Mayor Urges Passage of Flood-Control Bond

Mayor Walter K. Bowman on Wednesday used the light rain that swept through Orange County to urge voters to approve a flood-control bond issue on Tuesday’s ballot.

The ballot issue calls for citywide voter approval of a $10-million bond. The money would finance 14 separate flood-control projects in various areas of the city.

“I don’t think Noah is out there building an ark today, but there are some areas of the city where the water is accumulating,” Bowman said. “I think the people who live in those areas will be supporting the bond issue anyway. It’s the people in between those areas we need to remind to get out and vote.”

Passage of the bond issue requires a two-thirds vote. There is no organized opposition to the measure, but Bowman said that some voters routinely oppose any item that calls for increased taxation.

The flood-control bond, if passed, would add about $58 a year to the property tax on a house with an assessed value of $200,000.

“All members of the City Council are in support of this bond issue,” Bowman said. “I feel pretty good about the chances [for passage] because it got such overwhelming support when it was an advisory issue on the ballot last year.”

But Bowman said it is always difficult to get a two-thirds majority on any issue.

In January 1995 a torrential rainstorm caused extensive flooding and heavy property damage in the city.

The rain on Wednesday caused minor flooding on some streets in northeast Cypress, according to Public Works Director Mark Christoffels. He said a county project on Moody Creek had caused water there to back up until a temporary dam was removed about 9 a.m. Wednesday.