City of Virginia Beach Launches Virtual Town Hall
New Software Program Promotes Citizen Engagement
Today, the City of Virginia Beach launched a new Web-based citizen engagement tool called Virtual Town Hall that will help the city gather residents’ opinions about city projects and initiatives, with the goal of incorporating this feedback in the decision-making process.
Click here to read more about the tool and to sign up. http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=1166
The following is an email from the Deputy City Manager, Dave Hansen, to the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) explaining the LED Traffic signs on Shore Drive and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project. You can also see the 2009 Power Point presentation given by City Staff to City Council regarding this project. Click here to view the 3Mb file. ITS Brief 021810
Members of the BAC,
In November of 2009, DPW Jason Cosby briefed the City Council on the $22M Intelligent Transportation System project in which all but $1.5M was being funded by the Federal Highway Administration. In this comprehensive briefing he covered the major phases of construction and their specific outcomes. I have attached that brief and note that on chart #24 we identified the location of 6 sites where the Dynamic Message Boards were to be installed. Two of those locations were clearly shown on Shore Drive. Following that briefing Mr. Cosby briefed the BAC on 18 February 2010. I have attached that briefing and ask that you relook charts 21-26. Additionally I have attached the minutes of that BAC so that you can see who was in attendance when we advised you what the plan was, why it was and what it was to be like. As Mr. Arnhold made comment regarding City staff in his email below, I note that he was in attendance at the BAC brief on 2-18-10 and that no questions were posed to the staff following the DPW brief. The lag time between the briefings and the start of construction was the product of contracting, funding, technology, public briefings and increasing the requirement from six to eight locations. Hopefully the board recalls this information briefing in February 2010 and we can proceed to respond to the myriad of questions which are being asked. To assist you I provide the following description of the ITS project and specific information on the DMS.
The signs located on Shore Drive are part of The Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project which consists of the installation of 11 motorists advisory Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) at eight locations, overhead sign support structures, equipment cabinets, and communication equipment. The DMS’s have three line displays. This important project was funded by Federal Funds associated with Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality and is intended to provide real time information to the motoring public to keep traffic flowing. The locations have been strategically selected and approved by City Council in order to maximize the dissemination of essential information to motorists. The DMS’s will be installed at eight locations within the City.
The DMS’s will be installed at the following locations:
1. Princess Anne Rd and Elson Green Ave, southbound
2. General Booth Blvd at the KOA Campground, northbound
3. Shore Dr and First Landing State Park, westbound
4. Shore Dr and Bayville Rd, back to back DMS’s
5. Northampton Blvd and Bayside Rd, eastbound
6. Northampton Blvd and Shell Rd, westbound
7. Independence Blvd and Wakefield Dr, back to back DMS’s
8. Shore Dr near 83rd St, back to back DMS’s
What follows is a brief summary of the why, what, how, and where:
1. Purpose:
-The primary purpose of the signs is to convey traffic condition information to the roadway motorists
– Signs are especially useful during hurricane evacuation
– Signs can be used to display public safety campaign information (i.e. Amber Alerts, Click-it-or Ticket)
2. Lighted:
– signs will not be lighted (no illumination lamps to shine on them); they are LED driven-internally illuminated
– the sign will be dark unless there is a message to display
3. Size: 6 feet high by 12 feet long; mounted 17 feet above the ground. (by comparison our portable signs are 6’ by 10’)
4. Location: The location on Shore Drive was specifically selected because of the following properties: -38,000 motorists pass this site every day
-West bound traffic can be alerted to conditions at Northampton Blvd, Chesapeake bay-Bridge Tunnel, and I-264
-East bound traffic can be alerted to downstream conditions on Shore Drive, Fort Story, Great Neck Road
The signs are a part of our ITS (intelligent Transportation System) project with the goal being able to disseminate real-time traffic information expeditiously to the motoring public. They can also be used to broadcast Amber Alerts in support of Public Safety.
Should you require additional information I am happy to respond to your RFIs. Regards, Dave
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
(757)385-4242
IN JUNE 2010, Virginia Beach’s City Council banned electronic signs in the city, calling them garish, distracting to drivers and dangerous. Rather than impose stringent restrictions on signs in front of churches and businesses, the council said the bright signs, if not already in place, would not be allowed at all.
That vote was in character with the city, which banned new billboards a quarter-century ago and encouraged landscaping and beautification projects in medians and other public spaces.
City government itself is exempt from the electronic sign ordinance, however. Light-emitting, attention-grabbing signs beckon passersby to Virginia Beach’s convention center and its performing arts center. Outside public schools, libraries and community centers, the signs are colorful reminders of upcoming events.
Now, according to reporting by The Pilot’s Kathy Adams, the city is erecting eight LED signs to warn drivers about traffic problems on Shore Drive, Princess Anne Road, and Independence, General Booth and Northampton boulevards. Not only are city officials defying the spirit of the ordinance, but they failed to talk to neighborhood groups about the signs’ locations, size and hours of use.
Traffic engineers determined the locations. The federal government paid for the $60,500 signs with “congestion-mitigation” money.
So now, instead of the city partnering with private companies that own the 30 billboards in Virginia Beach to allow limited electronic messages and city use for public safety issues — as some on the City Council had proposed in 2010 — the city has eight more signs towering over roadways.
Monday-morning quarterbacking does no good unless it serves as a lesson for the future. In the case of LED signs, the city failed a basic tenet of good government: It didn’t involve affected communities in the planning.
Virginia Beach should have solicited suggestions for designs that don’t run afoul of the aesthetics of the surroundings. It should have asked the public for ideas for traffic alert locations that would actually help drivers with alternative routes.
And because the city violated rules that bind the rest of us, it should have made the case publicly for why its signs are a safety feature, not a hazard.
By Selene D. Guerrero, Correspondent Virginia Pilot
Residents of Lynnhaven Colony filed into Dockside Restaurant on Nov. 17, but instead of appetites they brought questions for the public works officials in attendance. The city panel and more than 50 residents gathered to discuss solutions to the neighborhood’s common flooding during high tide and inclement weather.
“The most important and expensive thing you purchase is your home,” Donna Rennick, civic league vice-president, told Phillip Davenport, public works director, before he took the floor.
“We need to know how we can work with you,” Rennick said. “We need answers.”
Phillip Roehrs, water resources engineer, presented a project that officials believe would alleviate most of the flooding, but further study is needed to make certain it will do the job. Lynnhaven Colony is south of Shore Drive, on land that is between the Chesapeake Bay and Long Creek, which is a tributary of the Lynnhaven River. According to a 2005 study, solving the core problems – feeder ditch improvements, flooding on Shore Drive, relieving flooding in low-lying areas – is estimated to cost $50 million, Roehrs said. Roehrs added that he was not prepared to provide the residents a timeline of when the project would begin or be completed.
“We’re at a point where we are thinking of moving,” said Joyce Dunn, a 30-year resident. “After the 2009 nor’easter, the city proposed the same and nothing has been resolved.”
Dunn’s family has made costly adjustments in their home, such as resurfacing their garage and moving their furnace to the attic. In about a year, when sidewalk construction on Shore Drive begins, the city plans to start Phase I of the project by putting in the components needed for development of a flood-control system.
The final plan would provide the community with two tide gates, five water pump stations (adding to the two already in place) and an underground conveyance system. The current outfalls to the Chesapeake Bay and river would be improved with extra collection systems that would provide a better flow.
“There are minor tweaks in the works,” Roehrs said. “But it will take a number of years to build and a number of years to finance.”
Currently less than $3 million a year is set aside for the project. City officials are working to come up with a way to fully finance the project and move forward.
“Even if we are able to come up with a financing plan where we can have all the money today,” Davenport said, “we can’t do all of the work at one time, it has to be phased.”
Construction around the roads and ditches would make it difficult for residents to get in and out of Lynnhaven Colony, he said.
The city plans to put in place a funding and work schedule, and provide residents with a timeline by December 2013. In the meantime, city representatives suggested that homeowners have their homes elevated and seek federal funding with the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Severe Repetitive Loss program.
“Set an expectation,” resident Vin Melwani told the panel after the presentation. “I’m a homeowner,” Melwani said. “I just would really appreciate it if you could set a realistic expectation.”
program, contact Erin Sutton, city emergency planner, at 385-1076.
Eastern Shore Drive Leaders,
Let me begin by attesting the Eastern Shore Drive Storm Water Drainage Area Improvement Initiative is one of our top focus areas as we roll into the new year. The staff and City leadership are very sensitive to the hardships created when we have intense and long-lasting weather events such as Sandy, Irene, and the Nor’easter of Nov 09. Following Public Works attendance and briefing last Saturday with the Lynnhaven Colony Civic League and concerns we have received from Cape Henry Shores, Cape Story By the Sea and other concerned citizens in the eastern Shore Drive drainage area, our engineering and operations staff will be undertaking an accelerated analysis of several interim solutions which have been suggested and on the face seem to have merit in providing various degrees of protection from tidal inundation. Below is a summary of the two phases I have asked our engineering staff to pursue. Phase I is a data map with summary descriptions so we identify all infrastructure, elevations and drainage areas east of the Lesner. Completing this on 7 Dec allows us to define the study aspects of Phase II. I have asked Public Works to complete their assessments and recommendations by the first week in April and to publish a written report NLT 12 April. Intent will be to post this report on-line for the civic leagues and citizens to review. Here are summaries of the first two phases:
1. Using City topographic mapping as the base, delineate the drainage sub basins, the drainage systems (open and closed), and the outfalls for the Lynnhaven Colony/Cape Henry/Cape Story by the Sea areas. This will provide a clear graphic that depicts the ground elevations, drainage areas, and drainage system elements – including outfalls. This will be used as a tool for the additional analyses identified in Phase 2 and will be suitable for discussions with the BAC and civic leagues when describing how the systems function and why engineering analyses are necessary to support any proposed interim measures such as backflow preventers. I.e., it’s not as simple as just keeping the tide out, the rainfall runoff has to be able to either be safely stored within the particular drainage area or be able to be discharged with the backflow preventers in place (or a combination thereof). These products will be ready by December 7.
2. Each sub basin will have an analysis done to determine the suitability of backflow preventers on the outfall for the particular subbasin; if a backflow preventer is suitable, the type of backflow preventer; the amount of rainfall runoff the subbasin can handle without structural flooding; the stand-by pumping requirements (if any); and the probable costs. While simply jumping to a “solution” as has been suggested by some, it is absolutely necessary that the City allow the responsible level of engineering to be done to assure that we do not inadvertently worsen the drainage situation for any particular subbasin. We are estimating four months for this effort. Expect to deliver a written analysis with recommendations and preliminary costs and timeline by mid-April.
Phase III will be the review and approval process leading to design and construction. Once we firm up the costs and the competitive process we’ll use to get the work done we can provide a reasonable timeline. I wish to close this email by ensuring our citizens fully understand these interim solutions as with the permanent solutions have definitive limitations. At some level of tidal surge and some accumulation and intensity of precipitation all infrastructure improvements will be overcome and mother nature will prevail. Hopefully implementing interim measures will reduce the risk of moderate storm damage and buy the time for us to consider even grander infrastructure solutions to tackle the bigger more threatening hurricanes and nor’easters we seem to be weathering of late. Happy Thanksgiving and fingers crossed for a quiet winter storm season. Regards, Dave
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
(757)385-4242
From an email from Dave Hansen posted unedited with permission:
Kal & Grace,
FYI – The “Temporary Bulkhead” as shown in the permit application and on the current design plans, is designed with steel sheeting with a tie-back system and a concrete cap. The length is approx 400 LF.
Timber is great for residential bulkheads, but it is not adequate for a commercial/industrial application like this.
Timber would not hold up for the construction duration. The cap would require cleats to tie-off and a timber cap would not provide an adequate anchor for loaded barges, boats, etc., to tie off.
The concrete cap provides more structural stability for the bulkhead design.
This concrete cap bulkhead design is more of a standard section that contractors are used to building.
As an alternate, a more expensive steel cap could be used, but in either scenario (steel or concrete) the cap needs to be more durable than timber.
As promised in my many briefings to your respective organizations we will visit this discussion just past the 50% construction stage to see how we are co-existing with our boating public. Regards, Dave
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
(757)385-4242
Permit at US ACOE website.
More about dredging, and the replacement for the Lesner Bridge at SDCC HOT page.
Three electronic ITS traffic/safey warning signs are being installed on Shore Drive.
1 – West of Marlin Bay Drive in the median
2- West of First Landing State Park Bayside entrance (northside of road)
3- Northend near 89th street
The signs are part of a Federally funded project and were approved by the City’s Public Works department in 2008. In addition to the signs being big and ugly, the sign installed near the State Park will require several of the City’s official trees, the live oak, to be removed.
Members of the Friends of Live Oaks have started an online petition requesting the sign be relocated to the median to avoid tree removal. You can sign the petition at the following link
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/702/346/384/
Close up of sign near Park
Trees between sign (located far left just behind the white car) and Park entrance to be removed.
Read the news release. (2pg PDF)
If you’re planning to take the kids trick-or-treating, or if you’re passing out candy, follow a few simple rules to keep Halloween safe and fun. If you are passing out treats, please turn your porch light on so children will know they are welcome. If you are not passing out treats, please turn your porch light off. Other safety tips for trick-or-treaters include…
From an email:
To: City Council; Constitutional Officers and Appointed Officials; Department Directors
Cc: Executive Assistants; Media and Communications; Media and Communications
Subject: Nor’easter SANDY Update #9At today’s 0900 Monday City Manager we are confident our projections remain valid. Our current challenge is the ongoing high tide and its stacking impacts in the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth River Basins. We are also seeing an increase in the number of road overtopping by storm water ponding. Road closures are being updated on our Hurricane Sandy webpage every two hours. Total rainfall amounts so far vary throughout the City from 2.8 inches to as much as 4.9 inches. We are expecting a change in wind direction to occur late this afternoon.
Our most significant issue remains tidal stacking within the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth River basins creating low level residential flooding. Throughout today our Public Safety and Public Works teams are on the ground monitoring the effects of the ongoing high tide. Projected NWS storm surge will result in a high tide +7 feet above MLLW. This confirms our analysis that tide cycle stacking in the Lynnhaven and the Elizabeth River neighborhoods will result in significant tidal flooding up to elevation 6 feet above sea level. Our neighborhood specific inundation maps have indicate areas below 6 feet above sea level so citizens can make their assessments as to impacts of localized tidal flooding. We remain confident the Historical Tidal & Surge Chart is projecting where Sandy’s high tide elevations above Mean Low Water Level will be in relation to our previous storms. This additional information is being posted on our VBgov website. Here is the link.
http://www.vbgov.com/residents/emergency-preparedness/Pages/hurricane-sandy.aspx
Sustained wind projections have stabilized however the attached charts reflect a significant wind direction change and increased window of gusting will occur late afternoon today. Winds will make a dramatic shift from NW to SW and we should be guarded as to the effects this may have on our canopy. As Sandy makes another turn mid afternoon its projected path will actually bring the storm closer to Virginia Beach – hence our concern regarding impacts of the wind direction change. Winds still will not reach hurricane force and we do not believe sustained tropical force winds (39-74mph) will be reached either. We do however anticipate tropical force gusts that may occasionally reach the mid-fifties. The severity of this nor’eastercane is subsiding though the consistency of the winds will continue until after daylight Tuesday morning. Dom Power reported customer outages stands at 1500 of which 1200 are the result of an accident on Northhampton Blvd that toppled a power pol .
Storm surge has been most dramatic. Atlantic wave height throughout the day has been spectacular with some reaching the projected 15 foot level ; Bay wave height is nearing 8 feet with 9 foot waves being experience further into the bay. Beach erosion observations indicate our Atlantic beaches are faring well. On the Bay the Cape Henry, Ocean Park and Baylake Pines beaches are also holding however the Chesapeake Beach which had little buffer continues losing what little dune system it had. Indications are we are experiencing some structural damage and tidal surge flooding. Public Works is documenting these instances.
Rain is our 4th threat. Some areas of the City may receive up to 7 inches. Rain intensity has been steady but moderate. Projections are we could receive an additional +3 inches before the storm is over. Rains will continue through Tuesday mid-day. Surface ponding is occurring as runoff is being hindered due to elevated levels of the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth Rivers. Back Bay and the North Landing are seeing significant low levels based on the northerly winds pushing the water south and out to the Currituck and Albemarle. Storm water crews are responding to ponding issues. The police are providing high water traffic control. Impassable roads being listed on our storm webpage.
The duration of Sandy continues to make this storm a significant event. Weather conditions have stabilized and will remain consistent through this evening. After midnight we can expect to see a very slow lessening of the storms wind/rain consistency into some intermittency all day Tuesday.Other highlights from this morning’s staff update:
· We have attached todays 0800 SITREP taken from our WEBEOC reporting database. It gives insight into the myriad actions and issues the departments are wrestling with.
· The Birdneck ES shelter remains open today. Currently reporting @53 individuals enjoying a warm, dry, friendly environment.
· The EOC continues operating under a partial activation.
· City services and staffing will operate under essential conditions beginning throughout Monday. Decisions regarding tomorrows City operational status will be made midafternoon today following our next regional and NWS VTC.
· VB Public Schools are closed today and will also determine their operating status sometime later today.
· The next regional VTC and NMS update is scheduled for 1330 this afternoon.
· It was commented this morning that the winds did not cause our foliage to leave its branches and when Sandy is over we are looking forward to the cornucopia of color our vivid canopy will provide us.
Will keep you advised. Dave
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
EOC contact # 757-385-0705
(Note: there is a 17 page pdf that goes with this. I am unable to upload at this time.)
Note: this info is from several different people.
UPDATE: 10:29am Both 385-5000 Public Safety and 385-3111 Information confirm Lesner Bridge is “closed”.
Editors note: I’m viewing traffic traveling both directions on Shore Drive in front of Salty C’s.
Click here for 22 Page Briefing
From VBGov.com Hurricane Sandy Page
City Manager Powerpoint Saturday Afternoon Presentation (23 page PDF)
From an email:
This morning’s 1000 City Manager’s update on Hurricane Sandy’s observed and projected impacts to Virginia Beach remain reasonably consistent with our last two updates.
Our most significant issue remains tidal stacking within the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth River basins creating a high risk for low level residential flooding. This morning’s high tide within the Lynnhaven was as predicted @ 2 -2 ½ feet above normal. We observed road inundation in many of the waterfront low lying areas within the Lynnhaven and Rudee basins. We will be closely monitoring the endangered neighborhoods and we are continuing our use of Reverse 911 VB Alert system to notify residents of the risk in those specific neighborhoods. The results of these efforts are being posted on our Hurricane Sandy webpage. Staff continues developing Sandy specific inundation maps to better identify impacts. The number of above high/low tide cycles stacking within the Lynnhaven, Elizabeth and Rudee basin leads us to project that properties whose elevation is below 6 feet above sea level are at great risk to tidal inundation. We remain confident the Historical Tidal & Surge Chart is projecting where Sandy’s high tide elevations above Mean Low Water Level will be in relation to our previous storms. This additional information is being posted on our VBgov website.
Sustained wind projections have increased slightly but still will not reach hurricane force and sustained tropical force winds (39-74mph) may be reached. We do however anticipate tropical force gusts that may occasionally reach 60 mph. As the storm remains offshore and is hooking around VB we will begin to experience consistent wind this afternoon. The extended severity of this nor’eastercane will set in early this afternoon and remain consistent thru tomorrow afternoon. Dom Power reported customer outages has grown to 2500.
Storm surge poses our third threat. Atlantic wave height projection has grown to +15 feet; Bay wave height has grown to 9 feet. Beach erosion will definitely be significant. This morning’s waves on high tide lapped at the base of the Grommet Park berm.
Rain is our 4th threat. Some areas of the City may receive up to 7 inches. This is a slight increase in the projection. Surface ponding will occur as runoff will be hindered due to elevated levels of the Lynnhaven, Elizabeth and North Landing Rivers. Back Bay is seeing significant low levels based on the northerly winds pushing the water south and out to the Currituck. Storm water crews are responding to ponding issues. The police are bringing in additional assets to assist in high water traffic control. We are working on a reporting tool to post this data on the Hurricane Sandy webpage
Duration of Sandy continues to make this storm a significant event. Weather conditions continue to deteriorate and stretch into the new work week. The most intense period of the storm has lengthened and is projected to be Sunday afternoon thru Tuesday early morning. During this intense period will see sustained winds just touching the threshold for tropical storms.
Decisions made at this morning’s meeting:
· The Birdneck ES shelter opened on time this morning at 10AM.
· The EOC will operate under a partial activation effective 1200 (noon) today.
· City services and staffing will operate under essential conditions beginning 0600 Monday until further notice.
· VB Public Schools have just notified the EOC they will be closed Monday.
· The next City Manager staff update is 5PM today.
Will keep you advised. Dave
Emphasis ours.
Boat Ramp high tide #1 this morning.
Boat Ramp low tide #1
(Note: the tide photos were not necessarily taken at peak hi and peak lo)
From an email to Empsy from Council Jim Wood:
Subject: Nor’eastercane SANDY Update #5
The 0900 City Manager and 1000 VDEM updates have revealed Sandy’s impacts to Virginia Beach have slipped further into the start of this coming work week. We are predicting on Monday the City will still be experiencing significant effects of the nor’eastercane which may last into Tuesday. The second significant change we have deduced is that the storm tide impacts projection has lessened slightly. We have attached this morning’s briefing charts.(Editors note: I did not receive these briefing charts as of the time of this post.) Addressing the 5 key parameters, here is the latest:1. Most significant issue remains tidal stacking within the Lynnhaven basin. High risk to low level residential flooding . We will be closely monitoring the endangered neighborhoods and at this time have not issued any evacuation directives. Staff is developing a Sandy specific inundation map utilizing current projections applied to the Corps of Engineers Surge Data map for a Cat 1 storm. The number of high/low tide cycles is now more comparable to the number and elevation we experienced in the 2006 Thanksgiving Nor’easter. We have used the Historical Tidal & Surge Chart to indicate where Sandy’s high tide elevations above Mean Low Water Level will be. We expect to be able to issue specific neighborhood flood warnings Sunday morning.
2. Sustained wind, is still not expected to reach hurricane force (only a 3% chance) and sustained tropical force winds are not expected either (a 9% chance). We do however anticipate tropical force gusts (+35% chance). As the storm remains offshore and is hooking around VB we will begin to experience consistent wind Sunday morning and expect it to last for over 62 hours into Tuesday. This lengthy duration will surely cause tree and debris knock down which in turn will cause power outages. Dominion’s weather advisory of 10:47AM this morning is attached. No change to their amber rating here in Tidewater. Currently 1800 customers are without power in VB.
3. Storm surge poses our third threat. Atlantic wave height projection has grown to +15 feet; Bay wave height has grown to 9 feet. Beach erosion will definitely be significant.
4. Rain is our 4th threat. Some areas of the City may receive up to 6 inches. Surface ponding will occur as runoff will be hindered due to elevated levels of the Lynnhaven, Elizabeth and North Landing Rivers, Back Bay and the many lakes and ponds throughout the City. The intensity projections of the rain may be lessening towards a more consistent downfall for a longer period.
5. Duration of Sandy continues to make this storm a significant event. Weather conditions will deteriorate later than first predicted and stretch into the new work week. Deteriorating conditions will begin after midnight tonight and impact the City thru Tuesday evening. The most intense period of the storm has lengthened and is projected to be Sunday afternoon thru Monday evening. During this intense period will see sustained wind of +30mph for nearly 30 hours. (30/30 effect)
Decisions we are assessing are: Public Schools for Monday, Shelter openings, EOC activation and City operational status for Monday. VBCPS, DHS and the Sherriff Office have been issued an internal warning order to plan/prepare for possible opening the Birdneck ES shelter Sunday morning. The next City Manager staff update is 1500 this afternoon. City staff continues to function under a normal operation status. The EOC is currently operating with EOC staff only except for staff updates. The ECCS 311 staff shifts to 24 hour operations effective 0700 Sunday morning. Current call volume is down and the frequently asked inquiries are: absentee voting and sheltering. Current closings for Sunday include: the Virginia Aquarium and Science Center and the Historic Houses. The VB Visitors Centers at First Landing State Park and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Center will be closed on Sunday and Monday. Decisions on libraries and rec centers will occur following the 1500 update. US Dept of Homeland Security Advisor Milicich is participating in our staff analysis process. Will keep you advised.
Emphasis ours.
From an email to Empsy from Councilman Bill Desteph:
Subject: Hurricane Sandy Update #4
Empsy,
FYI.
At the City Manager’s afternoon update staff reviewed the current conditions and projections of Hurricane Sandy (see attached)(19pg PDF). We are not registering any significant changes to the projections we summarized in our morning update #3. The 5 key parameters are:
1. Most significant issue remains tidal stacking within the Lynnhaven basin. High risk to low level residential flooding . We will be closely monitoring the endangered neighborhoods and at this time have not issued any evacuation directives. The number of high/low tide cycles looks to rival the number we experienced in the 2009 Nor’easter.
2. Sustained wind, though not expected to reach hurricane force, will gust to a tropical storm level, will last for over 48 hours. Tree and debris knock down will cause power outages. We participated in Dominions conference call and I personally talked with their senior manager, Max Bartholomew.
3. Storm (tidal) surge poses our third threat. Atlantic wave height projection has grown to +12 feet; Bay wave height has grown to 8 feet. Beach erosion will likely be significant. Beach replenishment projects scheduled for the oceanfront scheduled to commence next month are quite timely. We’ll need to make a critical assessment of the Bay beaches and develop protection strategies.
4. Rain possess a 4th threat to our citizens and property. Some areas of the City may receive up to 6 inches. Surface ponding will occur as runoff will be hindered due to elevated levels of the Lynnhaven, Elizabeth and North Landing Rivers, Back Bay and the many lakes and ponds throughout the City.
5. Duration is what is making this storm a significant event. Weather conditions will deteriorate on Saturday afternoon and impact the City thru Tuesday. The height of the storm is projected to be Sunday afternoon till early Monday afternoon.Facility closings will be announced beginning tomorrow. Most will be open tomorrow as scheduled, but we are not anticipating opening other than essential facilities on Sunday. Mondays conditions will be further refined on Sunday for determining what openings/closing will occur at the start of the new work week. At this time we do not anticipate the need for opening any public shelters. VB Public Schools briefed their preparedness to open Birdneck ES if needed. Sherriff Stolle advised his deputies are prepared to support where needed. The Registrar’s Office will be open tomorrow and closed Sunday. The Virginia Beach EOC will be partially activated on Saturday for updates scheduled for 0900 and 1500.
Grommet Park’s berm was completed midday today. Public Utility generators have been readied to back up our pump stations. The beach stage canopies have been removed as have been the wooden handicap ramps and trashcans on the sand. The Blue Moon Wicked 10K Run at the ocean front will be held on Saturday as planned. The post-race party has moved from the beach to the convention center. Sunday afternoon’s Virginia Symphony concert is under review. We continue to issue press releases, update information on our website and our social media sites. We’ll keep you advised.
Emphasis ours.
COASTAL FLOOD WATCH
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
751 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012
* TIMING…TODAY THROUGH MONDAY FOR THE HIGH SURF. FOR TIDAL
FLOODING…SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING…WITH THE
GREATEST IMPACT AND WATER LEVELS LIKELY TO OCCUR WITH THE MONDAY
MORNING HIGH TIDE CYCLE.* IMPACTS…WATER LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO 2 TO 4 FEET
ABOVE NORMAL BY THE SUNDAY MORNING TIDE CYCLE…AND CONTINUE
THROUGH THE MONDAY EVENING TIDE CYCLE. MODERATE TO POSSIBLY
SEVERE FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHIN A FEW HOURS EITHER
SIDE OF EACH HIGH TIDE.
The City and the Bayfront Advisory Committee has provided the following helpful documents regarding the potential impact of Hurricane Sandy to our area.
Storm Surge – Surge potential of 2-3 feet will combine with astronomically high tides resulting in moderate coastal flooding. Highest potential for moderate flooding is along the entire coast and lower Bay (including Hampton Roads) Sun/Mon.
High tides near the mouth of the Bay will peak between roughly three and four feet, while in the Outer Banks Atlantic tides will peak between roughly four and five feet.
From an email:
Sent: Fri, Oct 19, 2012 10:01 am
Subject: Lesner UpdateKal,
Just wanted to make you and the BAC aware of a few things that are occurring with the Lesner Bridge Project.Public Notices for Permitting
The Corps of Engineers, DEQ, VMRC, and Coast Guard are advertising public notices for the construction permit on this project. The Corps of Engineers public notice has already been advertised and can be found at: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices.aspx
We know there has been some concern about the City putting in a bulkhead at the boat ramp site. We just want the BAC and the Shore Drive community to understand that the current public notices are for the construction of the Lesner Bridge only. This will include a temporary bulkhead at the boat ramp. Any effort made to change the scope of the construction permit (e.g., make the temporary bulkhead permanent) will require a separate application and approval from the permitting agencies. We want to be clear with the BAC and the Shore Drive community that this current application is only for the construction needs of the bridge project. This is consistent with the approach that we discussed with the BAC and the SDCC in early 2012.
Drilled Shaft Load Test at the Boat Ramp
Our design team is currently mobilizing a contractor to perform a drilled shaft load test. This effort will consist of drilling a 4’ diameter hole approximately 110’ deep, placing reinforcing steel, and backfilling with concrete. Once the concrete has cured, the contractor will jack against the drilled shaft until it fails. This test will give us actual field information about how well the drilled shaft will perform. With this information, we can finish the foundation design for the bridge using the most economical drilled shaft design. You will likely see the contractor on site starting next week. We just wanted to make you aware of this in case there are any questions from the community.
Project Manager Change
Chris Wojtowicz is taking over this project for Toni Alger. Toni is still in our group, however she was selected for a supervisor position and her duties have expanded beyond managing projects. Chris is getting up to speed and will be taking care of the day to day responsibilities. Chris has been doing a great job managing the Laskin Gateway project and will bring a lot of experience to the table as we get closer to construction. I will still be involved and available for questions as well so we will have continuity during this transition.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know.
David S. Jarman, P.E.
Transportation Project Management Supervisor
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
757-385-4144 (direct)
757-385-4131 (main)
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