Sticker shock pushes Bel Aire to rethink flood-control plans

Officials working on a flood-prevention project to restore two creeks in Tiburon’s Bel Aire neighborhood have ordered further studies after projected design and environmental-review costs for the work came back at $1.1 million — nearly three times what was anticipated.

The five-member Marin Flood Zone 4 advisory board voted 4-1 April 22, with member Carolyn Shadan dissenting, to direct West Sacramento-based firm CBEC, Inc. to spend $15,000-$20,000 to review information and literature surrounding hydrology and hydraulics at the East and West creeks in hopes of reducing the estimated design costs, which the board had budgeted at about $400,000 and which does not include the $2 million planned for constructing the project.

“It’s a very low-risk investment at this time that could get us closer to … the right direction in terms of overall project costs,” member Liza Gregory Bass said.

Judd Goodman, senior civil engineer with the water resources division at the Marin Public Works Department and the county’s staff liaison, said during the meeting that CBEC will be able to complete their assessment before the board’s next scheduled meeting in July.

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