Agenda Date: 07/21/2020
Subject:
Title
Ordinance 24-2020: An ordinance on second reading amending Title 10, Chapter 6, Section 4 (B) (1) of the Municipal Code in order to reference the most recent Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map
Body
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Prepared by: |
Carolyn R Roan, Water Resource Manager |
PURPOSE:
Does council wish to approve Ordinance 24-2020 to adopt the most recent Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map?
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Carolyn R Roan, Water Resource Manager,
Public Works Department
Additional Presenter(s): None
SUMMARY:
The Mile High Flood District (MHFD) updated the floodplain study for Little’s Creek in a Flood Hazard Area Delineation Study dated July 2012. The updated study was sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Physical Map Revision (PMR) to update the Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map(s) for Littles Creek and a number of other drainageways in the Denver Metropolitan Area in January 2016. After significant delays (unrelated to Little’s Creek), the PMR was recently approved by FEMA and is to be effective on September 4, 2020. The City of Littleton has been a participating National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community since 1978 when the first floodplain maps were created in the City. Participating communities in the NFIP are required to update their floodplain regulations to adopt new mapping and studies, prior to the effective date. Littleton was notified of this requirement by letter on March 4, 2020. The floodplain regulations update will include changing the date of the FEMA Flood Insurance Study referenced in Municipal Code 10-6-4(B)(1) to September 4, 2020.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
City Council adopted the floodplain study for Little’s Creek on May 21, 2013. There have been no other discussions.
Approved by council on first reading on July 7, 2020.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
In order to remain in good standing within the NFIP, which makes flood insurance available to residents and emergency funding in case of federal disaster, updating the floodplain regulations to reference the most current FEMA report is required. The floodplain revisions being adopted by FEMA affects Little’s Creek. MHFD, FEMA, and the city conducted public outreach regarding the FEMA map change via letters in November 2016 and January 2017, and a public meeting in January 2017 advertised by postcard. The change was also published in the Federal Register and Littleton Independent on May 19, 2017 as required by FEMA. Certain interested residents have been kept informed of the process since then.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
This ordinance change addresses Goal 2 Objective 1 (maintaining existing programs; NFIP participation), and Goal 3 Objective 3 (strategic partnership with FEMA).
Fiscal Impacts
There is no fiscal impact to the City with this update to floodplain regulations. Remaining within the NFIP is a financial benefit to Littleton residents and to the city should there be a federal disaster. There may be fiscal impact to residents whose property is impacted by the FEMA floodplain change, through flood insurance premiums.
Alternatives
Not approving this ordinance would jeopardize the city’s standing in the NFIP, which would impact residents’ ability to obtain flood insurance and emergency funding.
Approving this ordinance maintains the city standing in the NFIP.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 24-2020.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Ordinance 24-2020 on second reading.