City Council Notes

– By Robin Jovanovich –

May 30

The aftermath of the recent flooding continues to dominate Council discussion. The Council unanimously approved the creation of a three-member Floodplain Emergency Relief Board (FERB) to expedite the permit approval process for those landowners who own residential property in the floodplain that are elevating their lowest habitable floor or mechanical components and want to rebuild quickly.

The board will be comprised of one member and one designated alternate, from the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board of Architectural Review. A member of the Conservation Commission-/Advisory Council will serve as an advisory board member. Mayor Otis will consult with the heads of each board before making the appointments.

City staff presented updates on flood mitigation study. Assistant City Manager Scott Pickup said a team had met earlier in the day with a mitigation specialist at the Bowman Dam and the Locust Avenue Fire House. A crew at the Boat Basin has been looking at the dredging issue. “There are new opportunities for reusing some of the material, including rebuilding holes at Rye Golf Club, and different disposal options,” Pickup reported. “Before the flood, we were trying to solve a $3 million problem (the cost of dredging and removal) and now we are hoping to submit some of that expense to FEMA.”

The value of additional water storage and retention upstream is another hot topic. How much can we expand? What will it cost? How much will it help? Pickup said they expect to receive data back from Charles Sells, the engineering firm, in six to eight weeks. “We won't see specific mitigation plans until late fall.”

City Engineer George Mottarella said residents will be seeing test borings at Theodore Fremd Avenue and the Elm Place retaining wall much sooner. Fire Headquarters is at most three weeks away from reopening.

Current estimates are $1.3 million for repair work along Theodore Fremd, $1.3 million for the Elm Place wall, $200,000 for the Fire House and $1.3 million for the Central Avenue Bridge.

“We can't wait for funding,” said Councilman Gerry Seitz. “We're taking money out of capital projects approved for this year.” The projects deferred to date are the traffic signals in the Central Business District and Peck and Midland Avenues and the light at Wappanocca Avenue and Ridge Street.

Councilman George Pratt reminded listeners that if the City jumpstarted the flood-related projects, it doesn't prevent us from getting FEMA money down the road.

Anticipating the need for a $5 million referendum to fund infrastructure repair caused by the recent flooding, Councilman Seitz proposed doubling the fees for merchant parking permits, increasing the hourly parking meter rate and extending parking hours until 7 p.m., “with the result that approximately 67% of the costs would be borne by non-Rye residents.”

Councilman Pratt responded: “Don't assume there will be a $5 million bond. The subject is for future debate.” Councilman Duncan Hennes concurred. Mayor Otis said that the Fed will pick up 75% of the projects that qualify for FEMA and the State will pick up the other 25%.

Members of the Rye Flood Action Coalition voiced their continued concerns and views on next steps. Bob Gay said, “Residents are struggling with the same problems as the City - insurance claims, restoration of previous conditions. “The dredging of the Bowman Dam is a high priority for Indian Village residents. Half of the retention area has disappeared over the years. Can you build the spillway any taller? Should you make the gate movable?” He added that the City can build a second dam as a second line of defense, whether they own the upstream property or not. “There's no harm in submitting a wish list to FEMA.” He said the Council might consider applying for a Harbor Master Commission, as Fenwick, Conn. did, bringing it a whole different source of funding.

Carolina Johnson, Mendota Avenue, has reviewed the City's 1985 Master Plan. “One of the recommendations was construction of tidal flood gates.” Noting that some families are still displaced or living in substandard conditions six weeks after the flood, she urged the Council to act, especially on the upstream development project, which could receive site plan approval by June 12. She asked Mayor Otis whether or not he'd been in touch with the Rye Brook mayor? “Yes.”

Johnson said the Coalition had identified an area at SUNY Purchase for possible retention. “Assemblyman Latimer has demonstrated his commitment to help by requesting $10 million in funding for his district. County Legislator Myers took us to Westchester Airport to look at runoff issues there. Representatives from Apawamis Club have said they will put a retention area on club property or contribute $45,000 to the Onondaga Storm Drain to help with runoff. Rye's aim should not only be to deal with 100-year storms.”

After the meeting, several residents expressed concern to the paper that the Council wasn't acting quickly and decisively enough on mitigation. “Give us a thousand band-aids,” said one Indian Village resident. “We won't allow the City to shift mitigation to homeowners.”

Warren Keegan was appointed to the Finance Committee to fill a term expiring on June 1, 2009. Maureen Powers was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to fill a term expiring Jan. 1, 2009.

Neil O'Donnell was elected to membership in the Rye Fire Department.

Chantal Detlefs, the City Naturalist, presented a City of Rye Stormwater Management Program annual report. “Through our cleanup and education efforts we're on schedule for DEC compliance in 2008.”