Stormwater Control System •
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
AGENDA ITEM: This is a formal request for the City Manager and staff to reevaluate the
City storm-water control system and to develop a contingency plan to
prevent the flooding of residences and business during peak rainfall
events. Additionally, it is requested the City Manager and staff prepare a
report that details the cost of a storm water system review and potential
upgrades.
SUBMITTED BY: Commissioner John M Stinson`
DATE: The 24th of February 2016
BACKGROUND: In November 2016, The City of Atlantic Beach experienced a peak rainfall
event in which numerous homes were flooded, areas of the City were impassable for a period of
time and citizens incurred the expense and inconvenience of damage to City parks.
At a recent City Commission meeting, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)presented City officials and staff with a review of the rainfall event of November 2016.
In the NOAA presentation,NOAA officials stated this most recent event was not an uncommon
experience for the City of Atlantic Beach and that the City had experienced such flooding
perhaps three times within the last 20 years, including the most recent event. Further, it appears
the NOAA officials believe that events of this type could prove more frequent in the future.
If the history is correct and the City of Atlantic Beach can expect more events such as the rainfall
event of the 7th and 8th of November 2016, there are four obvious responses City officials could
choose. These responses are:
1) Accept that rainfall events capable of overwhelming storm-water management resources
the City has at its disposal will continue, and ask the citizens to endure the
inconvenience, cost and disruption such events create.
a. The presenter believes this is an unacceptable response, to subject parents and
children to huddle on second floor levels of their homes to avoid the influx of
water, the danger of flooded electrical circuits and the loss of private property.
2) Identify areas of Atlantic Beach that are subject to flooding and begin the process of
purchasing residences and businesses located within these flood zones, thereby requiring
the remaining residents to bear the burden of such expense.
a. The presenter believes this is an unacceptable response for a City whose purpose
is to provide acceptable levels of service to citizens, including safety, basic
services, and infrastructure. It is probable choosing this response would cause
taxpayers to endure more expense than if the storm-water system was improved.
3) Reevaluate the storm-water management system where it has proven inadequate. Include
as a part of the Emergency Management plan, contingency responses such as; pumping
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CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
storm-water storage systems down prior to anticipated heavy rainfall; installation of
tidewater backflow prevention systems to eliminate the impact of high tides preventing
storm-water systems from evacuating sufficiently during a rainfall event; contingencies
for additional pump capacity during a rainfall event; and coordinating with adjacent
communities maintenance, improvements and requests for assistance from State and
Federal agencies for additional resources.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: The City of Neptune Beach is currently working to make
application to the State of Florida for one million, eight hundred thousand dollars
($1,800,000.00) in assistance to improve their storm-water management system. Although the
City of Neptune Beach has experienced flooding problems at different times and of a different
nature than has the City of Atlantic Beach, it is interesting that the City of Neptune Beach is
focused on some drainage systems shared with the City of Atlantic Beach.
Can the City of Atlantic Beach partner with our neighbors to improve the entire drainage
system?Do Neptune Beach plans take into consideration the needs of Atlantic Beach since
portions of the drainage system are shared? Should Atlantic Beach reconsider the 50%pervious/
impervious restriction recently relaxed?
CONCLUSION: The City's storm-water management should be prevalent on the minds of
every resident. Florida historically experiences rainfall in amounts not seen in much of the
United States. And the proximity and frequency of tropical storms further increases demands on
the ability to protect residents. This recent event highlights the inadequacies of the storm-water
management system and the current emergency response plan in use by the City. A review of the
affected areas and systems is required promptly.
BUDGET: Time, focus and expense of City staff to consult those familiar with such systems
and to describe the current storm-water system, evaluate data and make recommendations based
on feedback received from those consulted.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City staff prepare a presentation for the City
Commission detailing affected areas of the City and the obstacles to improvements to storm-
water systems in these affected areas. City staff should also begin meetings and consultations
with anyone familiar with storm-water system construction, improvement and contingency
efforts. Results of these meetings including recommendations,justification and expense should
be presented to the City Commission as soon as practical.
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