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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOCC Flood Damage Prevention1 FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE Repeal and Replace Jefferson County Code (JCC) Chapter 15.15 Phil Cecere, Floodplain Administrator, Building Official, Fire Marshal October 28, 2024 Updating Jefferson County Flood Damage Prevention Todays topics and goals •Why are we doing this? •How did we get here? •What changed? •Are we utilizing best practices? •What are next steps? Beckett Point 2022/2023 King Tide (3) Why are we doing this? Statement of purpose. (a)The purpose of this chapter is to adopt floodplain management regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Jefferson County, pursuant to WAC 173-158-020. •To protect human life and health. •To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public. •To ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard. •To ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions. •To ensure that those who occupy areas within the special flood hazard area participate in and maintain eligibility for flood insurance and disaster relief. Our most recent information shows that some of the following regulations are slated to be standard language requirements for Federal backed home loans.(HUD,USDA,FHA) How did we get here? Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a Community Assistance Visit (CAV) with Jefferson County August 2023. One of the requirements to finalize the CAV is updating our flood damage prevention code. We have chosen to pursue a path that is slightly more progressive that the model code for compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Adopting a code that exceeds the model code allows Jefferson County property owners to quality for a reduction in flood insurance premiums. This optional program is called the Community Rating System (CRS). This discount is based on a sliding scale which has been balanced with expected level of effort and benefit to the citizens of Jefferson County. This includes education about potential flood damage and “freeboard” above base flood elevation. Among these necessary changes for compliance, enforcement, definitions and regulations. The proposed JCC 15.15 has substantial changes to the format of the chapter this is necessary to streamline the chapter and clean up the section order. What Changed? Key additions to JCC 15.15 Flood Damage Prevention: •New definitions •Compliance and Enforcement •Designation and duties of the floodplain administrator •Special flood hazard variance •Establishes need for a development permit within the floodplain •Establishes regulatory standards for farmhouse repair and replacement located in a floodway •Establishes Livestock sanctuaries Key Additions/Modifications to JCC 18.040 •Sets a special flood hazard area development permit as a type 1 decision •Sets a special flood hazard variance as a type 3 decision Definitions added ASCE 24 Base Flood Elevation Building Building Code Essential Facility Farmhouse Flood Elevation Study (Flood Insurance Study) Floodplain Floodplain Management Regulations 100 year Flood Park model recreational trailer Beckett Point 2022/2023 King Tide Are we utilizing best practices? The draft ordinance as presented today has been thoroughly vetted for the following: State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process has compliance through noticing March 6 and March 13, 2024. A threshold determination of Non-significance was issued March 13, 2024. Washington State Department Of Commerce was provided a 60 day notice together with SEPA determination. Jefferson County Planning Commission has viewed the draft ordinance in open public meeting, held a hearing with public comment and has recommended transmittal of the ordinance to the County Board of Commissioners. Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has reviewed and provided approved as to form. Washington State Department of Ecology, on behalf of FEMA and CRS representatives have viewed our draft ordinance and provided feedback. Two workshops have been held by BOCC for CRS eligibility and CAV updates. Elevation certificate policy has been change as well as establish a floodplain development permit. What’s next? Provided the BOCC is able to take approval action on this ordinance, DCD may now close our Community Assistance Visit with Ecology on behalf of FEMA. Next steps would be to come back to the BOCC for a workshop around optional CRS enrollment. Provided it is decide to pursue this pathway, a letter of interest (LOI) would need to be addressed to the FEMA region 10 Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch Chief. Jefferson County would then get an application visit and be enrolled as a participating community. Jefferson County Citizens would then benefit from flood insurance premium reductions. The CRS program is very similar to programs that the county currently participates in through Washington Survey and Ratings Bureau (WSRB) Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule and (BCEGS) and fire Protection Class (PC). Questions?