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, Reliable, and Efficient Infrastructure
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SUMMARY:
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 included an overall evaluation of the Plan, and a detailed review of the Flood Information and Outreach Plan (Appendix H) and the Flood Insurance Plan (Appendix I) of the Floodplain Management Plan. The committee completed its evaluation on August 24, 2021.
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ISSUE:
Annual evaluation of the City of Salem Floodplain Management Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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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) of the Floodplain Management Plan.
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, building and safety, planning, emergency management, and public information. Community stakeholders included property owners, a representative from the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, a Neighborhood Association chair, professional engineers, a real estate broker, a representative from the Home Builders’ Association, and insurance agents. The committee members evaluated the Floodplain Management Plan at the August 24, 2021, meeting and provided insights, 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-three 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 (Reducing Peak Flows) - Policy 5 (Goal of Stormwater Quality and Quantity Facilities) and Policy 5.1 (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) are included in the Stormwater Master Plan update adopted by City Council under Ordinance No. 11-20 in October 2020.
b. PA5 (Inundation Maps) - This activity was partially completed when Interim Flood Hazard Areas were promulgated by administrative rule in February 2021. The City consultant has generated inundation maps for four waterway areas not currently depicted on federal flood maps, scheduled for completion by the end of year 2021.
c. NR5 (Watershed Management Plans) - Policy 1.2 of the Stormwater Master Plan update specifies that Watershed Management Plans shall be developed under certain criteria.
d. SP2 (Damage assessments) - Policy 3.12 of the Stormwater Master Plan update includes evaluation of cost impacts based on damage assessment as a criterion for selecting capital projects.
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 did not recommend any changes to the Plan’s Action Items.
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