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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018.05.21 Council Special Meeting PacketSpecial Meeting AGENDA PASCO CITY COUNCIL 6:00 p.m. May 21, 2018 Page 1. CALL TO ORDER: 2. ROLL CALL: (a) Pledge of Allegiance 3. JOINT MEETING WITH RICHLAND CITY COUNCIL: 2 - 5 (a) US Army Corps of Engineers Presentation on Possible Reconveyance of Rivershore Lands 4. ADJOURNMENT. (6:55pm) Page 1 of 5 AGENDA REPORT FOR: City Council May 16, 2018 TO: Dave Zabell, City Manager Special Meeting: 5/21/18 FROM: Rick White, Director Community & Economic Development SUBJECT: Corps Presentation on Reconveyance I. REFERENCE(S): List of concerns regarding Reconveyance II. ACTION REQUESTED OF COUNCIL / STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Discussion III. FISCAL IMPACT: IV. HISTORY AND FACTS BRIEF: In February this year, City Council heard a presentation about possible reconveyance of Corps of Engineers owned Columbia River shoreline property. The presentation by proponents of reconveyance described the possibility of federal legislation that would initiate a sequence of events resulting in ownership of specific property back to the "community" - most likely meaning adjacent cities/counties. While the Council presentation was informative, there are many unknowns. Reconveyance is very likely to result in specific duties and obligations that will transfer to the community. To obtain a better understanding of those duties and obligations (and by deduction a range of possible costs) the Corps of Engineers has been invited to address the Pasco and Richland City Councils. City staffs have provided the Corps a range of preliminary issues regarding reconveyance as identified in the attachment to this agenda report. The Corps will focus their presentation on those issues and others (to the extent practical) that may come up as a result of Council questions. Page 2 of 5 V. DISCUSSION: Page 3 of 5 Corps of Engineers Pasco/Richland Reconveyance Workshop Presentation Monday, May 21, 2018 @ 6 PM City of Pasco Council Chambers May 10th, 2018 Issues/concerns from Pasco/Richland City staff Management of the levee system What is the current status of local levee accreditation and will that responsibility transfer to local government? Could you please describe the accreditation responsibilities and affiliation with updated FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Mapping estimated to begin in the Tri Cities in 2021? Vegetation maintenance cycle – costs and plans Corp oversight should reconveyance occur – does reconveyance remove the Corps from all management? How will elimination of flowage easements and ownership of the levees impact operation of the river pool? Back of levee drainage systems Please provide an overview of Operations of the pumping systems – costs and plans – periodic equipment replacement Maintenance and certification – responsibilities transfer to the Cities? Corp oversight should reconveyance occur -- does reconveyance remove the Corps from all management? NPDES Requirements o Does the Corps hold NPDES permits for the current discharges? What is the status and requirements? Corps owned lands above OHWM Current lease/use agreements in place including private docks – please provide an overview agreements that would cease and/or transfer to local government Current agreements with other agencies -- are there any and if so ramifications Current agreements with Tribes – responsibilities of the Cities o Religious/archeological issues Administration of various water and land permits – does reconveyance remove the Corps from administration? Page 4 of 5 Current enforcement and encroachment actions and applicable law regardless of Corps or local government ownership? Transition Records related to land management – will these be made available to Cities? Regulations retained for Corps administration – outline of these Timeline and process of reconveyance – what to expect McNary Pool Resulting change in operations of the McNary Pool (ie; water level during Water Follies) – will reconveyance disrupt the existing beneficial relationship between the Corps and the Cities?  Big Picture What is the Corps annual estimate of FTE staffing and fiscal impact to perform all work (capital, operations, maintenance, land use, enforcement, power consumption) related to all Corps owned lands and easements above ordinary high water on the Columbia River in the transfer area? Are there significant capital expenditures on the horizon that are not included in the annual estimate? The area under consideration as we understand, beginning on the west bank of the Columbia River, is Hover Park north to the northern Richland Limits including some of the mouth of the Yakima River and on the east bank Sacajawea State Park north to the Esquatzel canal. Page 5 of 5