BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Report on the Presidents’ Day Weekend Storm, Three Public Meetings Hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Water District (PREVIOUSLY LISTED AS ITEM 7.2).
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Receive a summary on the three public meetings, and
B. Receive information on the responses to questions asked at the public meetings.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) hosted public meetings which included a resource and informational open house in the three neighborhoods most impacted by the February 21, 2017 flood event on Coyote Creek in San Jose. The purpose of these meetings were to receive public feedback, answer questions about the storm and resulting flood, and provide information on what the District is doing to alleviate flooding along Coyote Creek. Attendance for all three meetings totaled 136 residents, with the third meeting having the largest turnout of 90 residents in attendance. Directors Santos, Estremera, and Keegan attended the meetings and provided remarks to the meeting attendees in their respective districts. Director LeZotte attended the second meeting.
All three meetings were held within walking distance of the impacted neighborhoods. Spanish- and Vietnamese-speaking interpreters were available at each meeting. A facilitator was used in the meetings to help keep the conversation focused and to solicit feedback from attendees. The meetings were held on:
• April 6: County Service Building (North San Jose mobile homes)
• April 12: Franklin McKinley School District (Rock Springs)
• April 17: Roosevelt Community Center (Naglee Park/Olinder)
The meeting format was similar at each meeting, with the first half hour dedicated to an open house for community members to have one-on-one conversations with District staff. During the open house, Sacred Heart Community Service, Catholic Charities, Small Business Administration (SBA), and the City of San Jose’s Housing Department provided relief services information to residents.
City of San Jose representatives provided an update on the city’s recovery efforts. The District’s presentation followed, describing the weather situation leading to the Presidents’ Day weekend storm and flooding; emergency response roles; coordination and winter preparations by the District; and proposed short, intermediate, and long-term solutions. After the presentations, residents were asked to break into small groups to discuss the following three questions:
1.What do you want the water district to know about the flooding?
2.What questions do you have for the water district?
3.How would you like to receive information about future storm events?
The small groups allowed a greater number of people to participate, provide input, and ask questions while providing a more focused setting for attendees wanting to discuss the flood and listen to other neighbors. After the meetings, attending board members and staff were available to further answer questions and address residents’ concerns.
To provide greater opportunity for engagement and participation, the meetings were streamed on Facebook Live, which allowed people to submit questions and listen to the presentation remotely.
District staff documented the concerns and questions from the three meetings, with the responses to residents’ questions being sent countywide via Nextdoor and to all meeting attendees on May 19. The questions asked varied from the purpose and function of Anderson Dam to the District’s stream maintenance program and storm monitoring to the information provided to the City of San Jose. The responses, summarized into seventy questions, can be found in Attachment 1 and on the District’s flood resource page, along with the meeting videos, the PowerPoint presentation from the meetings, and other flood resources.
A countywide Nextdoor post was sent informing the public of this agenda item. The information was also sent to the Presidents’ Day weekend storm meeting attendees that provided their contact information. As the Board deliberates on items related to Coyote Creek, information will be distributed countywide and to the impacted communities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Responses to Community Questions.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Rick Callender, 408-630-2017