e-mail the explanation of the seventh item.
Ms. Vary noted that a plan of action created through the study might make it easier to seek grants and other funding mechanisms.
The Committee had a brief discussion regarding funding the creation of stormwater facilities through development. Mr. Misurelli noted that many of the existing annexation agreements would be invalid within twenty years or so, which might make way for new requirements on existing developments which are not completed. Mr. Lorence agreed that release rates would possibly change in the future.
The Committee further discussed what possible solutions would be suggested as part of the study, such as flood easements, revised release rates, etcetera.
Mr. Nicklas motioned to forward to the County Board the recommendation of the Stormwater Management Planning Commission on a course of action to study a specific watershed and formulate solutions for that given watershed, seconded by Ms. Vary, and the motion carried unanimously.
5. Next Meeting:
After a brief discussion the Committee decided to meet September 1, 2011 at 3pm in the Conference Room East.
6. Adjournment -- Mr. Andersen motioned to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Misurelli, and the motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul R. Miller, AICP Chairman, DeKalb County Stormwater Management Planning Committee RGV:rgv |
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