Chapter X: DRAFT ACTION PLAN – Shorter Version

Here’s my shortened version of the Draft Action Plan from March, 2018, with the proposed schedule for implementation.  I can find no update or checklist for the proposed actions, so no idea of what has been accomplished to date.

Preventive Activities

• Establish a desired level of protection versus the cost to implement (cost benefit analysis). – FY2020
• Establish a comprehensive asset management plan allowing for better short and long term planning of maintenance and capital improvement costs and needs to address flooding. – FY2019
• Develop an educational program/campaign warning residents of dangers of blocked storm sewers, and how they can help mitigate this problem. – FY2019
• Develop plan to inform residents of the importance of not filling in the floodplain. – FY2019

Floodplain Management Regulatory Activities (Current and Future)

• Update City Ordinances to clearly define development guidelines for structures in the designated flood areas, as defined by current Special Hazard Flood Area Maps. Review and update City Codes based on the recommended changes to the Special Flood Hazard Area Maps. – FY2019
• Research and evaluate regional approach to the 50% rule, for the development of City of Bellaire guidelines. – END OF FY2019
• At all stages of infrastructure project development in the floodplain, gather community input strategies to be examined; allowing the public to see the results, costs, and benefits for alternatives studied. – FY2020
• Evaluate a buy-out program for properties that have flooded repeatedly. FY2020
• Ensure adequate City resources are in place to assist residents when applying for buyout and elevation grants. – FY2023
• Develop Bellaire specific commercial drainage requirements. – FY2023

Property Protection Activities

• Evaluate updates to the Building Code which would allow residents to take proactive mitigation efforts on their property. – FY2023

Emergency Service Activities

• Develop a plan to identify, utilize, and position non-conventional access vehicles for use when weather events dictate. – FY2019
• Properly budget for rescue oriented persons to make logical purchases for rescue equipment. Develop a program to identify, train, and utilize Citizen Rescuers and create MOU (cover liability for use donation). Evaluate reinstating Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT). – FY 2019
• Research, develop scope and policies and procedures, and place into effect a mass notification system. – FY2019
• Develop a rescue plan which utilizes field-confirmed data to generate dynamic response maps for rescuer pathways. – FY2019
• Formalize a mechanism within the scope of EOC operations whereby a team would be responsible for field reconnaissance as well as publication of information for use by the public via the website, social media, local news media, etc. – FY2019
• Develop a plan to address rescues from one-story homes and older two-story homes. Develop a plan to evacuate disabled/physically impaired/elderly individuals from homes in advance of anticipated high rainfall events. – FY2019

Structural Projects
Many of these are to be Financed through a Capital Improvement Budget, most likely funded by future bond issues

• Coordinate with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine how additional widening of Brays Bayou will reduce flooding for the City of Bellaire. – FY2021
• Evaluate increasing the size of existing storm water drainage culverts in Bellaire while continuing to utilize drainage impact when selecting roads to be reconstructed. Lower street level when streets are under construction. Strategically locate undergoing storage pipes within the existing street right-of-way to store 100-year localized rainfall events – 2020
• Determine partners, study alternatives, and develop cost estimates for improvements to increase capacity of the north/south drainage systems and Cypress Ditch. – FY2019
• Include design and installation of backflow prevention systems in the upcoming Bonds for Better Bellaire 2016 Projects. Coordinate with neighboring agencies (i.e. TxDOT, City of Houston, and HCFCD) to prevent backflow storm water from entering the City’s underground drainage systems. – FY2020
• Identify any and all regional partnership opportunities (elected & appointed). Determine appropriate representatives from the City for regional agencies. – FY2019
• Identify barriers restricting sheet flow and determine what project could relieve this problem – FY 2019
• Create a proactive approach to repair and maintain drainage systems in desirable development areas and neighborhoods with storm drainage systems. Develop a schedule to perform routine maintenance, inspections, and repairs to storm water infrastructure. Expedite a plan to repair and replace the highly critical local drainage systems in the current Bonds for Better Bellaire 2016. Re-evaluate the priorities annually and aggressively pursue future bond programs. – FY 2020
• Coordinate with HCFCD to determine steps necessary to increase the size of the outfall of Kilmarnock Ditch. Construct extreme event outfalls at Bellaire Blvd and within the Southdale Subdivision to Kilmarnock Ditch. – FY2023
• Contact surrounding municipalities and the agencies that own the storm sewers to consider upgrading their storm sewer and providing more detention. Investigate City of Houston developments north of Bellaire for total runoff. – FY2019
• Evaluate the conversion of Bellaire’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, the dog park and soccer fields along Edith into detentions areas. Evaluate the conversion of the trash transfer station at Beltway 8 to a reservoir for Brays Bayou. – FY2019
• Evaluate the feasibility of adding flood stage gauges at strategic locations in the City to provide flood water readings for public safety – FY2019
• Evaluate the transfer of Wastewater Treatment for the City of Bellaire to the City of Houston Facility, including hazard mitigation funding opportunities. – FY2023

Public Information Activities

• Develop a marketing plan which identifies the City outlets and how to increase participation in them. The plan should list events, stakeholders, etc. Develop and update a list of frequently utilized non-City outlets which the City should use to distribute its messages. This list should include media contacts, etc. – FY2019
• Pre-populate communication outlets with needed information, allowing contacts to “opt-out”, instead of having to “opt-in”. Develop a communication matrix to outline what messages should be sent through which outlets. Evaluate the implementation of a “local street warden” program to deliver City produced storm related communication to their assigned area. – FY2019
• Evaluate the implementation of a “local street warden” program to deliver City produced storm related communication to their assigned area. – FY 2019
• Develop public messages to be used prior to and during an event to outline when residents should use 911. The public messages should also include other communication outlets residents can utilized in non-emergency situations. – FY2019
• Develop an educational program/campaign to inform residents and stakeholders of regularly utilized communication outlets. – FY 2019
• Develop a communication template to be utilized prior to, during and after a flooding even which includes updates on information the City has deemed important based on lessons learned from previous events. – FY 2019
• Utilize Town Hall meetings to discuss all hazard preparedness. Create a preparedness milestone for families. – FY2019
• Responsible Person(s) City Manager’s Office will be responsible for implementing this activity. – FY2019
• Develop an education program/campaign to inform residents on the level of protection provided by the City’s infrastructure. Educate the public that street flooding is preferable to structural flooding. – FY2019
• Periodically distribute messages to residents warning of dangers of walking or playing in floodwaters. Everyone should refrain from walking or riding bicycles in floodwaters. Develop a plan with local schools to educate children to avoid walking, playing, or riding bicycles in floodwaters. – FY2019