CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SECOND COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-17-204 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton
RESOLUTION
title
Establishing Policy For Evaluation Of Drainage Capital Improvement Projects In The Downtown Area (Benton)
body
ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR EVALUATION OF DRAINAGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WHEREAS, the Downtown area, as well as Martineztown, South Broadway, and Barelas, are subject to and have experienced threats of flooding during large storm events; and
WHEREAS, the area is served by an interrelated flood control system, which is antiquated and under capacity for larger runoff due to development that has occurred since it was installed; and
WHEREAS, in response to serious threats the City developed a flood control management system composed of multiple interrelated facilities, including the existing drainage detention pond at the corner of Broadway and Lomas; and
WHEREAS, the detention pond at Broadway and Lomas was intended only as a temporary facility designed to help immediately mitigate flood threats with the intent that it would be phased out in favor of a more permanent solution at the corner of Marble and Arno (the “Marble/Arno Project”); and
WHEREAS, consistent with this approach, the City Council recently approved a land exchange to help facilitate implementation of the Marble/Arno Project; and
WHEREAS, the Marble/Arno Project is part of the Mid-Valley Drainage Management Plan which was developed in partnership with the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA), in 2012 (the “Mid-Valley Plan”); and
WHEREAS, AMAFCA has been a partner with the City in regard to capital investments for drainage management pursuant to the Mid-Valley Plan and remains a willing partner of these efforts; and
WHEREAS, while the Department of Municipal Development continues to pursue the Marble/Arno Project as part of the Mid-Valley Plan, DMD is proposing to postpone its completion by continuing to use existing obsolete pumping equipment located at Broadway and Lomas for the Project while at the same time funding previously unplanned projects in adjacent areas - including with the South Broadway Plan area; and
WHEREAS, the obsolete pumping equipment would continue to occupy space at Broadway and Lomas which could potentially limit the anticipated economic development opportunities at that site, and would also require capital expenditures for infrastructure under Broadway to connect the pumps to Marble/Arno; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Department of Municipal Development (DMD) completed the interrelated South Broadway Drainage and Storm Water Quality Management Plan (“South Broadway Plan”) in 2013; and
WHEREAS, AMAFCA recently reviewed and made recommendations to augment the South Broadway Plan; and
WHEREAS, drainage capital funds designated for the implementation of the projects recommended by South Broadway Plan are being diverted to projects in the Downtown area, including a proposed drainage project at Central and Walter (“Central/Walter Project”) in East Downtown (EDo)/Huning Highland, which is not included as a recommendation in the South Broadway Plan; and
WHEREAS, diversion of these funds and current efforts appear inconsistent with long existing plans; and
WHEREAS, diversion of drainage funds from the South Broadway Plan to a Central/Walter Project could have a negative economic development impact in EDo/Huning Highland because such a project would occupy some of the last open and developable land in the area; and
WHEREAS, economic development, and in particular Transit Oriented Development in EDo, is of particular importance to the Council because it would help leverage the City’s investment in the ART Project and if completed the Central/Walter Project would exist at, and limit the development of land at the only ART stop in Edo; and
WHEREAS, the City contracted with an ART-TOD Planning Team that specifically recommended that either: a) the Central/Walter Project not be built; or b) that in-street storage be implemented as an alternative solution; and
WHEREAS, DMD has not presented a strong reason for the diversion of funds to a previously unplanned project, the Central/Walter Project, nor a justification for the City’s potential acquisition and occupation of a potentially viable economic development parcel for a proposed drainage project in EDo when the City’s ART-TOD contractor already recommended against the project; and
WHEREAS, at the same time that the Central/Walter Project is proceeding, the Marble/Arno Project is not fully funded and DMD has not presented a plan for funding the replacement of the obsolete pump station as part of the project; and
WHEREAS, AMAFCA already has an investment in the temporary pond and the Marble/Arno Project, and has indicated a willingness to assist with fully funding the projects completion.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The Department of Municipal Development shall provide a detailed report to the City Council that identifies and explains:
A. The specific need for a Central/Walter drainage project;
B. How such a project relates to the overall drainage improvement
needs of the downtown area, as prescribed by the South Broadway Plan and the Mid-Valley Plan;
C. Why any drainage improvement needs at Central/Walter justify
use of drainage capital funds that could otherwise be used to implement specific recommendations of the South Broadway Plan and/or to fully implement the Marble/Arno Project including replacement of obsolete pumping equipment - particularly in light of the “no-build” or “in street storage” alternatives that were recommended as part of the ART-TOD Planning Team; and
D. An economic assessment of any property proposed for
acquisition in EDo that evaluates the economic development potential of the property compared to its relative need for a public drainage facility at that specific location.
Section 2. The City shall not use any funds or other resources for any drainage capital project at Central/Walter, unless required because of an emergency or exigent situation in order to protect life or property, until such time as the Council has reviewed and approved an Executive Communication transmitting the report called for in Section 1.
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