HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/08/2008, PUBLIC COMMENT - CREEK OVERFLOW -64
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From: David Moore, 1759 Conejo Ave., San Luis Obispo �� , F UTIL DIP
Date: Jan. 7, 2008 HR DIR
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Subject: Creek Overflow C CER
This is to let you know that I am also very concerned about creek overflow waters coming
from the run off from the mountain valley above Andrews St. I am very concerned that the
stream easement behind my property has been ignored and blocked. The people who bought
those properties were well aware that the easement was there. It should be treated as such and
properties below the easement should not be forced to carry the water instead during extra
heavy rains.
The creek from that area easily overflows its banks above the Conejo Ave. homes. I am one of
the owners that had floodwaters running over my property on several occasions,but the most
serious was March 1995 when water ran around our house for 20 hours. I was there when the
creek started jamming up the little 36"culvert at 3:30 in the afternoon and almost got washed
away trying to remove debris. The water continued to run for twenty hours and finally
stopped at 11:30 the next morning. During.most of that time we couldn't even walk around to
sides of our house the force was so great. The volume of water had to exceed four or five 36"
culvert openings and would have flooded horribly even if the opening had not jammed up.
It took me two days running a small skip loader all day both days and then it still took 105,
five cubic foot, wheelbarrow loads to clear the rest. When the flood was over,none of my
back walls showed, all plants were gone, and I had piles of dirt and rocks several feet thick in
many places,and at least a foot in all places. My side fence was washed out,my garage, in the
front of the house,had several inches of mud throughout it. The pile I placed in the street
stretched from one end of my property to the other, half way across the street and about five
feet tall. I never want to go through that again. One good thing, snails have never returned to
my yard.
The corrective work done by the city on the Wolf property is inadequate. The debris shields
around the two new thirty-six inch culverts jam up right away, and the water they were
expected to carry doesn't begin to go into them. Instead, after a short while it heads right
down behind the Conejo Ave. property lines and into the properties wherever an opening
allows it to go. It is a well meant project, but totally inadequate in design. Again I have first
hand experience here having spent considerable time trying fruitlessly to free things up.
I believe that corrective work just spoken about and a wall to contain the waters in the
easement definitely need to be built with a drop into a large culvert where the waters reach
Casadero. Casadero is where the water all ends up after flooding through our properties.
I would love to rest easier, as would my neighbors, when it rains heavily. Please help move
this corrective action along.
Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this important matter.
r 0
RECEIVED
To: Mayor Romero JAN 0 91008
From: Steve & Jeanne Secrest
Date: January 9, 2008 SLO CITY CLERK
Re: Information Packet
This memo was accidentally left out of the information packet we provided for the
January 8, 2008 City Council Meeting. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
Again, thank you for your time and support
v S p
To: Jay Walter,Director Public Works, City of SLO
From: Steve Secrest
Date: December 27,2007
Re: December 20, 2007 Meeting with City Staff at Andrews Street Structure
During our December 20th meeting, you indicated that the Public Drainage Easement has
not been opened and therefore remains totally obstructed. In addition, both you and
Barbara Lynch stated City Staff's recently changed position that the Public Drainage
Easement protections of a wall,swale and drop inlet at Cazadero Street have been
postponed indefinitely. In June 2006, you agreed that these protections were the only
correct fix and stated that you were fully committed to this project (Public Drainage
Easement protections for downhill properties). You reiterated your commitment
throughout meetings held in 2007. Since you have reversed your earlier position on the
Public Drainage Easement, we request that City Staff's new position be stated to us in
writing.
We also request your analysis and any supporting data that substantiates your engineering
and legal position. In December, we heard nothing of substance from you that supports
or justifies further delay in providing the protection that several dozen homes below this
Public Drainage Easement are entitled to. This Public Drainage Easement has been
totally obstructed, with your knowledge, for over 4 years and 5 rainy seasons.
Thank you, in advance, for your written position and supporting data.
From:Steve&Jeanne Secrest<slolane209sbcgiobal.neb �L
Date:Wed Jan 5,2005 10:01:07 PM US/Pacific S S
To:Jay Walter<JWalter@slocity.org>
Cc:dromero@romeroforrnayor.com
Subject:Easement Obstructions
Jay,
We are very concerned about the approaching storm and the possibility of 8"of rain in a short period of time. Can the City Gear the
obstructions on the Wilson property from the easement in order to prevent a repeat of the flooding that occurred Dec.31,2004?
We are happy to bring our video of the 1995 flood to the Jan. 10th meeting. It is actually a DVD so will need a DVD player to view it. Will also
bring recommendations from our engineer.
Steve Secrest
From:Steve&Jeanne Secrest<slolane2@sbcglobal.neD
Date:Fri Jan 7,2005 11:55:04 AM US/Pacific
To:Jay Walter<JWalter@slocity.org>
Subject:
Jay,
Thank you for your phone call this morning in response to our request to remove obstructions from the general drainage easement behind our
property. Since the City Attorney will not allow City crews to remove fences and other obstructions in the drainage easement without dialog with
the property owners, we wonder if the City has initiated this dialog with the owners within the last 12-15 months?
You advised us to protect ourselves in any way possible. We have sandbagged extensively and strengthened our fence as much as possible.
There is little more we can do to protect ourselves without intervention and assistance from the City. As you observed,the water runs up
against the obstructions in the easement and,with no place else to go,forces its way under our fence and stone wall and into our garage. In a
severe storm,were are certain to experience more extensive damage.
Thank you again for your time in addressing our concerns.
Steve Secrest
Page I of 2
Jeanne Secrest
From: Jeanne Secrest Usecrest@calpoly.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 11:07 AM
To: Walter, Jay
Cc: Lowell, Jonathan P
Subject: RE: Storm Preparations
Jay,
Thank you for your reply and numbers to call in the event of an emergency. However you did not address my
primary question: has the Public Drainage Easement been cleared of obstructions, and if not why not? This is the
fifth rainy season that the Public Drainage Easement has been blocked, endangering downhill properties. This
situation is unreasonable and unacceptable.
Jeanne Secrest
From: Walter, Jay [mailto:jwalter@slocity.org] _
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 5:55 PM
To: Jeanne Secrest
Cc: Lowell, Jonathan P
Subject: RE: Storm Preparations
Dear Mrs. Secrest:
Thank you for your email. We are aware that the first major storm event of the season is
moving in tonight and this weekend. City staff will be checking periodically to make sure
drainage facilities throughout the City are functioning properly,.including the Andrews Street
rockguard. In the event you notice anything unusual, please immediately call 781-7220 and
someone will be dispatched to evaluate the situation. After normal business hours, calls to
that number will be routed to Police dispatch; responding police officers know who to call for
assistance to address drainage issues.
Jay D. Walter, PE
Public Works Director
From: Jeanne Secrest [mailto:jsecrest@calpoly.edu] ___ _
.Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 7:59 AM
To: Walter, Jay
Subject: Storm Preparations
Jay,
We are very concerned about the upcoming storm which is predicted to bring 3-5 inches of rain to SLO. We
wonder if the Public Drainage Easement has been cleared of obstructions in order for water to flow freely to
Cazadero Street, rather than dam up behind our property and flow through our yard. If the obstructions have not
been cleared, what is the delay? When is this likely to occur? What steps are being taken to protect downhill
1/8/2008
Meetings/Phone Calls
DATE CONTACT ACTION
9/8/03 Mike Wilson phone calls
9/8/03 Mike Wilson meeting
9/9/ 03 SLO City/Tim Girvin phone calls
9/10/03 Mike Wilson meeting
9/12/03 SLO City: Rob Livickphone calls
Tim Girvin, Tyler Corey
9/15/03 Ron Whisenand e-mail
9/18/03 file Request for Field Investigation with SLO City
9//20/03 Mike Wilson meeting
9/22/03 Ron Whisenand phone call
9/24/03 Tom Baumbeger meeting
10/10/03 Ron Whisenand phone call
10/11/03 Jim Garing meeting
10/17/03 SLO City Administrative Hearing
10/27/03 File appeal to Admin. Hearing with SLO City
10/29/03 Tom Baumberger meet
11/19/03 Planning Commission Meeting
11/25/03 Dave Romero email
11/26/03 Gil Trujillo phone call
12/1/03 appeal Planning Commission decision
12/8/03 Mike McClusky meeting
1/5/04 Ken Hampian phone call
1/20/04 Ken Hampian meeting
3/22/04 Dave Romero email
8/16/04 Christine Mulholland phone call
8/16/04 John Ewan phone call
8/25/04 John Ewan meeting
9/28/04 SLO City Council letter
9/30/04 Dave Romero email
10/15/04 Jay Walter phone call
11/5/04 Jay Walter meet
12/30/04 water damage from channel overflow
12/31/04 Jay Walter observe water damage -
1/5/05 Jay Walter email
1/7/05 Jay Walter phone call. -
1/7/05 Jay Walter email
1/10/05 Jay Walter meeting
2/26/05 . Dave Romero phone call
3/1/05 Dave Romero meet
To: Jay Walter, Director Public Works, City of SLO
From: Steve Secrest
Date: December 27, 2007
Re: December 20, 2007 Meeting with City Staff at Andrews Street Structure
During our December 20`x' meeting, you indicated that the Public Drainage Easement has
not been opened and therefore remains totally obstructed. In addition, both you and
Barbara Lynch stated City Staff's recently changed position that the Public Drainage
Easement protections of a wall, swale and drop inlet at Cazadero Street have been
postponed indefinitely. In June 2006, you agreed that these protections were the only
correct fix and stated that you were fully committed to this project (Public Drainage
Easement protections for downhill properties). You reiterated your commitment
throughout meetings held in 2007. Since you have reversed your earlier position on the
Public Drainage Easement, we request that City Staff's new position be stated to us in
writing.
We also request your analysis and any supporting data that substantiates your engineering
and legal position. In December, we heard nothing of substance from you that supports
or justifies further delay in providing the protection that several dozen homes below this
Public Drainage Easement are entitled to. This Public Drainage Easement has been
totally obstructed, with your knowledge, for over 4 years and 5 rainy seasons.
Thank you, in advance,.for your written position and supporting data.
RECEIVED
To: Mayor Romero JAM 0 9 2008
From: Steve & Jeanne Secrest
Date: January 9, 2008 SLO CITY CLERK
Re: Information Packet
This memo was accidentally left out of the information packet we provided for the
January 8, 2008 City Council Meeting. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
Again, thank you for your time and support
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