Removal and recovery

The Gazette Editorial Board

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Editor's note: Flood protection and recovery is one of The Gazette Editorial Board's priority issues for 2013.

By next summer, if all goes as planned, removal of portions of streets, alleys and sewers will begin in the Time Check neighborhood and residential areas next to Czech Village in Cedar Rapids. It's another big step in our city government's overall flood recovery plan, developed after the 2008 event, to reduce future flooding and keep people out of harm's way along the Cedar River.

The project is important to this community. It has the potential to help enhance regrowth in these core neighborhoods, stabilize the property tax base and improve the quality of life. We hope the final plan also reflects the affected residents' priorities.

Earlier this month, the City Council requested

$1.6 million in federal disaster assistance. The request was based on a preliminary, or conceptual, plan for the infrastructure removal and will be decided by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. A decision is expected within a few weeks. If it's rejected, the project likely will be stalled.

The targeted infrastructure had served properties within and near the 100-year flood plain where damaged homes and other structures were demolished after owners signed up for buyouts. Under the buyout process, funded by federal disaster money, new construction of homes or businesses generally is not permitted.

CONCEPTUAL PLAN

The city's preliminary plan identifies 17 streets and four alleys where sections could be removed. Those areas are intended to be part of a larger greenway that likely will include parks and athletic fields, according to Doug Wilson, the capital improvement project manager for the Public Works Department.

The conceptual plan covers all of the areas where city officials believe it's possible to remove infrastructure, he said.

Most property owners in those flooded areas agreed to buyouts. However, some did not. City staff has identified such 21 homes in the Time Check area and six in the Czech Village area. There are also multiple other properties in a less defined area adjacent to Time Check that could be part of the infrastructure removal project, depending on what makes sense and what may wind up being developed if suitable proposals surface, said Dave Elgin, the city's public works director and city engineer.

The city plans to allow streets and sewers, as well as water service, to remain for those buyout properties. Although that may present additional challenges for the city's utilities system, it's the right thing to do. The buyout program was voluntary and penalizing those who opted out under the rules would be wrong.

OPEN TO CHANGE

Assuming that the city gets federal assistance, it's also important that city staff and leaders are open to changing the plan before it's finalized. Residents should have multiple opportunities to express their ideas and concerns. There are some residents who believe that city officials and the City Council have already decided what the final plan will look like and haven't necessarily considered all the angles of its impact.

We asked City Manager Jeff Pomeranz and Elgin about those concerns. Their responses were prompt.

Elgin told us, “While the City's flood mitigation plans previously approved are utilized to guide for both redevelopment and flood protection activities, the plans are subject to change and we recognize changes can occur based on the public feedback.”

Pomeranz and Elgin both stressed that opportunities for residents to provide feedback and review details of the infrastructure removal plan will be many - several neighborhood meetings, the city's general website, its new interactive website CRtalks.com, news media and social media, among others, along with public hearings at the City Council level.

“These opportunities will occur well in advance of moving forward with actions to hire contractors for the infrastructure removals to accommodate appropriate changes from the concept plans previously considered as a result of the feedback received,” Elgin added.

FOLLOWING UP

All of which is good to hear. While the city is blessed with capable staff possessing considerable expertise, good suggestions can come from a neighborhood's front line, too.

Residents should expect and look for the feedback opportunities, and then consider participating.

This project is more than removing some infrastructure and repurposing property. It's also about listening to the hearts and ideas of people who have faced monumental challenges on the recovery path. With much more accumulated perspective and experience, it should be the best opportunity yet to invite, gather and incorporate constructive, grass roots feedback into the city's long-term flood recovery efforts - in this case, the greenway plan.

After all, it's the neighborhoods that will have to live with the results for years to come.

l Comments: editorial@thegazette.com or (319) 398-8262