Input your flood damage to this CrowdSource site

Please take a few moments to let the City know about your flood related damage. This will help them make any decisions regarding any remediation of the 18th and 19th Street Bridges.

https://bouldercolorado.gov/newsroom/sept-27-2013-city-launches-crowdsourcing-map-to-capture-boulder-flood-data-and-stories 

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Some info on flood/ditch mediation ...response of City and WRAB

Jeffrey P. sent me some interesting information on the flood/creek/ditch research he signed up to do at the last meeting.  Susan went to the  Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB) meeting on Monday night and spoke to the WRAB about our concerns in the GGNA area.

What follows are his notes.

In the Boulder city’s site—take a look at the final Boulder Creek Report.  There is a project plan on p. 7 (pdf page, page 3 normally) that shows the creek that was included in the floodplain mapping.  There is an arm of the creek called Boulder Slough (the ditch follows it) that hasn’t been included in the mapping!  Apparently it’s an original part of the creek, the ditch just followed it, and it will be mapped in the next few years.  I think that means we are a lot closer to a floodplain than we thought and that the ditch will become a flood way that needs to be managed.  That could be good news if they do flood mitigation on it—and maybe bad news depending on the floodplain mapping.

Based on this information from the city’s flood maps, there is no question that the city has responsibility for floodplain management in that ditch area—the question is—what will it do and how will the ditch people get in the way? 

Based on what the WRAB had to say, it will be an uphill fight to get the city or the Ditch owners to either widen the ditch itself or change the bridges to allow pass through of flood water.  Rule number one is that whatever flood remediation the city undertakes cannot simply pass flood water further down stream to cause flooding in another jurisdiction.  More importantly, the widen, deepening or changing of the bridges are 18, 19 streets, etc would be hideously expensive; the city would have to compensate residential and commercial owners for  any setbacks, etc. (Interesting note: Our GGNA ditch is named the Boulder Slough and was originally a tributary of Boulder Creek; around 1860 it was incorporated as an "irrigation" ditch. So it is both an irrigation ditch and a tributary of the creek.)

However since the city is planning to build new city structures from 9th to 13th or 15th Streets, they will have to address the Ditch that passes through the GGNA area. That may give us some leverage to get the city planners to look at the clogging/debris build up in the GGNA area.  

It was clear that the city intends to implement the plans/studies already in places severely damaged by the flood such as  South Boulder Creek, Gregory Canyon Creek, Two Mile Canyon, BlueBell Canyon. These areas will probably all receive repairs/work before the GGNA area..

( See www.boulderfloodplan.net for more information. Also look for the Flood control page in the WRAB portion of the city's website; you want the Ditch and Reservoir Directory which will provide usual info on the data the city is using to assess damage, remediation, etc.)

The residents in the GGNA area need to put their flood damage information into the "Crowd sourcing site for the flood, " so this information is available to the Utilities Dept which is handling repairs and remediation, planning for  the city.  Link to follow.

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Emma Martinez Park!

Last Saturday a lively and enthusiasic crowd cheered Emma Martinez in the renaming of Canyon Park to Emma Martinez Park.  She was so adorable!  87 years old, cute as a button, all dressed up with somewhere to go. She told an amazing story of Pat Nixon coming to visit a "hands-on" science project that Emma had started for the neighborhood kids in some quonset huts in the park.  Emma was not invited to meet Pat.  We were happy to honor her today!

Neighborhood Gathering/Meeting Agenda. This Thursday, 7 p.m., 1919 Grove St, Join us!

Time to get together again as a community of neighbors, friends, new friends.  Mary and Maria will host us again. We thank them for their generosity (and wine!) and we always seem to end up with some yummy treats, too. 1919 Grove St.  

 

 Elections.  The first order of business is elections for next year's term.  Please step forward to offer your talents to fill the positions of chair(s), treasurer and secretary.  Stephen and I are certainly happy to step aside to let others lead this group.  We also will volunteer to lead for one more year if desired by the neighborhood.  

 Flood.  First, how is everyone doing?  What feedback do we want to give back to the city?  I think we agree that Boulder Creek was not the problem (thank you, City of Boulder), but the ditches were.  Are there other flood related topics we should discuss?  Dave Secunda suggested we might want to consider how to put together some emergency response plan.  Several neighbors suggested a thank you note to City of Boulder for all the work over the years on the Boulder Creek.  What does the neighborhood think?  If so, who/how to do this?  Do we want to have a street cleanup to get rid of mud, tidy up neighborhood?  

 Field Trip!:  Dave Secunda has offered to take us on a neighborhood field trip.  He will give us more details in the meeting.  

Naropa:  Welcome to Derrick, the new resident advisor at Snow Lion.  Discussion of any joint projects...park at 19th Street?  Other? 

 Community Garden:  Little Library seems to be quite a hit.  At least two half plots are open for next year.  Repairs are needed.  Jerrie has suggested that first priority with funds is to do repairs.

 Street Mural:  Looks beautiful!  is there anything else that needs to be done?  How did that go?  

 Neighborhood outreach:  Pamphlets, newsletter.  New semester has started, do we want to pass something out?  If so, how, who?  What is important to the neighborhood?  Do we want to do a survey?  

 Treasurer's report and approval for funding:   Garden repair expenses need to be approved.  (Michele, hopefully you can field this one...)

Emma Gomez Martinez Park Renaming Event! This Saturday 1 - 3 p.m.

Emma Gomez Martinez Park Renaming

You’re Invited

Please join the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department for a public park renaming of the former Canyon Park to the Emma Gomez Martinez Park. Join us as we honor Emma Gomez Martinez and listen to her speak about her life experiences.

When

1 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013

Where

Emma Gomez Martinez Park, 2035 Canyon Blvd.

R.S.V.P

by Oct. 10 to Caroline Meyers, MeyersC@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-413-7200. Please indicate if you need ADA accessible parking.

Parking

Please use alternative transportation if possible. (See links to RTD bus information and biking maps in the brown box on the right.) The Emma Gomez Martinez Park (formerly Canyon Park) has no designated parking. If you need to drive, please carpool and park in the adjacent neighborhood. If you need ADA accessible parking, please contact Caroline Meyers at meyersc@bouldercolorado.gov.

About Emma Gomez Martinez

The City of Boulder and the Boulder Valley School District built 20 Quonset apartments (steel structures) in response to an influx of returning soldiers attending the University of Boulder under the GI Bill of Rights In 1946 following World War II, on the two empty acres of land, owned by the Boulder Valley School District, at 21st and Water streets (now Canyon Blvd).
Emma Martinez, a member of one of the earliest Hispanic families to establish themselves in Boulder; lived, studied and worked in the neighborhood and soon assumed the role of spokesperson and primary advocate for the Hispanic community in Boulder. In the 1950s, at the end of the GI rush and when CU no longer needed the Quonset village, the land was traded to the school district.
For years, Emma lobbied for the two acres of land to be converted into a park since the area was open, tree-shaded, grassy and there was already playground equipment installed for the university students’ children.  With no funding or assistance from the school district, Emma organized “clean-up crews” consisting of neighborhood kids and their parents to preserve the only park and play area to which they had access. During the late 50s and 60s the Quonset huts were occupied by several non-profit agencies and several of the huts were removed until, in the mid 60s only three remained.
Emma was named to the first board of directors for the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in 1965, and focused her efforts towards getting this property dedicated as a community park. Shorty after being named to the board of directors for the OEO, Emma was hired as the program coordinator, Boulder Center Director and Assistant Boulder County Director for the OEO that now occupied two of the three remaining Quonset huts. Working in her position as liaison to the Boulder City Manager’s Office, she proposed that the property at 2035 Canyon Blvd. be dedicated as a community park. The property, by this time, had come under the ownership of the City of Boulder. Thus, Canyon Park, the dream and vision of many residents of Boulder, became a reality.
The request and decision was made by City Manager Jane Brautigam to rename Canyon Park to be called the Emma Gomez Martinez Park. Boulder City Council and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) supported her decision as a unanimous vote.

Sunday Finish Mural??????

It's a bit cold today for painting---paint needs certain temp to bond.
Sunday we want to finish the lettering, etc. Come help if you can!
Come cheer on the painters if that's your style.
Just come.