Lehe Planning, LLC - In Progress

leheplanning.com

In Progress

CONSTRUCTION PHASE, CITY OF MOUNTAIN BROOK WATKINS BROOK FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PROJECT. The City first received a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant in 2005 to complete the feasibility phase to evaluate project alternatives and recommend a preferred plan. The three-year construction phase, beginning in the fall of 2009, includes over $10 million in structural improvements to mitigate flood damages to the City's central commercial village, Mountain Brook Village and surrounding areas. The firm is working in association with Walter Schoel Engineering Co.

2010 JEFFERSON COUNTY MULTI- HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. Lehe Planning had prepared mitigation plans for 19 counties across Alabama covering more than half the state's population, beginning in 2003. Under FEMA requirements, all of those plans must be updated every five years. For the 35 Jefferson County jurisdictiOns, including the City of Birmingham, the initial phase of the update meets the latest Federal planning guidance issued in July 2008. A follow up phase will include more detailed risk assessments and real-time flood damage estimates, using the Jefferson County EMA Hazard Mitigation Information System and automated stream gage network.

2010 MOBILE COUNTY MULTI-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. For Mobile County, the firm is working on a five year plan update that includes detailed risk assessments, specialized planning studies, and a consolidated plan for all jurisdictions within the county. The original plans were divided between incorporated and unincorporated areas. In early 2006, the separate planning committees were merged, and the Hurricane Katrina Long Term Recovery Plan was adopted. The 2010 plan consolidates the three plans into one and examines risks in much greater detail.

2010 BALDWIN COUNTY MULTI- HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. Lehe Planning had prepared the original mitigation plans for Baldwin County in 2004. The 2010 update begins a new five year cycle and will be prepared according to most recent FEMA planning criteria. Baldwin County-based HMR Engineers will provide a local perspective and oversee all local Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meetings.

CITY OF TUSCALOOSA FLOOD PLAIN ACQUISITION PROJECT. FEMA has awarded funds under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to fund 75% of the costs of this $2.5 million project, and the City retained Lehe Planning to implement the project. The project has been approved for acquiring 23 homes within an area of repeated flooding. The firm had previously been retained by Tuscaloosa-based engineering firm McGiffert and Associates, LLC for developing a feasibility study and preparing the FEMA grant application.

CITY OF TUSCALOOSA MOODY SWAMP TRIBUTARY 3 DRAINAGE PROJECT. McGiffert and Associates, LLC retained Lehe Planning to examine the economic feasibility of over $4 million in drainage system improvements to mitigate flooding in this mixed use, urbanized area of 258 structures threatened by flooding. The proposed improvements would lower flood elevations by up to 12 feet in some locations. The feasibility study found a 2.01 benefit to cost ratio to justify a FEMA e-Grant submitted under the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program for $3 million in Federal funds.

CITY OF ADAMSVILLE COMMUNITY SAFE ROOM. Lehe Planning has partnered with architect Mark Burns for this a 400-person capacity storm shelter serving up to 160 families. The project's total cost is $713,000 with a proposed FEMA share of $535,000, which has been awarded to the City under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

TANNEHILL STATE PARK STORM SHELTER. Sponsored by the Jefferson County EMA, this project has been funded through the FEMA HMGP to construct a community shelter to protect park visitors from severe storms and tornadoes. Mark Burns is the project architect.

BIRMINGHAM WATER WORKS BOARD EMERGENCY GENERATOR. A FEMA grant of $1 million helps fund emergency backup power at the Putnam filtration plant.

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM VALLEY CREEK FLOOD PLAIN ACQUSITION PROJECT. This project requires acquistion of 25 properties in the City of Birmingham within the Valley Creek flood plain. The project is funded through the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program.

CITY OF RAPID CITY, SD, GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROCESSESS ASSESSMENT. Lehe Planning has partnered with John Gilliom, Ph.D., of Municipal Software Solutions, Inc. (M2SI) to evaluate the responsiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the City's processes to manage growth and development, including long range planning, development review, and permitting. This study will also examine the feasibiliy of automating select processes..A report with recommendations to improve the local processes will be presented to the Mayor and Council upon completion. This project requires acquistion of 25 properties in the City of Birmingham within the

FIVE MILE CREEK GREENWAY. In April 2002, Jim Lehe first proposed his initial concept at a meeting of community leaders - to connect open space areas acquired through FEMA flood plain acquisition projects within Brookside, Fultondale, and Tarrant. The concept immediately caught on and shortly afterwards, the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership was formed. The Partnership has actively coordinated projects and events to enlarge the initial concept and make the 28-mile greenway a reality. More recently, the firm teamed with landscape architect Dale Fritz to secure a grant to fund the first phase of the Brookside segment under the Recreation Trails Program administered through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). The ADECA grant was awarded to the Town, and completion is expected in the fall of 2009.