Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4044CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON RESOLUTION NO. 4044 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS APPROPRIATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR INTERIM AND PERMANENT REPAIRS TO THE HOWARD HANSON DAM, AND DIRECT THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO MAKE THE HOWARD HANSON DAM PERMANENT REPAIR A PRIORITY PROJECT. WHEREAS, the federally owned and operated Howard Hanson Dam has provided flood protection for residents and businesses of the Green River Valley in Washington State since 1961. The dam has prevented potential flood damages amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars over the last four decades; and WHEREAS, the Green River Valley contains the second largest warehouse and product distribution center on the West Coast. The Green River Valley Industrial Center represents thirty-seven billion three hundred sixty million dollars ($37,360,000,000) in gross business income, four thousand five hundred (4,500) businesses, and over one hundred thousand (100,000) jobs. The population of the Green River Valley watershed is estimated at three hundred fifty thousand (350,000) residents, including many low-income families; and WHEREAS, in January 2009, following a record high level storage of floodwater, the United States Army Corps of Engineers discovered damage to the right abutment of the Howard Hanson Dam, which led to restrictions on the operating capacity of the dam and increased the flood risk to the Green River Valley. In the event of a flood, residents and businesses of the Green River Valley could be displaced for weeks, months, or permanently. Flood damage could cost individual citizens and businesses without insurance thousands of dollars for repairs and relocation and would severely impact an economic engine for the entire state; and RESOLUTION NO. 4044 WHEREAS, the looming threat of a potential flood has caused some businesses to relocate from the Green River Valley and has hindered business recruitment efforts, resulting in a negative impact on economic development. Since the damages were found, federal, state, and local governments have worked together to provide interim measures of flood protection until a permanent fix to the dam is completed. Permanent repairs to the Howard Hansom Dam, however, have been estimated to take as long as six (6) years; and WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has identified an interim solution that would extend the grout curtain over a deeper and wider area of the right abutment of the Howard Hanson Dam that would allow for the storage of water at higher levels. This interim solution, while not a permanent solution, would reduce the flood risk threat levels to the same level that existed prior to the damage to the dam. The estimate for the interim solution is forty-four million dollars ($44,000,000) and is a modest investment compared to the three billion seven hundred million dollars ($3,700,000,000) that the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates could result from just a single flood from damage at the Howard Hanson Dam; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. Request for Federal Appropriation for Interim Repairs. The Renton City Council requests the federal government and the United States Congress provide for an immediate appropriation of forty-four million dollars ($44,000,000) for interim grout work and related repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam so that this work can be completed before the next flood season. RESOLUTION NO. 4044 SECTION II. Request for Federal Appropriation for Permanent Repairs. The Renton City Council requests the United States Congress appropriate sufficient funds to provide for permanent repair to the Howard Hanson Dam, and direct the Army Corps of Engineers to make the Howard Hanson Dam permanent repair a priority project and expedite the standard processes to assure the fastest and safest approach. SECTION III. Transmit Resolution to Federal Government Representatives. Copies of the adopted resolution shall be transmitted by the City intergovernmental relations staff to each member of Congress from the State of Washington, the Secretary of Defense, and leaders of the Army Corps of Engineers. SECTION IV. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. SECTION V. Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed. SECTION VI. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage and approval. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 26th day of April # 2010. Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 4044 APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 2^th day of Approved as to form: Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney RES: 1450:4/15/10:scr of April ,2010. •4 --? - Denis Law, Mayor -' /*' v. * " t. • ^ y i la?'-' <r •:: '• t ; •;-, ':,l:c •;:;. YV'-. CO yV\;;