Page 5 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - March '23

Jupiter Ocean Mile, Page 5
Northern Notes

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

Editorial copy appearing herewith is not necessarily the viewpoint of
Seabreeze Publications of Central Florida. Most editorial copy is created by
the homeowners and is edited by their appointed editor.

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