Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 09/21/2015

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 1. Meeting Date: 09/21/2015 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: Consider an Amendment to City Code Chapter 117, Article II, Division 4, Subdivision III (Floodplain Overlay Districts) to Adopt Updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps Prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Purpose/Background: In 1979, the City enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by adopting floodplain regulations and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for the community. The Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps and FIRMs currently in effect are dated November 1, 1979. The community has grown substantially since the late 1970s, and thus, the maps lack much of the current street network. Additionally, the scale of the maps is one (1) inch equals 800 feet, which makes it rather challenging to accurately scale the proposed location of buildings. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been systematically updating floodplain maps across the state and has recently completed new maps for Anoka County. If the City desires to remain in the NFIP, we must amend our existing floodplain standards to adopt the new maps. The floodplain standards are designed to minimize structural damage as a result of large scale floods, oftentimes referred to as a 100 -year flood, by prohibiting the placement of structures within designated floodways and by requiring either floodproofing and/or the use of fill to elevate a structure to a certain elevation if within the flood fringe areas. Structures located within a designated floodplain are required to be covered by flood insurance if the owner utilized federal or federally related financial assistance to acquire the property (federally backed loans). If a community opted not to participate in the NFIP, then federally backed mortgages would not be an option for properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), flood insurance would not be available (to any property owner), and disaster assistance for the community also would not be available. Notification: A notice of Public Hearing will be published in the City's official newspaper, the Anoka UnionHerald. Observations/Alternatives: The updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) have incorporated the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps information. The updated maps also include an underlying aerial image, which assists in determining whether a property, or portions of a property, are located within a designated flood zone. The updated maps have also incorporated any studies or detailed analyses that have been completed (either by the City, WMO, or other entity). Upon adoption of the updated maps, the City will also gain access to Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) through FEMA. In order to avoid being suspended from the NFIP program, the City must adopt an amendment to the Floodplain Overlay Districts Subdivision in City Code to incorporate the updated maps. The amendment must be adopted and provided to FEMA's regional office no later than December 16, 2015. The MN DNR is assisting communities with this process and has provided a model ordinance that meets the minimum federal requirements. The model ordinance has commentary that identifies mandatory language as well as those items that may be optional. The model ordinance very closely resembles the City's current floodplain regulations with the exception of identifying the new map panels and the fact that there has been some rearrangement of text (and incorporation of FEMA required language). Staff is presently working on reformatting this language into a draft ordinance but has included both the current Floodplain Overlay Districts Section of City Code as well as the Model Ordinance Note that cross-reference notes have been added to the Model Ordinance to help demonstrate what language is already in City