RES 2019-08 Adopted 0 0
RESOLUTION 2019-08
A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR PREPARATION
OF RESPONSE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT INTEGRATED POST
AUTHORIZATION ANALYSIS REPORT(PAAR)AND SUPPLEMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT(SEA) FISH PASSAGE AT NEW SAVANNAH
BLUFF LOCK AND DAM(NSBLD), AND DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT(FONSI)TO EVALUATE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FISH PASSAGE
FEATURE OF THE SAVANNAH HARBOR EXPANSION PROJECT(SHEP)ISSUED
BY THE SAVANNAH DISTRICT OF THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
WHEREAS,the City of North Augusta has branded itself as"South Carolina's
Riverfront",and
WHEREAS,the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam(NSBLD)for more than
80 years has maintained the pool created by the said NSBLD in the Savannah River at a target
elevation of 114.5 feet, and
WHEREAS,the City of North Augusta via Resolution 2019-01 is on record as
supporting Option 1-1,Retain the Dam with GA Fish Passage,and authorizing the Mayor and
City Administrator to take measures to ensure the present pool is maintained, and
WHEREAS, Option 2-6d, Lowered Fixed Crest Weir with Dry Floodplain
Bench,recommended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) calls for replacement
of the NSBL&D with a rock weir whose height will substantially lower the pool elevation
along the City of North Augusta's shoreline, and
WHEREAS, the USACE has issued a number of documents related to its
decision to replace the NSBL&D with the rock weir to the public for comment, and
WHEREAS, the preparation of the City of North Augusta comments will
require substantial effort requiring knowledge of hydraulics, hydrology, cost estimating,
engineering, environmental sciences,recreation, mapping, and real estate, and
WHEREAS, the comments delivered to the USACE by the City of North
Augusta, as well as,the comments submitted by surrounding municipalities and their citizens,
local industries,and environmental groups must be well-reasoned and technically correct and
reflective of the broad impacts which will be caused by selection of Option 2-6d as the
mitigation action to be implemented, and
WHEREAS,the City's staff has neither the breadth of experience nor expertize
to prepare the comprehensive comments nor time anticipated to be necessary to develop the
comments, and
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Council of
the City of North Augusta, in meeting duly assembled and by the authority thereof, authorize
the following:
1. The City Administrator is authorized to expend from the General Fund
Administration Contingency Account not more than $15,000 for the
preparation of comments on the Draft Integrated Post Authorization
Analysis Report (PAAR) and Supplemental Environmental
Assessment (SEA), Fish Passage at New Savannah Bluff Lock and
Dam (NSBLD), and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
to evaluate proposed changes to the Fish Passage feature of the
Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) issued by the Savannah
District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
2. Should the City Administrator deem it appropriate, to enter into an
agreement with Augusta-Richmond Countym have comments forjoint
submission prepared by contractors possessing the specific technical
knowledge and experience in the disciplines cited above.
DONE,RATIFIED,AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH
AUGUSTA,SOUTH CAROLINA,ON THIS THE Ora DAY OF MARCH,2019.
SIGNE
ROBERT A.PETTIT,MAYOR
ATTESTED BY:
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SHARON LAMAR,CITY CLERK