ITEMS DISCUSSED

1.      Buffalo Creek Flood

John explained his concern for the CASFM organization offering anything but general advice do to the liability insurance issues that currently exist and the fact that the CASFM organization does not have the necessary liability insurance to cover any members in this type of situation due to the cost of such insurance.

Bill suggested that maybe a standard bridge could be used numerous times for repairs to private residences as this would be cost effective from an engineering standpoint as well as a construction standpoint. He also mentioned that maybe the CASFM organization could recommend an engineer be retained to design a standard bridge as was done with the Big Thompson Flood bridge replacement program.

Fred mentioned that the people who own the bridges which were lost is a tough thing as each bridge was probably done by the individual property owners and will need to be replaced at each property owner expense.

Jeanine indicated that the flood damage cost estimates will most likely not be high enough to warrant either State or United States declaration of a disaster.

Bill is opposed to the CASFM organization helping any community, but past discussions within CASFM have concentrated on communities that lacked funding and/or staff to help themselves. He indicated that Jefferson County did not even fit that community profile since it is not a poor community and does have adequate staff.

Fred mentioned that the Forest Service is currently using construction equipment to break up the top 10" - 12" of ground where the forest fire came through and the surface is hard. Once the ground is broken up it can be revegetated. In addition the forest service has now tried a couple of times to revegetate the burned area and provide hay bales for erosion control. The day before this meeting, once again, the forest service had all of their efforts washed away by a heavy rain storm in the Buffalo Creek area.

Jeanine indicated that Jefferson County Planning is currently coordinating bridge replacement as a lot of the bridges lost belong to the Denver Water Board. Currently the Denver Water Board is not interested in replacing any of their bridges which were lost.

John asked what can we do as the CASFM organization? Could CASFM sit down with Jefferson County and discuss mitigation?

Jeanine indicated that the only direction Jefferson County has been given is to fix the County Road and the Buffalo Creek water line, not to solve any of the drainage/erosion problems. Jefferson County does not plan to retain an engineer to design solutions to the drainage/erosion problems at this time.

John brought up the Denver Foundation and their offer to match any donation to assist in the recovery for victims of the Buffalo Creek flooding up to $ 25,000. The money will go toward a new water system, a fire station and fire truck, ambulance, medical supplies and a community center. John suggested CASFM contribute $ 2,000 to the Denver Foundation.

Kevin suggested CASFM contribute $ 2,500 to the Denver Foundation.

Brian mentioned that maybe the money could be used by the local citizens to hire an engineer to design solutions to their problems. The group thought the money should be used as the Denver Foundation plans.

Bill mentioned that this is a special situation - a flood right after a fire - 15 times the 100 year storm flow - way off the scale of a flood event - and this warrants the CASFM organization doing something significant.

Larry explained that currently emergency roads and embankments are being constructed without any engineering or planning and that the area is going to end up with a mass of mismatched things being constructed. Without engineering and planning the community could end up with a real mess. If the CASFM organization steps in now and offers any type of technical or non-technical assistance, they will just be adding to the unplanned activities. He was in favor of providing money to the Denver Foundation with a clear indication that the money be used to do improvements outside of the floodplain.

John is going to draft up a letter to the Denver Foundation and pass the letter by the CASFM officers for review and approval before sending the letter and $ 2,500 into the Denver Foundation.
 

END OF MEETING MINUTES

These meeting minutes have been prepared by Kevin Gingery. Any corrections, additions and/or modifications should be forwarded, within 7 days from receipt, in letter form to the following address:

Kevin Gingery
RBD, Inc. Engineering Consultants
209 S. Meldrum
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521

Prepared By: