City Code Chapter 18-52 Flood Damage
Protection Ordinance Amendments
1 June 07, 2022 Jesse Oswald, Chief Building Official
Planning and Economic Development
Background
2 ▪ Santa Rosa City Code 18-52 Flood Damage Protection is the local operational/physical element of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under FEMA
▪ The Ordinance sets-forth requirements for construction and development within designated flood-prone areas
Background
3 • FEMA has recently completed a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)for areas within Sonoma County and primarily outside Santa Rosa.
• The study was focused on Todd Creek and its tributary areas • In a letter from Rachel Sears, Director of the Floodplain Management Division, Mitigation Directorate, FEMA; it was noted:
“no significant changes have been made to the flood hazard data on the FIRM”
• The FIS and FIRM will become effective July 19, 2022, necessitating the adoption of changes to our local Ordinance to maintain participation in the National Flood Insurance Program
Changes to the Ordinance
4 • The majority of changes are to provide clarifying terms, definitions and procedural requirements
Highlighted Changes
• Addition of the definition of Recreational Vehicle
• Addition of standards for locating recreational vehicles in designated flood-prone areas
• Procedural clarifications for applying requirements to development within flood-prone areas
• Addition of one technical requirement to require establishment of floor elevations in flood-prone areas to be 1-foot above the base flood elevation (BFE)
Technical Change to the Ordinance Example
• Old requirement – Lowest floor at or above BFE
5 Technical Change to the Ordinance Example
• New requirement – Lowest floor at or above 1-foot
above BFE (commonly-termed “Freeboard”)
6 Recommendation
7 It is recommended by the Planning and Economic Development Department that the Council, by resolution:
1.) Introduce an Ordinance adopting amended City Code Chapter 18- 52, Flood Damage Protection to comply with regulatory
requirements that our ordinance coincide with 44 Code of Federal Regulations 60.3. , and
2.) Adopt a resolution setting a public hearing on July 12, 2022, for adoption of the Ordinance.