2013 2:00:00 PM

Monday, February 25, 2013 2:00 PM
Sparks Council Chambers, 745 4th Street, Sparks, NV

General Business: 6.3

Title: Presentation, consideration and possible approval of expenditures for the City declared Flood Emergency from November 29 – December 3, 2012.

Petitioner/Presenter: Stephen Driscoll, Assistant City Manager/Christopher S. Cobb, P.E., Capital Projects Manager / Stacie Hemmerling, Budget Administrator

Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of emergency expenditures in the amount of $160,571.

Financial Impact: Expenditures and Cost Accounting of the City Flood Emergency attached.

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief: Presentation, consideration and possible approval of expenditures for the City declared Flood Emergency from November 29 – December 3, 2012. This discusses the City’s action and expenditures in preparation for the possible Truckee River Flood predicted to occur on Dec 2, 2012.

Background: At 1:00 P.M., On November 29, 2012 the City of Sparks Emergency Management Team, was notified by the National Weather Service of a possible major flood event on the Truckee River, with a predicted river elevation of 22.4 feet at the Vista gauge. Based on the NWS prediction, The City’s Emergency Management team enacted the Sparks Flood Action Plan to address a flood along the Truckee River up to 23 feet as measured at the Vista gauge. The City of Sparks EOC was established in the basement of City Hall. By 2:15 Maintenance and Engineering personnel with Senior Staff had determined a course of action and begun the process of placing eight “Message Boards” within the Industrial Zone South of I-80 and setting up eleven sand bag stations. By 6:30 P.M. ten of the eleven sand bag stations were stocked and operational with three being lighted and staffed throughout the evening. Based on available personnel and materials staffed requested and received approval from EOC Director, Steve Driscoll, to contract purchase of sand material and contractor resources to berm Kleppe Lane and Fire Station No. 3. As the City progressed into preparations on Nov 30, 2012, it was noted that a considerable amount of sand material would need to be purchased throughout the event and that contractor resources would be needed to assist in hauling of the sand material as well as work on deficiencies along our ditch systems. Based on this information, Mr. Driscoll, contacted the Mayor and members of the Council to request a declaration of emergency. On Saturday Dec 1, the Emergency Management team decided to proceed with road closures in the Industrial Area south of I-80 on Sunday, Dec 2, due to the rapid rise conditions predicted by the National Weather Service. This decision was made with safety of the citizens, businesses, and employees of the City as paramount. As the possible flood date drew nearer predictions continued to be updated and changed from 22.4 feet to 19 feet expected at the Vista gauge. Fortunately as the storm progressed the afternoon of Dec 1 thru the morning of Dec 2, temperatures dropped more quickly than predicted and elevations of the river did not reach flood stage. The peak elevation of the river was reached on Sunday, Dec 2 at approximately 6:30 P.M. at an elevation of 11.4 feet. Throughout the event, the EOC was staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Maintenance personnel were put on twelve hour shifts to operate 24 hours a day; additionally the Customer Service Counter set up a call in center that worked extended shifts and at the height of the event was open for 24 hours to respond to citizen/business inquiries.

Analysis: City staff has held after actions meetings and by far feels this was one of the more successful responses to date to a possible natural disaster. Several areas of improvement or coordination were identified and noted. Additionally, updates will be made in next year’s update to the Sparks Flood Action Plan in the Fall of 2013. Some of the noted changes being proposed for review and possible implementation are: 1. On hand sand material at the beginning of the flood season should be approximately 1,000 tons. 2. Coordination and notification efforts with City of Reno & NDOT when considering Road closures in the Industrial Area south of I-80. Finance has worked with City staff to track and prepare a table of expenditures of the possible Flood Event noted as “Pineapple Express”. A table of expenditures of this event are attached for your review and include those of City Labor, Material, and Contractor expenses.

Alternatives: 1. The Council may choose to approve the expenditures incurred in the actions and preparation related to the flood event in December 2012 as presented by staff. 2. The Council may choose to not approve the expenditures incurred in the actions and preparation related to the flood event in December 2012 as presented by staff. 3. The Council may choose to not approve the expenditures incurred in the actions and preparation related to the flood event in December 2012 as presented by staff and provide other direction to the City Manager.

Recommended Motion: “I move to approve the expenditures incurred in the actions and preparation related to the flood event in December 2012 as presented by staff.”

Attached Files:

Pineapple 2012 cost summary.pdf

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