01/29/05 Study - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Study Session Meeting January 29, 2005 the City's share. Each project required a good deal of effort to complete. Next, Mr. Ollendorff referred Councilmembers to a map which showed the parts of the River which projects were completed and explained how MSD used funds to complete them: the River Des Peres Sub-district. These funds can be applied to the River only, and not on sanitary sewers along the River. He added that River Des Peres- U City Branch Sub-district includes parts of Overland, which claims its share of the funds, too. Councilmember Colquitt asked if "an area behind the McDonald"s" was considered finished and was advised yes. Repairs there included: widening the channel, clearing out the area, sloping the banks, and lining them with rock piles left in a semi-natural condition, allowing vegetation to grow. This is considered a better environmental practice, but it allows undesirable growth of vegetation which in turn fills the channel again, defeating the ability of the water to flow. There is no perfect answer. Ms. Colquitt remembered MSD asserting they would maintain areas with vegetation growing in this manner, but noted that vegetation from a repair had overgrown the channel. The City Manager said MSD routinely asserts they do not provide maintenance; the only maintenance they provide is for something which falls into the channel, like a tree, but not the sides of the creek. Ms. Welsch said MSD's definition of maintenance is to maintain water flow and that no one really wants to assume responsibility for other types of maintenance. Councilmember Brot asked why this subject is under discussion now, and Mr. Ollendorff explained that it was a good opportunity to provide background information for the edification of the Council and to enable decision making. Mayor Adams pointed out that this is helpful because everything is interconnected. Discussion ensued about the relation of building trails and how that relates to the River; combining the trail to River improvements can result in more funding by providing recreational opportunity. Mayor Adams said that Heman Park is situated as a "retention basin" for flooding of the River. Mr. Ollendorff said issues relating to the river arise each week, and used the Recreation Facility as an example. There are specific issues relating to the River which will demand decisions in the near future. One is the flooding at the Hafner Apartments, which Mr. Ollendorff described and the Councilmembers discussed in some detail, in terms of finding a solution to the problem. Mr. Ollendorff advised that Council will need to determine the best solution for this area, but meanwhile keep in mind what is needed for maintenance and other needs. The City Manager said a list of eligible properties for buy-outs was obtained from the State. It is an arbitrary list where there is a record that property owners have called about flooding problems three times or more. Mr. Ollendorff provided additional details about what this means and which homes are eligible for buy-outs. A list was submitted Page 3