Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/18/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Plans, Policies and Studies
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4965) DOC ID: 4965
Updated: 7/12/2023 9:59 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 FLOOD INSURANCE ASSESSMENT - Review and Accept the Flood Insurance Assessment of Fremont’s Current Level of Coverage for the Purpose of Receiving “Community Rating System” Credit for Flood Insurance Promotion.
Contact Persons:
Name: Homira Shafaq Hans Larsen
Title: Civil Engineer II Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: (510) 494-4780 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to acknowledge the current level of flood insurance coverage in Fremont and to support future actions that can either increase or maintain high levels of coverage to protect the community in the event of flooding.
BACKGROUND: The City of Fremont has been a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), since 1983. Participation in the NFIP allows property owners within the City of Fremont to purchase flood insurance. FEMA has delineated portions of the City as special flood hazard areas (SFHA) on flood insurance rate maps. Properties within these areas may be subject to special flood insurance requirements and higher construction standards.
In March 2001, FEMA accepted the City of Fremont into the Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that encourages communities to regulate development within the SFHA above and beyond the minimum requirements of the NFIP.
Activity 370 of the CRS program, titled Flood Insurance Promotion, provides CRS credit t o communities for completing an assessment of the community’s current level of flood insurance coverage and identifying potential shortcomings. The City of Fremont has maintained a rating of 7 since being accepted into the program. A CRS rating of 7 transl ates into a 15% reduction in flood insurance premiums required under the NFIP.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Attached is a copy of the 2023 Flood Insurance Assessment that was completed for the City of Fremont based on the most recent flood insurance policy data provided by our Insurance Services Office / Community Rating System Specialist.
According to the assessment, approximately 49% of Fremont’s SFHA properties have flood insurance coverage.
In order for Fremont properties located in special flood hazard areas to continue receiving a discount on flood insurance premiums, the City staff plans to continue implementing the following flood insurance promotional activities:
a. Send targeted mailings at least once a year to residents within or near a special flood hazard area.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4965) Meeting of July 18, 2023 Updated: 7/12/2023 9:59 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 b. Communicate in the City’s published newsletter (CityNews) being sent to the entire community, the CRS priority topics, as outlined in Table 330-1 of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
c. Make flood related informational brochures and handouts available at the Development Center, Fremont Main Library, and at community and neighborhood events.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended actions in this report are exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 in that the activity does not meet CEQA's definition of a "project.”
ATTACHMENTS:
• 2023 Flood Insurance Assessment
RECOMMENDATION: Accept staff’s report on the Flood Insurance Assessment project and support the following actions:
1. Acknowledge that the Fremont community has approximately a 49% flood insurance coverage rate.
2. Continue to provide ongoing educational outreach as presented in the staff report that includes: targeted mailings to residents within or near a special flood hazard area; articles on flood prevention in City newsletters; and distributing informational brochures at City facilities and at events.