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Flood Recovery Leadership - Could leadership set mini deadlines throughout the process so that we ensure the ideas are translated into tangible actions that can be done and measured.

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Thanks for the opportunity to share additional thoughts on the future of Montpelier. I watched the second community conversation - and heard the brief overview on food security. I was surprised that the Montpelier Food Pantry was not mentioned! The MFP serves many of our Montpelier neighbors who struggle to meet their food needs on a monthly basis. Our home for the last 35+ years has been in the basement of the Trinity Methodist Church. This basement was totally flooded and all our refrigerators and freezers were destroyed with all our frozen and fresh foods. We are now in the process of relocating to City Center, a much costlier location but one that allows patrons to walk in and access nutritional food. I’ve spent most of my career on ending hunger through food Justice education but realize that in the short term the city of Montpelier needs an emergency food pantry to support our neighbors in need. I plan to be at the 3rd community gathering on September 7 and hope that the MFP is included in the food security plan going forward.

Many thanks,
Joseph Kiefer
Just Basics Board Member

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Although I wasn't able to see the second half of the presentation tonight at VSH, I did pick up on something said by one of the experts that didn't seem to be picked up on. It was clearly stated that it was not the North Branch that overflowed, but rather that the Winooski backed up at the Confluence. I certainly agree! I watched over 2 feet of water barrel down from Northfield St. onto Prospect St; meet with a similar stream coming down Prospect from the East and meeting with a huge stream coming from our back parking lot where there was a huge sinkhole in the new parking lot, recently blacktopped. You can come over and take a look. And even though there were cars going through 2 feet of water on Rte. 2, there was no residue. It all tumbled into the Winooski with only a little mud left behind the next morning.. Nothing like the high flood mark for the 27 flood on the side of the gas station!

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Who's in charge, and can we afford new paths

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Who's in charge, and can we afford new paths

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It appears to me that the City has more than enough to do to stay on budget, get streets and water in order, and develop better means of interfacing with residents. I am all for having Montpelier Alive, Montpelier Foundation, Vermont Strong lead the way; but will there be money to put ideas into actions? Kevin Ellis suggests we pressure our representatives in Washington, but is that realistic? Money from private sources? Isn't FEMA and other federal gov. sources already overstretched, with needs throughout the country? I think my no. 1 priority is to get the rivers under control.

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Incentives  & penalties around impervious surfaces in the flood zone 

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Incentives  & penalties around impervious surfaces in the flood zone 

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While listening into the breakout session Riverine Corridor, remembering a conversation with the previous mayor regarding possibly taxing those who have (and maintain) impermeable areas in their building complexes, properties or yards and driveways. Equally, we could incentivize those who take actions such as permeable paving, rain gardens, and other actions mentioned in the breakout.

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There are a lot of positive visions for what we want Montpelier to be.  I think to get there, we are going to need to cultivate planning that leans in.   We need as a city and state to shift from a reactive mode, responding and often limiting what others propose because of what we don't like.  Now we need to take responsibility for a vision, work through the trade offs, and be an active partner to make it happen.  We have a choice.  We don't have to settle for a “less than” Montpelier minus recurring hits from flood damage (and other threats).  We can envision a new “more than” version of Montpelier, one that limits future exposure to floods but also presents new opportunity for expanded housing, a resident population that can support local business, a revitalized mix of workers, practical and sustainable energy and transportation systems.  We can choose a vision that can allow people and businesses to stay and attract more who want to share in that vision.  But to do so, we must say here is where the housing and commerce and infrastructure can go most safely and sustainably.  We must work through how it happens, and be clear-eyed about what can be done.  We have the opportunity to minimize and mitigate impacts, but we must recognize that there are always trade-offs; we can be intentional and mindful in our trade-offs.  Montpelier can be a model for how to move forward, and we can draw people and resources to that vision, if we choose.

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Absentee Landlords and Empty Storefronts Be Gone

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Absentee Landlords and Empty Storefronts Be Gone

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As many know, some of the landlords in Montpelier are not as engaged and seek higher rents than others. This is part of the reason some storefronts sat empty for many years. Perhaps the city can assess a fee on empty storefronts after some length of time? Or impose a requirement that they be beautified? An HOA for landlords from out of state.

Similarly, wouldn't it be great if any empty places were made available as art galleries, pop up spaces or even community gathering points? Insurance and liability would be challenges if the public were allowed in, but anything to keep the downtown looking lively come Fall would undoubtedly be a boon to the businesses that are returning and might even get Montpelier some free press if done well

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Seek federal funding for significant affordable housing to be built on high ground in Montpelier

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Seek federal funding for significant affordable housing to be built on high ground in Montpelier

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Vermont and Montpelier had housing and homelessness crises on July 9th that got factors worse on July 10th and 11th, in part because what little affordable housing the state has is in floodplains. The lack of safe and affordable housing affects so many aspects of life in Vermont, including the strain and suffering of those who have to try to figure out how to live without this basic need, a shrinking workforce, shrinking numbers of students in our schools, and on and on. I think it is unrealistic to believe that "the market" will fix this. I think we should seek significant federal funding to rapidly build safe affordable housing OUTSIDE OF OUR FLOODPLAINS.

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Reworking our Riparian Zone in the Heart of Montpelier

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Reworking our Riparian Zone in the Heart of Montpelier

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Barbarina Heyerdahl: Something I've thought about for years is how stone and concrete embankments of riversides increase the risk of flooding, whether in a little city like Montpelier, or a massive one like London, England. In the days since the flood, I've reflected on the fact that where the Winooski runs through the heart of Montpelier, it has been straightened, has stone embankments on both sides, a four lane state road on one side, and acres of asphalted parking lot on the other side. These factors both enable the flood waters to gain speed, as well as have no place to be absorbed. I realize addressing any of these is complex, daunting, and expensive, but perhaps each could be presented to riparian biologists and civil engineers as part of developing a realistic plan for making our flood plain more resilient.

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Scenario Planning and Drills for the Next Flood

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Scenario Planning and Drills for the Next Flood

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Barbarina Heyerdahl: I think it would be strategic for the city to engage in some detailed scenario planning to help city staff, residents, and businesses prepare for the next flood, especially as we have experienced three "historic" floods in less than 30 years, and four in less than a century. It could also be helpful to require--or at least strongly encourage--each building owner and tenant in the flood plain to develop a "flood preparation and response plan" they would submit to the city planning department for review, and then the city could hold periodic drills, perhaps by neighborhood, just as schools hold fire drills.

Several ideas I have thought of and heard from others include:

*the city's staff--fire chief?--using "reverse 911" to notify all residents and businesses of imminent significant flooding. Also, sending out police officers to go door to door in the flood plain to warn folks of potential significant flooding, including encouraging residents to have bags packed with essentials, including medication and important papers

*Also the city's staff to use all the major social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, to warn the public of imminent flooding, including specific instructions on how to prepare and respond

* the city could be prepared to hire tractor trailer trucks and drivers to transport residents’ possessions and businesses’ inventory from buildings in the flood plain to easy-to-access areas outside of the flood zone, such as College Street, perhaps negotiating with the new owners of the college to store personal possessions and business's inventory in several of their buildings during a flooding event. If the timing between NOAA issuing a significant flood warning and the potential flood is short, this could be organized by zones in the floodplain, e.g. those at the lowest point being helped first with the loading and transporting of their stuff, moving onto the next level in the flood plain, and finally ending with those in the outer periphery of the flood plain.

*the city could issue a parking ban for the flood plain while simultaneously removing all parking restrictions outside of the flood plain.

*hire a firm with the mapping capacity to generate building-by-building maps and elevations for what various levels of flooding would mean for EACH building in the flood plain. Something I heard from various impacted business owners is that they couldn't really assimilate what "21 feet" meant for their property.  One person suggested that in addition to each building in the flood plain having these maps and elevations, the city could encourage folks to paint blue lines on their walls that represented various levels of the Winooski flooding, e.g. 15', 17', 19', 21',  as a distinctive form of Montpelier "decor." Someone suggested that all of the above could be helpful because Montpelier is not FLAT. While "21 feet" for one building in the floodplain could mean water lapping at its front steps, it could mean 5' of water in the interior of another.

*perhaps part of the scenario planning with the city could include working with Montpelier Alive to recruit volunteers who would be prepared to be on standby in the event of a significant flood warning.  I find myself thinking about what it could have looked like if Montpelier Alive could have mobilized even a 10th of the 2,000 volunteers who showed up AFTER the flood BEFOREHAND. Even without the city hiring tractors trailers and drivers, individuals could have helped residents and businesses empty their spaces in the flood plain, perhaps even on Sunday, July 9th, and thereby have saved so much of what ended up being ruined.

*also as part of the scenario planning, see if there is a way that an emergency shelter could be opened sooner than in the middle of a flooding event, including providing transportation for the elderly, shut-ins, and those without cars. And consider designating a shelter within Montpelier so that folks wouldn't need to be crossing the Winooski when it was at risk of flooding

*also, develop a plan with business owners for guidelines in terms of employees being able to leave the floodplain/go home in the event of a flood warning. I've heard stories of employees who were told by their bosses that the could not leave work on the afternoon of Monday, July 10th, even as the river was hitting the underside of every bridge over the Winooski, and these workers ended up being trapped at work because by the end of the work day, either they couldn't safely leave the city or reach their homes because of road washouts.

*also, develop a plan for quickly determining how many residents lose their housing--either temporarily or permanently--due to a flooding event, as well as a contingency plan for housing them until new housing can be found.

Sadly, in the context of accelerating climate change, the likelihood that Montpelier will continue to experience significant flooding is high. Perhaps doing the above kind of scenario planning could help our city weather these events with less destruction, trauma, and loss.

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State redevelopment in the capitol district

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State redevelopment in the capitol district

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I would like to see the State of VT consider a major investment in the redevelopment of facilities in the capitol district, similar to what was done at the Wtby State Office complex after Irene. For example: relocate all state owned 'historic houses' along state street out of the flood plan. Utilize the space vacated by the houses (from DMV to corner of State and Bailey ) to construct a flood resilient facility.

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Montpelier has a beautiful confluence of rivers that run through it, where safety and beauty are ensured for all residents.

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1. Is it true that after Irene, the DMV building was protected around the perimeter of the building to avoid water coming in - and that, in fact, that worked for this July storm. DMV
get flooded?  if not, then how about doing the same with other buildings in town?

2.  I'm concerned about Clean Up businesses excessively charging for drying out buildings, moving contents of building to trash site and doing mold remediation, because they can.  They are emergency response businesses.  If you feel you are being charged too much, please contact the Vermont Attorney General's office and/or call 211 and report your concern.
There is a law to protect citizens being overcharged for services rendered during an emergency.

3.  Work on the water flow system First and a priority and if that means turning the MHS into a wetland, let's do that. High School moves to U-32.

4.  Take the country club 2 million dollar
investment and turn it into nice apartment buildings, to house many, including subsidized housing for our homeless.

5.  Priority:  Bring back our businesses and take burden off of them in ways that they say deem helpful.

6. Use VCFA buildings for businesses to relocate who need to.

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Can we make choices by listening closely to each other including the voices of science, good policy, the needs of future residents, the needs of all species in the context of increasing climate instability?

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Can we make choices by listening closely to each other including the voices of science, good policy, the needs of future residents, the needs of all species in the context of increasing climate instability?

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Can we create some more floodplain function in Montpelier or upstream to reduce flood impacts?

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Can we create some more floodplain function in Montpelier or upstream to reduce flood impacts?

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The July 2023 flood was due to a remarkable amount of water.  We can expect more remarkable amounts of water.  We need to create a society that isn't fighting the river but adapting. 

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The July 2023 flood was due to a remarkable amount of water.  We can expect more remarkable amounts of water.  We need to create a society that isn't fighting the river but adapting. 

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What can be done to address legacy issues such as asbestos with furnaces and pipes etc... before asking volunteers to interact with these materials in the next floods? 

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What can be done to address legacy issues such as asbestos with furnaces and pipes etc... before asking volunteers to interact with these materials in the next floods? 

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Would it be possible to help the business owners in the flood hazard area access sandbags at short notice?  Perhaps Montpelier Alive could buy and pre-position sand and sandbags and loaders etc someplace nearby to bring in at short notice?

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Would it be possible to help the business owners in the flood hazard area access sandbags at short notice?  Perhaps Montpelier Alive could buy and pre-position sand and sandbags and loaders etc someplace nearby to bring in at short notice?

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previous message on modeling was from Allen Clark

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previous message on modeling was from Allen Clark

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I attend church at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier which was badly floode.  the following are some thoughts about an approach (modeling) to reduce/fix the problem.

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I attend church at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier which was badly floode.  the following are some thoughts about an approach (modeling) to reduce/fix the problem.

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How to protect Montpelier (better) from flood waters? I don’t know the answer, but I believe there is a way to develop an answer. I think we need to truly understand what happens when Montpelier becomes flooded (build a model) and then look at this model to see what changes would improve the situation.

1.       We need to understand/model what happens (hydrologically) when water backs up in the Winooski River basin (including North Branch) into the low parts of Montpelier. Where is it being constricted/slowed down so that it backs up?

2.       We could model how to appropriately channelize or otherwise manage the river to reduce the backup and also restore/add floodplains/wetlands further up and down stream – the goal is to protect the built infrastructure that can remain. Could we move the water away from the city more quickly without increasing the problems downstream (possibly even decreasing problems downstream)? Are there places upstream where  the river could/should be ”dechannelized” and restored?

3.       The model would likely need to include appropriate resistance in the river, to absorb some of the force of a flooded river (and to add habitat and to compensate for any new channelization). Adding/restoring meander should also be a part of the model.

4.       Perhaps some water storage capacity (retention ponds), that only fill at appropriate high river water levels, might be a useful addition to the floodplains/wetlands.

5.       Is there a possibility of more active flood management of dams already existing on the rivers?

6.       If a model was built, could that model be a basis for improving the situation at other major flood points in the Winooski basin and other watersheds in Vermont and beyond?

7.       I recognize that we need to be careful to replace or not destroy significant habitat (and recreation?). I further recognize that it may make sense to buy out some properties, in order to open up floodplains/wetlands and/or allow better water flow across the land.

A comprehensive model is a serious challenge, but model building seems like the appropriate way to attack this painful problem. Any model will have multiple challenges to becoming reality (buy this property or that, where to get enough money, what are compromises of environment vs property protection, how much can the risk be reduced, how to select/”sell” a best solution, etc.?).

One other possible use for the model (and additional river gauges) would be better prediction of maximum flood height. We were caught off guard when the current model suddenly rose from about 17 feet to over 22 feet – a major difference when it comes to deciding to take action to prevent/reduce flood damage. It would also help if the model could be extrapolated to describe the expected height at multiple places in the city rather than just where it is measured and projected at Cemetery Curve.

I hope to see the development of a useful river model to help achieve a recovered, resilient Montpelier.

Allen Clark 802-476-5321

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Helpful river science, tools, and strategies exist to make floods less severe - but implementation is in the hands of private landowners and upstream municipalities

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Helpful river science, tools, and strategies exist to make floods less severe - but implementation is in the hands of private landowners and upstream municipalities

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Vermont has one of the most advanced river management programs in the country within VTDEC. They have developed remarkable assessment tools and approaches to help rivers function in ways that reduce the severity of flooding. However, the implementation of on-the-ground-measures to improve the function of floodplain sare largely subject to the desires and needs of all landowners and all the municipalities upstream of Montpelier - they are in charge of land-use, planning decisions and zoning in river corridors. Private landowners upstream also act to protect their property without regard for downstream consequences. Example: a tall berm was built at the Casella trash drop-off along the Winooski River after the flood to protect the property - this will serve to make future floods downstream a little bit higher. Local land-use control is a fundamental/traditionally held value for municipalities and landowners in Vermont that in some ways has served us well, but it is an impediment to efforts to make floods less severe.

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Hello, my name is Max Kestrel, I'm a 21 year old lifetime resident of Montpelier. Here are some concepts I'd like to get us thinking about and possibly start planning soon:

-Parklets. When the parklets started popping up downtown, it made chore runs and days out more relaxing. We could sit down with heavy bags before walking the rest of the way home, or even just sit in the fresh air. They don't have the paywall that a cafe or bar might, and it's an opportunity to get outdoors and talk to some new people.

- Langdon street no-car block. Langdon street is the perfect place to have one of these. Think Church street in Burlington, but shorter. A few benches, hanging plants, and wheelchair access with smooth ramps to get over the curbs to sidewalks.

- Info centers. It would be great to have at least one calm and spacious info center with bus schedules, maps of downtown, shaded seating, a free filtered water station, and listed locations of public bathrooms and emergency services.

- Lattice with climbing plants as sound-dampening outdoor walls and general greenery. Great addition to a parklet.

- City Center re-do. City Center is a great place to have some affordable storefronts and places for day-off recreation activities. Snack and drink stands, seating, vending machines, indoor plants and maybe a shelf of donated books for people to borrow or read while they're there. Could be active every day until 5 or 6 PM.

- Amphitheater! Somewhere outdoors with parking and wheelchair access where we could host events, talks, community meetings, or live music. It's an opportunity for people to get fresh air, and we could even hire food trucks to cater some events if the location is near a wide enough street to accommodate traffic and food trucks.

Thanks for reading the long post and for your consideration. Good luck to everyone, and I hope your thoughts and concerns about our town's future can all be heard.

-Max

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Hello, my name is Max Kestrel, I'm a 21 year old lifetime resident of Montpelier. Here are some concepts I'd like to get us thinking about and possibly start planning soon:

-Parklets. When the parklets started popping up downtown, it made chore runs and days out more relaxing. We could sit down with heavy bags before walking the rest of the way home, or even just sit in the fresh air. They don't have the paywall that a cafe or bar might, and it's an opportunity to get outdoors and talk to some new people.

- Langdon street no-car block. Langdon street is the perfect place to have one of these. Think Church street in Burlington, but shorter. A few benches, hanging plants, and wheelchair access with smooth ramps to get over the curbs to sidewalks.

- Info centers. It would be great to have at least one calm and spacious info center with bus schedules, maps of downtown, shaded seating, a free filtered water station, and listed locations of public bathrooms and emergency services.

- Lattice with climbing plants as sound-dampening outdoor walls and general greenery. Great addition to a parklet.

- City Center re-do. City Center is a great place to have some affordable storefronts and places for day-off recreation activities. Snack and drink stands, seating, vending machines, indoor plants and maybe a shelf of donated books for people to borrow or read while they're there. Could be active every day until 5 or 6 PM.

- Amphitheater! Somewhere outdoors with parking and wheelchair access where we could host events, talks, community meetings, or live music. It's an opportunity for people to get fresh air, and we could even hire food trucks to cater some events if the location is near a wide enough street to accommodate traffic and food trucks.

Thanks for reading the long post and for your consideration. Good luck to everyone, and I hope your thoughts and concerns about our town's future can all be heard.

-Max

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I was wondering if making an all out effort to connect more of the downtown buildings to the district heat might help to get furnaces out of the basement and therefore protect them against future flooding.
Also wondering if the city has a Disaster Response Plan and if not, shouldn't one be developed and continuously updated just in case there's a future flood, fire, or whatever.

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It is my hope that information will be made easily available to property owners along and and all bodies of water including rivers, stream, ponds, etc. as to the positive impact of large riparian areas.  It would be great if the information was available in multiple forms including: online, hardcopy, and through presentations/workshops.  With info as to organizations/individuals who can consult with property owners.

Info that includes:
What to plant; How much to plant; Where to plant; Are there volunteer groups to help with prepping the area and the planting;  Where to source the plants; etc

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I would like to see churches consolidate services into one or two buildings and to co-locate a community kitchen that can serve meals to those in need on a daily basis. I would like to see remaining churches repurposed into critically needed housing and flood proofed to remove basements and elevate the first floor to reduce future impacted community members.

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I'm concerned about unrealistic expectations that could lead to apathy and disengagement, when we have an opportunity for collective action. Acknowledging that Montpelier Strong has no governmental role to specifically make change and that property owners from the State of Vermont, Federal Building, to City Hall to the landlords of the downtown buildings and homeowners will all need to take steps for the future of their buildings/properties, how can this "forum" galvanize around a few most promising ideas and solutions that can lead to action? Fantastic idea #1 - basement infill to prevent property damage and leaks of heating oil that threatens human health and the environment from future flooding events and electrical/utility failures. Post Irene, the State of VT filled in basements at the Waterbury State complex. These basements are no longer in use making these buildings more flood resilient. This could go a long way to improving the rebuild/response time after the next Montpelier flood.

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The city might consider hiring a coordinator for CAN which has proven to be a good resource for neighborhoods to be in touch with people, supplies and needs. We need to prepare fer the next event and help each other. This was begun by SMC and now needs full time support for a coordinator

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funding for non petrochemical replacements in Montpelier

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funding for non petrochemical replacements in Montpelier

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Gov. Scott- Please reach out for Federal funding for heat pumps and battery storage.
Also put out a call for heating contractors and equipment from far and wide. Cold weather is coming soon.

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We need to hear form diverse people- young people, renters, low income people, Native people- not only the white wealthy male dominance of the past.

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Please look for financing to help landlords install heat pumps rather than more petrochemical units.

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I have heard that the collective hating system already in place in Montpelier has unused capacity. Will someone study whether this can be piped to buildings needing heat.

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Might we ask for help from the masters of water management- the Dutch engineers?

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We must assume in our planning that the number and extent of the flooding in Montpelier will reoccur or increase in the near future  at least until global warming gets under control.

Reducing the damage from flooding in Montpelier must consider many small, doable  solutions that each solve a part of the problem. rather than seeking a few large actions that may  not be practical and are expensive

The possible actions must address the many contributors to the amount of flood damage including but certainly not limited to the following.

Reducing the volume of water entering the City

FEMA should fund a hydrological study of the entire watershed and because any reduction in water volume will save everybody money in the future.  The City should push for this.  At a minimum the study could include:
* Restoration and creation of wetlands particularly in the upper reaches of the watershed where volumes of water are still low during a rain event.
* Reduction of impermeable surfaces in all areas of the watershed
* Finding flood plains where flood water could enter without doing damage and making them functional.
*Take a hint from the beavers and create many---perhaps 100's of small dams on the scale of   farm or beaver ponds that accommodate usual water flow through carefully sized outlets that will allow water to be stored and released over time.  Think large rain gardens.  Perhaps these could be placed in the upper reaches of the watershed and designed in a way that avoids any human action during flooding and require little maintenance

Controlling the water that comes into the City.
The Wrightsville dam functioned as designed to accomplish this in July.
Are there other ways or locations for dams?

Finding ways to make the buildings water tolerant.
The City is already requiring utilities, electrical and heating systems to be located above the flood level.
Can basements be fixed so that cleanup is easy using impermeable materials
Can check valves be installed to prevent sewer and drain back up.

Finding materials to use in buildings that are less likely to be damaged by flood water.
Impermeable materials such as steel studs, plastics that are cleanable.
Is there a waterproof impervious replacement for sheetrock?
Can metal be used in place of the usual wall covering.   Metal roofing has been used.

Removing or controling source that contaminate the flood waters
In Minnesota a person filled the basement with clean water to match the flood level and so prevented silt and contaminated water from entering.  With the water pressure we have downtown could basements be flooded ahead of the rising water?

Can the possible sources of sewer water and petroleum be found, controlled and eliminated?

Conclusions

I want to thank Steve Everett, Bob Neeld, Jeff Cueto and Jay Boeri for listening to my ideas and adding comments and pointing out problems

This is not intended to be a complete list----only a start.   For certain all of these ideas are not feasible.   My professional history is in historic preservation but often it is necessary to consider solutions and look beyond the buildings.  Saving the vitality of downtown is my goal and that is probably not reachable until the flooding and the resulting damage are under control..

Thanks to Montpelier Alive and the Montpelier Foundation for creating a venue for public input.

I have lived in Montpelier since 1976 and  witnessed the three floods and the July flood has done the most damage.   I currently chair the Historic Preservation Commission which has offered to advise people on preservation and mitigation measures for buildings.

It will take community action. to make good things happen and Montpelier can do that.

Eric Gilbertson
7 Richardson Street
Montpelier
802 272 8543

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My vision is a permanent Farmers Market ,food distribution center, storage facility and community kitchen and canning facility for all.Built in place of the former parking garage financed by the 10 million dollar bond that is still on our books along with green mtn power ,efficiency vermont and Sun common. And make it the center of town along with a community park and much better for all the local merchants.

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My vision is a permanent Farmers Market ,food distribution center, storage facility and community kitchen and canning facility for all.Built in place of the former parking garage financed by the 10 million dollar bond that is still on our books along with green mtn power ,efficiency vermont and Sun common. And make it the center of town along with a community park and much better for all the local merchants.

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emergency response:The need to work with and support our farmers is at a turning point. after many conversation with they feel, insecure, not supported in thier struggles to be sustained in the current climate. Of the 20 million offered by the state 1 million is for farming. Kinda of a joke. If a gift store goes out of business ? If farms go out business you don not  eat. 

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emergency response:The need to work with and support our farmers is at a turning point. after many conversation with they feel, insecure, not supported in thier struggles to be sustained in the current climate. Of the 20 million offered by the state 1 million is for farming. Kinda of a joke. If a gift store goes out of business ? If farms go out business you don not  eat. 

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I put forth the challenge to eat completely local for 1 month to really understand how we have become dependent on 75% Of all that sustains life from 3000 miles away.As a buyer and worker in the world of produce during covid trucks were skipping our deliveries and goin to whole foods in Boston.When we did not get a delivery on Monday and the last delivery was on Saturday.WE WERE COMPLETELY OUT OF FOOD.DO THE MATH AND THINK  ABOUT IT.

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I put forth the challenge to eat completely local for 1 month to really understand how we have become dependent on 75% Of all that sustains life from 3000 miles away.As a buyer and worker in the world of produce during covid trucks were skipping our deliveries and goin to whole foods in Boston.When we did not get a delivery on Monday and the last delivery was on Saturday.WE WERE COMPLETELY OUT OF FOOD.DO THE MATH AND THINK  ABOUT IT.

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Let's align local action and ownership with regional planning to make best use of resources for rebuilding and recovery.

Could this be in the form of a 'DEV-HUB' that comes out of Montpelier Strong, sits outside of local government, and bridges to the Regional Planning Commission and State entities?

Neither Montpelier Development Corporation, nor Sustainable Montpelier Coalition were effective in implementing good ideas and project plans from the Net Zero Vermont Design Competition 2017. Now we have a new window of opportunity in the political space that follows a disaster - we could learn from past initiativesand do better!

The first forum highlighted the importance of collective planning beyond our small city / downtown, to take into account 'watershed'  hydrology and geography, collaborating with other communities, small towns and cities, sharing common vulnerabilities and resilience criteria.

Montpelier Strong - consider setting up a development hub as a resource center / one-stop-shop for residents, home-owners, small businesses and social entrepreneurs, investors and grantors. The hub would enable ease of navigating the networks, guidelines for coherence in building a self-sustaining future around local economy with ecological stewardship.

It's not easy to see how this rebuild of our downtown can happen while the majority of buildings are in the hands of private owners who may not align with these principles of development and rebuild.

Hanif Nazerali
Ecological Community Health Organizer
hnazerali@cs.com

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Appended - Build on the Vision of 2017 Design Competition (NZV)

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Appended - Build on the Vision of 2017 Design Competition (NZV)

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Build on the Vision of 2017 Design Competition (NZV)

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Build on the Vision of 2017 Design Competition (NZV)

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Steering Group - please look at the five winning designs from the Design Competition that were based on key elements and principles of sustainable design stated at the outset in 2016.
So much creativity and meaningful participative public engagement (co-creating) that shaped concepts into project workbooks by 2017.  Perhaps these designs could be re-assessed for our current context and adopted resilience definitions.  Yet so little tangible after many years, even with newly formed institutions such as Sustainable Montpelier Coalition!

The five teams - local to global! - that were the ‘winners’: (see also uploaded Team Bridges Project Workbook for example)

1.     Team Bridges

2.     Scott and Partners

3.     White and Arup

4.     Gossens Temkin

5.     Weimann Lamhere

The stated guiding principles for sustainability (see more in uploaded 19-page doc):

1. Environmental Sustainability – new structures will be Net Zero in their energy

demands, and utilize local materials where possible. Convert valuable real estate

downtown to an integrated, efficient transportation network emphasizing pedestrian, bicycle and shared transit. The future movement of goods and people will also be more efficient (via rail, transit, vans, or more efficient vehicles, where possible).

2. Social Sustainability – Human Centered Design must be incorporated into the

envisioned city spaces and buildings, encouraging people of all ages and abilities

to make Montpelier a place in which to live, work and play. Successful designs will

promote community gathering, shared work and maker spaces and opportunities for celebration. Illustrate how the built environment can encourage people of all abilities to make full use of the future city. Access and use of the surrounding natural environments, particularly the riverfront, must be incorporated, reflecting a nourishing and fun community to live in.

3. Durable Sustainability – Designs should consider the long-term effects of time

and natural forces. Flood plain areas must be addressed, and durable materials used

to survive for 100 years with minimal maintenance and reconstruction, including low carbon concrete and longer life rebar. Designs should allow for the future incorporation of improved technology with minimal disruption and expense, and be adaptable for other uses in the future.

Hanif Nazerali
hnazerali@cs.com
Ecologic Community Health Organizer
ex- Sustainable Montpelier Coalition

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Ban oil tanks, manage district heat for downtown

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Ban oil tanks, manage district heat for downtown

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Let us ban all oil tanks within the flood plain.  For downtown business heating we have a district heat system that was never managed or supported by the city after its construction.  Create a small scale heat utility for finance and management of the district heat plan so that the downtown center no longer need individual heating systems.  This cannot happen until a credible management structure is created for the current system.

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We need long term credible Emergency Response plan

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We need long term credible Emergency Response plan

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Montpelier needs to create a credible and long term emergency response plan that has actual assignments of responsibility.  In the current failed plan our city manager failed to exercise the weak and existing plan, as did the state, leaving all of us with a worse situation than should have been allowed.  We desperately need credible city leadership that can be prepared for the climate disruptions coming our way.  Currently we have a leadership vacuum in the city.

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I feel it is extremely important Montpelier hires professionals in river hydraulics/hydrology to assist the efforts moving forward. Citizen input is important but may not always be an appropriate solution. Professionals can/have work with the State to arrive at sound solutions that will benefit both Montpelier and the environment.

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I'm a Marshfield resident who feels Montpelier is "my town"" as I shop, eat, meet friends there, and all-around love it. Like everyone else, I'm very saddened by the great damage to Montpelier and the possible loss of businesses and housing in what was a very vibrant little city. I would echo the two business owners who spoke at the forum about the need to get people downtown NOW. How about a parade/mini-festival in September with food trucks supplementing the restaurants that are open, music, artists with booths (donating part of their sales to the Montpelier Alive fund), and businesses selling outside their shops like they are doing on the Green now? Also, we could have volunteers soliciting donations outside businesses for their Gofundme's. The idea is to show support for business owners AND get people downtown again to see progress and to keep helping with recovery. We can't just abandon the downtown and wait for it to be rebuilt.

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This morning my friend and I walked the downtown and the bikepath. And as we stood over the still raging North Branch, at the bridge by Shaws, we had an idea. What if we explored solving two serious Montpelier problems – flooding and parking – with an integrated solution? What if the large lot alongside Julio's and where the "Garage" building stands were razed and dredged down to 20-30 feet below the surface and this entire lot became the site of a well-designed parking garage? And by well-designed we mean it looks good from the outside (and could even be the site of a new weekly farmer's market on the top floor, say - 3rd problem solved), but it also serves an important infrastructural problem: it becomes an important drain for the North Branch and Winooski, such that it is set as the lowest point in town, so that flooding rivers would flow into the "garage/drain" and then there would be serious storm drains to take the water farther down river, to where it hits the flood plain between Montpelier and Moretown? I'm no hydrologist, but I do firmly believe that sometimes embracing a problem or challenge in a new way is the best way to find a lasting solution. - Paul Richardson

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Better public hangouts for youth - modern skatepark, small piazza style parks, better city basketball gym, a public indoor soccer field, a new city teen center, etc

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Idea courtesy Buzz and Sandra Ferver. Sketchup model by Aaron Westgate.

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The future of Montpelier is Net Zero! No fossil fuel tanks in basements, micro grids, battery backups, mechanical infrastructure is on the 2nd floors. The next flood will be less toxic if we get these propane and oil tanks out of here!

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We need a city-wide plan for a resilient rebuild - and relatively quickly. 

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We need a city-wide plan for a resilient rebuild - and relatively quickly. 

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Fill basements with lightweight concrete (as was done to the Waterbury State Buildings) - through state or federal funding not paid by individual building owners. Hire a flood resilience navigator - the city staff is not equipped to do this - nor do they have the expertise.  Many of our historic buildings have been moved before and they could be moved again (up or to new locations). Eliminate the large asphalt state office parking lots along the river and create wetlands and sinks for the water.

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There ought to be a major public service education campaign on what to do in case of flood. Example" I've never lived in an earthquake area, but I know that you are safer standing under a solid door frame inside the house. But I do live in a flood zone, and don't know how to turn off a circuit breaker! There might be a way to educate the region on how to prepare for evacuation, how and where to store household goods, and how to best prevent major damage in case of flooding.

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There ought to be a major public service education campaign on what to do in case of flood. Example" I've never lived in an earthquake area, but I know that you are safer standing under a solid door frame inside the house. But I do live in a flood zone, and don't know how to turn off a circuit breaker! There might be a way to educate the region on how to prepare for evacuation, how and where to store household goods, and how to best prevent major damage in case of flooding.

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Noaa has just upgraded their report on this coming Hurricane season with the el nino current and winter not far off and the utter lack of any plan from the city we needed a totally coordinated plan yesterday because
it can happen next week. And the electric and internet could be out next time along with shaws and the coop flooded then what.
Getting caught with our pant down is not a good look.From my conversations with friends stated the the top meterologist in Vermont sounded the warning several days in advance and 2days before informed the the powers to be that we were going to flooded and it was going to be bad.The system of communication and messaging was a disaster in itself.And we need people in charge who are experts and not bureaucrats .

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We were directly impacted by the heavy rain but not by the rivers overflowing, rather by neglected storm drains clogging and overflowing down lower North Street

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1. Most important is to keep climate change possible disruption right in front of us as we do our daily decision-making and conduct business and rebuilding. 2. This includes attention to existing infrastructure as well as making necessary revisions to it. 3. Also very important to revisit expensive decisions in terms of pressing needs. Two examples - the proposed impervious track at the high school and the huge purchase of land at Elk's Club. Take that money and put it to helping real estate owners and renters make necessary major revisions to their goods.

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Future Montpelier is not only quirky, charming, and the Capital, as it is now -- it is also a place where every resident feels safe, sheltered, fed, and nourished in spirit and mind.

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It is not reasonable to have a community where we will need to muster weeks of volunteers and professionals to keep mucking us out.   It is not a sign of learning.  It is not respectful of the work that we all need to be doing. 

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It is not reasonable to have a community where we will need to muster weeks of volunteers and professionals to keep mucking us out.   It is not a sign of learning.  It is not respectful of the work that we all need to be doing. 

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This July flood - a remarkable slug of moisture from the 100 degree water off Florida... could happen again in the coming week.  Even more likely next year with a second year of El Nino.   When La Nina returns (?) we will have a stronger cycle of tropical storms again.  We DO...need to think in context.  What will "Florida" do to national priorities and international efforts to address the climate crisis? 

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This July flood - a remarkable slug of moisture from the 100 degree water off Florida... could happen again in the coming week.  Even more likely next year with a second year of El Nino.   When La Nina returns (?) we will have a stronger cycle of tropical storms again.  We DO...need to think in context.  What will "Florida" do to national priorities and international efforts to address the climate crisis? 

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Can the Montpelier Ecovillage prepare adequate and safe spaces to host ongoing international dialogues about learning to live with rivers and to live on Earth? 

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Can the Montpelier Ecovillage prepare adequate and safe spaces to host ongoing international dialogues about learning to live with rivers and to live on Earth? 

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Where is the Montpelier / CVMC / Berlin/ Barre microgrid?   And it's sister grids?  

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Where is the Montpelier / CVMC / Berlin/ Barre microgrid?   And it's sister grids?  

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Fuel oil tanks are a big mess.  I'm so glad that EPA stepped in through some funding mechanisms to staunch some of the spills.  Much didn't get addressed.  We don't want more fuel oil, benzene, asbestos etc. in our flood silt.   We want the silt as a gift on farm fields.  Not as toxic materials in our lungs and homes.

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Fuel oil tanks are a big mess.  I'm so glad that EPA stepped in through some funding mechanisms to staunch some of the spills.  Much didn't get addressed.  We don't want more fuel oil, benzene, asbestos etc. in our flood silt.   We want the silt as a gift on farm fields.  Not as toxic materials in our lungs and homes.

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The State of Vermont took a real hit with this event and with TS Irene.  We need to think with the Legislature and Governor about reversing the emerging climate catastrophe and investing in long-term infrastructure for resilience. 

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The State of Vermont took a real hit with this event and with TS Irene.  We need to think with the Legislature and Governor about reversing the emerging climate catastrophe and investing in long-term infrastructure for resilience. 

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We have an aging population in VT and Montpelier.  We need a vital, young, thinking, engaged youthful generator.  A college...would normally be the answer.  But now they are being dismantled by non-residential and asynchronous models of production.  Atomizing education along with everything else.  How do we create/invite face-to-face community with youth, diversity and innovation at its core?

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We have an aging population in VT and Montpelier.  We need a vital, young, thinking, engaged youthful generator.  A college...would normally be the answer.  But now they are being dismantled by non-residential and asynchronous models of production.  Atomizing education along with everything else.  How do we create/invite face-to-face community with youth, diversity and innovation at its core?

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The historic resources of Montpelier, and Barre, and many communities have created barriers to adaptation.  Does it have to be so? 

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The historic resources of Montpelier, and Barre, and many communities have created barriers to adaptation.  Does it have to be so? 

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We need safe affordable lovely housing... for a variety of needs and sizes.  But perhaps more small spaces ... SROs, studios, conjugate housing, mixed ... and sharing kitchens and sitting space.  Together with reinforcing our community spaces... the library, meeting rooms, taverns, cafes, venues.  

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We need safe affordable lovely housing... for a variety of needs and sizes.  But perhaps more small spaces ... SROs, studios, conjugate housing, mixed ... and sharing kitchens and sitting space.  Together with reinforcing our community spaces... the library, meeting rooms, taverns, cafes, venues.  

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Some of the people living without housing live under bridges, and camp in floodplains.  This is crazy.  We have to have publicly invested mechanisms to build long-term affordable housing for everyone.

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Some of the people living without housing live under bridges, and camp in floodplains.  This is crazy.  We have to have publicly invested mechanisms to build long-term affordable housing for everyone.

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Basement flooding from sewer backup... many old buildings in the floodplain have basements that flood,  sometimes they also flood from stormwater/sewer backups when the river is high.  Some of the owners would benefit by installing back-flow valves to stop sewage from coming into their buildings.  Can we get the word out (and incentives out and enthusiasm out)  along w/ winterization, heat pumps etc..? 

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Basement flooding from sewer backup... many old buildings in the floodplain have basements that flood,  sometimes they also flood from stormwater/sewer backups when the river is high.  Some of the owners would benefit by installing back-flow valves to stop sewage from coming into their buildings.  Can we get the word out (and incentives out and enthusiasm out)  along w/ winterization, heat pumps etc..? 

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I'd like to see more state workers working from home (not driving and emitting CO2) and maybe making some of the state buildings/ spaces...into safe denser housing for the same and all.   A vibrant community with fewer vehicles. 

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I'd like to see more state workers working from home (not driving and emitting CO2) and maybe making some of the state buildings/ spaces...into safe denser housing for the same and all.   A vibrant community with fewer vehicles. 

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On the topic of dams... there are no good options for more flood storage dams.   Maybe we could change the management of the Wrightsville hydro permit to systematically add some minor increment of flood storage before a storm?  Not terribly helpful.  Maybe the same for Molly's Falls?   

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On the topic of dams... there are no good options for more flood storage dams.   Maybe we could change the management of the Wrightsville hydro permit to systematically add some minor increment of flood storage before a storm?  Not terribly helpful.  Maybe the same for Molly's Falls?   

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Montpelier thankfully has tremendous social capital... (thank you!) .... we need to work with other communities that don't have that.  We need to insist on thinking together about our common interest.   Let's not increase climate chaos.  Lets' not squander our floodplains through laissez-faire.  Let's invest in safe, denser, beautiful, walkable communities. 

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Montpelier thankfully has tremendous social capital... (thank you!) .... we need to work with other communities that don't have that.  We need to insist on thinking together about our common interest.   Let's not increase climate chaos.  Lets' not squander our floodplains through laissez-faire.  Let's invest in safe, denser, beautiful, walkable communities. 

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Change is hard... we need vision, incentives, solidarity... celebration. 

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Change is hard... we need vision, incentives, solidarity... celebration. 

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Choose options that strengthen ecological capital, human capital, social capital and result in built capital with long-term value ....no matter what is ahead.  

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Choose options that strengthen ecological capital, human capital, social capital and result in built capital with long-term value ....no matter what is ahead.  

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To adapt old buildings... we need to have strong regulations for resilience but also strong incentives to act ... before disasters. 

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To adapt old buildings... we need to have strong regulations for resilience but also strong incentives to act ... before disasters. 

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We need to be promoting building creation (with higher density, elevated structures) and adaptation of historic buildings with a mind to what we know and what we can't know about the future.  We need to be concerned about the known risks of the future and the unknown risks that are just emerging. 

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We need to be promoting building creation (with higher density, elevated structures) and adaptation of historic buildings with a mind to what we know and what we can't know about the future.  We need to be concerned about the known risks of the future and the unknown risks that are just emerging. 

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Montpelier was built in a floodplain at the bottom of a post-glacial lake.  let's understand that we need to adapt to our situation along with Barre, Northfield, Waterbury, Richmond, Middlesex and all the other communities of Vermont.   

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Montpelier was built in a floodplain at the bottom of a post-glacial lake.  let's understand that we need to adapt to our situation along with Barre, Northfield, Waterbury, Richmond, Middlesex and all the other communities of Vermont.   

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Where is our flood recovery plan?  Where are our Zero Carbon goals?  Where are our Climate Resilience goals?  

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Where is our flood recovery plan?  Where are our Zero Carbon goals?  Where are our Climate Resilience goals?  

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Flooding is not the only problem... remember drought, remember heat, remember cold,  remember housing, remember food production, storage, production.  Think comprehensively.

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Flooding is not the only problem... remember drought, remember heat, remember cold,  remember housing, remember food production, storage, production.  Think comprehensively.

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One of the big problems in the July flood was all the trash that caught up against the RR bridges in Barre and Montpelier causing more flood damage.   Draw bridges? 

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One of the big problems in the July flood was all the trash that caught up against the RR bridges in Barre and Montpelier causing more flood damage.   Draw bridges? 

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Many downtown buildings are owned by investors and the buildings are considered "historic" and as such exempt from zoning requirements to become flood safe.  It's a trap.  We need a reconfiguration of space.   Eliminate basements.  Elevate storage etc.  Perhaps just off site up hill?  More awkward - yes.  Viable - somewhat more viable.  Or... tax basement rental space to establish a Montpelier flood insurance pool for businesses who will lose their stock unexpectedly at inconvenient times. 

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Many downtown buildings are owned by investors and the buildings are considered "historic" and as such exempt from zoning requirements to become flood safe.  It's a trap.  We need a reconfiguration of space.   Eliminate basements.  Elevate storage etc.  Perhaps just off site up hill?  More awkward - yes.  Viable - somewhat more viable.  Or... tax basement rental space to establish a Montpelier flood insurance pool for businesses who will lose their stock unexpectedly at inconvenient times. 

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Many of the small businesses downtown are trapped.  The buildings are not designed to avoid damage from flooding.  The owners lease the space in knowledge that the basements will flood, the businesses will be dislocated and most will fail.  The small entrepreneurs think luck is on their side and don't have adequate flood emergency response plans,  insurance is not available for contents in basements.

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Many of the small businesses downtown are trapped.  The buildings are not designed to avoid damage from flooding.  The owners lease the space in knowledge that the basements will flood, the businesses will be dislocated and most will fail.  The small entrepreneurs think luck is on their side and don't have adequate flood emergency response plans,  insurance is not available for contents in basements.

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We need to be thinking about "donut economics" - not too little and not too much and building relationships for our community in relationship to the rest of the county, state and beyond.   We will again face chaos - too much water, too little water.  Too much heat, too little heat.   If we rush to make things like "they were" we lose. 

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We need to be thinking about "donut economics" - not too little and not too much and building relationships for our community in relationship to the rest of the county, state and beyond.   We will again face chaos - too much water, too little water.  Too much heat, too little heat.   If we rush to make things like "they were" we lose. 

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We need to understand our situation at scale - it is global and it is existential.  We need to be working locally but also with state, federal and international, indigenous, and NGO coalitions.  1. to reduce GHG  2. to conserve ecological services 3. to  insist on an equitable distribution of wealth and power.   Honestly, those with money will think they have options.   We can't rely on disproportionally wealthy to actually care. 

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We need to understand our situation at scale - it is global and it is existential.  We need to be working locally but also with state, federal and international, indigenous, and NGO coalitions.  1. to reduce GHG  2. to conserve ecological services 3. to  insist on an equitable distribution of wealth and power.   Honestly, those with money will think they have options.   We can't rely on disproportionally wealthy to actually care. 

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For us personally the only flood damage was due to backed up storm drains. Has our infrastructure been so neglected?  I would like the city leadership, governmental and business, to recommit to maintaining and upgrading the engineering infrastructure we have -- especially stormwater and swater/sewer lines.

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I live in Middlesex with my wife, August Burns.  For the past 42 years we've been commuting to, shopping in, and providing support to Montpelier, including with donations of money and labor following the recent flood. Our hearts are with Montpelier, and we very much want the city to survive and thrive.

We listened to the first forum on recovery and resilience this past Thursday and would like to offer two observations.

First, we are concerned about the inadequacy of the responses to the catastrophe from our governmental leaders.  The Scott administration’s BEGAP budget, for example, would appear to be wholly inadequate to the financial needs of local businesses; a number of them will not be able to open for lack of grant funding to repair and replace.  The Vermont Legislature is surprisingly not planning to convene in special session to consider additional funding.  And at the local level, it would have been helpful to hear ideas, or at least inspirational words, at the forum from Montpelier's mayor and city manager.  What is their plan for recovery and resilience?

Second, Montpelier should be reaching out to experts on flood recovery and resistance from other parts of the country and the world--experts on river and flood control, architectural and engineering approaches to elevating or otherwise protecting buildings from flooding; mass relocation of business districts; and so on.  Convening local citizens is important, but we also need the best ideas from the best minds on what can and should be done--from places like New Orleans and Holland that have faced similar challenges before.  This is no time to reinvent the wheel.

Hopefully these points will be addressed in the next two forums.  In the meantime, thank you for providing this opportunity to comment.

Elliot Burg
Middlesex, Vermont
Tel. (802) 272-4920
Email eburg4@gmail.com

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LOVE the idea of putting the HS on the Elks Club property, with the bike path already leading to the front door!  Also, RE the downtown: The City Center, above the flood plain,  was built to accommodate indoor shops, but I don't believe that the space has been utilized enough over the years. FYI I was told that Court Street was the Main Street originally.

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LOVE the idea of putting the HS on the Elks Club property, with the bike path already leading to the front door!  Also, RE the downtown: The City Center, above the flood plain,  was built to accommodate indoor shops, but I don't believe that the space has been utilized enough over the years. FYI I was told that Court Street was the Main Street originally.

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There are multiple things that are important to me about Montpelier. The large thing would be ensuring walking infrastructure is not affected. Restaurants and shops are also vital to keep the town and jobs alive, if we abandon businesses then we might as well increase taxes and watch people leave. We also need to reflect on the citizens whose homes were damaged and are less likely to get support from FEMA or the state. Everyone should have access to support.

Potential answers and other ideas

What about raising the foundation and raising the house a floor so people can park under the house instead, kind of like they do in hurricane areas? This would need to be done at a large scale rather than one at a time as the cost would be astronomical. Places that I have seen this done a lot is Galveston, TX and I believe the Outer Banks. VT could definitely put the VT spin and look on it.

What about closing down Main Street during the week so that the businesses can do business like street vendors? If not, what about allowing them to do business near Vermont College? And provide signage for people to know how to get there.

Does Vermont college on the land behind them that is currently forest? What about moving a large portion of downtown up there and turning the current downtown into a wetland.

Dredge the canal and upstream? Then put some vegetation in there with the assistance of environmentally knowledgeable people.

Review what Northfield did after Irene to fix the flooding issues. Their damage sounded like it was a lot less than when they were hit by Irene due to addressing some of the Rivers needs.

Any purchasing that is done should be pooled so that there can be a discount rather than every being hit with normal pricing. This also would help save the environment with one large delivery rather than multiple small deliveries.

With rebuilding, are we looking at any possibility for fast tracking out of state trade license transfer to VT to allow skilled workers to come and assist. Are there any locations that temporary housing can be provided (RVs, Mobile homes, large empty warehouses)? Additionally what about offering one and out of state trade schools to come and do hands on work to help fast track them in the trades. Is the city and state able to extend construction working hours in order to expedite repairs? Is there a way to get and additional City inspector to expedite and streamline approvals and maybe have a central location or section of the town they review each day to make the process more efficient for them?

If we are looking at affordable or low income housing it appears we as a state avoid apartment complexes. Looking for large unused plots of cleared land why isn’t there a look at building something around the airport in Berlin?

Kyle
Renter

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It’s important there be an emphasis on mitigation.  Flooding keeps happening here.
I’ve experienced 4 while living in Vermont.
It makes no sense to rebuild with no thought of preventing the same or worse damage next time.  And we know that there will be a next time.

Is this a city issue?

Susan Calza
The Susan Calza Gallery
138 Main St
Montpelier
05602
802-224-6827

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We can't stop the weather but a few things we can do including planting trees all along the river banks (something volunteers could do) and creating more wetlands so the rivers have more places to meander. Maybe more rain gardens too and removing the dams that no longer have a use.

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As we re-envision better infrastructures and begin to rebuild, please keep in mind all of the road flow problems we already have in the city and how we might improve them. One of them severely impacts my pocket community.

While those of us in the Terrace St neighborhood (Deerfield Dr, Clarendon Ave...) are lucky to live on a hill that will not flood severely like the downtown, we found ourselves trapped in our neighborhood while the waters were up; the one entrance to the neighborhood from town (Bailey Ave) flooded very early, and all of the back roads in/out of here are dirt and extremely prone to washing out, as they did in this event.

Not only floods offer this challenge, but every time the city hosts a parade/march that stretches from the High School to the State House, access to our neighborhood is cut off. This has long felt like a safety concern, and we would love it to be considered as we rebuild and improve.

In the meantime, can we PLEASE make the flashing light at the Bailey/State intersection flash RED in all directions? It's confusing to have a yellow flash for just one of the three roads.

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We need to know the details.  I would LOVE a forum that starts with city officials and technical experts giving us the details.

- What do we know about businesses rebuilding?  Who is planning to rebuild, who is closing, who is moving - and to where?
- What is possible for the river?  Would dredging help with anything?  Are there actually areas that could be recovered as flood plans?
- What do we know about engineering and architecture?  Could the buildings in town have their basements filled in?  Or could they be repurposed so that they can better withstand floodwaters?  Can the main floor level be raised in high ceilinged shops - and could that happen in an ADA accessible manner?
- What about schools?  Does U-32 actually have room for all Montpelier's students if there were to be an exploration of combining schools?

The first session was cathartic.  Now we need the people who know about these things to do a teach-in and to be present to provide answers so that we can focus in on the things that are actually possible - and get things done in a timely manner!

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The recurring problem as I see it is that at times of heavy rain and or during rapid snow melt we have more water flowing into this flat river basin than is leaving.  I feel that we need to look closely at the bottleneck that seems to be at or around where the North Branch flows into the Winooski.  Perhaps there is a way to open the channels by dredging or widening and get that water out of town faster.

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Montpelier schools need to be included in the rebuilding Montpelier conversation.  We have buildings requiring mitigation from the floods and others that are antiquated, at best. Is throwing more money in the elementary schools the best option - pouring good money into structures requiring costly upkeep?

Considering the recent events, is spending $2.4+ million for a track wise?

Residents are financially stretched :
- $3.5million country club property
- a dated infrastructure requiring immediate attention
- the streets that houses our capital are a disgrace
- taxpayers are responsible for a budget that is extremely high for a population of 8,000

Please, please examine:
- cost in rebuilding a downtown
- $2.4 million track
-$3.5 country club property
- development of that property(unknown cost)
- antiquated schools to consider
- remediation of school damages
- preparing a site to accept PFAS toxic waste
- examine the budgeted personnel amount in relation to the city’s population of 8,000

Ideas for consideration in the rebuilding of our downtown; pedestrian-only for State Street from Main Street to Taylor Street.
Adding levels to the existing parking garage.
Affordable housing using state buildings, possibly churches.

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I'm a home owner/tax payer, sole proprietor of business in downtown, in a building that was feet away from the flood. Water in the basement was the extent of damage to building, where I have been renting an office on second floor for 28 years. 

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I'm a home owner/tax payer, sole proprietor of business in downtown, in a building that was feet away from the flood. Water in the basement was the extent of damage to building, where I have been renting an office on second floor for 28 years. 

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My  two children graduated from Montpelier High School , and after this flood, and the approval by the school board to build a state of the art track in the flood plain, I believe we need to rethink that project, and consider merging our district with U-32. I think  we need to investigate the Federal or State  buyback program for our high school building, ( I  know nothing about this, but a speaker mentioned it at last night's meeting .)
As for downtown,  I  also agree with one other speaker last night, we need to find a way to covert lots of asphalt parking lots by the Winooski River to proper flood plain, so water from rivers can spread out and be absorbed.

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This isn't "incredible" by a longshot, in fact it's pretty pedestrian and basic, but here goes: It's difficult to assess a situation when you don't fully understand it. I'd like to see and hear a full explanation of what actually happened and what caused it. Something beyond "We had record level rainfall and the ability of the land to absorb the water was overwhelmed."  I'd like to know where did the water come from, where were the worst hit areas, where are the weak points, how is water flow and volume determined, etc.? The flooding didn't begin and end in Montpelier. Lowlying areas and higher areas alike were effected outside the city. Unless we can grasp the larger local picture it seems to me that making remedial suggestions is a fairly futile exercise. I'd like to get better educated before offering opinions.

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As someone old enough to still refer to MHS as the building on Main Street, the Main Street Middle School;  I would like to suggest as others have, that we combine our High School with U32.  A lot has happened since 1954 and although there were thoughts of a NEW high school in 1954 the year I graduated, I thought it was a wild idea then, as I do now!  Those lovely fields with corn, cows, swampy areas and rotated crops with clover would be ideal again for a return to agriculture, or perhaps a nice natural recreational/tourist attraction park site!
Thanks for the chance to comment and for the great meeting last night!
Mary Alice Bisbee, subsidized apt. renter
3 Prospect St., Apt. 308
Montpelier, VT

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There’s no reason every homeowner or business owner needs to independently figure out city regulations, recovery funding, access to resources, etc.  It should be done once and shared.  Perhaps Montpelier Alive can obtain funding for an office of navigators to relay info already gathered and vetted. Much as Obamacare relied on a network of navigators.

Second, the State appointed a Chief Recovery Officer.  Montpelier needs one as well.  I think that position should live outside City government so as to be able to work hand in hand with Doug Farnham and Bill Frazier while retaining the independence to advocate strongly on behalf of Montpelier residents and businesses even when those interests run counter to current regulation.

We often invest those same functions in City government/ officials and then complain when there’s no dedicated resources or the guidance is mired in bureaucracy. Whether it’s managing the acquisition and development of a potential housing parcel or planning for a wholesale redevelopment of our downtown, we need a strong advocate unencumbered by dual loyalties.

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I am really hoping that Montpelier Alive and others are asking building owners to share their ideas of what works and what doesn’t work.
For example, the oil tank at the Unitarian church was chained in place and did not move. The vent pipe was above the flood level, so water did not go down the pipe and contaminate the oil, but will be extended 2’ higher to avoid future flooding.
And
Also at the church, Trusscore will be installed over foam core (instead of sheetrock instead of insulation that gets soggy) in areas that got flooded. They can be removed quickly removed to dry the structure underneath, then reinstalled. This minimizes expenses, debris, and speeds it up.

I imagine there are many good ideas to collect and share ASAP while people are still lining up workers.

Thanks for an interesting and heartening meeting.

Fran Dodd
(On the Board at UCM)

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In reference to future possible flooding, thank you...

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In reference to future possible flooding, thank you...

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My wife and I are both social workers
so essentially know nothing about construction or engineering and know
may sound a bit postmodern or Orwellian, but if nothing can be done proactive or preventative (to the construction or re-channeling of the river) in case the river should happen to overflow again, can it at all be considered that each business on Main or State or other streets that flooded be mandated and paid by the state to have a pulldown gate made out of the strongest material; ie metal, aluminum, similar to let's say what people have for storage, and then let's say right before a huge catastrophic storm simply manually put it down, lock it down into the actual street with a couple bolts, completely preventing and stopping any excess water from flooding in, I know sounds a bit sci-fi but to me does sound possible, viable and feasible and would be done on a collective, community-like level; can be done aesthetically so not seen at all over window but just on top and only used in case of emergency, seems like a possible worthwhile idea; so we don't have to just hope and pray the next time god forbid another one comes along  lots of love

Joey & Erica Reich