Minutes 01/08/1957 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 8th~ 1957~ with the future needs of the City in, mind, was adopted. Mr. Kirby voting 'No'. 57-8 - "I am reporting that the committee appointed at the ~asl session of the General Assem- bly to hold hearings and mak~ a report~to the Governor .of Virginia on. uniformCkar~er changes for the cities of the State of Virginia will be held in Richmond, January l~th, 1957.~ I recommend that the City Council authormze proper city officials to ~ttend this meeting. Motion of Mr. Weiseman to concur in the recommendation of the City Manager, was adopted. 57-9 - "I am reporting that I have conferredwith the purchaser of the property located at the corney of Race St. and Camden Ave. It has been determinedthat the owner purchased the proper~y for $4,500.00 and has incurred expenses in the amount of approximately $500.00 since the property was purchased, a portion of which is.materials to repair the building. The owner has agreed to sell to the City the property including the materials on hand for the sum of $5,500.00. I recommend that the City purchase the property at the above figure and that an ap - propriation:in the said su~ be placed on first readings" ~otion o£ Mr. Weiseman ~o co,cur in the recommendation of the City bian~ger and that an appropriation in the sum of $5,500.00 for said purpose, be~ placed on first reading, was adopted. Motion of Mr. Kirby that the City Manager be authorized to dispose of the building to the best advantage of the City,,was adopted. 57-10 - "I am recommending that a conference be held to study the most recen~ engineering re- port on the proposed new tunnel and the proposed higway plan by the TidewaSer Automobile Association, so far as it affects the City of Portsmouth. The Tunnel Committee of the Chamber of Commerce has reque'sted that a meeting of the City officials and the Committee be arranged, in order ~hat the Chamber Committee may be informed of the plans as they are proposed. Unless theye is,some reason for me not doing so~ I will arrange for such a meeting." On motion filed. 57-11 - "I am;submitting the attached report £rom the Directgr of Publ$c Works on the tides flooding a section of Dinwiddie St. and the ~eneral area, as reqnested~at a previous meeting~" 'Reference is made to our recent conversation and your reques~ for a brief repor~ concerning the high tides that rise during storms ovey certain low-lying areas of Portsmouth, the most seriously affected being the north end of Dinwiddie St. and.the area in the vidiuity of Crawford and South Sts. The high tides occur mos~ frequently during the hurrican season in August and September or during the periods of northeast storms,.The highest tide of record was that in 1933 which reached 9.3 feet above mean low water, or about 6.5 feet above a uormal high tide. This was on August 22nd and 23rd, 1933. By comparison the high water on April ll, 1956 reached 5 feet above_normal mean high~water or 1.5 feet lower than the 1933 storm There was not very much damage caused by the high tides in April 1956, hut ~here was a great deal of inconvenience and some expense.of cleaning up the debris br~ugh~ in by the high water. Although there was untold property dam- caused by the tropical hurricane that swe~t Tidewater, Virginia, in August, 1933, the damage for the area run-I age ning in~o the millions of dollars, fortunately the death ~oll was low. It is my opinion that a steel sheet pile seawall~ concrete-capped,~ould be constructed from Crawford St. to the Naval Hospital, which would keep the high tide waters back from the north Dinwiddie St.area. Herewith attached iss map showing the location of the proposed ~eawall in red pencil. In my opinion, it would not be feasible to construct such a wall sdjacenI to the Crawford & South Street area~ because it would interfere ~oo much with the water shipping and gainiug of entrance to the piers and waterfront of ~he properties belonging ~o the Seaboard Airline Railroad, Isaac Fass, Inc., and the U.S. Coast Guard base; in-addition the cost would be pro- prohibitive from an economical standpoint. For your information, we are submitting only a rough estimate of costs for the construction _of the facilSties necessary for the pro~ection of the "North Dinwiddi@ St. Area". Only a very little property would have ~o be purchased, although easements would have to be acquired in some instances, the City at present owns most of the property. The top of the,wall should be at elevation 10.5 feet above mean low water or 1.0 feet above the level of the 1933 sto~m. The costs would be ~pproximately $690~000.00 broken down as follows: Seawall and appurtenances - Storm Sewer Modification Pumping S~ntions Sanitary Sewer modification - ~treet Paving Adjustments - Prgperpy Improvements Laud Acquisitions (easements, etc.) $290,000.00 110,000.00 .215,000.00 15,000.00 25,000.00 15,000.00 20,000.00 $690,000.00 As you recall we attended a-meeting at the Center Theatre.in Norfolk, on December 6, 1955, held by the U.S. District Engineer, relative'to the hurricane problems, and it was indicative that hurriganes and high water were a definite threat to 'Tidewater Areas'. It is my understanding that no money has been appropri~ted~by the Federal Government to construct facilities to protect property in this area against hurricanes and high water. Although June 15, 1955, ~ the 84th Congress (Public Law 7t) authorized the Secretary of the Army in co-operation with other Federal. agencie concerned with hurricanes to make an examination and survey of the 9astern and southern seaboards wlth respect to ~ hurricanes, with particular reference to areas where severe damages had occurred. The effect of the Act was to , authorize the Corps of Engineers to study the hurricane situation and to make recpmmendations as ~o what can be ~ done to deal with the problems, and by furnishing the physical mea~s to deal with problems ~d stop the tidal rml damage. As we have only made a cursory survey, my recommendation would be to engage a consulting engingering fi to make a study and report before any definite actiou~ take~. It is my understanding that Federal funds may be obtained for this purpose." On motion filed.