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 Wall Project
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.
BRIDGE CLOSURES
Last Scheduled Flood Q & A on Sunday Oct 15th
Rocky Ripple Flood Protection Survey
If you are a Rocky Ripple resident, Rocky Ripple home and/or property owner, the Town Council asks for your input on Flood Protection – what do you want done and why? Please complete the Flood Protection survey and return it to the Town Council by 20-Jul-2017.
Hard copies are being delivered to all residences. Info received from the surveys will be used, in conjunction with data from other sources, to develop actions for flood protection of Rocky Ripple.
Click here to view/print a copy of the survey.
Your completed survey and comments can be dropped in the mail slot at the east end of the town hall; mailed to us at 930 West 54th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208; or you can scan in your completed form and email it to: TownCouncil@RockyRipple.com
Levee Floodwall Rendering Meeting on Tuesday, June 6th
The Rocky Ripple Town Board will host a special meeting to discuss the town’s flood control project on June 6th at 7p.m. The meeting will be held at the Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 North Meridian Street. The meeting will focus on the options for Rocky Ripple’s local flood control project, as discussed in the AECOM report. The options will be shown through renderings of several areas in the neighborhood.
Details are contained in the attached copy of the flyer that was distributed in hard copy form to all residents: Rocky Ripple Flood Project Meeting Notice
Flood Protection Updates
Everyone,
There are several updates on flood protection initiatives in Rocky Ripple that we wanted to share with you. As always, we welcome your questions and discussion to understand this somewhat complicated issue. As we will all need to contribute input on what our future flood protection will look like, Town Council President Carla Gaff-Clark has put together a summary of her thoughts to assist in understanding the issue. Listed below are links to pages on this website that contain the following: Carla’s message (which was also posted on Next Door), the final AECOM report regarding flood protection options along the river, AECOM’s response to the town board’s questions on the draft report, a link to the City’s Northside Floodwall project website, which was recently updated with the latest developments, and finally a copy of a card being mailed by the Indy DPW regarding vegetation removal along the canal and Westfield Blvd that will start shortly.
- Explanation message regarding current flood protection initiatives from Rocky Ripple Town Board President Carla Gaff Clark 26-Feb-2017: carla-thoughts-on-the-levee-final
- Link to City of Indianapolis Northside Floodwall Project Website: goo.gl/KVM5TG
- Notification Card regarding vegetation removal along Westfield Blvd 26-Feb-2017 (sent to residents along the canal and Westfield Blvd.) notification-card-phase3b3-vm
- AECOM Response to Town Board Comments on Draft Report 15-Feb-2017 memo-to-mr-bennett-town-of-rocky-ripple-responses-2-15v3
- AECOM Final Review and Assessment of the Indianapolis North Levee System, Rocky Ripple Area Feb 2017 infdrp-study-rocky-ripple_aecom-feb-2017
City Abandons Westbank Canal Wall
The City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) contacted the Rocky Ripple Town Council late this afternoon to inform us about the attached press release that was distributed this evening. It states that the DPW has decided, based upon the feasibility study completed, that the Canal Westbank Alignment project will not be pursued. Instead the City will be proceeding with the east side of the canal floodwall along Westfield Blvd.
The Westbank Alignment project could have affected Rocky Ripple homes along the canal, had it been accepted. City officials stated that we were the first area notified because we would be most affected by this. They pledged to work with us on what will happen now, based on this decision. They added that they understand the unique position of Rocky Ripple and will work with us to address our outstanding levee/flood protection concerns. Further info will be shared as we receive it.
Rocky Ripple Levee Real Estate Limits Study
The City of Indianapolis (Dept. of Public Works) has completed the levee study that they were conducting in Rocky Ripple.
The link below shows the study’s results. In order to download the file, right click on the link and choose “Save Link As…”
WR-24 Project Summary Memorandum (2nd Revision), 4-29-14
Brad Barcom
Rocky Ripple Town Board President
Rocky Ripple Town Board Resolution on West Bank Canal Alignment
On Tuesday September 9th, the Rocky Ripple Town Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing the proposed West Bank Alignment of levee project.
Click on the link below to see the resolution.
Brad Barcom
Rocky Ripple Town Board President