HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM II-2~
ACITY F
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
WASHINGTON
Agenda Subject: Resolution 4519 Proclaiming a Local Emergency
Date: August 27, 2009
Department:
Attachments: Resolution 4519
Budget Impact:
Le al/Police
Administrative Recommendation:
City Council adopt Resolution 4519.
Background Summary: The recent flood pool restrictions at the Howard Hanson Dam have
substantially elevated the flood risk to the area of Auburn within the Green River Vatley. Damage to the
infrastructure and facilities, and the resultant interruption of commerce in the Valley, would have a severe
economic impact upon the City and its business community. The City of Auburn does not own or
maintain any levees within the Valley and yet is exposed to risks posed by levees which will be subjected
to unprecedented flows on the Green River. Local communities are unable to absorb the costs of levee
improvements or repairs in time to mitigate the flood risk for the 2009-10 flood season. Likewise, the
Howard Hanson dam has not yet been approved for sufficient federal funding to implement a long-term
solution.
King County sent a letter to the Governor of the State of Washington requesting a Governor's pre-incident
emergency proclamation. A Governor's proclamation is needed in order to marshai federal resources to
assist in costly mitigation and repair measures. A pre-incident emergency proclamation from the City of
Auburn wouid strengthen the case for an emergency proclamation from the Governor. I would also
position the city to move swiftly to take all necessary measures when emergency conditions arise on the
Green River and to commit all necessary resources in the pre-incident planning phase to ensure the best
possible response outcomes.
The City of Auburn would be better equipped to handle a flood of the Green River in the City of Auburn
City Council would adopt a resolution proclaiming an emergency based on the unprecedented level of
threatened flooding on the Green River possible in the 2009-10 flood season.
01.8, A1.8
Reviewed by Council & Committees:
Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
❑ Building ❑ M&O
❑ Airport ❑ Finance
❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor
❑ Hearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Serv.
❑ Finance ❑ Parks
❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD
❑ Fire ❑ Planning
❑ Park Board ❑Public Works
❑ Legal ❑ Police
❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other
❑ Public Works ❑ Human Resources
Action:
Committee Approval: ❑Yes ❑No
Council Approval: ❑Yes ❑No Call for Public Hearing
Referred to Until /
Tabled
Councilmember: Cerino
Staff: Kell
Meetinq Date: August 31, 2009
Item Number: 11.2
AUBURN * MORE 1"HAN YOU 1MAGINED
The News Tribune - King County readies for possible floods (print) Page 1 of 2
Tacoma, WA - Friday, August 28, 2009 < Back_t_o_Reg...u.....lar Stoiy Page
King County readies for possible floods
fall, winter: Officials prepare to declare emergency in advance
MIKE ARCHBOLD; The News Tribune
Last updated: August 28th, 2009 12:18 AM (PDT)
King County is poised to declare a state of emergency ahead of potential flooding this fall and winter from the Green
River in South King County.
Under a worst-case flooding scenario, major county facilities such as the Regional Justice Center and jail in Kent, the
animal control facility in Kent and the county elections center in Renton may need to be temporarily relocated.
The estimated cost of relocation and protecting county facilities is estimated at between $10 million and $35 million,
according to county officials.
County Executive Kurt Triplett has asked the County Council to authorize him to issue the emergency order in advance
of actual flooding. The authorization would allow the county to sidestep contract rules on leasing new facilities.
"We are putting together plans for certain scenarios (of potential flooding)," Carolyn Duncan, spokeswoman for the
county executive, said Thursday. "It's prudent to be pro-active and assess our vulnerability."
She said evacuating the jail or the animal control facility couldn't happen quickly.
The Green/Duwamish River communities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila as well as surrounding areas are
threatened by a weakened Howard Hanson Dam, which controls flooding on the Green River. The 48-year-old dam,
which is east of Auburn, may not able to hold back as much water in the event of a Pineapple Express-spawned flood
event similar to the one last January.
The resultant release of water could flood parts of the valley as high as 10 feet, the county said.
Assistant county executive Pam Bissonnette told the County Council this week during a briefing on the flood threat that
FEMA has estimated the property damage to the thousands of homes and businesses in the flood plain at $2 billion to
$3 billion.
Duncan said the county has been studying options since last March and will release its proposals to deal with a potential
devastating flood in the next two weeks, Duncan said.
She said groups are already working with agricultural interests and underserved populations in the Green River Valley,
and that letters with informational brochures have been mailed to 165,000 addresses in the flood plain along with
15,000 distributed to cities, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
The county is hosting a series of public meetings on the Howard Hanson flood threat. The first will be 6 p.m. Sept. 9 in
the Lindbloom Student Center at Green River Community College, 12401 S.E. 320th St., in Auburn.
,,ov/safety/FloodPlan/Events.aspx.
For more information go to: www kin cg ount~g
Mike Archbold: 253-597-8692
mike. archbold@thenewstribune.com
RESOLUTION NO. 4 5 1 9
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, PROCLAIMING
A LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, State law and provisions of the Auburn City Code, including
Chapter 2.75 thereof, empowers the Mayor and City Council of the City of
Auburn, Washington to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local
emergency in the City when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a major
emergency or natural disaster; and
WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has declared that
the flood control capabilities of the Howard Hanson Dam have been diminished
and that local communities should plan for flooding on the Green River during the
2009 and subsequent flood seasons; and
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn would experience major infrastructure
damage, business disruptions and economic impacts due to such a flood; and
WHEREAS, the Police Chief and the Emergency Preparedness Manager
recommend that an emergency be proclaimed in the City of Auburn; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Peter B. Lewis and the City Council are requested by
the Police Chief and the Emergency Preparedness Manager to proclaim the
existence of a local emergency therein; and
WHEREAS, said Mayor and City Council do hereby find that conditions of
peril to the safety of persons and property are threatened within the City, caused
by the current condition of the Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River.
Resolution No. 4519
August 28, 2009
Page 1 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
HEREBY RESOLVES as foliows:
Section 1. That the declarations of emergency conditions declared by
the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Emergency Preparedness
Manager are approved, confirmed and adopted by the City Councit.
Section 2. That during the existence of said local emergency, the
Mayor is authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be
necessary to prepare for, respond to, stabilize and control said emergency,
consistent with state law and local regulations.
Section 3. That the local emergency shall be deemed to continue to
exist until its termination is proclaimed by the Mayor and City Council.
Section 4. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in full force
upon passage and signatures hereon.
Dated and Signed this
day of 12009.
CITY OF AUBURN
PETER B. LEWIS
MAYOR
ATTEST:
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
Resolution No. 4519
August 28, 2009
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