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Council debates $20,000 stormwater feasibility study for private road draining to McLean Creek
Summary
Council discussed a $20,000 feasibility study by Civil West Engineering to assess chronic flooding on privately owned 1st/2nd Street drainage that discharges to McLean Creek, and whether highway funds, hazard‑mitigation grants or county responsibility apply; staff will consult LCOG and the city attorney.
The Westfir City Council on Dec. 1 reviewed a Civil West Engineering feasibility proposal priced at $20,000 to study stormwater flooding affecting homes near 1st and 2nd Streets and McLean Creek. City staff said the firm would produce a feasibility report but not design documents, and councilors questioned whether the city is legally obligated to act because the affected roadway and parcels are privately owned.
"This is a private road and private property," one councilor said, noting that previous legal interpretation (about 25 years ago) found the city had no obligation. City recorder Nicole Burton said that while the city may not be legally required, it could choose to participate, but that accepting highway funds could impose maintenance responsibilities if the road became a public project.
A visiting community and climate‑resiliency coordinator with Southland Solutions (speaker 7) suggested alternative funding sources for feasibility work, including LCOG and state water‑quality or public‑health programs, and recommended water‑quality testing upstream and downstream to better document contamination. "LCOG might have that money just to get the feasibility done," the coordinator said.
Councilors agreed staff should first ask LCOG about the eligibility of highway funds or grant options and then consult the city attorney about legal obligations and potential maintenance liabilities before deciding whether to authorize legal or engineering expenditures.
