The following list of questions were submitted by SDCC president David Williams.  The answers have been provided by City Deputy Manager Dave Hansen.  Thanks to Councilman Bill DeSteph for his help and attention to these questions.

At the Virginia Beach City Council meeting held on 12 April, SDCC President, David Williams, and Bay Island residents Mike Megge, and Rob Lawlor presented their comments, concerns and questions related to the proposed Neighborhood Channel Dredging Project. The numbers and scope of this project are quoted from a presentation given by Mr. Hansen, Deputy City Manager, and Mr. Phillip Roehrs, Waterway Engineer on 15 March to the City Council. To view the 15 March presentation, go to VBGov.com and search word “SSD”. Presentation is titled “Neighborhood Channel Dredging” dated Oct 2010.

These are the summarized comments that were presented by the SDCC president:

Many citizens in our areas have concerns with the proposed dredge spoils project in the Lynnhaven Basin.  Our concerns are:

Safety:
Q: Barges, workboats, dump trucks, who will monitor the sites, and who will supervise the traffic?  A: The contractor using the site, under a Use Agreement or contract with the City, will have traffic control and pedestrian safety responsibilities.  Additionally they will be responsible for street cleanliness and dust control.  The City will confirm that the terms of the Use Agreement or contract are enforced.

Q: Who will be responsible for the safety? A: The contractor has responsibility for his operations. The City will assign an inspector to periodically verify compliance and that inspectors contact information will be made available to the adjoining neighborhood(s).
 
Q: Will the city be responsible? A: Only to the extent of our culpability. The contractor will validate his bonding, insurance, and vehicle legality before commencing operations. Additionally the contractor will specify by name his safety officer and his superintendent. 
 
Q: Who will shut it down if it is unsafe?  A: Any number of authorities can invoke safety laws and stop an unsafe situation, in this case it could be the City employee appointed with the duty to make sure the site is used in accordance with the Use Agreement or contract, but could also include federal, state or local code officials and maritime law enforcers.
 
Scope: 
Q: The basic numbers presented by the city for the Robin Hood Forrest SSD brief (15 March/available at VBGov.comm word search “SSD”) indicate that even for this small 26 property project, the dredge spoils amount would total 12,551 cubic yards which equals 1,255 dump trucks (@10 CY per truck). How much time will it take to cycle these dump trucks through just this one project?  A: Production is probably going to range from 250 CY per day to as much as 500 CY per day.  Fifty days or so of production, probably about 30 to 40 trucks a day on good days. 
 
Q: This project is scheduled to start in two years and complete three cycles in sixteen years.  This is a major project. It could generate 1.2 million cubic yards from 2500 properties in the first cycle alone.  That is 120,000 average 10 CY dump trucks.  I was told a senior city staff member, that they would use efficient 20 cubic yard dump trucks.  A 20 CY dump truck weighs 80,000 pounds and is not suitable for residential grade streets. Is this correct? A: Agreed, it is a major undertaking, and if 2,500 properties were served through ‘self taxing’ for navigation, we think it would be a good thing. Not all trucks and projects would be working out of a single dredged material transfer site.  Yes, ultimately it’s a lot of truck loads.  And, yes, not all residential streets can handle legally loaded heavy trucks, they weren’t designed for it.  This is why a network of dredged material transfer stations is being proposed, so communities that do not have viable haul routes can still gain navigational access. 
 
Environmental Impact:
Q: We have been told by a senior city official that “It will not harm the basin, but will improve the water quality because of better water flow”.  I seriously doubt this.  Many have worked very hard to improve the water quality and restore the oyster beds in the Lynnhaven, and now with this project, it could potentially destroy all this effort. This project will impact the fish, oysters, crabs and the water quality. Is this correct? A: We have a different opinion, based on facts. Removal of silts will create significant flushing and revitalization to the mudflats that now exist.
 
Burden On Communities: 
Q: This project has the potential to place a severe burden on a few areas with heavy dump truck traffic, noise, and pollution hazards through the neighborhoods.  Who will benefit from this project? A: Waterfront property owner will receive the primary benefits of navigable waters.  His neighbors and friends too.  The guy who sold him the boat, fueled it or serviced it.  The school teacher who gets a raise because his property values went up. The Kempsville fisherman would likes to fish the inlet via the Lynnhaven Boat Launch.  The small home renovation company that can assist a homeowner in revitalizing their investment.  The pier, dock, and boat lift constructors.  A lot of recreating folks that enjoy the water amenity that exists because of the Lynnhaven.
 
Q: Many or just 2500 property owners who want deep water access? A: Twenty five hundred waterfront property owners is many in our book.

Q: If the dredge spoils come from one area, those spoils should be hauled from that area.  It is unfair to place such a burden on just two or three transfer sites.  With the Crab Creek transfer site, how will dump truck traffic impact traffic when the new Lesner Bridge is under construction?  A: I believe all our presentations were focused on the Marina Shore site: trucks will exit Lynnhaven Drive turn left and head south to Oceana Blvd and the Whitehurst Pit.  Use of the Lesner Bridge is not required.
 
Q: I believe that the previous traffic and safety concerns that many residents had with a proposed permanent transfer site at the Lesner Boat Ramp (LBR)/Crab Creek two years ago remain. Except, now we will have new bridge construction along with the dredge spoils dump trucks and barge traffic.  How well will that work? A: Again, I believe we are discussing the Marina Shores’ proposal.  But if you really want a response concerning use of the Crab Creek transfer station while the reconstruction of Lesner Bridge is occurring, the City staff would be prudent to not issue Use Agreements for dredged material transfer as that would be in conflict with the bridge construction. 
 
Special Service District (SSD): 
Q: What are the particulars? A: Vbgov.com, hot topics, several briefings and reports. David – you have attended 4 briefings on this subject.  You are knowledgeable of where the information can be found.  You have personally heard me brief it 4 times. The neighborhood requests from the district Council representative staff assistance to create a project report where 80% of the waterfront owners request to have their real estate rate increased to pay for a 16 year, 3 cycle, dredging project.

Q: What will be the cost to the taxpayers? A: Minor cost share for a new piece of City maintained channel at each participating SSD community. As you have heard me brief the taxpayer share is less than 15% of the total project cost for the two we have briefed the Council.  In several projects it may be less than 10%. You have heard me discuss this at the last three briefings.  Each of the two posted projects give the estimated quantities and costs for the City spur and the neighborhood channel.  The privately funded portion of the project is not estimated but could range from 20% to 45% of the total project costs.

Q: What is the return on investments for the taxpayers?  A: Not computed, working assumption is that the long term growth of real estate values in SSD communities would offset City expenditures. Revitalization of our neighborhoods was never discussed in terms of a percentage by our City Council and hence not deemed a requirement for these projects.  But to give you some reassurance I would bet my professional integrity with little risk that the ROI to the General Fund investment will far exceed 1.0.

Q: Will this project be supported by the SSD funds, or will taxpayers who don’t live on the water have to pick up the additional costs?  A: Already answered, the City spur will be funded by the general fund (taxpayers) – just like the many miles of channels already funded by the taxpayers. This will amount to 10 – 15% for most projects.  FYI the cost of the Cape Henry Beach protection truck haul was paid for by the General Fund. 
 

Duration: 
Q: This project is proposed to start after two years of SSD collections, be reviewed for rate at four years and be completed at sixteen years after three dredging cycles.  This is a major project.  How many residents will it benefit and what will be the burdens on our neighborhoods to provide deep water access to a relative few property owners? A: The review concerns adjustment for the additional real estate taxes paid.  Burdens on the adjoining neighborhoods are reviewed as part of each respective dredging project. Transfer site selection for each project is based on a myriad of factors.  The first being public safety, the second being engineering feasibility, and the third being fiscal impacts.  The use of the Marina Shores Site provides the City the shortest and most direct route to Great Neck Road, impacts the least number of residences, provides a very safe route.