Town hears flood-insurance discount (CRS) pitch and reviews water control plan; council asks staff for cost estimates

At a Sept. 17 special budget meeting, town consultants and residents reviewed two drainage-related items: whether Loxahatchee Groves should join FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) to win discounts on flood insurance, and a five-year update of the town's water control plan outlining canal, weir and drainage policy.

The CRS presentation noted that communities that adopt certain floodplain management practices can earn insurance premium discounts for policyholders in Special Flood Hazard Areas. The village of Royal Palm Beach was offered as a nearby example; consultants said Royal Palm began receiving a 20% reduction after joining and now reports about 25% savings for properties in the special flood hazard area.

Why it matters: Many town properties intersect flood zones; residents raised concerns about rising flood-related costs and the potential for FEMA/NFIP policy changes. CRS participation can reduce insurance premiums but requires time, initial consultant work and annual maintenance. The council asked staff to gather: (1) the number of NFIP policies in town, (2) a ballpark cost estimate to enter and maintain CRS membership (including consultant fees), and (3) whether benefits would justify the expense.

Water control plan and canal/weir issues - Update: Staff explained the statutory basis for a water control plan and described options: small-scale (insubstantial) amendments adopted by resolution vs. major changes requiring external review by South Florida Water Management District. The plan sets 20-year goals for water quality, flood protection, water supply and related infrastructure. - Units of development: Staff proposed creating targeted "units of development" so that funding and improvements can focus on smaller subareas rather than being spread town-wide, limiting cross-subsidy of projects that benefit few properties. - Canal/weir priorities: Council and staff emphasized Okeechobee Boulevard-area weirs and failing culverts as high priorities. Staff said some culverts/culvert failures appear to be Palm Beach County responsibilities; staff were pursuing follow-up with county engineers and will prioritize sites for grant applications already underway.

Directives and next steps - Council asked staff to produce: (1) the number of town residents/properties holding NFIP flood insurance; (2) cost estimates from at least two CRS consultants, including both start-up and ongoing annual costs; and (3) a prioritized list of water-control projects and grant strategy (including county coordination and potential state grants) for the town's next meeting.

Representative comments from the meeting - Consultant Randy Wapartney said: "Once you join the community rating system, maintaining it is not as significant" and that a consultant typically helps get the community to start points that later require about "four hours a week" of staff time to maintain. - Resident concerns included the expense of compensating storage for floodplain requirements, the cost to homeowners of elevating houses out of a flood zone, and requests that the town check the number of NFIP policies in town before committing to CRS enrollment.

Ending Council agreed to return to the CRS question with a more specific cost-benefit estimate and to continue the water control plan update, starting with prioritized canal and culvert projects and more detailed grant-seeking options.