02/25/1972 - 00017643���J �
�i ;"i
PAINUTES OF TIIE FLOOD PLAIN INFORMATION REPORT MEETING OF
F�BRUARY 25, 1972
The Flood Plain Information Report Meeting of the Fridley City
Council and New Brighton Village Council was convened at 7:35 P.M.
�TTENDING.
James Wright - Supervisor, Dept. of Natural Resources
Harold Toy - Corps of Cngineers
Joe Conners - State Representative
Frank G. Liebl - Mayor, City of Fridley
Tim Breider - Councilman, City of Fridley
Robert H. Kelshaw - Councilman, City of Pridley
Donald Mittelstadt - Councilman, City of Fridley
Gerald R. Davis - City Manager, City oP Fridley
IVasim M. Qureshi - City Engineer, City of Fridley
Gayle Bromander - Mayor, Village of IVew Brighton
Diana Eagon - Councilwoman, Village of New Brighton
Gene 1•'isher - Councilman, Village of New Brighton
Quentin 4Vood - Village Engineer, Village of New Brighton
Stan 1�ovak - Rice Creek Homeowners Association
John Dickson - Barr Engineering
Len I<ramer - Barr Engineering
INTRODUCTIONS.
Mayor Prank G. Liebl, City of Fridley, welcomed the public and
the oflicials present and introduced the officials from the City
of Fridley.
Mayor Gayle Bromander, Village of New Brighton, introduced the
officials present from the Village of New Brighton.
PRI:SL�NTATION OF TH� R�PORT:
NIr. Harold Toy of the Corps of Engineers, presented the report to
the Fridley and New Brighton officials and to Mr. James Wright
of the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Wright accepted the
report for the State and commented to the audience that the
report had been compiled for the communities at their request.
D4r. Toy explained that the Corps of Engineers is involved with
the preparation of these reports Uecause, in the past, millions
of dollars have been spent by the U.S. Government on flood control
measures; such as, dikes, levees, and reservoirs, but this did
not solve the flooding problem fast enough and flood damages
kept increasing because the people kept moving into the flood
plain areas as they did not realize or were not made aware of
�
'
'
��� �l
` �i
FLOOD PLAIN TNFORMATION REPORT MEETINC OP PEBRUARY 25, 1972 PAGE 2
� the possibility that they might be flooded. President Johnson
appointed a committee to study the means to reduce the amount of
flood damages in this country. The committee decided that the
people needed to be warned of the dangers of building in a flood
plain area and the Corps of �ngineers was authorized to prepare
Flood Plain Information Reports. These reports summarize past
flooding experiences, give detailed hydraulic inLormation and maps
and give suggestions For developing flood plains using proper
controls. You cannot control nature alone, you have to control
man in the flood plain.
Mr. Toy then gave a 15 minute slide presentation explaining the
brochure and report.
Mr. James M. Wright, Department of Natural Resources, commented
that the study covers the Mississippi River within Fridley and
covers 8 miles of Rice Creek in Fridley and New Brighton. The
report is based on existing conditions so the State does not feel
it should be satisfied �ust with this report because 18 miles
upstream of Fridley and New Brighton all the way from Howard Lake
drains into Rice Creek. Development taking place all over the
Rice Creek Watershed will affect the Ilood stages. The
Department of Natural Resources and the P4etropolitan Council are
both interested in expanding the study to include all of the
' Rice Creek Watershed and there has been 1oca1 interest shown also.
The Rice Creek Watershed District has recently been created and
this can be a vehicle for coordinating the efforts within the
Distrlct and providing technical assistance to the different
communities.
The State Flood Plain Management Program has been in existance
for only two years. There have been between SO and 75 requests
for assistance, but because of severe money limitations, only
three reports have been done this year. The Fridley and New
Brighton report is one of these.
Mr. Wright then gave a slide presentation explaining the State
Flood Plain �anagement Act and local responsibilities under the
program.
There are over $25 million worth of flood damages in the State
of Minnesota each year. By the year 2020 that figure will
increase to an average of over $80 million if proper flood
management is not used. The State decided that flood control
measures; such as, dams, reservoirs, channel improvements, and
levees are not enough. A comprehensive approach was needed.
Only the State through its local subdivision cities and counties,
has the authority to regulate land uses This is not a function
of the Federal government. Some of the flood plain regulations
� involve zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes
and health regulations. These regulations are used in con�unction
with non-structural development policies,such as a local Council
refusing utility and street permits for a development in a flood
plain area, use of open space parks, tax ad�ustments and ilood
insurance.
i;df�
FLOOD PLAIN INFORI�IATION REPORT MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 1972 PAG� 3
In 1969 the Flood Plain Management Act was passed. The purpose
of this Act was to:
1. Provide State wide rules and regulations developed by
the Department of Natural Resources to carry out the
purpose of the Act.
2. Require local government units to submit letters of intent
to comply with the act to provide information to the
Department on local flood problems and data to define
local flood hazard areas.
3. When sufficient data is available, local governments must
adopt local regulations, such as, zoning ordinances,
subdivision regulations which meet state wide standards.
The State responsibilities under the Act are as follows
l. To develop state wide rules and regulations.
2. To collect and distribute information relative to
flooding and flood plain management.
3. To coordinate local, state, and federal activities in
the flood plain.
4. To assist local government units in the Flood Plain
Management Act.
S. To review and approve local ordinances before they are
adopted Uy local governments.
The local responsibilities are
l. To submit a letter of intent.
2. To adopt flood plain management ordinances whenever the
information is available.
3. To adopt and enforce local ordinances.
The scope oF the Flood Plain Information Study is:
1. Determination of a method for determining flood plains
and flood ways.
2. To set forth land uses prohibited within a flood plain
or flood way.
3. To set Iorth supplemental flood plain management measures.
�
,
I.�
�.� � ,
J c j
FL00➢ PLAIN INFORMATION REPORT MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 1972 PAGE 4
� Public understanding and involvement in flood management measures
is very important. Local officials and State olficials are very
interested in the public's viewpoint.
Mr. Wright then stated that his of£ice will be contacting the
officials of both Fridley and New Brighton concerning the
utilization of the information in the report and to help them in
developing a Flood Plain Management Program so tl�at the existing
flood problem is not aggravated.
Mr. Wright presented additional material for study to Fridley
and New Brighton and added that he felt that additional studies
are needed in the entire Rice Creek Watershed Area because any
development in the area is going to affect Pridley and New Brighton
and development in these two communities will also afiect the
areas upstream from them.
A lengthy audience question and answer period followed.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Liebl declared the Plood Plain Information Report Meeting
of February 25, 1972 ad�ourned at 9.35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted, �jT�.►Fa
A ��-�v�� �,�C�C�� '�-�C�
Nikki J. Szegda, Frank G. Liebl,
Acting Secretary to the City Council Mayor
�I