2009-05-18 Special Called Regular Meeting and Workshop of La Porte City Council minutes

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Iron Nult Junior High :he year ; from La Porte h and Sharon Nutt IXJunior High. school teachers s teachers of the .arilyn Smith from .chool and Julie Cl La Pqrte High Officials ask for residents' help with drainage By ADAM YANELLI Adam@bayshoresun.com While city officials insist they are not shucking the blame. for drainage and flooding issues in the Bayshore, they are asking residents to remember certain ordinances designed to help all system perform to the highest capability. La Porte Director of PlawlliJg Tim Tietjens said last week that there are four specific areas in which the public can help. 'The city has its responsibility, but the public does as well," he said. "Our systems are only as good at its functions as the city and public work together to m~ them go." As an example, Tietjens said it only takes one citizen to cut branches off of a tree or leave a trash bag unsealed outside near a drainage ditch to stop things up. "It's a partnership where all. parties need to work together and do their part to make things go smoothly," he stressed. 'There are mainly four areas where we really need help from the public." Tietjens first pointed out the "No Wake" ordinance. This ordinance was passed after a recommendation from the city's Flooding and Drainage Committee. It establishes a Class C misdemeanor for anyone traversing a flooded street, except under rescue conditions or when protecting public safety, at such speed that a wake would be created and cause damage to a home or property. The law went into effect in January 2008. "We want the public to know that there is a mechanism," Tietjens said. "If you have identified someone causing a wake, please report it so the city can pursue it. The second item concerns an ordinance on the books since 1972. It says that residents should refrain from depositing on streets, sidewalks or other public property things that might cause flooding if swept down a storm sewer or drainage channel. Tietjens said this 'would include clippings from landscaping as well as trash bags or other debris. "All it takes is one plastic trash bag being swept down a storm sewer to get a 100 percent blockage," Tietjens said. 'There are things you can do. If you See 'Drainage' page 7A The Bayshore Sun Wednesday. May 6. 2009 :~~f:i)RAINAGE :::;'Continued from page lA ~. . ::~:'see a neighbor blowing grass >:. clippings down a drain, use it .;-: as a teachable moment. Then, : ;;~\if they still don~.t listen, call the ::.;;, city." ~ i >:' Tietjens explained that :;-: landscaping clippings become. ;:;,mulch when it d~sintegrates >:' in a storm sewer otdrainage ';'.":channel. J I' ":":";'''';''; :;~: The third item is the city's fill :;,:;. dirt policy. It basically says that >:"one resident cannot create an ):;'adverse draipage effect on his .;~: or her neighbor after adding fill : ~:: dirt to their property. :;~,. "We must maintain a net" .:.; zero effect," Tietjens said. :~;: "Neighbors on both sides of >>:a swale are required to keep :~;;:their swales clean. They must ';".:maintain a side lot line on their :.::: side of the property." :.;.: He said' that anyone with :::::questions on a fill dirt issue can .;.; visit,th~ Planning Department at :::;City liiiU and speak with a city :-'::1 engin~er. i.. ,;.: The f6urth item deals with the ::::city'sichai1nel~ysterns. ., ;.:' "Policy says that a property : :,: : owner is responsible for mowing ';:-:'and i.c1eaning out the roadside : ::~'.dit~~es in front of and alongside , ._'the~ property. :::: "Even though that right of ':-' way is owned by the city, the :.;. resident enjoys the benefits :::: of the improved drainage and ,;.: access," Tietjens said. "B.ut it is :;:: important to keep these ditches :-:. clean so our, drainage systems :;:: can work' 'at their high~~t ': -; capacity." . )..~ . . .. ,', : :::: Tietjens addidth~tall)jfthese :-:' are common ordinances in most .;,,;; cities. :,~~:. "We don't want to penalize : · ~people, but we want to make : '? ~sure that what people are doing :;;: isn't adversely affecting others," ~;i~ he S~d. ,~..~ ""i :.b,'":"-"C", ' :~~; · '.' . Got sports qews?:. . I"~f ::~.~ Give Osa c.alrat i .i~ Says6Q~Sun" :1[f%81:.t71;1234 .l_._ EXTRA!EXT ALL THE loCAL NEWS You NEED TO KNow, ONE Low PRICE. .". . -. . Fill out'the jnfOlm~tion belo~aiiin ;m;;r p;ym;rr in the amount of $~2.00 made payable to: The BaySboreSun · 820 S. Eighth Street, La Porte, rexas 77571 281.471.1234 r twe: UST 22 The Bayshore Sun Only U2 for one year's subscription. 52 issues a year Paid subscribm receive their Bayshore Sun by~MC#~ State: Exp. Dale: , .1 Address: I City: Zip: 1 Phone: I Accounl # (if renewing): Credit Card #: I. Slgnallire: L_____ ------- J Exhibit 5