Bob Kelly Mayor, City of West University Place

January 4, 2008

Bob Kelly – Mayor, City of West University Place Michael Ross – City Manager, City of West University Place Richard Rothfelder – Mayor, City of Southside Place David Moss – City Manager, City Southside Place Mike Talbott - Director, Harris County Flood Control District

Cc: Anne Clutterbuck – Houston City Council District C Tim Douglass – Houston City Council District C Chief of Staff John J. Sakolosky, P.E. - City Engineer, City of Houston Carol Ellinger – City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department

REQUEST FROM DOWNSTREAM RESIDENTS FOR UNDERSTANDING OF “NO ADVERSE IMPACT” INFORMATION FOR BELLAIRE BLVD AND COLLEGE STREET DRAINAGE PROJECTS

With the work on the Bellaire Blvd and the College Street Drainage Project now underway, there appears to be conflicting views between our understanding as downstream residents of the stated positions of the City of West University Place and HCFCD on the need and type of mitigation required for the College Street project. It is also not clear that the mitigation required for the Bellaire Blvd Bridge and street reconstruction work, the need for which we understand to be acknowledged by HCFCD and communicated to the City of Southside Place, will be in place prior to the completion of the improvements.

We were all represented and participated together on the original Poor Farm/Kilmarnock Regional Study Group, and now on the current Poor Farm Technical Study Group. From the recommendations published in the report of the first Study Group in 2004, mitigating the downstream impact of any modifications to Poor Farm was of paramount concern to the residents south of Bellaire Blvd.

From the Poor Farm/Kilmarnock Study Group Report (June 2004 Revision 1) - To further analyze the impacts of the proposed recommendations for Poor Farm Ditch and Kilmarnock Ditch to mitigate any downstream impact, as the communities have expressed concerns for such impacts; this includes any impact downstream of Bellaire Boulevard to residents along Poor Farm Ditch, as well as any downstream impact on Brays Bayou. This mitigation volume is a preliminary estimate for this phase of the Study, but it is an important component of the Study Group’s recommendation. Should this study move to the preliminary engineering phase, storage volumes and detention sites for mitigation would be refined in a more detailed analysis, including any downstream impacts on Poor Farm Ditch, Kilmarnock Ditch and Brays Bayou. The key concern of those residents are the downstream impacts of any additional flows in Poor Farm Ditch, particularly until the major improvements to Braes Bayou are in place.

There continues to be great concern that the work being done on Bellaire Blvd and College Street will have a similar negative impact on the downstream residents along Poor Farm Ditch and Braes Bayou if not properly mitigated. Our understanding from HCFCD is that some 10 acre-ft of mitigation is required for the Bellaire Blvd Bridge work, and that the reconstruction of Bellaire Blvd and resulting drainage improvements will require an additional 13 acre-ft of mitigation. The mitigation volume for the College Street work is unknown to us, but we would assume that it would require similar volumes. We also understand that HCFCD does not recognize the concept of “timing of peak flows” as mitigation, which is the currently stated position of the City of West University on the increased flows coming from the College Street work.

We do appreciate and acknowledge all of the constructive dialogue on the original PFKRS Group, the recent responses and dialogue with Mayor Kelly on the College Street project, the input and responses from HCFCD, and the continued support of Councilmember Clutterbuck’s office, and her Chief of Staff Tim Douglass, as well as the recent formation of the Poor Farm Technical Study Group. We also look forward to the results of the upcoming meeting between Councilmember Clutterbuck and Houston City Engineer John J. Sakolosky to discuss the impact and mitigation requirements of the Bellaire Blvd Bridge and College Street projects from the perspective of the downstream Flood Plain Administrator.

Our position as downstream residents remains as stated since the inception of the original PFKRS Group in 2003 that we would like to have the supporting engineering assumptions and calculations explained to us to understand how the "no adverse impact" requirements are being implemented for the upstream drainage improvement work to ensure that these projects are not improving drainage in one area by moving the problems downstream. To date, we have not received that explanation.

Without that understanding, there remain a lot of concerns, questions, and emotion, from the downstream residents about the potential negative impact of the drainage and street improvements being made by the Cities of West University and Southside Place.

We again request that we have the opportunity to understand the underlying engineering assumptions and calculations as well as the formal positions of HCFCD and the downstream Flood Plain Administrator so we are able to understand how the "no adverse impact" requirements are being implemented for the Bellaire Blvd Bridge and College Street projects.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the downstream residents,

Jeff Patterson

Area Director 1 Braeswood Place Homeowners Association