Flood Task Force Update

As was previously reported, in response to the tragic flooding that occurred in our community which resulted from Tropical Storm Debbie and Phillippi Creek’s inability to handle that volume of water, the Forest Lakes Flood Response Task Force was formed.

We have reached out to others affected by the devastation: our friends/neighbors from South Gate, Pinecraft, Village Green, the SAND group, (neighborhood along the creek at US 41), and Sarasota Citizens for Action Now (SCAN). In addition, SCAN brought other neighborhoods into a recent ZOOM meeting, including Bee Ridge, Gulf Gate, Artistry, Laurel Meadows, and Palmer Ranch, to name a few. There is clearly strength in numbers.

A sampling of our information-gathering and advocacy efforts are listed below:

• We attended and spoke at 2 County Commission workshops which addressed what must be done to adequately resolve the creek's issues, and other stormwater issues. 

• We attended a joint City Council/ County Commissioners Stormwater meeting.

• We attended and spoke at the Resilient SRQ workshop about the HUD Action Plan for federal funding to address housing issues and infrastructure issues.

• We attended the Stormwater Advisory Council meeting.

• We have communicated with Staff management as well as the Commissioners on multiple occasions posing questions to better understand funding efforts, and advocating for expedient, thorough action.

• We facilitated a meeting with Commissioner Smith in concert with Pinecraft.

• We have also met/ heard from Hydrologist/ Engineer, former county Stormwater Director, Mr. Steve Suau, P.E. whose recommendations the county has requested. You may access his recommendations at this link: Steve Suau Recommendations Dredging had been authorized only in the creek near US 41. Forest Lakes and many of the other associations are advocating for dredging all the way to Beneva Road at Pinecraft, one of the most impacted communities. It has been relayed that the dredging of Phillippi Creek will allow it to carry an adequate volume of water to prevent flooding in our area should a storm like Debbie hit again.
  

Financial sources exist with the County Stormwater Environmental Utility Funds (our stormwater utility taxes).  Additionally, the HUD Action Plan specifically identifies Phillippi Creek maintenance dredging as the intended recipient of $45,000,000 if the Plan is approved later this summer.

A third Stormwater Workshop is scheduled in Commission chambers for May 21 st .