HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2007-08-08 Special 08/8/2007 2759
STATE OF TEXAS )(
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )(
COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )(
AUGUST 8, 2007 )(
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8, 2007 AT 5:30 PM AT GALVESTON COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT
BUILDING, 1605 WHITAKER DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT
CONSTITUTING A QUORUM:
MAYOR DAVID SMITH
MAYOR PRO-TEM CHRIS PEDEN (arrived at 5:45 PM)
COUNCILMEMBER LAURA EWING
COUNCILMEMBER JIM HILL
COUNCILMEMBER ANDY RIVERA
CITY MANAGER BO MCDANIEL
CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE
Councilmember Leslie Reid and Councilmember John LeCour were absent from the meeting.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order.
5:30 PM—SPECIAL MEETING
A lengthy discussion was held with City Council and Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District
(GCCDD) regarding Halff Associates findings on the proposed National Economic Development (NED)
Plan for Clear Creek. Mayor Smith stated he would support Project NED and would need to develop a
relationship with the Corps of Engineers. The City will need to concentrate on funding and getting
support from Congress. Harold Whitaker, President of GCCDD, stated he is disappointed, for 40 years
there has been no structure in Friendswood. Halff Associates found in their review that the Corps of
Engineers had used old data when new data from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may
not reduce flooding in Friendswood at all. The NED project will be supported if the sponsors agree up
front to help Friendswood otherwise will not support the project. High water bypasses are necessary and
financial and legislative help for Highway 45, Harris County is no help to raise bridge at Highway 45. Carl
Horecky, Board Director of GCCDD, stated he has read comments regarding points from the Halff
Associates report, the project has been in the planning stages for over 40 years and there is an article in
this week's magazine regarding Corps of Engineer's poor action in New Orleans. The areas of concern
are the Mud Gully and the bridge repair. Gary Harris, Treasurer of GCCDD, stated he would support
detention, Mud Gully, and bypass even if the NED project was not approved. Mr. Whitaker stated he
would support the work upstream that would benefit Friendswood overall. Councilmember Peden stated
he was concerned with improvements above the City, detention ponds are designed for 100 year floods
or less, 500 year storm will come down on City, Pearland is challenging the plan, NED plan will reopen
oxbows in Pearland. Mr. Horecky stated possibly buyout properties, there are other options to solve
flooding. Councilmember Hill stated the plan is not planning for maximum, detention will help, plan calls
for channelization upstream and the complete length of Clear Creek, will withhold support until all
sponsors agree to help Friendswood, this may be the last chance. Mr. Whitaker stated he would withhold
his support until an agreement is made to financially support and the legislative supports Friendswood.
Councilmember Rivera stated to approve contingent to options. Councilmember Ewing stated the
cheapest way is buyouts prior to the storm. Mr. Whitaker stated GCCDD engineering provided costs,
straight inline shelf approximately 5.1 million with no land cost, construction only and would suggest
setting up meeting with two representatives from each sponsor. City Manager Bo McDaniel and
Community Development Interim Director Les McMahen may need to set up meeting with two
representatives from the City and GCCDD. Benny Baker, Secretary of GCCDD, stated the Corps of
08/8/2007 2760
Engineers shouid know where the City and GCCDD stand. The City Manager stated the resolution
preamble should have why, consider prioritizing the projects by greatest impact. The City would have to
do something theirselves in order to get it done.
A lengthy discussion was held regarding working relationships between the City of Friendswood and
Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District. Elected bodies handle working relationships,
managers need to work together, for new employees this may be a new process. Cooperative efforts,
trying to work through some issues that have recently come up, looking for consistency.
This meeting was adjourned at 7:12 PM.
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