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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />2023 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: May 8, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Elk Meadows McElroy Bridge Alternatives Analysis <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENMATION: <br />Direct staff bring a temporary land use moratorium on Elk Meadows to the Board for <br />consideration. Direct staff contact Elk Meadows leadership defining a preferred <br />alternative for noticing state and federal regulatory agencies. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• At a previous study session (0412412023) staff agreed to return to the Board of <br />County Commissioners (BoCC) with alternatives managing McElroy Bridge. <br />• Public Works (PW) staff have prepared three alternatives for BoCC and Elk <br />Meadows consideration. <br />• Regardless of the alternative selected, staff recommend moving forward with a <br />temporary land use moratorium limiting any development on the far shore of the <br />Yakima River. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Staff have been working to finalize re -modeling of Yakima River tloodplain in the <br />Easton Reach. Model results confirm the existing McElroy Bridge is not compliant with <br />adopted floodplain regulations. The bridge is also non-compliant with county private <br />bridge standards. A proposed temporary land use moratorium is on hold pending the <br />outcome of today's discussion. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Three alternatives for removing, replacing, or remediating the existing McElroy Bridge <br />have been prepared by PW for Elk Meadows leadership consideration. The "Do <br />Nothing" alternative requires code enforcement to obtain an abatement order from <br />Superior Court. The cost of the abatement would likely be spread amongst all property <br />owners and the county may need to lien properties to obtain cost recovery. Remediation <br />of the existing structure may be possible. This is the least impactive alternative for the <br />water district. "Buy Out" is the largest unknown alternative for PW at this time. This <br />alternative will require significant problem -solving with the water district. All three <br />alternative descriptions are provided as EXHIBIT 1. <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 <br />