By Director Barbara Keegan, representative for District 2
As we get through this public health crisis together, Valley Water is continuing its work on a project aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in neighborhoods along Coyote Creek in San José.
Valley Water is in the final planning stages of the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project, which was developed utilizing the community’s feedback gathered at previous public meetings and following internal guidelines. Our objective is to reduce the risk of flooding to homes, schools, businesses, and highways in the Coyote Creek floodplain up to the level that occurred on Feb. 21, 2017, which was approximately a 20-year flood event.
As our project team presents the recommended alternatives to the Board of Directors, we also want to share our proposed solution with those who live and work in these creekside communities. We want to ensure this will be a project that works for these neighborhoods.
The safety and health of our neighbors is very important to us, and that’s why we are inviting the community to participate in virtual meetings. Our preference is to always be present in the community while listening to your ideas and addressing your concerns. However, holding meetings virtually will allow us to follow the existing shelter-in-place orders and accommodate social distancing requirements.
Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters will be available at each meeting, and a telephone only option is also available.
Valley Water is holding three meetings to discuss aspects specific to different neighborhoods along the nine-mile stretch of the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project. We will also share with the community details of how we arrived at our proposed solution, what to expect in the coming months, and how the projects at Anderson Dam are connected to our efforts along Coyote Creek.
The meetings will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following dates:
Wednesday, June 10
Neighborhoods: Golden Wheel, Riverbend, and South Bay mobile home parks
Zoom web address: https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/97114961496
Dial-in: 1-669-900-9128
Webinar ID: 971 1496 1496
Thursday, June 11
Neighborhoods: Bevin Brook, Nordale, and Rock Springs
Zoom web address: https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/93167110341
Dial-in: 1-669-900-9128
Webinar ID: 931 6711 0341
Wednesday, June 17
Neighborhoods: Bonita-24th Street, Brookwood Terrace, Five Wounds, Julian-St. James, Naglee Park, Olinder, Roosevelt, and Wooster
Zoom web address: https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/94224642456
Dial-in: 1-669-900-9128
Webinar ID: 942 2464 2456
I plan on attending the virtual meeting on June 17 which will focus on specifics of the project in neighborhoods that I represent. My fellow board members Richard P. Santos and Tony Estremera are scheduled to attend the meetings on June 10 and 11, respectively, in the districts they represent.
We will also livestream the meetings on Facebook Live: http://www.facebook.com/SCVWD. The meetings will be recorded and available for viewing on the Valley Water website, along with the presentation.
Once the preferred project alternative is approved by the Valley Water Board of Directors, our team will begin designing the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project, part of the voter-approved Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.
We will continue to hold public meetings during the design phase of the project to ensure community members have a voice in the aesthetics of the proposed solution. We want the community to remain involved throughout the process.
My board colleagues and I continue to advocate with our state and federal representatives to seek funding for our local flood protection projects. This financial investment is critical to achieve flood protection projects for our community.
We appreciate everyone who attended our previous public meetings for this project, and we hope to see another great turnout in our virtual setting.
For further information, contact your elected district representative, Barbara Keegan at BKeegan@valleywater.org.
Valley Water News 