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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 5.A 10/04/2010~ALU~ a `~ I;g;r,~ 8 DATE: October 4; 2010 ~lc~ev~:c~.v Itevw #5.~1 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City ouncil through City Manager FROM: Vincent Marengo, Director of Public Work SUBJECT: -Resolution Adopting: the City of Petaluma Updated Floodplain Management Plan October 201.0 12ECOMMENDA'I'ION It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached City of Petaluma updated Floodplain Management Plan October 2010. BACKGROUND The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) first issued Flood Insurance Rate Maps in 1980. Since that time, the City of Petaluma has made a concerted effort to manage the development of its floodplain by the adoption of various ordinances,. regulations .and practices, and by incorporating. floodplain management goals into the City's General Plan. The City of Petaluma joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1'991 and adopted its first Floodplain Management Plan (FMP) in 1995.. The Plan was last updated in October of 2001. The City of Petaluma participates` in the Community Rating System (CRS) as one of'its~ efforts to reduce potential losses to its citizens, due to flooding.. This program, created by the NF1P, encourages communities to become proactive in their flood managemenf planning activities. Under this. program, participating communities receive a point rating reflective of their efforts in undertaking these activities. The CRS ratings result in reduced flood insurance premiums to floodplain residents. The City of Petaluma is currently ranked as a "Class 6" CRS community, which equates to~ an cxisfing 20% reduction in flood insurance premiums: The adoption of`this updated Plan will continue~toallow the City of Petaluma to participate in the CRS' program. DISCUSSION To .assist in updating the. FMP, the City of Petaluma organized a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of members of City staff, Sonoma County Water Agency staff, as well as other stakeholders. Tlie'TAC members included: Curt Bates, City Engineer Agenda .Review: City Attorney Finance Director City Manager Pamela Tuft,. Director of Water Resources and Conservation Mike Ahln, Battalion -Chief Trae Cooper, GIS Manager Remleh Scherzinger, Engineering Manager, Water Resources and Conservation Kent Gylfe, Sonoma County Water Agency Michael Hornick, FEMA Region IX John FitzGerald, Zone 2A Flood Control Advisory Committee The TAC met five times over the course of'two months as part of the Floodplain Management Plan update process. The FMP process also involved the public in several ways. A questionnaire was developed, soliciting the general public's views on flood control practices and how they may impact individual homeowners, as well as opinions on how flood'management activities should be prioritized. Two public meetings were also held during the;plannng process. The first was held on July 7, 2010, at the McKinley Elementary School, which is located in the flood hazard area. At this meeting, the attendees were presented with information regarding the status of flooding in the Petaluma area, a description of the Floodplain Management Plan process, the City's emergency response protocol, the CRS program, and a discussion. of structural and non-structural floodplain management activities that the City is currently undertaking. A second meeting was held on September 1, .2010, at the Petaluma Community Center. At this. meeting, the .draft action plan was presented, and those. in attendance were asked to provide their input to the City's proposed flood management activities. At both meetings, an.update on the Petaluma River Flood Control Project and Flood lnsurance Rate Map re-mapping effort -was presented. Additionally, a question and answer session. followed formal presentations. City staff was also available for additional questions at each meeting. The purpose of this updated FMP is to ensure that an open public process is followed in pursuing the reduction of flood:, dosses, and that the selected activities are best for the community. The Plan describes the nature and magnitude of flooding that the City has experienced in the past; Foodplain management. activities that have been implemented to date; additional alternative remedies; and a plan for future action to address current flooding problems. It is not the purpose or intent. of this ;Plan to establish new policy or to commit the. City to future public expenditures. The objective is to quantify, the problem and propose solutions that can be undertaken at this time; .and in the future, if-and when funds becgrne avai'labl.e. The FIVhP is intended to be a living document; and will be subject to revisions to. reflect changes in City policy,.. and state and federal regulations. In the September 23, 2010 edition: of the Argus Courier, the public was notified that the City Council would be considering this item for approval at its regular meeting on October 4, 2010. Additionally, this meeting was .announced in the public notice mailed on August 23, 2010, to all properties within the :flood hazard areas. City staff also sent e-mail notifications to. members of the public who participated in the Floodplain Nlanagemerit-Plan workshops held on July 7, 2010 and September 1, 2010, notifying them of the. October 4, 201"0 City Council meeting. 2 FINANCIAL IMPACTS The updated Fl.oodplan Management Plan was prepared by City staff, without the assistance of a consultant. The Plan does not commit new funding to flood control projects. Except for the costs incurred for staff time in preparation, there will be no -financial impacts to the City by approving this Plan. ATTACIIMENTS ® Items listed below are large in volume and are not attached to this report, but may be viewed in the City Clerk's office. 1. Resolution, including. Exhibit A to Resolution, draft Floodplain Management Plan ~. A`ll°TA~~11lAE~lI~ ~ RESOLi1TION ADOPTING.. THE CITY OF PETALUIVIA UPDATED FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN OCTOBER 2010 WHEREAS, the City's Floodplain Management Plan is apart of the Community Rating System (CRS) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which offers flood insurance premium rate reductions to communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program; and WHEREAS, this Plan is required to be updated at least every five years to meet higher CRS Standards and maintain the City's involvement in the program; and WHEREAS, on October 4, 2010, the City Council held a noticed public .meeting on the proposed Plan; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the updated Floodplain Management Plan October 2010, and finds that: "The Plan accurately describes the nature and magnitude of flooding the City has experienced in the past; floodplain management activities that have been implemented to date; and a plan for future action to address the current flooding problems and reduce losses of life and property". NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Petaluma does hereby adopt the City of Petaluma updated Floodplain "Management Plan October 2010, attached as Exhibit A to Resolution and incorporated herein by reference. 4