Title
Neighborhood Adaptation Pilot Resolution
Memorandum
The attached resolution recommends that the Ann Arbor City Council direct the city administrator to develop a pilot program (with city staff and/or contract support) to 1) use the City of Ann Arbor calibrated stormwater model to evaluate the anticipated impacts of the larger storms predicted by climate models on specific neighborhoods; 2) select three neighborhoods that have both a high flood risk and a high potential to benefit from implementing a suite of mitigation actions; 3) develop a neighborhood education and outreach program to help residents understand the relationships between increased precipitation, city infrastructure, and individual investments in green infrastructure, and to build support for implementing these solutions; 4) develop a neighborhood strategy to reduce flooding and improve community resiliency based on public and private investments.
Staff
Prepared by Commissioner Hutton for the Environmental Commission
Body
Whereas, the total annual precipitation in Ann Arbor has increased 44% between 1951 and 2012 and the amount of precipitation in the most intense rain events has increased in Ann Arbor by 41% between 1951 and 2012;
Whereas, predictive climate models show a significant increase of 2-4 additional inches of rainfall each year and an increase in the severity of rainfall events in Southeast Michigan;
Whereas, future precipitation increases will continue to burden and, sometimes, overwhelm the natural and built infrastructure designed to protect city residents from basement flooding, street flooding, and yard flooding;
Whereas, increased precipitation will cause property damage and other risks associated with flooding, making them pressing issues for affected city residents and for staff;
Whereas, the City of Ann Arbor has invested in calibrating a sophisticated stormwater model that can now identify high-risk areas and impacts associated with extreme rainfall;
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