At a meeting on February 27, 2019, the Indianapolis Board of Public Works (BPW) will vote on whether to recommend the creation of a Flood Control Improvement District (District) including many special flood hazard properties in the Rocky Ripple area of Indianapolis. While not a new tax, any positive change in property tax revenue assessed from properties included in this proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District would be directed specifically to fund the construction or maintenance of infrastructure to reduce the risk of damage due to flooding. “Similar to a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, establishing this proposed District would keep any new revenue close to home,” said Dan Parker, Chairman of the Board of Public Works and Director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW). “Floodplain properties included in the White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District would see a portion of their property tax assessment directed right back into projects that address their flooding issues.” All owners of property included in the proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District (approximately 554 parcels) have been notified of the BPW vote on whether to recommend the District. The upcoming BPW meeting will include a public hearing on the subject, and these District property owners are invited to attend and provide public comment. The BPW meeting will take place on February 27 at 1:00 P.M. in the Public Assembly Room of the City-County Building in downtown Indianapolis. A map of properties recommended for inclusion in the proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District is here (http://image.email.indy.gov/lib/fe3e157075640478741579/m/1/d9ed9dd2-551f-475d-aec0-31cc318533d1.pdf). A general information page on Flood Control Improvement Districts, including a sample district map is here (http://image.email.indy.gov/lib/fe3e157075640478741579/m/1/f6146cfb-a77c-46c8-a4fd-844e6a81c953.pdf). Should the BPW vote to recommend the District, its creation will then need to be approved by both the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) and the City-County Council. Both of these acting bodies will provide opportunity to present public comment on the process from District property owners. The multi-step process to establish a Flood Control Improvement District in Marion County is authorized by Indiana Code 36-7-15.6; this legislation provides for the establishment of a special fund to be used for the planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of local flood control works and activities that specifically benefit special flood hazard properties. In February 2017, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Department of Public Works announced a commitment of $10 million over 5 years to explore local flood damage reduction projects for the Town of Rocky Ripple. Since that time, DPW has worked with the Town of Rocky Ripple and Butler University to study how best to partner for flood protection. In July 2018, a study prepared by engineering firm AECOM (https://citybase-cms-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/71bb5c4041704af1b5908d885d74bf3c.pdf) outlined 3 alternatives for constructing a local project. In November 2018, the Board of the Town of Rocky Ripple resolved both to accept Alternative 3 (https://rockyripple.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Option-3-RRTB-Resolution-13Nov2018.pdf) from this study as the preferred alternative for a flood control project, and to support the recommendation (https://rockyripple.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Option-3-RRTB-Funding-Resolution-13Nov2018.pdf) of a local Flood Control Improvement District to help fund such a project. The proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District uses the description of Alternative 3 from the 2018 AECOM study–preferred by the Board of the Town of Rocky Ripple–as the description and location of proposed flood control works to be associated with the District. A full description of the proposed flood works is here (http://image.email.indy.gov/lib/fe3e157075640478741579/m/1/ed6551a7-c35c-4df5-b10e-94627c15730c.pdf).
Flood Protection
BU, DPW to Attend Feb RR Town Board Meeting
Mark your calendars to attend the 12-Feb-2019 Rocky Ripple Town Board meeting at 7:30 pm, at the town hall. Butler University representatives and City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works project leadership will attend to provide the latest updates on, and answer questions about, Butler support of the river levee project and general status of the project.
Jan 2019 Rocky Ripple eNews Now Available
Happy New Year to All! A new edition of the Rocky Ripple eNews is available on the RRCA website:
If you are not currently on the eNews email list and want to be, send a message to rrcommassoc@aol.com.
RR Flood Protection Survey Available – Complete it by 26-Oct-2018
The Town of Rocky Ripple has been working with the City of Indianapolis, DPW and Butler University to offer Rocky Ripple 100 year flood protection. The Rocky Ripple Town Board wants to provide you the opportunity to express your opinion about the Option 3 that DPW and the City of Indianapolis are offering. A copy of the survey is attached here, as well as a summary of the option put together by town residents Mick and Angie, which was previously distributed in hard copy format to each residence.
The Board asks that if you have not already made your stance on this important topic known, please take the time to please submit this form. If you’ve already submitted the previous survey from the meeting at Butler University and have no additional comments or concerns, no further action is requested. The Town Board will take the completed surveys into consideration in our final evaluation.
Survey Oct 2018
Floodwall Yellow Sheet Oct 2018
Drop the completed survey form off at the Town Hall in the outside door slot at the Marshal’s office by 5:00 pm Friday October 26, 2018.
Flood Protection Info Meeting on Tuesday, October 2nd at 7 pm
Rocky Ripple Town Council will hold an information session for residents interested in knowing more about the flood protection option proposed by City of Indianapolis for Rocky Ripple – Tuesday, October 2nd at 7 pm at the Town Hall. Refreshments will be served.
Flood Meeting Presentation Now Available
In case you missed the 06-Sep-2018 Special Rocky Ripple Flood Protection meeting, here is a link to the presentation that gives an overview of the options reviewed and explains the option that city officials recommend:
Rocky Ripple Town Councilors and the Butler University Board of Directors must now decide if they will accept this recommendation. Please share any comments, questions or concerns you may have with your town councilors at the upcoming town board meeting on Tuesday, 11-Sep at 7:30 pm.
BRIDGE CLOSURES
Just in from the engineers working on the floodwall along Westfield Blvd: As of right now our schedule tentatively is for closure of 53rd St. bridge the week of 8-05-2018. The 52nd St. bridge closure will follow after the 53rd street closure. The 52nd St. closure would start 8-19-2018. Each closure will be for 11 days each. If we get done sooner, then we will open up closure as soon as we can or if the schedule changes we will let you know ASAP.
Last Scheduled Flood Q & A on Sunday Oct 15th
The 3rd of 3 question and answer sessions regarding Rocky Ripple flood protection initiatives is scheduled for this Sunday, 15-Oct-2017 at 4 pm at the Town Hall. Town council member(s) will be present to answer any questions you may have on this topic. Residents can also take as much time as they need to review the floodwall rendering drawings that show what some of the floodwall protection options would look like along the river.
The sessions are also an opportunity for residents to stop by and complete flood protection surveys if they have not already done so. The survey asks for residents to provide their viewpoints on what should be done for flood protection. The Town Council is working to ensure that a completed survey is obtained from each residence/home owner in Rocky Ripple. The completed surveys will be utilized by the Town Council to determine which option will be pursued for flood protection.
Flood Protection Q&A at Town Hall on Sat., 30-Sep-2017, 9 am
The 2nd of 3 question and answer sessions regarding Rocky Ripple flood protection initiatives is scheduled for this Saturday, 30-Sep-2017 at 9 am at the Town Hall. Town council member(s) will be present to answer any questions you may have on this topic. Residents can also take as much time as they need to review the floodwall rendering drawings put together by AECOM Engineering that show what some of the floodwall protection options would look like along the river.
The sessions are also an opportunity for residents to stop by and complete flood protection surveys if they have not already done so. The survey asks for residents to provide their viewpoints on what should be done for flood protection. The Town Council is working to ensure that a completed survey is obtained from each residence/home owner in Rocky Ripple. The completed surveys will be utilized by the Town Council to determine which option will be pursued for flood protection.
One additional Q & A session is currently scheduled on
Sunday, 10/15/2017, 4:00 pm, town hall.
Flood Protection Q& A on Thur, 08/31
REMINDER
The first of three question and answer sessions regarding Rocky Ripple flood protection initiatives is scheduled for this Thursday, 31-Aug-2017 at 7 pm at the Town Hall. Town council member(s) will be present to answer any questions you may have on this topic. Residents can also take as much time as they need to review the floodwall rendering drawings put together by AECOM Engineering that show what some of the floodwall protection options would look like along the river.
The sessions are also an opportunity for residents to stop by and complete flood protection surveys if they have not already done so. The survey asks for residents to provide their viewpoints on what should be done for flood protection. The Town Council is working to ensure that a completed survey is obtained from each residence/home owner in Rocky Ripple. The completed surveys will be utilized by the Town Council to determine which option will be pursued for flood protection.
Other future Q & A sessions currently scheduled include following dates:
Saturday, 9/30/2017 9:00 am town hall
Sunday, 10/15/2017, 4:00 pm town hall
