• Activities have continued on the Thompson Creek Project in several areas in the last month. These have included utility relocations plans, updating grant agreements and reports, designing demonstration projects for storm water management, and public education and outreach efforts. Additional efforts have included pre-construction monitoring of Thompson Creek water quality and quantity from runoff events as well as preparations for the Inaugural La Vista Bio Blitz to be held on May 17 at Central Park from 10 am to 4 pm.
• An Open House event was held on April 15, 2014 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at La Vista City Hall in the lobby outside the Council Chambers. Notice of the meeting was sent to residents and property owners for lots that abut the channel restoration area from the pedestrian bridge in Central Park to 72nd Street. Information on relocation of the utility lines in backyards as well as the anticipated project schedule was presented. Following the Open House a presentation was made to the City Council to update them on the project.
• Efforts to obtain increases in grant funding were unsuccessful and it is necessary to reduce the scope of the initial channel reconstruction project to match the available funds. A portion of the project in Central Park west of Edgewood Boulevard will have to be deferred until additional funding is found at a future date. This section was chosen since it has less significant degradation than areas east of Edgewood Boulevard. Some stabilization work near the pedestrian bridge remains in the project.
• Construction work on the channel stabilization project is still expected to begin in the fall of 2014 and last into the summer of 2015. During this summer, easements will have to be obtained to allow for the OPPD relocation work. The City and OPPD representatives will be contacting property owners in the next couple of months.
• The Rain Barrel Program has been extended in order to meet this year’s goal of signing up 40 rain barrels in the Thompson Creek Watershed this year. The deadline has been extended through May 17 and there will be a display of rain barrels and applications taken at the BioBlitz event. The program provides for a 50% rebate up to a maximum of $60.00 towards acceptable rain barrels that are installed by September 5, 2014.
• The City’s consultant team has continued to work on plans for rain gardens around City Hall and a grant application was made for a bio-retention basin for the City Hall parking lot. These projects are expected to be constructed during summer and fall of this year. Bids were taken for the installation of a street filter at the southwest corner of the Park View Blvd and 73rd Avenue intersection. That project is expected to start in July of this year and be completed in September.
• More information on the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration project can be found at www.cityoflavista.org/thompsoncreek