If these modifications to gutters are obstructing the flow to the atom drainage, regardless who installed them, they need to be removed.

Itinalaga ni Neighborhood Specialist ang isyung ito kay Mayor's Action Center 5

Update from the Codes Compliance Department: We will send an Investigator out to look at this.

Itinalaga ni Codes Compliance 6 ang isyung ito kay Rob G

We were concerned about the ongoing flooding in areas without the abatement? At the end of 26th Avenue N and 41st the drain field in the road has been filled in with blacktop which makes both sides of 41st and 26th Avenue flood. Please note the picture. There are many more pictures but only one is allowed to be loaded.

In addition, there are many areas in the neighborhood that do not have the added abatement that the water is restricted in the drain field. How is that being repaired?

Some of the structures stated in the July14th inspection have been in place some 20 years to allow our cars not to bottom when entering the street.

There are many extensions into the right of way throughout the neighborhood to lessen damage to vehicles. The grade on many drives are such that damages vehicles. What is the proper grade for driveways entering the right of way? Should it be monitored and corrected to lessen individuals taking the responsibility to protect their assets?

I'm one of the homes with the altered driveway. It was done to keep from having to get
the front end of of my car fixed every six months. There is a pipe that allows for the flow of water. It has been in place for over eight years, along with the others in this block and the street has never backed up or flooded except for at the corners where the sewers can't handle the flow of the rain water.

This has only become an issue because we have a new "Codes Compliance Officer" who feels the need to justify her existence.

8 years ago when my mother ripped the brackets off her Acura Integra's front bumper, I reached out to city officials about the problem with the gutters at the entrance to my driveway. I was told because the road had been overlaid with asphalt numerous times, it increased the dip or depth of the gutter, therefore causing the cars to bottom out when they entered or exited the driveways. City officials told me there was nothing they could do. I was then given the option by the CITY, to place concrete or asphalt in the gutter as long as it had a 2" pipe under it to allow for the flow of rain water. Not only is this a major problem for the vehicle's, its become a safety issue as well. I will be reporting this to the Public Service Commission.

What is obstructing the flow here in the picture? Everytime it rains, this is where the water stands. The extension plays no role in the standing water or restriction of the water flow. We believe it is the problem with the curb, build up of the asphalt on the road and varying levels of the gutter system as a whole. We have experienced front end damage on our cars prior to the addition of the extension.

As we walk around our neighborhood, we noticed that we do not have a storm drain where it floods at 41st and 26th Avenue N. The constant standing water on 41st does not travel anywhere at all.

As a longtime resident and a veteran, we want to do the right thing for our community. We have seen throughout our neighborhood, that storm gutters and storm drains are not all fully functional. Most drains or gutters have been covered with asphalt.

We have also noted that the few extensions are not the problem as the water goes around and does not obstruct the actual flow. The problem is the grade in the gutters and road.

More pictures of our neighborhood.

There is standing water in the neighborhood where there are no extensions. Please acknowledge that it is not the extensions of 8 to 20 years in place but grade of the road and curb system. As noted in the above comments from a tax paying citzen, the standing water in 41st and 26th Avenue is a potential risk to our neighborhood.

The bigger problem here is the standing water from this weekends rains. The gutter system is so out dated, in somes places they are settling. The water does not flow properly. In the areas that it does, when it gets to the storm drains it over flows out of the catch basins. The end result, standing water in front of our homes with lots of mosquitos!!!

My office is reviewing this issue to determine if there were any past city approvals for this work. If anyone has documentation from the city authorizing a driveway extension into the gutter, I would very much like to view it. You can reach me directly at Robert.gerdes@stpete.org

Rob Gerdes
Director, Codes Compliance

Well after speaking to the individuals affected by this complaint, we do not have any documentation due to the long length of time since the installation of the extensions. What can we do now?

I am still conducting research into the history of this issue. I will notify you when I make a decision if code enforcement action is necessary or if another resolution is possible.

Respectfully,

Rob Gerdes
Director
Codes Compliance Assistance

Rob Gerdes,

Thank you so much. Please let us know as the August 2nd deadline is approaching rapidly and we do not want to incur any fines.

If a decision is made that the extensions have to be removed, I will grant time extensions in all the cases so everyone will have time to comply. I am still talking to other departments to put together the history of this issue.

Respectfully,

Rob Gerdes

Good morning,

We were informed today by Casey White that a plan is being devised for the City to possibly remove the extensions, even the diamond plate one that we were hoping to use. If this happens, we will experience damage to our cars, Ford Focus and BMW, as the grades are approximately 8". This is not ample clearance for any car. Who will pay for the damage to the cars?

In addition, who is going to resolve the flooding issue at the corner of 41st St and 26th Avenue N.. As well as, the grade issue in the streets to allow the flow to a storm drain, which do not function appropriately?

Please we need a proper solution for both issues at hand.

Thank you for your time.

The concrete at the end of my driveway in the gutter is there so I can get my cars in an out of the driveway without doing damage to the vehicles. Here we are weeks into this, and still no resolution. Sound familar!!!

We were also informed that letters were mailed out for a 30 day extension to remove the extension into the right away.

I am reviewing this situation to determine an appropriate course of action by the City. I have asked the area investigator, Ms. White, to send all parties with active codes cases related to this issue a 30 day extension while it is under review. I have also notified the Director of Stormwater about concerns related to flooding and drainage in this area.

Once I determine my course of action, I will notify you. If the ramps must be removed, I will try to present you with an alternative solution.

Respectfully,

Rob Gerdes
Director
Codes Compliance Assistance

Just wondering where the decision stands? Is there any alternative as of yet?

Thank you for your time!

They extended the time to allow us to remove the concrete but have yet addressed the real problem at hand. Without the altered gutters at the approach of our driveways,
THE CARS ARE GOING TO BOTTOM OUT!!!
What is the city going to do to fix the problem??

Dear Property Owners:

I have conducted a review of the code violation cases for alterations to the right-of-way. More specifically, for the alteration of curbing to create driveway ramps. I was not able to find historic evidence of any formal city approval for these alterations. Furthermore, I have been notified by the city’s Engineering Department that the current alterations cannot be approved and permitted after the fact. As a result, these alterations will have to be removed.

I understand that many of these curb alterations have been in place for a number of years. To ease the burden of removal on property owners, the city’s Stormwater Department has agreed to remove the alterations constructed of concrete and/or asphalt at no cost to the property owner. This should occur within the next 60 days. Unfortunately, the city cannot remove the metal ramp located on 28th Avenue North. In that case, the property owner will be responsible for the removal.

I have been notified by the property owners involved that the curbs were altered in the past to protect their vehicles. I certainly understand this desire to protect property. I would recommend that there are a couple of alternatives to achieve this goal. First, curbs and driveway aprons may be altered with a Permit from the city to decrease the curb slope. Second, temporary rubber curb ramps can be placed in the gutter for ingress and egress of vehicles. These temporary rubber curbs should be removed when not in use.

Lastly, these curb alterations came to the attention of my department based on a citizen complaint. Included in the complaints were concerns about stormwater drainage on 26th Avenue North. I have forwarded this concern to both the Engineering and Stormwater Departments. I am confident this concern is being reviewed by both departments.

Respectfully,

Rob Gerdes
Director, Codes Compliance Assistance
City of St. Petersburg

Thank you for your response. Where may we obtain the temporary rubber extensions to protect our assets? Will the city provide these?

The property owner would be responsible for purchasing the ramps. As an example of what is available, here is a link to temporary ramps on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Rubber-Curb-Ramp/dp/B011AKCFPQ

These seem to be a more viable solution but at the cost of $160 at the propery owners expense. https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Loading-Rubber-Ramps-Ramp20Ton/dp/B01N2832XJ/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1502891682&sr=1-5&keywords=Heavy+duty+rubber+curb+ramps

Mr Frey,

This has been our concern all along as there is no flow. The storm drains are blocked on 40th st and no drain at 41st and 26th Ave n. Our elderly neighbor has water standing and nothing is blocking it. The problem is the grade in the street and storm drain. The asphalt is not removed when resurfaced causing the restrictions. Please note the pictures in the string above.

Thank for your assistance.

The extensions are being removed today with no viable alternative to our cars bottoming out and the flooding has not been address? Please help your tax payers.

Within 20 minutes of concrete being removed at end of driveway, cant pull vehicle in because car bottom's out on approach. This is all do to the asphalt that has been over layed throughout the years. I guess will address this in a couple months with somebody who has a track record of getting things done for there citizens!!!

I am afraid to pull our two cars out of the driveway now as they will bottom out. This extension was in place for twenty years? Why now? The flood issue has not been addressed, the debris from IRMA was not picked up yet and we may be faced with high winds due to TD16. What is really important for all? 4 driveway exetensions? Really?

They brought a back hoe and a large truck that could of held debris. This is so sad

So when is the city coming back to replace the curbs that were destroyed today removing the concrete. I have large holes in the curb at the end of the driveway now thats going to effect the flow of rain water. It also is a HUGE safety factor if someone or a child falls an gets hurt because of this. The city sure does have its priorty's messed up. Its been a month since Irma came through, piles of brush everywhere, and your worried about some concrete at the end of our driveways . UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

So a pavement city truck drove by this morning. What is your solution for the damage and a viable solution for your tax payers and veterans to protect their assets due to the improper grade in the road and the storm sewer issues? As well as picking up all of the debris in the Harshaw community? We have been more than patient will all of the above issues. It is now time for our city to take the proper action.

Oh by the way the gentleman in the city truck did not even get out of his truck.

Well we had a light rain and this is what happened with the extensions now gone. Well, that did not work, it just created more damage to our cars. Can you please fix the road and storm sewers?

And another view

The issue that you reported previously has been addressed by the City, and this open work order is now closed. Please feel free to submit future requests to us via SeeClickFix St. Pete, and thanks again!