AGENDA #9

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Response to Petition Regarding Drainage Problem at 61 Newton Drive

 

DATE:             April 28, 2003

 

 

The purpose of this report is to respond to a petition from Ms. Deborah Andrews, 61 Newton Drive for Town assistance with a drainage problem.  The Manager recommends that no action be taken on the petition until the stormwater utility program has been established.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

At its March 4, 2003 regular meeting, the Council received and referred a petition from Ms. Deborah Andrews, who resides at 61 Newton Drive, requesting assistance with a drainage problem involving a storm drain pipe that extends across her property from Newton Drive.  This concrete pipe receives and conveys stormwater runoff from Newton Drive across Ms. Andrews’ property and discharges into a channel in her backyard.  The pipe has apparently separated at some joints, resulting in settlement and potholes occurring in her yard (please see Attachment 1 for a map of the site).

 

This type of drainage problem, on private property and adjacent to public property, is an example of many similar drainage-related problems in Chapel Hill that may qualify for possible assistance under the Town’s Drainage Assistance Program.

 

Ms. Andrews first contacted the Town to ask for assistance with a drainage problem on November 18, 2002.  Town Engineering and Public Works staff met with Ms. Andrews and reviewed the site conditions.  Town staff acknowledged the problem, and advised Ms. Andrews of findings and suggested possible mitigation measures.  Town staff agreed to include this project for consideration under the Town’s Drainage Assistance Program through which the Town and property owner share the costs of drainage improvements on private property.  Unfortunately, the Council has been unable to provide funding for this program in recent years because of budget constraints (please see Attachment 2, the initial response to this problem).

 

The Town assumes responsibility for operation and maintenance of storm drainage infrastructure within public rights-of-way and dedicated public easements.  The Town also performs some emergency maintenance along certain streams to remove debris blockages and to stabilize areas experiencing significant erosion.  The Town does not routinely accept responsibility for operation and maintenance of drainage facilities on private property, such as the drain pipe on Ms. Andrews’ lot.  

 

DRAINAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 

The Council adopted a Policy on Drainage Assistance Program in 1994 to provide a means for assisting residents with drainage problems involving portions of the drainage system that are not routinely maintained by the Town.  This policy was one of the recommendations presented by the Stormwater Management Committee in its final report to the Council (Attachment 3).

 

The drainage assistance program was funded with $20,000 per year through the Capital Improvements Program until 1998, after which fiscal constraints required that annual funding be discontinued. The Town completed a variety of small projects through this program (including drainage pipe repair/replacement, drainage ditch work/clearing, and erosion control improvements) on a cost-sharing basis with residents. Projects typically include an agreement with the property owner under which the Town provides design, equipment, and labor services and the property owner pays for the necessary materials. 

 

The Council allocated the remaining street bond funds of approximately $67,000 for the Burning Tree Drive culvert replacement project.  This project remains a high priority because of periodic flood damages at an adjacent residence.

 

We currently have approximately eleven other drainage assistance projects evaluated and awaiting funding (Attachment 4).  There are more projects that have not been fully evaluated.  The estimated cost to complete these projects is in excess of $150,000.  Projects are prioritized (low, moderate, high) based on criteria including safety, property damage, frequency of flooding, number of properties affected and design feasibility.  The current top priority is the Burning Tree Drive project.  The 2003-2004 Capital Improvements Program proposal does not include any new funding for the Drainage Assistance Program.

 

NEWTON DRIVE DRAINAGE PROBLEM

 

The problem on the Andrews’ property involves approximately 75 feet of 18 inch diameter concrete storm drain pipe that has deteriorated and separated, causing localized settlement over the pipe that is located on this lot and perhaps the neighboring lot.  The pipe conveys stormwater from the Newton Drive catch basin and onto the Andrew’s lot, where it turns and discharges into a channel. Based on our recent review of the problem, we think it would be necessary to replace the existing pipe and reconstruct the existing inlet catch basin on Newton Drive and the junction box at the downstream end of the pipe section in question.  The system is on private property except for the catch basin on Newton Drive, which is located within Town right-of-way.

 

This improvement project, if approved for assistance, is estimated to cost the Town approximately $2500 under the Drainage Assistance Program (the Town does the work, does not charge for labor and equipment, and the property owner pays for materials); or $6000 by private contract (contractor provides all necessary labor, materials and equipment).

 

 

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend that the Engineering staff continue to provide Ms. Andrews with technical assistance and that the Council defer this project for funding consideration along with other projects Town-wide after creation of a stormwater utility program.  We anticipate that the stormwater utility program will address the current funding limitations of the Drainage Assistance Program and provide long-term financing for this and other projects.

 

If the Council wishes to proceed with the project now, it could direct the Manager to have Town forces schedule the installation, if the owner agrees to pay for appropriate materials at a Town cost of approximately $2500.  The Town could perform the work during the summer of 2003.  Alternatively, the Council could direct that $6,000 be allocated from fund balance to have the project completed by contract, at no cost to the resident.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.    Site Map (p. 4).

2.    Response to Request for Assistance for Drainage Problem at 61 Newton Drive (p. 5).

3.  Policy on Drainage Assistance Program (p. 8).

4.    Drainage Assistance Program Project List (p. 10).