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#19-01 - Repealing and Reenacting Chapter 15.30 Relating to Flood Hazard Protection Regulations. Second Reading. Adoption.
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SUBMITTED BY: Kate Huber, Senior Planner
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve Ordinance #19-01.
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SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a voluntary federal program that enables property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection against losses from flooding. It was established to reduce future flood damage through community floodplain management and to provide protection for property owners against potential losses.
In order for the City of Valdez to continue participation in the NFIP, we must adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that reduce future flood risks to new construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). When we meet this requirement, the federal government makes flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses. Our floodplain ordinance must meet or exceed the federal standards.
The existing Title 15.30 was adopted in 1983 with the original Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) prepared for the City of Valdez. This ordinance update addresses changes in code that will support the recently adopted 2019 FIRMs and FIS. The changes are required to bring our code into compliance with the current federal requirements for NFIP participation. The FIRM and FIS establish the areas of special flood hazard and associated base flood elevations referenced throughout Title 15.30.
The ordinance before you is based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) model and includes provisions that encourage sound floodplain management and allow for property owners to obtain flood insurance at a more affordable rate.
To ensure participation in the NFIP, federal law requires that all residential str...
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