Page 16 - Abacoa Community News - March '23

Page 16, Abacoa

Town Of Jupiter Northern Notes

News Know The Flow

By Katie Roundtree,
Director of Finance and
By Jim Kuretski, Administration, Northern
Mayor, Town of Jupiter Palm Beach County
The Town Council Improvement District
works with our town Flood control in Florida
manager, staff and is a shared responsibility that
others to address issues provides maximum benefit
affecting our residents only when all components
and businesses. The (primary, secondary and
following provides a tertiary) are designed and
summary of actions and constructed to work together Finally, the water flows to the “primary” drainage system
achievements since last and are maintained in proper working order. Florida is operated by the South Florida Water Management District
month’s Community more complex than many states, where one entity is usually (SFWMD) or other natural waterways. Floodgates may be
Newspaper report: responsible for providing local and regional drainage for the opened, and water levels might be lowered in anticipation of
Fire Rescue (F/R) Service Costs community. Some areas have no formal drainage systems and heavy rains to accommodate direct rainfall and inflows from the
Jupiter’s contract with Palm Beach County (PBC) are prone to routine flooding; others may be covered by several “secondary” systems. During and after heavy rains, excess water
to provide F/R services expires on Sept. 30. It is organizations or governments providing varying service levels. is routed through all available “primary” waterways to regional
subject to periodic renewals. Other municipalities Depending on conditions, water may have to be routed through storage areas or coastal discharge points to relieve flooding as
including Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta and North several interconnected, though independent, conveyance quickly and safely as possible.
Palm Beach have their own F/R departments. The systems – each of which must be properly maintained and
Town Council received a presentation at its Jan. 17 functioning – to provide flood protection for south Florida What Can You Do To Help?
meeting about costs to create and operate a new Town neighborhoods.
F/R department. So, what path does storm water typically follow from your Residents And Business Owners
Town of Jupiter residents currently pay a significant neighborhood to its final destination? Here’s an example. Five ○ Make sure drainage gates, ditches and swales in your
premium (164 percent) on a per resident dollar basis inches of rain falls in 24 hours over an inland community. This neighborhood are clear of debris.
versus that which Lake Worth, Palm Springs and rain follows a wet period, so groundwater levels are already high. ○ Remove loose items, including yard debris, from your yard.
Royal Palm Beach residents pay for the same PBC F/R According to most approved drainage designs, some water is Debris and litter can clog storm drains and cause flooding.
services. The Town is collaborating with PBC about temporarily stored in public recreational areas, yard swales and ○ Check your community retention pond or lake for
a prospective agreement for it to continue providing streets. The excess surface water slowly drains to community obstructed pipes and contact the appropriate authority for removal
F/R services to Jupiter at a more equitable cost per lakes or on-site ponds via street and yard drainage grates, swales, (could be your HOA, city, county, or local drainage district).
resident basis. Stay tuned. ditches or canals. Water then drains from the community or ○ Find out who is responsible for drainage in your community.
Harbourside Settlement Agreement “tertiary” system through underground pipes to the “secondary” Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl.
Harbourside initiated a lawsuit against the Town system, in this area mainly operated by Northern Palm Beach Homeowner Association Officials
and Community Development Agency (CRA) in County Improvement District (Northern) or the city or county. Familiarize yourself with your particular drainage system
January 2016. This case has been in the court system Maintenance and upkeep of community drainage facilities are and how it fits into the overall south Florida drainage picture.
and mediated for the past seven years. The Town typically the responsibility of homeowner associations. Specifically, learn how the system works and how to maintain
Council worked earnestly and held a number Attorney/ The “secondary” drainage system is usually a network of the facilities under your responsibility properly.
Client Sessions from November 2022 through January canals, structures, pumping stations and storage areas. These Report the location and condition of any clogged or damaged
2023 to resolve these matters. systems can cover several hundred square miles and serve many facilities to the proper authority (homeowner association, city,
A Settlement Agreement was unanimously approved communities. In communities maintained by Northern, storm county or local drainage district, or the South Florida Water
by the Town Council and authorized by the parties on water systems are gravity-fed or pumped using storm water Management District) in advance of and during the summer
Jan. 17. The next steps entail public hearings on Feb. pump stations. Water moves through a series of lakes and canals rainy season. Please make a note of important telephone numbers
21 and March 7 to amend the Harbourside Planned via weirs (fixed structures), operable gates and pump stations. and keep them handy.
Unit Development Order to incorporate settlement These systems move water through multiple communities at NPDES tip: Your neighborhood drainage system is not a
agreement items, after which the complete set of times, so the “downstream” effects must be considered when garbage disposal – don’t treat it like one. Encourage residents to
litigation settlement documents will be submitted to moving water from one area to another. The storm water systems take responsibility and to not dump chemicals, fertilizer, paint, oil,
the court to bring final closure to all litigated matters. discharge into local canals managed by either Northern or other etc. in inlets or pipes. Discourage sweeping of lawn clippings and
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Plan municipalities. Northern uses a telemetry system to monitor and dirt into street drains and disposing of lawn clippings and other
Update remotely open and close gates and pumps. Weather conditions debris (wood, concrete blocks, Christmas trees, etc.) directly into
The Town established a CRA in 2003 to guide the and water levels are monitored around the clock. These systems retention lakes. Keep drainage facilities clear of vegetation, trash,
development/redevelopment of 400 acres of property, discharge water in the “primary” flood control system as long improperly and illegally discarded appliances, shopping carts,
which subsequently became known as Jupiter’s as carrying capacity is available. tires, cars, garbage bags, etc.
Riverwalk and Jupiter’s Inlet Village. The CRA is
scheduled to sunset in 2034. There is a CRA Plan that
sets goals and objectives for development/redevelopment
and defines planned community investment projects. The
CRA Plan was last amended in 2012.
The CRA at its Feb. 8 meeting, embarked upon an
effort to update the CRA Plan to rechart the course for
development/redevelopment through the 2034 sunset
ending of the CRA. It is currently expected that the
CRA Plan update will be implemented in two phases,
phase one in 2023 and phase two in 2024.

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