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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW FEMA Flood Maps Implementation ReportAgenda Agenda Item No: 5, b n g Meeting Date: February 3, 2014 Department: Public Works Prepared by. .0�1004 Manager Approvaw*_" Director of Public Works • A MAIMMI Is !A 0 f Staff recommends accepting the report and presentatiorl In 2003 the City of San Rafael adopted Title 18 of the Municipal Code. "Protection of Flood Hazard Areas" identifies flood hazard areas within San Rafael that are subject to periodic inundation which could result in the loss of life and property. Title 18 also notes that many properties within San Rafael are not adequately elevated, flood proofed or protected from potential flood damage. Finally, Title 18 identifies Special Flood Hazard Areas as those areas subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for the preparation Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the National Flood Insurance Program, as referenced in Title 1 of the Municipal Code. In general, properties are required to •obtain flood insurance if they hav a federally backed loan and are within a special flood hazard zone identified othe n FEM maps. I] Opting out of FEMA ) s flood insurance program is not a realistic option. Doing so would likely mean that the City and czens would not be eligible for federal disaster funding. FEMA updated the 2003 Federal Insurance Rate Maps in 2009. FEMA is currently studying the 2009 Federal Insurance Rate Maps within Marin County and anticipates updating these maps based on three separate studies, summarized as follows: a. Ross Valley and Mill Valley Studies. In response to claims, FEMA is updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps within the Ross Valley watershed and the Mill Valley watershed. The studies related to these watersheds have been completed and the map appeal period ended in May of 2013. 46] SOX41 k WK01 4:4 :4 File No.: Council Meeting: Disposition: The revised maps related to these watersheds are scheduled to go into effect on March 177 2014. One section of the Ross Valley map overlaps the City of San Rafael's jurisdiction, impacting approximately 20 parcels in the Gerstle Park neighborhood. The new watershed study utilizes wave run-up and storm data which was not available for th 2009 study resulting to minor modifications of San Rafael's flood map delineations. Public Works has notified the 20 property owners of this change. I b. San Francisco Bay Coastal• FEMA has initiated a San Francisco Bay Coastal study to analyze wave run-up, higi water flow from the delta, sedimentation effects in the Bay and many other feature. which can impact communities that front the Bay. The changes to the maps will affect a low lying areas along the San Francisco Bay coastline from Golden Gate Bridge up t( the Petaluma River. FEMA has completed the San Francisco Bay Coastal study and i. preparing preliminary maps which should be forwarded to the City in April 2014. Sai Rafael will have 90 days to review these maps and make comments. Following th( public review period FEMA will review comments from the public and municipalities an( then issue a Letter of Final Map Determination. The map becomes effective six month4. following the issuance of the Letter of Final Map Determination, which is estimated to b( June 2015. FEMA has conducted several public meetings in Marin County to discuss the proposed changes to the maps based on the Coastal Study. During these meetings FEMA noted that while the limits of the Special Flood Hazard Areas are not changing, the Base Flood Elevation is being raised from elevation 9 to elevation 10. This can have a significant affect on properties within low-lying areas of San Rafael. C. Open Pacific Coast Study: The Open Pacific Coast study, which studies the flood risks along the Pacific Coast, i underway. Completion is not expected until after the San Francisco Bay Coastal Stud is completed in 2015. FEMA does not expect the Open Pacific Coast Study to impa San Rafael. i it is our understanding that these studies do not take into account Sea Level Rise. The City of San Rafael is not involved in any way with the administration of flood insurance or flood insurance determinations by federally backed lending institutions. It is important to note that in the past, as part of their authority to administer flood insurance, FEMA has subsidized or grandfathered in lower insurance rates for property owners who obtain flood insurance policies prior to their property being added to a Special Flood Hazard Area. This is still the case but the practice of grandfathering is being phased out. Congress adopted the Biggert-Waters Act in 2013 to phase out flood insurance policy subsidies over the next few years. There are few available details about this and any inquiries should be directed to FEMA or the property owner's insurance agent. Over the last year, FEMA has held several public meetings to alert the general public t proposed changes to the FEMA maps. The Department of Public Works, collaborating wit FEMA and the County of Marin, provided notification to City of San Rafael property owner within Special Flood Hazard Areas. The public meetings noted a very specific regulato t process to adopt the revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Property owners were encouraged I attend at least one meeting to learn of proposed changes to the maps and the FEIX-A,,p-mceass, for adoption. During the public meetings many property owners noted that they have never been flooded even though their property is shown within a flood zone. They stated that the Flood Insurance Rate Maps do not take into account additional infrastructure such as pumps and levees that are in place throughout the City to protect properties from flooding. Other comments related to the potential for the City to take a more active role in the "FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) J) which has the potential to reduce insurance rates up to 45% within the City. Based on these comments, the Department of Public Works has explored options for modifying the flood maps and reducing the rates for citizens required to obtain flood insurance. The Department of Public Works is investigating the following options to address concerns raised by the general public in the FEMA community meetings held in the fall of 2013 with the intent to decrease flood insurance rates and modify the maps to include existing infrastructure measures: 1. National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System (CRS) This is a voluntary program for recognizing and encouraging community floodplain management activities which exceed minimum standards. Communities which apply to this program can receive., flood insurance premium discounts of up to 45%. The program is based on points awarded to the following categories: Public Information Mapping and Regulations Flood Damage Reduction Flood Preparation Any community (i.e., San Rafael) may apply for this program. Other local jurisdictions such as the County of Marin have approved the hiring of a specific staff person to pursue the Community Rating System with FEMA. This program will take time and effort on behalf of the community to achieve the necessary points to ultimately obtain a 45% reduction in insurance premiums. One of the first steps in initiating the CRS program is to make sure the applying agency has an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. At this time the City does not have a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is a complex program and in order to establish the cost and benefit to the City of San Rafael the Department of Public Works will be seeking professional advice from consultants and other communities who have a well established CRS program. Conversations with FEMA representatives have led us to believe that this program is cost effective to pursue, since it does provide an overall discount of insurance rates for everyone in the City. Many of our low lying areas have drainage systems that utilize storm water pump systems and levees. Currently, FEMA maps do not take into account these types of systems that can help prevent flooding. The Department of Public Works has asked FEMA to consider 30 0 . F 11111110M Vi= the possibility of modifying the Flood Insurance Rate Maps based on existing infrastructure. FEMA will consider doing so if the City provides sufficient evidence that specific areas are protected from a 100 year event. One example of existing infrastructure is the Bret Harte neighborhood's drainage system. The system directs all storm water flow to the North Francisco pump station, located near the northbound Highway 101 off ramp. Showing that all the systems within this watershed can accommodate a 100 year storm event should be grounds for modifying the Flood Insurance Rate Maps and reducing flood insurance rates for this specific area. A study of the area identifying impediments to the storm water flow and identifying the overall capacity of the system in this area would be required. Some storm systems are -located on private property. Modifications, if not made, may negatively impact the goal of removing the area from the Special Flood Hazard Area. Spinnaker Point is protected by a levee system. Currently FEMA does not recognize these levees as providing flood protection and, therefore, properties at Spinnaker Point are within a Special Flood Hazard Area. A study of the levee systems around Spinnaker Point could be conducted and submitted to FEMA, with the intention of modifying the Special Flood Hazard Area. Keep in mind that there are many factors associated with levee certification such as seismic stability, settlement and elevation. Providing a study of the current levee systems and submitting it to FEMA requesting a modification to the Special Flood Hazard Area can be achieved; however, submitting this information does not guarantee that the Flood Hazard Insurance Map will be changed for this area. Other areas along the San Rafael Canal are much more complicated. Over time, property owners have built apartments and structures on top of levees and levee easements. Determining the type and effectiveness of existing flood protection is difficult to determine. At this time, we are not clear on what data FEMA will require to determine if a neighborhood is not within a Special Flood Hazard Area. Establishing FEMA's criteria will be a crucial piece of information to make a decision on whether to proceed with this study. There is a potential that FEMA may not acknowledge existing infrastructure. Examining whether a study is feasible and cost effective will also need to be determined. We recommend seeking professional advice from other jurisdictions and professional engineers who are familiar with this type of FEMA map change. Flood daps 1 Examine proposed change and comment on the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps developed in compliance with FEMA's San Francisco Bay Coastal Study within the 90 day review period. 2. Notify affected property owners of proposed changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Maps within the City. National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating Svstern (CRS) 3. San Rafael Fire and Public Works will work collaboratively to finalize the City's Hazard Mitigation Plan and submit it to Federal authorities. 4. The Department of Public Works will seek out professional advice related to the cost and effectiveness of pursuing FEMA's CRS program and report back to the City Council in May 2014. Uj;1 11111 1 llj� III I Ai 1 11,11111,11 g An -H 111, !ill, I 111 ��I � I k, I A 1, Infrastructure 5. The Department of Public Works will seek out professional advice related to the post and effectiveness of preparing a FEMA compliant study for areas that are protected by current infrastructure and report back to the City Council in May 2014. -at The current budget can support soliciting professional advice on the complexities of pursuinw., '-he studies described above. WwAillllilil�lll lfinlllll� FA'111'11''! Ask 0 :2 Ul 6'A I I l!!llll 111,11VAAW1 INSTRUCTIONS: USE THIS FORM WITH EACH SUBMITTAL OF A CONTRACT, AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL / AGENCY. SRRA / SRCC AGENDA ITEM NO. 5 , b DATE OF MEETING: 2/3/14 FROM: NADER MANSOURIAN DATE: 1/23/14 • t• A REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS OF THE NEW FEDERAL EMERGETI MANAGEMENT AGENCY FLOOD MAPS WITHIN THE i RAFAEL i�ice= --- Department Head (signature) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (LOWER HALF OF FORM FOR APPROVALS ONLY) APPROVED AS COUNCIL / AGENCY AGENDA ITEM: City Manager (jignature) APPROVED AS TO FORM: