City pushes bulkhead plan

Days after heavy rains caused serious flooding in some parts of the city — even as Hurricane Joaquin veered away from the East Coast — the City Council approved a measure on Tuesday that will allow the city to move forward with a $12.8 million bulkhead project to protect its north side.

The project was among the highest priorities identified by the city’s Community Reconstruction Program committee after Hurricane Sandy.

The most serious damage during Sandy, officials have said, was caused by flooding from Reynolds Channel, and two years ago the city conducted an evaluation of the bulkheads across its north shore.

Governor Andrew Cuomo established the CRP initiative in April 2013 to assist communities damaged by Sandy and Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. It is funded by more than $600 million in federal money through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program. Long Beach is eligible for the maximum $25 million.

The 12-member Long Beach committee included representatives from the West End, the Canals, North Park and other neighborhoods. Over an eight month-period, the committee, comprising local officials and civic leaders, developed rebuilding plans.

The state approved the committee’s spending plan in May 2014, and priority projects include installing the bulkheading as well as improving storm water drainage and protecting sewer pump and lift stations, among many other initiatives. However, while the state has approved the Long Beach Committee’s 205-page plan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must approve each project before funds are released — unlike, say, money spent on the new boardwalk and other work that was reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

City Council members, residents and officials agreed that the projects could not begin soon enough, especially after last Friday’s rainfall, which, combined with an ill-timed high tide, caused serious flooding in the Canals and other parts of the city.