Hampton Comprehensive Waterway Management Plan

Steering Committee
MINUTES DECEMBER 14, 2010 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. HAMPTON CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

SUBJECT Session Two

FACILITATOR Fred Whitley, P.E. (URS)

PREPARED BY Kimberly Holland (KHA)

ATTENDEES See Attachment A

The following minutes refer to discussion based off of the Session 2 Meeting Agenda and its corresponding documents.

ITEM I RECAP/REVIEW FRED WHITLEY

• Motion to strike two bullets from 11/30 minutes was approved

MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS (RESPONSES

ITEM II FRED WHITLEY
TO QUESTION 1)
• Floyd Gibbs: Stated that he hopes these meetings will be proven useful and not just end up being a binder of
studies taking up shelf space. Asked what this committee is actually going to do. Brought up several historic
flood and flood prevention events:
o Discussed the creation of the US Geodetic Survey that established flood level benchmarks across the
nation
o The destruction in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina is a result of man-made decisions and
construction
o Believes that if homes are raised 10” above the 100 year flood level, then flood damage will be reduced
o Asked what Hampton has proactively done since Hurricane Isabel to reduce flood damage to houses
o Hampton constructed a $4 million peninsula (Factory Point) that may end up being washed away
o Groins along the shoreline led to the loss of Factory Point. Offshore breakwaters work better than
groins.
• Andy Bigelow: Believes that tidal flooding is the biggest waterway issue. Houses built on slabs cannot be raised
above sea level but non-slab houses can be raised. We should look into protecting houses that can’t be raised
above sea level.
• Hugh Bassette: He does not remember flooding being an issue in Norfolk back in the 1940’s. Now, flooding is
suddenly a problem for places that didn’t use to flood. We need to get ahead of the curve in protecting houses.
• Carole Garrison: We need an integration of flooding solutions. We don’t want narrowly-focused solutions to
inadvertently cause flooding problems for other areas in Hampton.
• Bob Croft: Two issues – tidal flooding and storm water runoff flooding. Moderate storms allow rainwater to
drain. Nor’easters and other large storms blow water into storm drain systems, which prevents rain water from
draining. Have we identified the highest tidal areas in Hampton? Can we identify those areas? We should
address the crux of this problem.
• Woody Woodcock: Dredging and stormwater runoff are the #1 problem. Was incredulous to read in a
newspaper article that our sea level will rise 4-5 feet in the next 10 years.
• Perry Pilgrim: There is a political aspect to this Steering Committee and that is coming up with a solution for how
to allocate public resources for solving these technical issues. We need to be educated by the scientists and
engineers on the technical aspects of this problem so that we have the proper tools for playing the political part.
So the Committee needs to know - what is the real function of this group?
• Andy Bigelow: Was in Holland in the 1960’s. The country literally walled off all of its shoreline for flood protection
and it’s worked out for them. We need learn about and consider outside models that have worked for other
places like Holland.
• Bob Croft: In low lying areas, water has nowhere to go. What do we do when our storm drains are full? Water
floods his whole neighborhood. Mud and silt gets backed up into inlets.
• Vince Behm (In response to Question 3): What are the goals and mission of the Steering Committee? Our
priorities need to be ranked.
o Ken Dierks responded: The charge of the committee is to provide City Council with recommendations. The
Committee will look at and add topics, if necessary, and to bring back broad recommendations to Council.
The Committee needs to have long-term actions/big ticket items be the goal. Also need to consider where
the funding for the recommendations will come from. The Council is looking for broad guidance. Other
cities are looking at these same issues so we can learn from them.
• Floyd Gibbs: Responded to Andy Bigelow regarding slab houses: Houses on slabs can and have been raised and
moved. Whole houses can be moved. Hatteras Lighthouse was raised and moved from a slab foundation.
• Perry Pilgrim: Asked how many subcommittees will be formed
o Ken Dierks and Fred Whitley responded: The preliminary answer is five, based on the 5 primary topics, but
this is subject to change if it is felt that other subcommittees are appropriate.
• Vince Behm: Wanted further discussion and reading material on the mission statement and action plan.

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ITEM III OVERVIEW OF PREVIOUS STUDIES FRED WHITLEY

• Fred Whitley: Presented a summary of major studies done on waterways and flooding in the City. Summaries
were included in the Committee member’s notebooks.
• There are three major sources of flooding in Hampton:
o Tidal
o Heavy rainfall
o Obstructions in drainage system (leaves, grass, large trash)
• The power point presentation and briefing notes will be posted on the project website:
www.hamptonengages.com

ITEM IV ESTABLISHING SUBCOMMITTEES TODD SOLOMON

• The proposed schedule for Topic Briefings and Subcommittee Meeting period was presented and generally
accepted by the Steering Committee.
• It is currently proposed that the five subcommittees be formed to work on the management of:
o Tidal flooding
o Shoreline erosion
o Storm water management
o Surface water quality
o Waterway dredging
• Steering committee will receive a template/suggested format for how to engage the public at the upcoming
listening session

ITEM V PREPARING FOR PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION TODD SOLOMON

• Steering committee members will act as hosts for the listening session
o Will be given guidance documents for discussions with the public
• Steering Committee and consultants are asked to arrive a little early
• Discussed hiring a videographer for the background briefs

ITEM VII REVIEW SYLLABUS FRED WHITLEY

• Ken Dierks: Will provide the Steering Committee with more information on roles and expectations at the
upcoming listening session
• Ken Dierks: Indicated the educational sessions will be structured as “jumping off points” for subcommittees to
more easily be able to formulate their work
• Carole Garrison: Wanted briefings done by 2/15/11. Andy Bigelow concurred.
• Steering committee concurred with the meetings schedule as listed in the syllabus

ITEM VIII PUBLIC COMMENTS & GENERAL QUESTIONS FRED WHITLEY

• Citizen #1: Asked what’s making our weather different now. Observed that storm frequency and intensity has
changed. Also noticed that Hampton doesn’t have as many wetlands as it use to.
o Ken Dierks responds: We will have an upcoming speaker from NOAA address this topic.
• Citizen #2: Commented that part of the waterways solution is that we need to have smarter development that
doesn’t impact floodways. Developers need to look at displacement impact in flood plains.
• Edith Newkirk: Asked what is the purpose of giving City Council a recommendation since everyone on the Council
is already fully aware of Hampton’s waterway problems.
o Fred Whitley responds: The Council wants to know the most important waterway problems from the
committee’s and the public’s perspectives.
• Floyd Gibbs: Reiterated that all of these problems have solutions.
• Ken Dierks: Our upcoming educational series will give the Committee the tools to understand watershed issues.
• Carole Garrison: Suggested speakers we will need for the educational sessions:
o Specialist on wetlands
o Someone from Norfolk’s waterways committee to brief us on their City’s model
• Edith Newkirk: Asked if the Committee can be educated about the regulatory framework associated with
waterways, permitting, etc. What are the jurisdictional issues and who regulates what?
o Ken Dierks: Responded that the Committee will be provided with a basic overview of the regulatory
framework governing work in water of the US and wetlands so they can understand how the regulations
affect potential approaches to flooding and water quality.
• Ken Dierks: Indicated that the Steering Committee would be provided with a mission statement so they can be
clear on their job. Ken indicated based on discussions with the City that he understood the mission to be to
identify specific public concerns related to drainage, flooding, shoreline erosion, navigation and water quality and
to develop, in a final report, recommendations for specific policy changes and funding sources for City Council
consideration and inclusion in the Community Plan. However, the support staff would consult with the City and
develop a specific mission statement for dissemination to the Steering Committee as soon as possible.

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 RESPONSIBLE
ACTION ITEM DEADLINE
PARTY
Provide the Steering Committee with Goals and Mission
KHA January 7, 2011
Statement
Provide Steering Committee with more information on their
HRCCE January 7, 2011
roles and expectations at the listening session
Hire videographer for listening session HRCCE January 7, 2011
Look into additional educational series speakers?? Consultants, City January 11, 2011

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Hampton Comprehensive Waterway Management Plan
Steering Committee – Organizational Meeting
DECEMBER 14, 2010
6:30 – 8:30 P.M.
HAMPTON CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
ATTACHMENT A ATTENDEE LIST
NAME AFFILIATION TELEPHONE EMAIL

Ken Dierks Consultant (KHA) (757) 548-7306 ken.dierks@kimley-horn.com

Kimberly Holland Consultant (KHA) (757) 548-7371 Kimberly.holland@kimley-horn.com
Fred Whitley Consultant (URS) (757) 383-6206 Fred_Whitley@urscorp.com
Todd Soloman Consultant (HRCCE) (757) 667-8533 tsolomon@hrcce.org
Hugh Bassette Steering Committee (757) 722-3635
Vince Behm Steering Committee (757) 826-1445 vbehm@goodglass.com
Andy Bigelow Steering Committee (757) 838-4522 abigelow3@cox.net
Frank Blake Steering Committee (757) 851-1333 hokieblakes@verizon.net
Robin Carpenter Steering Committee (757) 315-3710 rcarpenter@hampton.gov
Bob Croft Steering Committee (757) 850-8340 rcroft3@cox.net
Carole Garrison Steering Committee (757) 947-8297 carole.a.garrison@nasa.gov
Floyd Gibbs Steering Committee (757) 826-3598
Ernest Hale Steering Committee (757) 719-3015
Edith Newkirk Steering Committee (757) 723-7856 enewkirk@aol.com
Perry Pilgrim Steering Committee (757) 472-6173 ppilgrim@abbitt.com
Joe Stellute Steering Committee joestellute@stellutelaw.com
Woody Woodcock Steering Committee (757) 723-0818