Covington approves cooperative agreement to add four flood-prone lots to watershed buyout program

The Covington City Council on Tuesday approved an amended cooperative endeavor agreement with St. Tammany Parish to acquire four additional flood-prone properties under the Louisiana Watershed Initiative grant program.

Why it matters: Acquisitions of flood-prone properties reduce repeated flood losses, can improve local floodplain function and may generate credit toward the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System, which can lower flood insurance costs for residents.

Council President Barrett introduced the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the amended agreement with St. Tammany Parish. The resolution was presented with staff in attendance; the council heard a presentation describing the grant’s local results to date.

Chris Brown, introduced to the council as a representative involved with the program, said the parish had additional funds available under the same grant and was negotiating to acquire four additional properties contiguous to previous purchases on Sheck Drive. "These four properties actually front on West 20 First Avenue and are equally as flood prone but are vacant," Brown said, and added that the city would take ownership and "intend to just let it go back to nature just like the other lots that were purchased under the same program."

A council member asked whether returning the lots to a natural state would benefit Covington’s FEMA Community Rating System score. Brown said the city "can absolutely take credit for, and we do receive credit point credit toward the community rating system for, acquired property," and that allowing the lots to revert to natural conditions should help with water retention and benefit neighbors.

Brown also reported that, with prior acquisitions under this grant, the parish and city had been able to eliminate three of the city’s seven severe repetitive loss properties.

After brief questions about structures previously on some lots, the council voted to approve the amended cooperative endeavor agreement. The record shows a motion, a second and a roll-call vote with affirmative votes from council members present.

Actions recorded: the council authorized the mayor to execute the amended cooperative endeavor agreement with St. Tammany Parish to add four additional properties for potential acquisition under the Louisiana Watershed Initiative grant program. The city will accept ownership of the lots and intends to maintain them as natural/open space.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the contract/agreement execution and coordinate property acquisition and maintenance; the Planning/Public Works departments will record the properties and manage them consistent with the grant terms and city policy.