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.' . . I . I - the problem, and other jurisdictions, neighboring cities need to be brought in. We feel that unless we take leadership, the solutions will not come. And there is only one way to lead and that is by action. So we are asking, we are recommending that you follow our - recommendation to combine the storm drainage capital improvements into the sewage system fund in order to raise the resources necessary to really face this challenge. "One other item, at some point during the budget process, Mr. Ingram is going to recommend that we hire a coordinator for this effort. This is something that has been discussed at some of the neighborhood meetings. We think this is essential, because the staff does not have the time to marshal the efforts necessary to make this happen. But a coordinator is essential to carry on the public campaign, in a sense the political campaign.... It is all part of one package. We feel unless the entire package is taken, the coordinator will have no wherewithal to work, unless we give him or her the ability to carry some funds with them to the bargaining table when they meet with the other agencies. "It is a difficult problem, but we recommend that we face it now rather than pass it to the next generation for whom it will be even more expensive. In summary, we recommend unanimously the inclusion of storm drainage infrastructure in the sewage Enterprise Fund as the one mechanism that can really work. That is the essence of the recommendation." Peter Ingram, Public Works Services Director, introduced staff members Public Works Services Superintendents Manny Rosas, William Adams and Senior Engineer Chang. Director Ingram described his Department's work with the Utilities Committee for many - months. He said that staff was looking for broad direction from the Council so they could decide "how best to come back to you later on during both the budget process and the CIP approval process.... scheduled to occur in a public hearing on June 22, 1998. We will do rates specifically then and CIP as early as next week and formally in June/July." Director Ingram said, "I think we are at a crossroads here of needing a sense from the Council as a whole, if we are ready to commit resources, time and money and credibility to the problem solving the flooding in Redwood City. It is important that we recognize that there is a high level of awareness right now throughout the peninsula and the state about flooding, and certainly in the neighborhoods there is a high level of angst and concern, and creativity in terms of ideas and energy to contribute to approaching this. What makes sense to me at the staff level is a broad citywide effort that would involve a coordinated process with community input so that you could get assistance and feedback on setting priorities. Because no matter what decisions you make.... there will be questions from different sectors of your community. And so it is important that we try to reach as far as we can. My sense is that in the past, part of what was missing from Council decisions about flooding, may have been that community process. There are some good models out there that we would like to borrow on. A coordinated effort is very important, and you will see a recommendation in the CIP that will begin to bring some money to that. Staff can suppo¡1, provide leadership and assistance, but in my eyes - it really requires if not a full time, a fairly serious continuous effort to get this process moving aiIead. Study Session MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 May4,1998 Minutes Page No. 441 Page 10