Bonney Lake councilmembers heard from the chairman of a group formed in the summer to address flooding issues in the valley and surrounding cities.

Sumner Councilman Matt Richardson, chairman of the Pierce County River Revitalization Task Force, address the council during citizens comments Oct. 13 about the report and findings from the group.

The PCRRTF includes two County Council members, a council person each from Orting, Puyallup and Sumner, along with three citizens and a environmental engineer.

During the recent flooding, sewer plants in Sumner, Puyallup and Orting had to be sandbagged, Richardson said.

“When that happens, we’re talking about septic overflow into the river and backups in the sewer systems,” he said. “And no one uses those systems for several months after we spend several thousands of dollars to get it repaired.”

Richardson said there is relationship that needs to happen between Sumner and Bonney Lake.

Richardson presented the city with a copy of the PCRRTF’s report. The group hosted three summit-style debates with a town hall element at the end of the meetings. The meeting were July 8, July 22 and Aug. 12.

“The future safety of cities and at-risk populations in the valley, and the infrastructure up here (Bonney Lake) and ways to get down to the valley, will depend on our collective action today as unified group of cities,” Richardson said.

Richardson noted that some of the report’s findings suggest:

• reform of debris-removal policies and fee from private city-county properties.

• co-application for removing sediment from in and around critically populated and facility sensitive areas.

• co-application for removing surface bars

• creation of combined city-county flood control district.

• reform and appraisal process of red-tagged flood-damaged properties.

• reform of assessment and taxation of red-tagged flood-damaged properties.

• joint city-county planning of future sewer treatment plants.

• flood wall funding and construction from the new Flood Control District funds

• update the county’s emergency plan for flood evacuation.

• audit and revision of cities and county service water management funding sources.

• city initiative designed to protect the sewer treatment plants.

• PCCRTF endorses the unanimous Channel Migration Zone recommendation by the Puyallup River Executive Task Force.

• flood-related documents and news be maintained on the county Web site.

Bonney Lake Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman said a challenge for the task force is the resolution creating a taxing or fee district that would include Bonney Lake.

Swatman said he bought property in Bonney Lake to avoid flooding, but cities in the valley have more assets and property at risk.

“As a policy-maker, you’re creating assets in the valley and you know they are at risk from multiple sources such as floods and lahars,” Swatman said. “You’re actually creating an asset and you’re coming to an area where they don’t have those threats and asking those residents to increase their tax burden to pay for decisions you’re making to put your assets at risk. That’s a key challenge.”

Richardson said what was at stake in the valley is not just their own assets, but Bonney Lake residents’ ability to get off the Plateau using state Route 410.

“The last two floods, 410 flooded,” Richardson said. “Outside of that, you have airlifts or other means to get off the Plateau.”

Richardson reminded the council that Sumner, Bonney Lake and Auburn got together to see how to save the water in Lake Tapps.

“It was a regional concern and Bonney Lake couldn’t do it by itself,” Richardson said. “If the sewer treatment plant gets flooded, no one wins. If 410 floods, no one wins.”

Swatman said he can get off the Plateau several other ways beside using 410 and that Lake Tapps is a regional resource.

“Sumner and Auburn has skin in the game because of water rights being involved,” Swatman said. “It was a benefit to the whole area.”

Richardson explained the taxing district would be countywide, noting that King County has a flood control district.

Councilman Dave King said he felt that Pierce County Regional Council should be one of the body involved in the task force study.

Richardson said Sumner has had three 100-year floods in the past 10 years. He said from 1932 to 1985 there was an Inter-County Rivers Program, which dredged the rivers.

“And 25 years later, here we are and why are we surprised,” he added. “The mountain is going to deposit its sediment, rock and debris into the flatlands. We need to get back to managing the river.”

Richardson said currently a city is responsible for their own sewer, but during the group’s meeting there was discussion of a regional sewer treatment plant.

Richardson also asked the council to review a resolution draft supporting managing and maintaining the Puyallup and White rivers.