HomeMy WebLinkAbout11963RESOLUTION NO. 11963
A RESOLUTION FORMALLY REQUESTING THE UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD TO REMOVE THE ABANDONED
RAILROAD BRIDGE OVER FOUNTAIN CREEK,
REMEDIATE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION,
AND SUBSEQUENTLY DONATE SAID PROPERTY TO
THE CITY OF PUEBLO
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has
determined that the abandoned railroad bridge over Fountain Creek is causing a
significant constriction of the floodway; and
WHEREAS, the removal of the bridge is necessary to restore Fountain Creek’s
capacity to accommodate a 100-year event; and
WHEREAS, if the bridge is not removed, FEMA will include a significant portion
of Pueblo’s historic East Side neighborhood within the preliminary 100-year flood plain
map, thereby causing property owners in such neighborhood to incur significant flood
insurance costs; and
WHEREAS, the bridge is on Union Pacific Railroad property which has not been
properly maintained and presents a safety hazard;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
The Union Pacific Railroad is hereby requested to remove its abandoned railroad
bridge over Fountain Creek, remediate any environmental contamination as may be
present upon the bridge property, and donate said property to the City of Pueblo upon
completion.
INTRODUCED: August 23, 2010
BY: Steve Nawrocki /COUNCILPERSON
Background Paper for Proposed
RESOLUTION
DATE: AUGUST 23, 2010 AGENDA ITEM # M-11
DEPARTMENT:
PUBLIC WORKS
DIRECTOR – EARL WILKINSON. P.E.
TITLE
A RESOLUTION FORMALLY REQUESTING THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TO
REMOVE THE ABANDONED RAILROAD BRIDGE OVER FOUNTAIN CREEK,
REMEDIATE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION, AND SUBSEQUENTLY
DONATE SAID PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF PUEBLO
ISSUE
Should the City Council formally request the Union Pacific Railroad to remove the
abandoned railroad bridge over Fountain Creek, remediate any contaminated property
associated therewith and donate said property to the City?
RECOMMENDATION
Approval of this Resolution.
BACKGROUND
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that the
abandoned railroad bridge over Fountain Creek is causing a significant constriction of
the floodway making it incapable of adequately accommodating a 100-year flood event,
and thereby impacting portions of the historic East Side neighborhood. If the bridge is
not removed to allow sufficient flow, FEMA will include affected properties within that
neighborhood in the preliminary 100-year flood plain map (DFIRM Maps).
The abandoned bridge is believed to be located on private property owned by the Union
Pacific Railroad. This property is not currently being maintained, constitutes a safety
hazard and may be an attractive nuisance. The City is willing to accept donation of the
property and thereafter take over maintenance, but only if the Union Pacific Railroad
removes the bridge and properly characterizes and remediates any contaminants as
may exist at the Railroad’s expense.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Although there are no costs to the City at this time, if the affected portions of the historic
East Side neighborhood become included in the DFIRM Maps as within the 100 year
floodplain, the property owners will become subject to significant flood insurance costs.