After Elm Grove flooded, the first time, in May 2019 Mayor Pro Tem Martin quickly deployed resources across over 20 villages in the greater Kingwood area to assess the City's stormwater infrastructure. Over the next six months, the Houston Public Works team investigated over 200,000 feet of stormwater infrastructure through televised lines. This area flooded again in September of 2019, during Tropical Storm Imelda, which kicked the City of Houston's ongoing investigations on the area to the north of Elm Grove into high gear.
After each rain event, since 2019, Mayor Pro Tem Martin has taken a very hands on approach in the community to make sure City issues are addressed, in real time, by driving and walking to watch water flow through our City's stormwater system. The City of Houston has done its job in changing codes of ordinances making development requirements within City of Houston City limits stricter and adopted ATLAS 14 requirements.
District E has highly scrutinized at least three additional developments based on this situation near jurisdictional boundaries. We have learned and are making sure that developments within the City's boundaries are put on notice. District E is committed to making sure everything that can be done to prevent and reduce future flooding is being done. The key issue with this development illustrates a need for multijurisdictional policy in place for properties in the ETJ or at the borders of jurisdictions. What happens on one side of a city limit or county line has an impact on properties that lie just feet beyond that invisible boundary.
Today's accomplishment at City Council is due to a myriad of individuals and entities which have provided input, resources, and research over the last year and a half. A huge thank you to Beth Guide, who has been a fervent advocate for her community. Many thanks to County Judge Hidalgo, Commissioner Cagle, Commissioner Garcia, Commissioner Ellis, and Commissioner Radack for their support of this endeavor. And thank you to Executive Director Russ Poppe, Deputy Executive Director Matt Zeve, Communication Services Manager Beth Walters and the number of engineers at HCFCD that were integral in researching this situation alongside our Houston Public Works Department.
Finally,
Mayor Pro Tem Martin wants to thank Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock, Chief Recovery Office Stephen Costello, and a special thank you to Mayor Turner for his dedication to helping the people of Elm Grove and Kingwood. This Interlocal Agreement will be considered at the next County Commissioner's Court meeting taking place on
Tuesday, December 15, where we hope the item will be just as successful as today's City Council agenda item.
