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Commission awards design task for North Douglas flood work; plan focuses on tide valves and berm
Summary
The commission approved a consultant task authorization for North Douglas Avenue flooding work; the design calls for tide valves and a berm to limit regular tidal inundation but will not prevent flooding from king tides or storms.
The City Commission unanimously approved awarding a consultant task authorization to design and permit flood-control measures on North Douglas Avenue, directing the work to Jones Edmunds and Associates and asking staff to keep the neighborhood informed during design.
City Engineer Clay Watkins summarized the proposed approach as a package focused on tide valves and a berm. “What we’re looking at is…use the tide valves…that will go in the northern fork curb inlet catch basins,” Watkins said, explaining the valves would be installed on roughly 18-inch drainage pipes and a berm would be constructed near the park exit to limit regular tidal flow to about mean high tide. He emphasized the measures would not stop storm surge or king-tide flooding: “It will not if it's a king tide or any storm events, it won't control that. It'll help just keep the salt water out of the street during regular tide events.”
Resident Jeanette Cornell of 58 Douglass Avenue thanked the commission for placing the item on the agenda and asked that the city involve neighbors during design. “We do would like to know if we could have some, as the design a little bit of input from us since we've had eyes, ears, hearts on this for years,” Cornell said, and requested renderings and clarification about berm heights as the project advances.
Watkins described the broader hydrology: the pond north of the project has a 60-inch pipe that conveys water; the plan calls for multiple 18-inch tide-valve installations and additional catch basins to reroute roadway drainage into bermed ditches. The commission approved the task and asked staff to keep the neighborhood updated during the design process.
The agenda packet listed a consultant amount for the task to Jones Edmunds and Associates; the staff presentation included both $88,500 and $88,000 in different places. The motion to award the task passed unanimously; staff noted the exact contract amount will be finalized in documentation and returned to the commission as needed.
