TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Peter Fernandez, 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
end
ISSUE:
Shall Council update the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2018-19 updating the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan.
body
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
Initially adopted in June 2013, 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 was approved by FEMA on January 5, 2018.
A formal planning process was conducted earlier this year 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 April 9, 2018. The public comment period ended April 23, 2018. Based on recommendations submitted by the Glenn Gibson Watershed Council, a brief analysis of the Willamette Greenway Plan was added to the plan. No other changes have been made based on public review of the draft plan update.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. Salem’s Floodplain Management Plan was first adopted on June 10, 2013, under Resolution 2013-45. 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.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachment:
1. Floodplain Management Plan Update
2. Resolution 2018-19