2009-03-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Tuesday, March 3, 2009 AT 2:00 p.m. IN THE “City Space” in the th Charlottesville Community Design Center, 100 5 Street, S.E. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Meeting with Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle Service Authority and Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority to discuss the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Task Force Report BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox CITY SPACE – March 3, 2009 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Taliaferro. Mr. Mike Gaffney, Chair of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, said that the purpose of the meeting is to hear the report from the South Fork Rivanna (SFRR) River Task Force, to reach agreement on a clear directive for RWSA, and to determine what studies we want them to pursue. Ms. Sally Thomas, member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Chair of the SFRR Task Force, reviewed the charge of the Task Force and the following recommendations: 1) Investigate if inflowing sediment will likely create new wetlands and if so, seek legal counsel and engineering advice toward understanding if these wetlands can be removed by permit under federal and state law at some future ate when water storage beyond the storage currently permitted at Ragged Mountain is needed; 2) Investigate technical feasibility (including effectiveness and probable cost) through a consultant, and the permitability through discussions with federal and state agencies, of constructing a sediment forebay for the reservoir; 3) Maintain a dialogue with the University of Virginia and recreational users of the South Fork Reservoir on conditions that inhibit future rowing and recreational pursuits, and discuss maintenance programs that may correct such conditions to the extent the financial investment required for maintenance is considered important; 4) Continue community efforts to reduce sediment and pollutants entering the Reservoir, to include strengthening and enforcing water protection ordinances and programs such as those of the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District; 5) Continue to monitor growth of hydrilla and study effective management options; 6) Investigate selective dredging when decisions makers conclude that benefits may be worth the cost by: development a map identifying priority areas and cleared depths for recreational uses; identify areas for selective dredging to prevent wetland creation from sedimentation; identify physical obstacles (e.g., tree stumps) to selective dredging of reservoir; undertake bathymetric surveys in the critical areas for selective dredging; take and analyze sediment core samples in the critical areas for selective dredging; identify access, staging, and dewatering areas for selective dredging; explore opportunistic dredging based on attractiveness of market conditions; estimate impact and duration of selective dredging on residents and aquatic habitat, and assess prevention, preparedness and response measures for water quality and treatment impacts; 7) Determine in relation to other infrastructure financial priorities if the public interest is served by issuing a Request for Proposals for removal of sediment. Ms. Thomas said the question of why dredge was not answered by the Task Force, but she feels we should get a clear idea of that. She noted that it is possible that dredging could make the hydrilla problem worse. Mr. Norris asked about engagement with the public during the Task Force’s process, especially with those who live along the Reservoir, and Ms. Thomas said there were public comment periods, surveys, and representation on the Task Force by residents along the Reservoir.