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Public works director defends Winship Bridge replacement after residents raise flooding concerns
Summary
Staff reported CEQA mitigated negative declaration certified in 2020 and Caltrans NEPA categorical exclusion approved July 2026; Stetson hydraulic modeling for CEQA and FEMA‑corrected model for FEMA no‑rise support the proposed replacement, but residents urged more transparency comparing prior SAFER/EIR analyses and the new designs.
Public works director Richard Siminich gave a wide‑ranging technical update on the Winship Avenue bridge replacement project and fielded extensive questions from council and residents about flood modeling and design changes.
Siminich said the town certified an initial study with mitigated negative declaration (IS/MND) in 2020, and Caltrans issued a NEPA categorical exclusion July 2026 tied to the project's federal Highway Bridge Program funding. The project team used a Stetson 1D/2D model in CEQA analyses and the FEMA corrected effective model to certify a conditional "no‑rise" for the regulatory floodway; Siminich emphasized that FEMA relies on the local floodplain administrator (the town) to accept no‑rise certifications and that final compliance requires post‑construction as‑built verification.
Residents pressed for more clarity on differences between prior county‑led SAFER/EIR modeling and Ross’ IS/MND and no‑rise analyses. Jennifer Mota, a downstream homeowner, cited an earlier SAFER analysis that predicted increased base flood elevations for some downstream properties and asked how design modifications since the 2018 SAFER EIR were reflected in the town’s more recent modeling. Siminich responded that the town’s IS/MND used detailed Stetson modeling and that the FEMA‑based no‑rise analysis used the agency’s required corrected effective model; he said parts of the earlier SAFER work were distinct from Ross’ town‑led environmental document and called on staff to make final designs and technical comparisons available to the public before bidding.
Staff outlined next steps including final design, right‑of‑way and temporary construction easement negotiations with adjacent property owners, dewatering and fish relocation plans, mitigation monitoring and reporting program requirements and coordination with Caltrans during preconstruction. Council and residents requested additional outreach and comparison materials showing the 2018 SAFER/EIR results, the town’s 2020 IS/MND findings and the 2022/2026 hydraulic analyses.
