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Ten years after the destructive 1998 flood that spurred its creation, the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) has begun focusing on constructing a smaller, quicker flood-protection project, without giving up hope for a comprehensive, federally supported fix.
The authority — which represents Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, the San Mateo County Flood Control District and the Santa Clara Valley Water District — has consistently received less than the $700,000 a year it needed from the federal government to complete a preliminary study by 2011.
Then, this year it received no federal money, said Cynthia D’Agosta, the JPA’s executive director.
At its Thursday meeting, the JPA’s board of directors reviewed the community’s current situation and options. Rather than submitting piecemeal requests to the federal government each year, D’Agosta said U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) asked for an overview of the JPA’s overall goals and needs.
But the exercise will also help the JPA, which needs to find other sources of money to finance the project, said Chairman Ruben Abrica, an East Palo Alto councilman.
In particular, the JPA is investigating using Measure B — the “Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection” parcel tax passed by voters in 2000 — money to kick-start a smaller flood-protection project.
That project could begin construction as soon as 2011, but planners still aren’t sure what it would be — it could cost between $10 million and $50 million, D’Agosta said.
“First we have to figure out if we can come up with the local funds to do it, then we can figure out how to get it done,” she said.
Art Kramer said Thursday the Crescent Park Neighborhood Association would be willing to donate $10,000 to the effort.
He said he’s been extremely frustrated by the repeated delays and lengthy process but is optimistic by the attitude expressed by the current JPA representatives, he said.
They’re willing to take responsibility for the project rather than solely relying on the federal government, he said.
Other communities have improved bridges, stabilized banks in upper watersheds or improved storm drains to lessen flooding, D’Agosta said.
Originally, the JPA planned to work toward a comprehensive, watershed-wide project through the Army Corps of Engineers. Before the Army Corps even begins designing the major project, however, it must complete a “feasibility study.”
The study was slated to take five years, cost $7.5 million — half paid for by the U.S. government — and finish in 2011. But at the current rate of funding, it wouldn’t be done until 2016, pushing back the actual project into the 2030s, D’Agosta said.
Now, the plan is to keep prodding the feasibility study along, perhaps using local contributions, state grants or other sources, while concurrently initiating a tangible, smaller project that complies with the Army Corps requirements, D’Agosta said.
By April, planners could have a series of recommendations for the preliminary project, and begin designing it in 2009, hopefully using $3 million of Measure B money, she said.
The JPA could receive federal “credit” for the preliminary project if it is done according to the Army Corps’ standards, she said. Ideally, the first project would be an already-needed part of the larger project.
The larger project will take three years to design, possibly split 50-50 between local communities and the federal government. It could be done in 2014, D’Agosta said.
Construction on the larger project could take 10 years, cost as much as $150 million and finish in 2025. A public bond or tax measure would be required, according to D’Agosta.
That estimate, however, only includes protection from creek flooding, not from sometimes-unrelated flooding caused by high tides and wind, a project planner said.
Local communities are responsible for maintaining and improving the large project indefinitely, D’Agosta said.
The new funding plan may create friction between the JPA’s member agencies, said San Mateo County Flood Control District representative Rich Gordon.
“I’m not at all comfortable with the water district advancing funds without us knowing clearly how does that affect our future relationships,” he said.
The preliminary project might also benefit some agencies more than other agencies, another challenge the group will have tackle, D’Agosta said.
The JPA may hold meetings more frequently than its regular monthly schedule in upcoming months, said board member Patrick Kwok, a director of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
“The next couple months are going to be very, very crucial,” Kwok said.
