CC Min 1997-10-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

the primarily vulnerable areas. He said staff will try hard to deal with drainage problems and do the best to help people if they are victimized by such an event. Superintendent Adams ran a video that showed how beautiful Redwood City is, and also the problems caused by last year's storms. The video described what the City has done and is doing to prepare for the effects of a severe winter, including storing 10,000 sand bags. Director Ingram said the video was conceived by his staff as part of the City's commitment to the Countywide effort for public information. Public Works Services is planning to share the video with neighborhood associations and other local groups. He thanked Rene White for helping Superintendent Adams in putting the video together. Director Ingram said a roof will be on the new fire station in the Redwood Shores neighborhood very soon and both the fire station and maintenance facility building will be enclosed shortly. Engineering and Construction Manager Patterson described the current Capital Improvement Projects and what the City is doing to prevent problems from severe rain storms, such as leaving huge mud holes in the middle of streets for a long period of time. Manager Patterson described his conversations with developers to make sure projects aren't delayed, but all precautions are taken to minimize problems from excessive rain. He said contracts would be extended if they were interrupted by storms. Manager Patterson said current storm drain projects may help some neighborhoods, including the area serviced by the new Carson sewer. He advised that there is no storm drainage system in place in the Emerald Lake area, and that City crews are doing what they can. He said City staff is warning private developers about hauling dirt during storms, and City staff will monitor that situation carefully. In answer to Council questions, Director Ingram said, "critical situations occur when we have a very high tide with a sustained drain event. The Bayfront Canal basically fills up, takes all that run-off... and it can't discharge it... because the tide is pushing against the tide gates. The Bay and the Canal are essentially the same elevation, and the Bay might even be higher in some situations. There really isn't an option for effectively doing something else, it is such a huge volume. We could put pumps out there but it would be like a bucket in a sinking ship. It just is not going to be an effective way to relieve that situation. That is what we worry most about." Director Ingram said, "if we get a clear indication we are in for a heavy rain storm, we will probably ask that the EOC be activated for informational management purposes." He said his staff will go over to Police Dispatch and direct calls to Public Works. He said the residents of Friendly Acres have gone through this many times and they are probably the best organized neighborhood in terms of understanding what to do and what not to do. In response to Council questions, City Manager Everett said csn has advised that phone trees are very labor intensive, and they recommend that the Public Information Officer work very hard to capture a little bit of media time. They recommend getting information REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 OCTOBER 27,1997 MINUTES Page No. 638 PAGE 22