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City manager briefs assembly on HESCO barrier rollout, $2.4M initial cost and property-owner MOU
Summary
The city manager updated the Juneau Assembly on HESCO barrier delivery, a memorandum of understanding for riverfront property owners, project costs of about $2.4 million for barriers and installation, and modeling that shows barriers will reduce inundation in many areas.
City manager staff briefed the Juneau City and Borough Assembly on Feb. 10 about the HESCO barrier installation project for riverfront properties, a property-owner memorandum of understanding (MOU) and early modeling results.
The manager said the outreach package to property owners has been split into two pieces: a notice that explains what the city will and will not do for the project, and an MOU where property owners can document special circumstances. The manager said the split is intended to make clear what is negotiable and what is not, and to reduce confusion. “We will be mailing this out to property owners, but also the project managers are in the field,” the manager said, describing site visits, photographs and on-site discussions with property owners.
The manager said the initial HESCO barriers are in route and that the total value of the barriers and installation for the initial phase is $2,400,000. Four contractors have been contracted and are starting site assessments. The assembly previously approved a resolution related to a DEC loan with 50% forgiveness; the manager thanked the state for supporting that funding approach. The manager said she was still waiting to hear back on a separate Army Corps of Engineers work plan that would include a requested $10,000,000 study; no updated timeline was available.
On modeling, the manager reported a first review with consultant Michael Baker that showed the HESCO barriers “are working to prevent inundation in all the areas that we anticipated,” while noting some locations such as View Drive may still see inundation under certain events. The manager said staff will refine the models and prepare updated inundation maps for public distribution.
The manager emphasized that property owners will not be required to sign to allow barriers on their property but that the MOU will capture special access needs and accommodations; examples include scheduling to avoid disrupting vulnerable household members. Questions from assembly members included whether property owners could landscape or plant on top of barriers; the manager recommended the matter be handled through the project manager and the individual MOU.
The manager said project staff will continue outreach and site-specific coordination as installation begins.
