At a meeting on February 27, 2019, the Indianapolis Board of Public Works (BPW) will vote on whether to recommend the creation of a Flood Control Improvement District (District) including many special flood hazard properties in the Rocky Ripple area of Indianapolis. While not a new tax, any positive change in property tax revenue assessed from properties included in this proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District would be directed specifically to fund the construction or maintenance of infrastructure to reduce the risk of damage due to flooding. “Similar to a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, establishing this proposed District would keep any new revenue close to home,” said Dan Parker, Chairman of the Board of Public Works and Director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW). “Floodplain properties included in the White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District would see a portion of their property tax assessment directed right back into projects that address their flooding issues.” All owners of property included in the proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District (approximately 554 parcels) have been notified of the BPW vote on whether to recommend the District. The upcoming BPW meeting will include a public hearing on the subject, and these District property owners are invited to attend and provide public comment. The BPW meeting will take place on February 27 at 1:00 P.M. in the Public Assembly Room of the City-County Building in downtown Indianapolis. A map of properties recommended for inclusion in the proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District is here (http://image.email.indy.gov/lib/fe3e157075640478741579/m/1/d9ed9dd2-551f-475d-aec0-31cc318533d1.pdf). A general information page on Flood Control Improvement Districts, including a sample district map is here (http://image.email.indy.gov/lib/fe3e157075640478741579/m/1/f6146cfb-a77c-46c8-a4fd-844e6a81c953.pdf). Should the BPW vote to recommend the District, its creation will then need to be approved by both the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) and the City-County Council. Both of these acting bodies will provide opportunity to present public comment on the process from District property owners. The multi-step process to establish a Flood Control Improvement District in Marion County is authorized by Indiana Code 36-7-15.6; this legislation provides for the establishment of a special fund to be used for the planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of local flood control works and activities that specifically benefit special flood hazard properties. In February 2017, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Department of Public Works announced a commitment of $10 million over 5 years to explore local flood damage reduction projects for the Town of Rocky Ripple. Since that time, DPW has worked with the Town of Rocky Ripple and Butler University to study how best to partner for flood protection. In July 2018, a study prepared by engineering firm AECOM (https://citybase-cms-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/71bb5c4041704af1b5908d885d74bf3c.pdf) outlined 3 alternatives for constructing a local project. In November 2018, the Board of the Town of Rocky Ripple resolved both to accept Alternative 3 (https://rockyripple.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Option-3-RRTB-Resolution-13Nov2018.pdf) from this study as the preferred alternative for a flood control project, and to support the recommendation (Option-3-RRTB-Resolution-13Nov2018) of a local Flood Control Improvement District to help fund such a project. The proposed White River — Rocky Ripple Flood Control Improvement District uses the description of Alternative 3 from the 2018 AECOM study–preferred by the Board of the Town of Rocky Ripple–as the description and location of proposed flood control works to be associated with the District. A full description of the proposed flood works is here (http://image.email.indy.gov/lib/fe3e157075640478741579/m/1/ed6551a7-c35c-4df5-b10e-94627c15730c.pdf).