Citizens and elected officials cite need for funding to prevent local flood catastrophe

Property owners and local government leaders today urged the Board of Supervisors of the King County Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) to enact the plan and funding mechanism designed to maintain and repair King County's aging system of 500 levees and hardened embankments.

Twelve speakers testified at a public hearing on the District’s 2008 work plan and budget, and on funding through a property tax assessment as recommended in September by the Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee, and in October by County Executive Ron Sims in his 2008 budget address. Several speakers cited the need to prevent a local flood disaster like that seen in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

The Flood Control Zone District Board has scheduled a vote on the 2008 work plan, budget and funding for next Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 a.m. in Council chambers.

“Kirkland has no projects in this work plan, but we strongly support the levy because we don’t want band-aid fixes to this problem,” said Kirkland Deputy Mayor Joan McBride, a member of the FCZD Advisory Committee, which consists of citizens and local elected officials from across the county. “We need to do this right. It is much less expensive to fix the levees than to pay to rebuild after a catastrophe.”

“We know the weather patterns are changing, we will have more rain and worse storms. The longer we put off these projects, the more expensive they become and the more we put our economy at risk,” said Tukwila Mayor Steve Mullet. “Accept the project list and assess the 10 cents to get us going. Nothing less will help us in resolving our problems.”

“Today’s testimony is a reminder of the regional nature of the District,” said Supervisor Larry Gossett, Chair of the Board of the FCZD. “People who live outside of the flood areas will feel the impact of a major event. It is in their best interest to help protect the businesses represented within the single largest industrial area in the state of Washington.”

“The local investments in our waterways have a regional impact on our ability to move goods and people when floods occur,” said Supervisor and Board Vice-Chair Julia Patterson. “To benefit residents from Kent to Fall City, I look forward to supporting the flood district levy when we vote next Tuesday.”

“This important issue comes on the one-year anniversary of our 2006 Election Day storm, which caused about $33 million in damages in King County, and in many areas damage still has not been repaired ” said Supervisor Kathy Lambert, who represents the hard-hit Snoqualmie Valley. “Flood protection is only as strong as its weakest link. Much of our flood levee system was built in the 1960s. It is time to reinforce our flood control and be proactive to protect our citizens. We need to protect homes knowing that flooding is the most frequent cause of damage in King County. We also have Highway 167, which is the second-largest freight corridor on the West Coast and the largest in our region.”

“As we heard from those who testified, floods can have devastating and catastrophic impacts on people, communities, and businesses,” said Supervisor Larry Phillips. “This countywide plan to repair levees and build other flood protections is a regional solution to a regional problem. By acting now, we can minimize the danger, economic losses, and colossal rebuilding costs of future floods.”

The King County Flood Hazard Management Plan developed by County Executive Ron Sims identifies an urgent need to address maintenance and repairs to the County's aging system of 500 levees and hardened embankments that protect floodplain residents, businesses, public infrastructure and roads. The flood protection improvements will cost an estimated $335 million. King County has more than 25,000 acres within the mapped, 100-year floodplain, or more than 40-square miles. The Plan recommends that funding for work overseen by the FCZD come from a countywide property tax levy.

The Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee on Sept. 17 recommended the District’s project list be funded by a property tax assessment of 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which would raise about $30 million per year for levee repairs.

All 9 members of the King County Council sit as the King County FCZD Board of Supervisors. The Council created the FCZD on April 16 with the responsibility to reduce the likelihood of future flood disasters by fixing the county’s failing flood protection facilities.

The FCZD replaces 12 separate districts created to address areas of localized flooding, with little or no coordination between them. The FCZD assumed the implementation the 2007 budget and work plan adopted by the one district which did have a budget, the subsequently-dissolved Green River Flood Control Zone District.