542.c. Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Possible Points: 70 points for the element.

Purpose of Element: Capital Improvement Planning is a process in which a community assesses its financial resources and capital improvement needs (usually these are major expenditures which go towards the purchase or repair of physical structures like bridges, roads and land), prioritizes projects, identifies expected costs and potential financing sources, and schedules when these improvements will be made (Roberts, 2008). A CIP usually has a planning horizon of at least 4-6 years, but is updated annually to ensure it reflects the needs of the community (Roberts, 2008). The CIP in essence is a vehicle through which the goals and challenges identified in the community’s comprehensive plan are attained and/or addressed (Roberts, 2008). The purpose of this element is to reward communities using their capital improvement planning process to address flood problem areas or flood maintenance issues within the community. Examples of projects that could be implemented through the CIP process include structural flooding solutions like enlarging culverts as well as nonstructural solutions like property buyouts, purchase of open spaces, vegetated detention basins and bioswales.

While 70 points total is available for this element, full credit can only be attained if a community completes an engineering analysis of the drainage system. That said, 30 credits can be earned for implementing a CIP that meets the credit criteria outlined in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual. For more information, see pages 540-13 - 540-16 of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.

Impact Adjustment: Yes. The impact adjustment for the 40 additional points available for the watershed-based engineering analysis is based upon the percentage of the community covered by the analysis.

Potential to Double Count Credit: Yes. If capital improvement projects result in additional open space there is potential to double count credit under several elements of Activity 420, these include: 422.a. Open Space Preservation, 422.b. Deed Restrictions, and 422.c. Natural Functions Open Space. If CIPs result in the purchase and removal of at-risk structures, additional credit could be earned under Activity 520 Buildings Acquired or Relocated.

Degree of Difficulty - Documentation: Low. In order to take credit for this element, communities must assemble a minor amount of documentation and share it with their ISO/CRS specialist. Good organizational skills will be vital to success.

Degree of Difficulty - Implementation: Medium. In order to earn full credit for this CRS element, an engineering analysis must be completed. Not all communities will have the expertise necessary to complete this kind of analysis and may need to hire a contractor. That said, communities that are resource constrained are still able to earn some credit under this element as up to 30 points are available for communities with creditable programs that have no completed engineering analyses.

Tips for Success:

1. While the community is always responsible for assembling the documentation required for this CRS element, it can take credit for a Capital Improvement Plan created by another agency. For example, all communities within the Santa Clara, CA Valley Water District could take credit the Water District’s CIP as long as the community maintains the property documentation.
2. Pima County, AZ maintains that communities should not underestimate the importance of involving the community so they understand and support CIPs and open space preservation. They say community involvement in conservation planning to be a huge advantage.

Co-benefits Associated with this Element: Correcting drainage system problems has obvious benefits for flood risk reduction. Conveying or storing water efficiently can help to reduce flood risk in areas where drainage system components are not functioning optimally or are under-designed. When asked to conceptualize a drainage system, many think of the more typical grey stormwater infrastructure; systems of pipes, culverts and ditches that work to convey water away from where it falls quickly. An alternative approach to maintaining drainage within a community, called green infrastructure, has been popularized recently. Green infrastructure, or low impact development, uses natural features of the landscape in order to store water where it falls, thereby allowing for additional infiltration to occur. Examples of green infrastructure include vegetated detention ponds, constructed wetlands, tree trenches and pervious pavement.

While green and grey infrastructure have obvious benefits for flood risk reduction, green infrastructure has added benefits for the environment. These benefits include filtering pollutants out of stormwater, increasing habitat for wildlife, and in some cases enhancing recreational opportunities for citizens (Daniels, 2014). The CRS program does not dictate which approach communities must take to mitigate drainage system issues. Ultimately the decision between green and grey infrastructure should be made by the community and will depend on a variety of factors like the nature of the problem, expertise within the community, available funding, and whether or not the land is suitable for green infrastructure.