TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Peter Fernandez, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Annual Evaluation of the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe Community; Safe, Reliable, and Efficient Infrastructure
end
ISSUE:
Annual Evaluation of the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
body
SUMMARY:
A committee of City staff and community stakeholders completed an annual evaluation of the Floodplain Management Plan (Plan) in compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements for the Community Rating System. The annual review includes an overall evaluation of the Plan and a detailed review of Flood Information and Outreach Plan (Appendix H) and Flood Insurance Plan (Appendix I) of the Plan. The Committee recommended two minor adjustments to the Plan and completed its evaluation on September 18, 2020.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. In order to comply with FEMA’s requirements for the Community Rating System, the Floodplain Management Plan must be evaluated annually. The annual review must include an overall evaluation of the Plan and a detailed review of Flood Information and Outreach Plan (Appendix H) and Flood Insurance Plan (Appendix I).
2. The Floodplain Management Plan Committee was comprised of City staff and community stakeholders who have been involved in the planning efforts for the Floodplain Management Plan and its amendments. City staff on the committee included representatives from floodplain management, public works, planning, emergency management, and public information. Community stakeholders included property owners, private business owners, a professional engineer, real estate brokers, a representative from the Home Builders’ Association, and an insurance agent. The committee members evaluated the Floodplain Management Plan at the September 18, 2020, meeting and provided insight, feedback, and recommendations for future updates.
3. The Floodplain Management Plan Committee meets the FEMA requirement for a review committee because at least half of its members came from a variety of community stakeholders, including realtors and insurance agents. This information staff report to Council meets the FEMA requirement for the annual report to “be submitted to the governing body, released to the media, and made available to the public.”
4. The status of the Floodplain Management Plan’s forty-two action items and the Flood Insurance Plan’s six coverage improvement projects were presented to the committee in three general categories: (a) Completed; (b) Ongoing or in process; and (c) Remaining. The Floodplain Management Plan Status Summary for each category is described in Attachment 1. Key changes to the action items during this reporting period are summarized below:
a. PA3 - City Council held a public hearing to consider adoption of the Stormwater Master Plan update on September 28, 2020.
b. PA5 - A City consultant is generating inundation maps for four waterway areas not currently depicted on federal flood maps, scheduled for completion in November 2020.
c. PA6 - The Oregon model floodplain ordinance was adopted under Ordinance Bill No. 17-19 in October 2019.
d. PA10 - Freeboard requirements for utility equipment was adopted under Ordinance Bill No. 17-19 in October 2019 and amended under Ordinance Bill No. 8-20 in September 2020.
e. PA11 - A requirement to manage runoff from four major storm events, including the 100-year event, was adopted under Ordinance Bill No. 8-20 in September 2020.
f. PP5 - Repetitive loss area analyses were drafted by a City consultant and submitted to FEMA for review in September 2020.
g. NR5 - Watershed management plans are proposed in conformance with FEMA’s Community Rating System requirements as an element of the Stormwater Master Plan update.
h. ES4 - A dam failure threat inventory was drafted by a City consultant and submitted to FEMA for review in September 2020.
i. ES5 - A levee inventory was drafted by a City consultant and submitted to FEMA for review in September 2020.
5. The status of the Flood Information and Outreach Plan’s twenty-three outreach projects was presented to the committee in an annual evaluation report format that meets the Community Rating System requirements for Activity 330 Program for Public Information. The Flood Information and Outreach Plan Annual Evaluation Report is included as Attachment 2.
6. The Floodplain Management Plan Committee reviewed the status reports described above and recommended two minor adjustments to the Plan’s Action Items as follows:
a. Action item NR6 was modified to streamline the process for all-natural areas acquired by the City. The original action item was limited only to areas donated to the City.
b. Action item PA14 was added to investigate adoption of a new floodplain/natural area zone in the Salem Revised Code. The timeline for this action item is three to five years.
BACKGROUND:
On May 14, 2018, Council adopted the City’s Floodplain Management Plan (Plan) through Resolution 2018-19. The Plan guides the City’s floodplain management programs. The Plan identifies flood hazards throughout the community, evaluates the problems caused by those hazards, reviews possible mitigation activities, and creates an action plan to mitigate those flood hazards.
The Floodplain Management Plan is integral to the City’s participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Rating System. The Community Rating System reduces annual flood insurance premiums for property owners citywide based on actions and projects implemented by the City. By implementing the Plan’s actions, the City is eligible for additional Community Rating System credits that increase the City’s rating. The higher the City’s rating, the greater the flood insurance reduction for property owners. Annual review of the report is mandatory in order to maintain FEMA’s CRS rating.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. Floodplain Management Plan and Flood Insurance Plan Action Items
2. Flood Information and Outreach Plan Action Items Evaluation Report