08-13-18 Drainage and Flooding Committee Meeting

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Vice -Chairman Earp brought up an issue when it was raining really hard a few days ago, he checked on the area of the detention pond on Sens Road. He stated the house on the north side of that intersection — the one like a bed and breakfast 2-story house — their whole yard was completely under water. However, the detention pond probably wasn't at 50 percent capacity. He said it is like the bottom of the detention pond is higher than the ditches. Even 216, that flows under right there, had capacity still available, too. He asked if elevation can be shot at the detention pond to see if there's an elevation issue. Mr. Phillips responded he will talk to the survey crew, and that a crew should be able to shoot the elevation, probably, in a couple of weeks. Vice -Chairman Earp stated that this Committee will continue to meet frequently, but had not met since 2015, but that many of the items on the list from 2015 have still never been addressed, and the Committee wants to nail down dates as much as possible. Councilman Zemanek asked if he could ask a question even though he is not on the committee, and it was allowed. He stated that 112 runs through Brookglen and the issue he sees is you have all that water moving south through Deer Park through this subdivision, and you've got a concrete bayou that meets it at a 90-degree angle going west in this neighborhood. Brookglen's water cannot get out until Deer Park's water comes through, and that's what floods it. What can be done to change that angle of intersection so Brookglen can get some relief and get water out of the neighborhood? Mr. Phillips stated he can't speak on the specifics of it; but in terms of the projects identified along B112, they've identified a project north of La Porte, and "now we have a new project we are proposing in Brookglen Subdivision area, as well as looking southward down at the detention pond, as well, on B112. These guys (motioning to those also in attendance) can show you a little bit more detail on that. But it's going to have to take a combination of those projects in order to alleviate some of that. Some of that's going to have to be conveyance improvements. Some of it's probably going to have to be detention and mitigation for what's been done upstream." "Also, and what we talked about this morning when I was on the phone with Matt Zeve, the operations director for Flood Control, is that we want to make sure we are looking at the holistic approach to the issue there, specifically at Brookglen... it's been one that's gone back and forth [since the 70's], and we've got buyouts in there as well. And we've got spots that haven't been bought out." He went on to say they need to make sure if there's local projects that have to be happening inside the storm drain system there to help facilitate and complement what goes on in the channel, we need to keep that on the table, as well, and make sure they're looking at it through a holistic perspective. Councilmember Zemanek asked if he was correct in his ascertation that when you've got head pressure coming a certain direction moving at a much more rapid pace and water trying to meet it at a 90-degree angle, without any head pressure, it isn't getting in, is it? Councilmember Engelken stated he was out video-taping it on July 4. Councilmember Zemanek stated he didn't know this would be brought up tonight, and Mr. Phillips stated he knew it would be brought up tonight because Councilmember Engelken's input is one of the reasons why they are here to today to talk about some of the things they are going to add to the bond list. Councilmember Zemanek replied, "Great; thank you." Vice -Chairman Earp stated he had one more question on 216, between Sens Road and the railroad tracks, he believes he's reading that it is on the fourth quarter 2018, first quarter 2019 to get that thing cleaned out. Layne Yeager replied it is still on track, but if there any delay, they will let Lorenzo Wingate know so he can pass along the information. Mr. Phillips stated they would like to utilize this Committee as their medium for conversation and staying on track with projects. Vice -Chairman Earp indicated the Committee agrees this is a good idea. Page 2 of 4 July 9, 2018 Drainage and Flooding Committee Minutes