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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 01-17-89 SpMtgO~ce o~ ~ Mc~or January 12, 19~9 The Honorable Vice-Mayor and Members of Roanoke City Council Roanoke, Virginia Dear Mrs. Bowles and Gentlemen: Pursuant to Section 10, Meetings of Council, Generally, of the Roanoke City Charter, I am calling a special meeting of the Roanoke City Council for Tuesday, January 17, 1989, at 12:00 noon, in the City Council Chamber, fourth floor of the Municipal Building. The purpose of the special meeting will be to receive a report of the City ~4anager relating to the proposed Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. in City Council's Conference Room, prior to the special meeting of Council. NCT:se cc: Mr. Mr. Mr. Ms. Sincerel~ , Hoel C. Taylor,fMayor City of Roanoke W. Robert Herbert, City Manager Earl B. Reynolds, Jr., Assistant City Manager Witburn C. Dibting, Jr., City Attorney Joel M. Schlanger, Director of Finance Mary F. Parker, City Clerk Room 452 Mun~cioal Building 215 Church Av~oue, S.W. Roanoke, Virginia 2401 t (703) 98'~-2444 January 25, 1989 FiZe #237 Mr. W. Robert Herbert City Manager Roanoke, Virginia GentZemen: M.. Wilburn C. Dibti~g, City Attorney Roanoke, Virginia A report of the City Manage. with rega.d to the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project, was befo.e the Council of the City of Roanoke at a special meeting held on Tuesday. Janua.y 17, 1989. On motion, duly seconded and adopted. Council concu.red in the recorr~nended timetables as submitted in the report, and referred the matter to the City Attorney for prepa.ation of the necessary documents for the purpose of holding a public hca.lng on the pro- ject at a Special Meeting of Council to be held on Monday, January 30, 1989, at 7:30 p.m. (The City Attorney advised Council by coi~.,,~nication dated January 20, 1989, that because of advertising requirements, the earliest date that a public hearing on the project can be held is Feb.uary 6. 1989. Accordingly, Council, at its regula, meeting held on Monday, January 23, 1989, adopted Resolution No. 29436. changing the time of the Februa.y $, 1989, Council meeting f.om 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in order to hold the required public hearing with .espect to the Roanoke River Flood Reduction P.oject). Since.ely, Sand.a H. Eakin Deputy City Clerk I~'t~456 ~,ntc~lButk:llt~ 215(~chAYe~'~e $.W Rcx~,~.~,nia24011 (703)981-254~ Mr. W. Robert Herbert Mr. Wilburn C. Dibling, Page 2 Janua.y 25, 1989 Jr. pC: The Honorable James R. Olin, Member, U. S. Congress, Room 706, First Federal Building, 406 First Street, S. W. Roanoke, Virginia 24011 ' Colonel Paul IV. Woodbury, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer, Department of the Army, p. O. Box 1890. Wilmington, North Ca.olina 28402-1890 Mr. Fred Cramer, Chairman, Roanoke Valley Bird Club, c/o Cramer/Graphics. 1320 Thi.d Street, $. W. Roanoke, Virginia 24015-$219 Mr. William H. Tanger, Chairman, F. iends of the Roanoke River, P. O. Box 1750, Roanoke, Virginia 24018 Mr. John Cone, Chairman, Citizens Environmental Council, c/o Hayes, Seay, Matte.n and Mattern. 1315 F.anklin Road, S. W., Roanoke, Virginia 24016 Mr. Michael M. Waldvogel, Chairman, City Planning Cor~ission, 3526 Pens.th Road, S. W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 Members, Roanoke City Planning Comission Mr. Kit B. Kiser, Chairman, Flood Plain Co~r~ittee Members, Flood Plain Co~lttee Mr. Joel M. $chlanger, Dl.ector of Finance Mr. William F. Clark, Di.ector of Public Works Mr. Charles M. Huffine, City Engineer Mr. George C. Snead, J.., Directo. of Administration and Public Safety Roanoke, Virginia January 17, 1989 Honorable Mayor and City Council Roanoke, Virginia Dear Members of Council: Please reserve space on Council's agenda for a report pertaining to the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project. WRH:KBK:afm cc: City Attorney Director of Finance Respectfully submitted, W. Robert Herbert City Manager Roanoke, Virginia January 17, 1989 Honorable Mayor and City Council Roanoke, Virginia Dear Members of Council: Subject: Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project I. Back~round: Many meetinKs and written reports have been used to discuss the subject project. The last report was submitted to Council on August 8, 1988. Following consideration of that report, Council elected to: Hold a referendum on the project at an exact date to be established, but not later than May~ 1989. Authorize initiation of technical services for surveying, appraisals, etc. 3. Reaffirm pro.~ect support. Not hold the referendum in November, 1988 in order to provide additional time for the City, and the Corps of Engineers (COE) to resolve questions regarding certain design features, project costs and benefits. Also, the additional time between November, 1988 and the ultimate referendum date (to occur by May, 1989) was to provide for completion of the final design memorandum and to make that document available for public scrutiny prior to the date of the actual referendum. 5. Authorized initial funding for technical services. B. Purpose of this briefinK is to: Report to Council and the public and provide an updat~ on the project. Afford Council time to discuss the project and hold such public meetings as it desires. Advise Council of the need to vot, by February 6, 1989 to place this matter to a referendum vote of the citizens of the City of Roanoke. Page 2 II. Co 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 4. Make a recommendation to Council regarding: a. Scale of the project b. Budget c. Method of financing d. Date for a referendum Briefing is outlined as follows: History Need Description Benefits Concerns Addressing the concerns Recent changes Cost Budget Financing Commitment Qualifications Schedule 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Briefing: A. History: 1. Project study began in 1970. COE evaluated local options, both as a single project and as a series of projects, and numerous upstream options. The option of one project within the corporate limits of the City of Roanoke was chosen as the most feasible project with a good chance of success. Project concepts and estimates for the current project were defined in the 1984 feasibility study published by the COE. Page Evolution of federal regulations and project concepts of both needs and benefits have resulted in many project estimates and decision points. Council's last direct decision was on June 27, 1988 when Council authorized an updated letter of intent for a project having an estimate of $31,000,000 including a non-federal (local) cost of $14,490,250 and a benefit to cost ratio of 1.15 to 1.0. Need: Project need was recognized prior to initiating the project in 1970 based on flooding prior to that date. Floods of significance since 1970 have occurred in 1972, 1978, and 1985. o Late 1970's and early 1980's also saw the evolution of the federal flood insurance regulations with maps of flood ways and flood plains and with legal regulatory requirements to define and limit future construction in the flood plain. Construction in flood plains were allowed prior to this time because local government did not have authority to preclude construction short of acquisition, which option is financially prohibitive. Effects of flooding on lives and property have been and remain a vital concern of all citizens of the City of Roanoke, not just on the Roanoke River but in other areas along creeks and tributaries to the Roanoke River as well as in neighborhoods such as in the Williamson Road area. Public properties such as roads, parking lots, bridges, utility systems and the Sewage Treatment Plant are subject to extensive damage from the major floods. 5o Flood stage reduction and dmmage mitigation is vital to maintaining jobs and the economic base of our City. City citizens and Council have authorized the expenditure of millions of dollars to address neighborhood and some of the smaller tributary flooding problems. Now is the best opportunity, due to federal funding participation, for the City citizens and Council to take action to diminish the effects of flooding along the Roanoke River. C. Description: The proposed project has the following features: Channel widening by bench cutting into one side of the river bank along most of the 10 mile reach of the river within the City limits. 2. Protective dikes or berms in the areas of: a. Regional Sewage Treatment Plant Page 4 b. Victory Stadium area c. Cleveland Avenue area Flood proofing of critical buildings at the Sewage Treatment Plant. Replacement of two existing low water bridges along Wiley Drive. o A new 12 foot wide and 4.6 mile long recreational trail from t3th Street bridge, S.E. to Wasena Park with one required pedestrian bridge across Roanoke River. Flood warning system to help forecasters and emergency service personnel better alert citizens of impending floods and to provide a method of estimating their significance. Concerns have been expressed during both public and private discussions over the past two years regarding: Aesthetics of the completed project primarily focusing on: a. Loss of trees and vegetation b. Construction of walls and berms Use of certain material, e.g. concrete walls and rip rap for construction Not enough flood stage reduction and why isn't more done in the areas of: a. Wider channel cuts b. Cutting both sides of the river c. Higher protection berms and dikes d. Buying out the property subject to flooding e. Dredging the river 3. Environmental losses or impacts in the areas of: Loss of habitat for wild animals, birds and fish in general b. Endangered or threatened fish species Visual impact caused by the loss of trees and shrubbery Page 5 Potential for loss of business, dwelling units or decrease in property values in: Industrial Development and Investment Company (IDICO) area off 9th Street, S.E. b. Hannah Trailer Court Easements along backyards, storage lots, and parking lots along the river in general 5. Cost Lost recreational opportunities due to construction in the City park areas. 7. Potential impact on future projects in the river corridor 8. Limit impact on other areas of flooding in the City. Addressin~ the concerns is not easy. Not all concerns can be successfully addressed to the satisfaction of all the concerned citizens because of conflicting concerns, concerns are financially prohibitive, or concerns could negatively impact the purpose of the project (flood stage reductions) to such a degree that the entire project would be jeopardized. City staff, community leaders, concerned citizens, businessmen, the landscape consultant hired by the City and the COE have all worked to improve the project for the good of the whole community. Good compromises have been reached. 1. Aesthetics have been enhanced by: Increasing the amount of replacement trees and shrubbery to be planted. Decreasing the number of trees to be removed by retaining some trees but pruning the lower branches. Also agreement has been reached that some critical habitat trees may be retained by securing the trees. Some concrete walls have been replaced with earthen berms which will support vegetation. The City has the option in some areas, which it will use, of replacing rip rap with other COE approved bank stabilization material. However, the added cost will be borne by the City. The COE has also approved the planting of low growing vegetation in the rip rap areas to provide screening and improved habitat. Flood stage reduction has been increased to the maximum possible extent while still keeping a financially viable Page 6 3o project and recognizing the need to keep or replace certain trees and vegetation for aesthetic and environmental reasons. No dredging is to take place in the river because dredging damages the natural habitat beyond the level the C0E and the City staff feel is prudent. Additional flood proofing of critical business structures using wholly local funds is an option the City needs to consider. Environmental losses are a subject of much debate, however, considerable progress has been made in the areas of: a. Improving the seed mixture to support wildlife Agreement to save critical habitat trees and pruning lower limbs from other trees rather than cutting all trees within the project template c. Increasing the amount of vegetation to be replanted d. Authorized planting in the rip rap areas 4. Loss of business, dwelling units or property values. IDICO area impact will be appraised for fair market value and some business losses will occur. These losses are felt by City staff to be justifiable in the context of the overall project. Businesses in the industrial park are aware that the majority of the IDICO property will be enhanced by the project. The amount of construction (bench cut) has been reduced in the Hannah Court area and the recreation trail eliminated upstream of Wasena Park. The result of these two changes will eliminate the need to relocate permanently the 39 trailers from this area. Subject to final design and construction techniques, the trailers may need to be temporarily moved to allow room for construction equipment to excavate the bank of the river and construct a vertical masonry wall to stabilize the bank and separate the level of the reduced bench cut area and the areas on which the trailers are parked. Co Property rights to be acquired will consist of perpetual easements in accordance with a decision informally communicated to the City staff. This will allow property owners to continue to use their properties such as for rail operations by the Norfolk Southern Railway Company, backyards of private dwellings and storage or parking lots of commercial or industrial establishments. One section of the trail in the Hamilton Terrace area will need to be relocated to the bench cut area or Page 7 allow some homeowners vehicular access by permit in order for those homeowners to continue to have vehicular access to their properties. Costs have risen in recent years due to inflationary increases in construction, increase in land values and City desires to improve the aesthetic, environmental and recreational impact of the project. There will be further information regarding costs in the budget section of this briefing. Lost recreational opportunities due to construction in the City park areas will be more than offset by the addition of the 4.6 mile recreation trail and increased access points to the river for canoeing and fishing. o Potential impact on future projects in the river corridor has been studied by the City staff and the landscape consultant (Lardner/Klein) to make sure the flood reduction project does not eliminate future recreational and green space planning for the river corridor. Project does not reduce flooding in other areas of the City since this is the federally funded and federally approved project area. This report outlines a plan in the budget section of this briefing to set aside $500,000 for a revolving buy out/flood proof/resale program for residential structures that are on the market. F. Recent Chan~es of note have been: Reduction of the project cost estimate through the efforts of the City Office of Real Estate Valuation and the COE. 2. Approval by the COE for: a. Increased shrubbery Allow alternate bank stabilization (other than rip rap) in areas where technically feasible at City cost for betterment Shorten the recreational trail from 9 miles to 4.6 miles, but widen the trail from 8.0 feet to 12.0 feet, due to physical barriers, to limit the impact of the project on Hannah Trailer Court and to control the City's financial commitment. Page 8 Lessen the cut into the bank at Hannah Trailer Court but construct a vertical structural wall in that area and provide some additional channel widening in the Wasena Park area. The City to use local funding saved in change No. 4 above for critical structure flood proofing upstream of Hannah Trailer Court to attempt to mitigate the effect to upstream property owners for the approximate 0.20 foot stage reduction loss caused by the reduced bench cut at Hannah Trailer Court. 6. City and COE agreement for: a. Improved seed mixture for wildlife support Selection of critical habitat trees to be secured and retained. c. Increased shrubbery plantings Pruning of lower branches from some trees that would otherwise have to be cut Planting of low growing vegetation in areas still requiring to be rip-rapped. Reduction in project estimate for COE approval project elements from $31,010,000 which included $14,490,250 non-federal (local) cost to a current estimate of $27,471,500 to include a non-federal (local) cost of $10,672,925. Note cost section of this briefing for a higher estimate of project cost by City staff to include betterment (project enhancement) costs and inflationary contingency. Increase of the benefit cost ratio from 1.15:1.0 to 1.20:1.0. Cost estimate for City purpose, including a 15% inflation on structural costs, City only cost for betterment, City only cost for replacing the low water bridges, and City only cost for the one pedestrian bridge across the river follows: Previously Discussed Project Elements Total Federal Local Structural Flood Warning Recreation* Flood Proofing Incidental Acquisition & Technical Costs $28,295,938 $18,551,236 $9,744,702 127,000 86,250 40,750 4,348,448 1,052,687 3,295,761 374,550 256,874 117,676 381~697 0 381~697 $33,527,633 $19,947,047 $13,580,586 Page 9 City project costs outside of previous project elements: Reserve fund to purchase, flood proof and resell vacant residential structures located in federally defined flood plains on a City wide basis (to maintain housing stock) Total Federal Local $ 500,000 0 $ 500,000 Maximum amount to flood proof critical structures to miti- gate the impact of decreased excavation at Hannah Trailer Court $ 250t000 $ 0 $ 250~000 $34,277,633 $19,947,047 $14,330,586 Complete elimination of the recreational enhancement element would reduce the recreational element to a local cost of $1,630,125 for relocation of the low water bridges. H. Budget for paying the local amount is projected as follows: 1. Estimated City financial commitment 2. Deduct: $14,330,586 Mo Land donations Water and sewer fund expenditure require- ments Funding to date State funding from current programs relating to recrea- tion Federal and State reim- bursements from the 1985 flood damage -$3,920,000 661,137 650,000 - 782,625 816~824 Total Deductions -$6,830,586 Net Unfunded Local Amount Suggested Bond Referendum Amount Required budget amount on an annual basis is esti~ted as follows: a. $7,500,000 capitalized over 30 years -6~83%586 $7,500,000 157,s00,oooI Page 10 at 7 1/2% interest and uniform annual payment $ 635,034 Funding required for annual operations and maintenance expense 100~000 c. Total additional annual funding needed $ 735~034 Financing for the additional annual project cost needs to be provided by a new source of revenue or from an increased amount from an existing source of funding. Attachment "A" provides base line information from a variety of City revenue sources. Commitment qualifications on this or any policy decision to increase the revenue received from taxes to our citizens should be as follows: Tax increase would only occur if the referendum receives voter approval. Tax increase would only occur if Congress appropriates the federal share for this project. Tax increase would only occur after a public hearing on that increase after Congress appropriates the federal share. Schedule of significant events anticipated to occur is as follows: 1. Council briefing today January 17, 1989 Council decision and date(s) for public hearing on the project - between January 17 - February 6, 1989 City Manager hold a public information meeting if it is the wish of Council and does not conflict with any Council desired public hearing January 17 - February 3, 1989 4. Planning Commission briefing February 1, 1989 Council decision to place the matter to referendum and method of financing February 6, 1989 Page 11 Hold referendum vote by citizens (see Attachment "B", Tuesday, April 11 is suggested rather than Thursday, April 13) Tuesday, April 11, 1989 7. Implementation Schedule - See Attachment "C" from the COE III. Issues: 1. Project scale 2. Benefits 3. Local cost 4. Timing of commitment 5. Funding IV. Alternatives: A. Council vote by February 6~ 1989 to take the followinK action: Request a Court Order placinK the pro~ect on ~ ballot for a referendum vote by the City citizens on April 11, 1989. ii. Support the Roanoke River Flood project to include the entire pro,ram as outlined in Section II, G., Cost, of this report for a locally required funding effort of $14~330~586 reduced to a net remaining unfunded cost of $7~500~000 in Section II, H., Budget, of this report. iii. Authorize, subject to the referendum, the Director of Finance to sell bond(s) up to the amount of $7~500~000. iv. Establish the intent to pay the annual cost for the bonded debt retirement and the operations and maintenance expense by raising the utility tax from lOZ to not more than Provide that this support and authority will becomm wholly the option of City Council? e.g. not an absolute commitment of Council to the Federal governments, unless the project is approved for federal funding by the Congress of the United States of America and the project awarded for construction within three years of the date of the approval of the citizens of the City of Roanoke by referendum vote. An exception to this requirement is that the Director of Finance may provide such funding as is needed, with the additional approval of City Page 12 Council, for such preliminary expenditures as may be required to secure the real estate rights and options that will have to be in the control of the City prior to the project going to bid. Project scale is identified as the entire project including the requisite funding to help mitigate the effects of flooding in the flood plains city-wide. Benefits from the project will be maximized. Benefit: cost ratio is 1.2 to 1.0. Local costs are identified at $14~330,586. This local cost is subject to reduction should the Commonwealth of Virginia provide additional funding for recreational or the street and bridge relocation elements. Timin~ of commitment will begin upon passage of the referendum and extend through the project construction provided the project is started within three (3) years of the referendum. Funding of the anticipated unfunded amount of up to $7,500,000 will be by an increase in the utility tax from 10% up to 12%. Council vote by February 6, 1989 to support the project exceptin~ for any recreational element. Project scale will be identified as the full project previously explained exceptin~ for: a. Recreational trail b. Pedestrian bridge c. Real estate and inflationary costs associated to the recreational element. Benefits for flood reduction for all elements previously outlined would be provided. Recreational benefits would decrease from the level of recreation currently existing due to the need to construct bench cuts in some of the existing parks. Benefit:cost ratio is 1.14 to 1.0. Local cost would decrease from $14,330,586 to $12~667~950; however, there will also be a reduction in the anticipated $782~625 State funding for recreational- elements to $337~500 resulting in a net savings to the City of $1,220,511 if the recreational element is deleted. Timin~ of commitment would still remain for three (3) years after the passage of the referendum. Page 13 VI. Fundin~ of the anticipated unfunded amount of up to $6,250~000 would be by an increase in the utility tax of between 1 1/2% and 2%. Council vote by February 6, 1989 not to continue to support the pro.~ect and not place the matter before the citizens for a referendum vote. 1. Pro.~ect scale becomes a moot issue. 2. Benefits from the project will not occur. Local cost will stop at the current range of $500,000 spent to date for technical services. 4. TiminK of commitment will become a moot issue. 5. Fundin~ for additional expenditures will be unnecessary. Recommendation: Council decide by February 6, 1989 to place the full project before the citizens for referendum vote in accordance with Alternative "A". RecoKnition: I would like to recognize and express my appreciation to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (particularly Colonel Paul Woodbury and his staff), Congressman Jim Olin, concerned citizens groups, individual citizens and the many property owners that will be effected by the construction of this project for helping us devise a project in design concept that will be beneficial to the City. WPJ{:KBK:afm Respectfully submitted, W. Robert Herbert City Manager Attachments CC: Congressman Jim Olin Members, Flood Plain Committee Chairman & Members, Planning Commission Corps of Engineers City Attorney Director of Finance City Engineer Friends of the Roanoke River Citizens Environmental Council Roanoke Valley Bird Club ATTACHMENT "A" Real Estate Tax $1.25 per $100 Assessed Value $28,500,000 + 125 = $228,000 per 1¢ on tax rate Personal Property Tax $3.45 per $100 Assessed Value $11,000,000 + 345 = $32,000 per 1¢ on tax rate Meals Tax $4,000,000 + 4 4% of $ of Meal = $1,000,000 per 1% of Rate = $ 500,000 per 1/2% of Rate = $ 250,000 per 1/4% of Rate Transient Roo~Tax $750,000 + 4 = $187,500 per 1% of Rate = $ 93,750 per 1/2% of Rate = $ 46,875 per 1/4% of Rate Cigarette Tax $0.0025 per Cigarette (5¢ per 20 pack) $670,000 + 5¢ = $134,000 per 1¢ per 20 pack Utility Tax Based on Today's Economy, 1% Increase = $375,000 Minimum BOND PROJECTIONS ROANOKE RIVER CHANNELIZATION PROJECT SUMMARY FACE AMOUNT RATE TERM $7,500,000 7.50% 30 YEARS 25 YEARS 20 YEARS ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE $635,034 672,830 735,691 7,500,000 8.00% 30 YEARS 25 YEARS 20 YEARS 666,206 702,591 763,892 7,500,000 8.50% 30 YEARS 25 YEARS 20 YEARS 697,879 732,838 792,532 DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: CITY OF ROANOKE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION December 30, 1988 Kit B. Kiser, Director of Utilities and Operations Mark A. Williams, Assistant City Attorney ~b~! Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project; Bond Referendum Timing You have inquired regarding the legal timing requirements for a referendum to authorize the issuance of bonds of the City for the proposed Roanoke River Flood Reduction project. I have discussed this matter briefly with Ms. Audrey Franklin, Registrar, and also reviewed S24.1-185 of The Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, a copy of which is attached. As set forth in the statute, the election or referendum is required to be held pursuant to court order. No such election shall be held unless it shall have been ordered at least sixty days prior to the date for which it is called. Furthermore, no such special election shall be held within the sixty days prior to a general or primary election. It is my understanding that the Virginia Republican Party primary is scheduled for June 13, 1989. Under the foregoing sta- tutory time limits, by my estimation, the earliest date that such a referendum could be held would be April 13, 1989, a Thursday, which I calculate to be the sixty-first day prior to the primary election. Using this date for the referendum, under the code requirements, a special election must be ordered at least sixty days prior to April 13, 1989, which I calculate to be February 12, 1989, a Sunday. Therefore, the last regularly scheduled meeting of Council at which a referendum could be authorized prior to June 13, 1989, the date of the Republican primary, would be Monday, February 6, 1989. It should be noted that there does not appear to be any statutory time limit on holding such a special election after the June 13, 1989, Republican primary. Nevertheless, practlca~ou- siderations, including the availability of the voting machines, may preclude having the referendum immediately following the Republican primary. Please contact me if you have I may be of further assistance in MAW:sm Attachment cc: any comments or questions or if this ,matter. Wilburn C. Dibliug, Jr., City Attorney Joel M. Schlanger, Director of Finance James D. Grisso, Deputy Director of Finance Audrey Franklin, City Registrar John Peters, Project Manager t 21.1-164 Presiderit and said petition. tever a special resident of the ~g the office to )e held, and to county or city a copy thereof per of general :herwise than flcer ordering occurs, or at to § 24.1-79, ity or town in be filled and such officer in the same dections shall or primary nail be sent to 1970, c. 462: Y of election law · & Mary L. Rev. ermined. _ ice. shall be .nd certified, ?rtificates of nd subject to ;o far as may election, one -~aring on the iCode 1950, § 24.1-165 ELECTIONS ~ 24.1-165 § 24.1-165. How elections on questions and I~ropositions may be called and held, and results ascertained and certffied. -- Notwithstand- ing any other provision of any law. or of the charter of any city or town. to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall govern special elections, No referendum shall be placed on the ballot, unless specifically authorized by statute, or municipal charter provisions of the Cities of Chesapeake. Norfolk, Newport News, Virginia Beach and Fairfax existing January 1, 1975, or municipal charter provisions of the Cities of Hampton and Lynchburg, or, in the case of a referendum to authorize the issuance of bonds of a city or town, by statute or by the charter of such city or town. Whenever any question or proposition is to be submitted to the electors of any county, city or town, the election on such question or orooosition shall in ~ver¥ case be held pursuant to court order as provided h~rein. The court order callin a s ecial election §hall state the question to appear on the ballot and shallgbe e~ered and the election held within a reasonable period of time subsequent to the receipt of the request for such special election if such request is found to be in proper order. No such soecial election shall be held unless it shall havg b~n ordered at least Sixty days prior to the date for which it is called. No Such special e~n siaall be held within the sixty days prior to a general or onmarv election. No rei~renc~um ~hall be held on the same aay as a primary ~lection. ~ of the court order calling a special election shall be sent immediately to the State Board of Elections by the clerk of the court in which the order was issued. The ballot shall be prepared by the appropriate electoral board and distributed to the appropriate election districts or precincts, and at the time for such regular election, or on the day fixed for such special election, the regular election officers shall open a poll and take the sense of the qualified voters of the county, city, town, ward, district, zone or other local subdivision, as the case may be, on the question or proposition so submitted to such electors. All such elections shall be held and conducted in the manner prescribed by law for other elections, provided, however, that the ballots for us,e, at any such election shall be printed to read as follows, either' 'Question (here state briefly the question or proposition sub~nitted to the electors) [] For [] Against" or "Question (here state briefly the question or proposition submitted to the electors) [] Yes [] No" Whichever is designated by the State Board of Elections as more appropri- ate for the question. The squares to be print~t on such ballots shall not be less than one-quarter nor more than one-half inch in size, and the voting shall be by a positive affirmative method, which shall be by each elector voting at any such election, placing.a ch~ck (q) mark, or a cross (X or +) mark, or a line ( -- ) in the square ~mmediately before the appropriat~ word, indicating how he desires to vote on the question or proposition so submitted. The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the resul~ certified by the secretary of the appropriate electoral board to the State Board of Elections, to the court orderingthe election and to such other authority as may be propor to accomplish the purpose of such election. (Cede 1950. § 24-141; 1966, c. 115; 1970, c. 462; 1974, c. 428; 1975. c. 515; 1976, c. 616; 1978, cc. 258, 304; 1979, c. 37; 1980, c. 639; 1981, c. 367; 1982, cc. 498, 650; 1983, c. 461.) 435 ATTACHMENT "C" IN REPLY REFER TO DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WILMINGTON OISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28402-1890 January 10, 1989 Civil Engineering Section Mr. W. Robert Herbert Roanoke City Manager Room 364, Municipal Building 215 Church Avenue, S.W. Roanoke, Virginia 24011 Dear Mr. Herbert: During our meeting on December 16, 1988, concerning the Roanoke River Flood Reduction project, we agreed to examine two possible modifications to the p~oJect and report the results. We have analysed the poeaibility of modifying the excavation plan for the Hannah Trailer Park area and the affecte of deleting the excavation at the abandoned city landfill near Tinker Creek. The ~oet effective elte~nativa to the excavation proposed in the preliminary General Design Ma~orand,~ (G~) inclndes a reduced bench width with a vertical retaining wall et the trailer park and widening the proposed cut through Waeena Park from an average width of 75 feat to 100 feat. A table is attached showing the effects on flood stages upstream of the trailer park. The =avised plan w111 not require the permanent relocation of any trailers, but some trailers will have to be temporarily relocated to allow for construction of the retaining wall. Although the above alternative has a favorabXe benefit-to- cost ratio~ we still raco~and that the plan aa outlined in the preliminary GlO! be implemented. However, we understand the concerns you have about this plan and will implement the alternative if you so desire, providing you declare your preference by Janua~ 13, 1989. The affect on the lave1 of protection for the treatment plant due to eliminating the bench excavation near Tinker Creek is a raduc~ion from 50-year to 30-year. The overtopping frequency for the floodproofing dropped from 100-year to 70-year. A revised total project cost estimate reflecting the deleted cut at Tinker Creek and the modififad cut at the trailer park with retaining wall was is $27,471,500. The benefit to cost ratio for this plan is 1.20 to 1. -2- Revised ~lestone dates for the completion of the ~anoke R/var project are: Completion of the final G~IM~ April 28, 1989; complete plans and sPecifications, June 30, 1990. At this time the project will be in the ready to construct category awaiting construction funds. After receipt of funds, it will take 3 months to advertise and award a construction contract and 3 years to complete project construction. Attachment Sincerely~ Paul W. Woodbury Colonel, Corps of Engineers District Engineer ROAI~OKE FLOOD REDUCTION PROJECT Results of Modified Cuts at Wasena Park and Trailer Park (Elevations in feet, Flood Event (R4,10+O0) Imm. Blv Memorial Ave, With GDM Modifications (R3,40+00) Hidwa7 of Cleve. Ave. Dike With GDM Modifications (R3,10+O0) Imm. Blw Bridge St. With GDM Modifications SPF 967.1 968.2 100-YR 951.7 952.0 50-YR 949.1 949.4 10-YR 943.3 943.5 2-YR 937.3 937,4 969.6 970.4 971.9 972.5 953.8 954.0 957.2 957.3 951.3 951.4 955.0 955.1 945,3 945,4 949,2 949.2 939.0 939,1 943,2 943,2 Dtrector of Utilities & Operanons January 9, 1989 Members, Roanoke City Flood Plain Committee Dear Co~,~uittee Members: Subject: Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project The time has come. City Manager W. Rober~ Herbert will ma~e a report to Roanoke City Council durin8 a special called meeting for 12:00 noon, Tuesday, 3anuary 17, 1989. That report, which is still being formulated, would give a full briefing on the project, cost estimates, scheduling, and proposed method of funding. This Committee is already on record in support of the project. We are still awaiting confirmation in writing from the Corps of Engineers regardin8 the Corps cost estimate. I believe the Corps estimate will be at $27,471,500 to include a non-federal (local) share of $10,672,925. City staff estimate is $34,277,633 to include $14,330,586. Major differences in the two cost estimates are: City estimate includes a 15~ inflation figure in anticipation of rising construction cost. 2. City estimate includes fundin8 for environmental improvements outside the Corps' defined project scope. 3. City estimate includes the cost of two low water bridge replacements and one new pedestrian bridse. 4. City estimate includes flood mitisation measures outside the Corps' defined project scope. I believe the project to be recommended will widen the 8 foot recreational trail to 12 feet but delete the section of the trail upstream of Wasena Park, primarily due to physical constraints. You are already familiar with most of the project. I cannot tell you more resardin8 the administration's recommendation until January 17. On behalf of Mr. Herbert and yours truly, I invite you to the 12:00 noon meetin8 of Roanoke City Council on January 17, 1989 to hear Mr. Herbert's full project briefing and recommendations and to show your support for the project. Roor~ 354 ~4un,c ~a: bu,lcJing 215 Church Av~nu~ S W Roonoke V~rg,ma 24011 ~7C)3) 981 2002 Members, Flood Plain Committee January 9, 1989 Page 2 KBK:afm cc: Mr. W. Robert Herbert Mrs. Mary Parker, City Clerk Respectfully, i. Kiser, Chairman Flood Plain Committee