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RESOLUTION R-1718-79: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROVING A MODIFICATION TO THE STREAM BANKS ALONG TEN MILE FLAT CREEK AS PART OF THE WEST MAIN STREET BRIDGE WEST OF 48TH AVE N.W. PROJECT.
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BACKGROUND: On December 6, 1994, a Cleveland County District Court Order required installation of ten (10) 72” corrugated metal pipes (CMPs) and construction of a low water crossing immediately east of the CMPs to relieve the impoundment of water during flooding events caused by a privately constructed roadway at Ten Mile Flat Creek west of 48th Ave NW. The City of Norman was named in the Court Order along with the private property owner. The roadway was constructed to allow access to the private properties west of Ten Mile Flat Creek from West Main Street. In August 2007, a major flooding event washed out the CMPs and private roadway at this location, which negatively impacted vehicular access via Main Street to the properties to the west.
Since the flooding event in 2007, there have been numerous discussions between the City of Norman and the three (3) adjacent property owners regarding the best way to provide access to the properties to the west and how project costs will be shared. On June 27, 2017, City Council approved Contract No. K-1617-138 between the City of Norman and Arbuckle Properties, Inc., BellaRose, LLC, and Steven Rich, the property owners west of Ten Mile Flat Creek, for the funding and construction of the West Main Street drainage structure and single span bridge.
DISCUSSION: In an effort to improve access and stream flow at this location, the City of Norman, Arbuckle Properties, Inc., BellaRose, LLC, and Steven Rich are proposing to construct a new single span bridge structure over Ten Mile Flat Creek. The project will also involve stabilization of the stream banks with sheet piles and rip rap.
Since this work will occur in the floodway/floodplain of Ten Mile Flat Creek, Section 429.1 Flood Hazard District of the City’s zoning ordinance (commonly referred to as the floodplain ordinance) applies to this project. A floodplain permit for the channel improvements was conditionally approved 6-0 by the City Floodplain Permit Committee on December 18, 2017.
Section 429.1.4(b)(17)(iii) of the floodplain ordinance requires that modifications to the stream banks or flow line obtain City Council approval. More specifically, any modifications of the stream banks or flow line within the area that would be regulatory floodway floodplain, unless the work is being done by the City of Norman staff as part of a routine maintenance activity, requires City Council approval. This project is not considered routine maintenance. Channel improvements consisting of sheet piles and rip rap will be used to stabilize the stream banks on either side of the bridge structure. The proposed channel improvements and stream bank modifications have been determined by City staff and the City Floodplain Permit Committee to meet or exceed the City’s floodplain ordinance. These improvements are located approximately 0.5 miles west of 48th Ave NW (see attached Vicinity Map).
The proposed new single span steel/concrete bridge has been designed and certified by a team of licensed professional civil engineers in Oklahoma including Landmark Engineering of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Mr. David Hendricks of Ada, Oklahoma. City staff engineers have reviewed and approved the engineering plans and specifications. If the floodplain permit is approved by City Council, City staff is prepared to conduct a public bid opening for the bridge project in January 2018. City Council will then be asked to award the construction contract. Construction of the bridge could take place as early as the spring of 2018.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: Staff recommends approval of Resolution R-1718-79 authorizing the proposed modifications of the stream banks for construction of the West Main Street Bridge over Ten Mile Flat Creek and granting City Floodplain Permit 587 as conditionally approved by the City Floodplain Permit Committee on December 18, 2017.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: Staff recommends that contributions in the amounts of $50,000 from Arbuckle Properties, Inc., and $75,000 from BellaRose, LLC, respectively, be accepted and deposited into the Revenue Account entitled Contributions Organization, (account 050-0000-365.13-73), and be appropriated and allocated to Drainage Project with Bridge, Construction (account 050-9717-431.61-01; project DR0066).