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Commission approves sculpture at Old Settlers Park after floodplain study requirement noted
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved placement of a donated sculpture in Old Settlers Park, but staff warned the chosen site may require a formal floodplain analysis and could be moved if the park layout changes in future renovations.
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved placement of a donated sculpture at Old Settlers Park after staff said donors and the city had agreed on a proposed location.
Mike (staff member) told the commission the West Bend Friends of Sculpture and their donors had visited the proposed site and “agreed with the location,” and he noted the site works well for utilities and visibility. He added the Friends’ board supported the placement.
The commission raised floodplain concerns. One commissioner asked, “Can you explain why that has a negative impact on the flood plain?” Mike replied that federal agencies and engineering firms — including FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers — require analysis of any structure placed in a floodplain to determine whether it would displace floodwaters or become debris during high flows. “If we place the sculpture, and it’s mainly the base, in the flood plain, it will displace enough floodwaters that would have a negative impact on something downrange,” he said.
Mike said the city generally relies on local engineering firm SEH for floodplain data and that past Friends of Sculpture projects had paid for floodplain analyses (he cited a $5,500 study on a prior riverwalk feature). He also told commissioners the Friends know the park may be reconfigured in future renovations and that the sculpture might have to be moved at that time.
Following discussion, a motion to approve the placement was made and seconded; the commission voiced its approval and the motion carried.
The approval does not obviate the need for any required floodplain study or permits if the final placement is in regulated floodplain area, and staff told commissioners the Friends would coordinate with SEH and follow the necessary engineering review.
Provenance: The discussion of donor agreement, site suitability and floodplain analysis begins with staff remarks about the Friends’ site visit and continues through the commission’s vote (transcript excerpts at 00:00:00–00:05:02 and 00:59:35–00:04:55).
