Resident warns council that dikes may increase flood risk; public works says river gauges are being closely monitored

Matthew Simonson, a resident who identified himself during the public‑comment period, urged the council to address flood risk near North Main Street and 6th Avenue, saying historical floods (1903, 1978, 2000 and 2004) show rising water levels and that some bank‑raising and filled wetlands may have increased flood velocity. Simonson said small grass dikes or short concrete barriers along the high banks could help protect basements and backyards in future extreme events: "We need something that we don't get flooded out next time we have a a big flood," he said.

Council members thanked Simonson for bringing historical photos and context. Mr. Lang, a public‑works staff member, provided an operational update: he said river gauges typically respond about 18 to 20 hours after a rain event and that the high water the city was observing came from rain earlier in the week (reporting roughly 1 inch locally vs. 4–8 inches north of the city). Mr. Lang said crews have been monitoring the treatment plant and sewer collection system, that some streets have been temporarily closed and reopened, and that staff would watch for a possible secondary spike later the same evening.

Councilmembers and staff also reminded residents about preparedness resources: sandbags were made available at the Hacker Arena parking lot, and public communications had been used to keep people informed. Recreation staff additionally promoted the upcoming High Water music and movie series event on Aug. 21.

The meeting record shows the exchange was a public‑comment appeal and an operational briefing; no new mitigation project was adopted at the meeting. Council members said engineering studies and ongoing monitoring are in place, and staff will continue to track river‑gauge data.