TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Brian Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Update to the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe, Reliable, and Efficient Infrastructure
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SUMMARY:
summary
A committee of City staff and community stakeholders completed a five-year evaluation of the Floodplain Management Plan (Plan) in compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements for the Community Rating System. The plan update review included an overall evaluation of the Plan, and a detailed review of the Program for Public Information (Appendix F) and the Flood Insurance Coverage Improvement Plan (Appendix G) of the Floodplain Management Plan. Recommendations from City staff, committee members and the public were compiled and summarized in the 2023 Floodplain Management Plan Update prepared for Council consideration.
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ISSUE:
Shall Council update the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-42 updating the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. Salem’s Floodplain Management Plan was first adopted on June 10, 2013, under Resolution 2013-45 and updated on May 14, 2018 under Resolution 2018-19. FEMA requires that planning documents be updated through a formal process every five years to remain valid.
2. FEMA requires floodplain management planning efforts be included within the City’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP). The NHMP identifies Salem as having a high vulnerability to, and a high probability for, flood hazards. The NHMP identifies two action items specifically related to flood hazards:
a. Update, maintain, and implement flood actions via a floodplain management plan in accordance with FEMA’s Community Rating System guidelines.
b. Improve the City of Salem’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System to reduce NFIP premiums.
3. In updating the Floodplain Management Plan, the City follows FEMA’s process, which requires conducting public outreach, coordinating with other government agencies, assessing hazards and problem areas, setting goals, reviewing possible activities, creating an action plan, adopting and implementing the plan, and evaluating the plan’s effectiveness.
4. Once adopted, the plan will be evaluated annually or more often if warranted to ensure it remains consistent with FEMA guidelines. The adopted plan will remain valid for five years.
BACKGROUND:
Initially adopted in June 2013 and updated in May 2018 through Resolution 2018-19, the Floodplain Management Plan is a key element of the City’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Floodplain Management Plan identifies flood hazards throughout the community, evaluates problems caused by those hazards, reviews possible mitigation activities, and creates an action plan to mitigate those flood hazards. The plan is integral to the City's participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS). Because of the City’s participation in the CRS, annual flood insurance premiums are reduced city-wide.
In order to remain eligible for CRS credit, FEMA requires the Floodplain Management Plan be updated at least every five years. The timing of this update follows the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan update, which is expected to be complete by January, 2024.
A formal planning process was conducted in September and October with the assistance of a citizen advisory committee. A draft update to the Floodplain Management Plan was made available for public review and comment through an information report to Council on October 23, 2023. The public comment period ended November 20, 2023. No public comments were received during the public comment period.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachment:
1. Floodplain Management Plan Update
2. Resolution 2023-42