3876234 Resolution 19-622, "Sense of the Council on Addressing Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012"

A RESOLUTION

 

19-622  

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

October 2, 2012

 

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to pass the  Sense of the Council on Addressing Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012, requiring the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (“DC Water”) and the task force established by the Mayor to investigate the flooding in the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park areas, to report to the Council on current and future measures being taken to address repeated flooding in these areas, to require the Mayor or the Mayor's designee to conduct an analysis to determine which properties in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park shall qualify to receive backflow preventers and sandbags, to require DC Water and District of Columbia Government to find funds to purchase and install backflow preventers and purchase sandbags for certain properties in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park, and to require the District Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works to conduct a study of Rhode Island Avenue and determine whether the structure of that road should be changed to mitigate flooding.

 

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council on Addressing Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012”.

 

            Sec. 2. (a) The recent floods and sewage backup affecting the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods is one of the most urgent issues facing the District today.  It is deplorable that properties have been subjected to water and sewage damage. 

            (b) Although a good-faith effort is being made by DC Water in offering a rebate program to purchase a black flow preventer, it is not enough. 

            (c) The rebate program covers only 90% of the purchase of a backflow preventer, which costs about $3,000.  The rebate program does not cover backflow preventer installation costs.

            (d) After the purchase and installation of a backflow preventer, the cost can rise to as high as $21,000. 

            (e) Furthermore, based on testimony given during a public oversight roundtable on flooding in the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods, it is evident that many residents do not have the ability to pay for the backflow preventers and wait for a rebate. 

            (f) In addition, there is no guarantee that a resident will receive a rebate after installing a backflow preventer.

            (g) The District government and DC Water must find funding for the cost of purchasing and installing backflow preventers and sandbags.

 

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary for the Sense of the Council on Addressing Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park Emergency Resolution of 2012 be adopted on an emergency basis.

 

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.