FEMA Region X – Risk MAP Discovery Interview
Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of West Linn, Oregon
August 16, 2012; 11:00am Pacific Time
City of West Linn
John Sonnen – Planning Director
Kathy Aha – GIS Coordinator
Oregon DLCD
Steve Lucker – State Risk MAP Coordinator
STARR (FEMA Contractor)
Josha Crowley – Interviewer
Jason Sidorski – GIS Specialist
Jennifer Anticknap – Recorder
The following information was collected during the Interview. Unless otherwise noted, all comments are
from City of West Linn representatives.
I.
Contacts
 The contact information was verified.
 Captain Ron Schwartz was added to the contact list. Captain Schwartz is the City of
West Linn contact to Clackamas County. Captain Schwartz should be added to receive
project correspondence and invite to the Discovery meeting.
STARR (J. Sidorski) reviewed the GIS data that has been collected for the city of West Linn and explained
the types of additional data that could be beneficial to the project: parks, environmentally sensitive
areas, critical habitats, building footprints, parcels, topographic data (LiDAR, etc.).
II.
III.
Topography, LiDAR, and GIS
 The City of West Linn uses the Metro Regional Land Information System (RLIS) Live for
GIS data (http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/593).
 West Linn does have an interactive map on their website. They are willing to share the
GIS data layers available there.
 K. Aha is the GIS contact for the City of West Linn.
Planning
 West Linn participates in Clackamas County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The City has
developed a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, available on the city website, as an
addendum to the Clackamas County HMP. The plan contains maps of community
assets, critical facilities, essential facilities, economic centers, cultural and historical
assets, infrastructure, and environmental assets. The City is willing to provide access to
GIS datasets.
 The Plan identifies existing Mitigation Activities, including those pertaining to
flood risk. It also identifies Mitigation Action items.
 The Clackamas County HMP is currently in the process of being updated. R. Schwartz,
West Linn Police Department, is the City contact with the County for the plan update.
Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of West Linn – August 16, 2012

IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
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The City of West Linn also has a Comprehensive Plan in effect and available on the City’s
website.
Earthquakes
 The City utilizes the data available from Metro RLIS Live database.
 There is general liquefaction potential all along the Willamette River; no specific areas
were noted.
Wildfires
 The City identified an area along Highway 47 where wildfire is a potential concern.
Landslides
 West Linn uses the DOGAMI dataset to determine the areas at risk for landslides.
 The City maintains a steep slope dataset that they would be willing to share.
Severe Storms
 Winter storms, particularly snow events are problematic in the city, especially at higher
elevations where road closures are possible.
 The City has generators for its essential facilities but is not aware of a time when the
generators have been needed.
 There has not been a need to shelter as a result of severe storm events in recent
memory.
Flooding
 There is only one known repetitive loss property within the city limits.
 The City of West Linn has noted they disagree with the current floodplain mapping and
have requested it be redone using more up-to-date topographic information, LiDAR,
that is now available.
 The City would also like to see the entire Willamette River restudied because the
floodplains are inaccurate and this is causing issues with potential redevelopment along
the river, noted in the Areas of Concern. The City wants to remediate a contaminated
pond in the floodplain that is protected by a 9-foot berm and is looking for strategies on
how to move forward within the limits of their floodplain ordinances.
 There are small tributaries shown on the FIRMs that are physically in the wrong
locations on the FEMA maps. The City will send specific examples and information of
these issues along the Willamette River.
 Severe flooding occurred in 1996, the City is willing to provide a copy of the recorded
floodplain limit during that flood to compare to the current boundaries or use during
Discovery.
 Community has floodplain issues in areas that we are not studying. S. Lucker suggested
having a conversation with city about hazards in Middle Willamette Watershed on
another call.
Levees
 No levees were identified within the city.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of West Linn – August 16, 2012
XI.
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 The City has wetland, riparian areas, and stream dataset they are will to share.
Communications and Outreach
 Due to time constraints this topic was not covered during this call. Follow-up during the
Discovery meeting is required.