HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Request 042919 Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of Commissioners (BoCC)
FROM: Patty Charnas, DCD Director
Donna Frostholm, Associate Planner
DATE: April 29, 2019
RE: Request to Publish Notice of Public Hearing and Establish Public
Comment Period on Proposed Updates to Jefferson County Flood
Damage Prevention Ordinance
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The purpose of this request is to have the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approve a
notice for a May 13, 2019 public hearing on the above referenced item. The legal notice would
be published in the May 1 and May 8, 2019 editions of The Leader.
The updated Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance requires local legislative action by the
BoCC. The proposed revisions require public hearing per the Jefferson County Code (JCC).
The attached notice begins a public comment period that would begin with the May 1, 2019
notice publication and conclude at the end of the May 13, 2019 BoCC public hearing.
ANALYSIS:
Jefferson County participates in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). JCC Title 15 (Building) Chapter 15.15 (Flood
Damage Prevention) is the principle area of applicable local code and, as such, resides outside
of development standards implementing the county’s comprehensive plan. Review by the
Jefferson County Planning Commission is not required. County participation in the NFIP
program results in the federal government making insurance available to Jefferson County
property owners as financial protection against future losses of buildings and structures. To
remain in the NFIP, the BoCC must adopt mandatory updates to its Flood Damage Prevention
Ordinance by June 7, 2019 or risk decertification by FEMA. The updated ordinance as drafted
complies with all FEMA requirements. Substantial coordination and communication with
officials from FEMA and from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) NFIP
State Coordinator have occurred to assist with properly updating this code. Completing local
legislative adoption before the June 7, 2019 deadline will allow for formal review and
approval by the involved federal and state offices namely, FEMA and Ecology.
Consent Agenda
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds for staff to work on revisions to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance will come
from the General Fund.
Funds to review applications for compliance with the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
will come from fees paid by applicants.
The federal government requires compliance with NFIP standards. Failure to adopt a revised
Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance prior to June 7, 2019 may result in negative financial
effects on Jefferson County property owners in which some or all of the property occurs within
a Special Flood Hazard Area.
RECOMMENDATION:
DCD recommends that the BoCC approve the notice for public hearing on May 13, 2019
hearing.
REVIEWED BY:
County Administrator Date