Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Whitefish Bay board approves new storm sewer main on Bowmont Avenue, shifts funding to storm utility borrow
Summary
After a months‑long investigation into flooding at the LaCassa condominium parking structures, the Village Board authorized design and construction of an additional storm sewer main (estimated incremental cost about $100,000) and directed that the cost be funded by the storm water utility borrow rather than TID funds.
The Whitefish Bay Village Board voted on April 6 to approve design and construction of a new storm‑sewer main on Bowmont Avenue between Council and Lake Drive as part of the Sendix redevelopment public improvements, and to fund the incremental cost through the village’s storm water utility borrow.
Public works staff summarized a multi‑month investigation, completed with consultant Sigma and input from designers Clark Deetsz, into severe flooding at the LaCassa condominium parking structures during an August 2025 storm. The investigation found multiple contributing causes rather than a single root cause: localized surface ponding in the street, depressed garage elevations relative to roadway grade, sheet flow from sidewalk and driveway geometries, and private‑side plumbing that lacks backflow prevention. Staff said the combination of storm inflow and some sanitary surcharging allowed water to enter lower‑elevation parking structures.
To reduce the risk of recurrence, designers identified an opportunity to add an additional storm sewer main on Bowmont from Council to Lake Drive; staff reported a preliminary incremental cost of roughly $100,000 (the work would be done within the Sendix public‑improvements construction zone and would include hydraulic modeling to confirm effectiveness). Board members asked about the distribution of responsibilities — noting some fixes (driveway apron adjustments, private backflow prevention) would be private costs — and whether the additional pipe would simply shift flows eastward; staff said further modeling and coordination with nearby outfalls would be part of final design.
Funding choice was contested: $200,000 of unallocated TID‑1 borrow remains available (originally earmarked for traffic synchronization) and the CIP also has roughly $300,000 in unallocated funds, but board members noted TID rollover funds to the CDA are restricted by agreement largely to economic development incentives and grants. After discussion, the board approved using the storm water utility borrow to fund the addition; staff said the utility borrow can be increased for the project in the upcoming debt issuance and will be reflected in storm rates as appropriate.
The motion "that the village board approve the design and construction of a new storm sewer main as part of the Sendix redevelopment public improvements leveraging unallocated funds from the storm water utility borrow" was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records vocal assent but does not provide a roll‑call tally.
Next steps: Clark Deetsz and village staff will complete hydraulic modeling and finalize design details; staff will coordinate with LaCassa representatives on private‑side mitigations (backflow prevention and driveway/apron adjustments) and return to the board with finalized costs and schedules for construction.
