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Council adopts floodplain ordinance to comply with updated FEMA maps; changes affect mobile homes and floodplain boundaries
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 25-010, rewriting Chapter 38 (floods) to adopt FEMA’s updated flood insurance study and maps effective April 23, 2025; the rewrite raises manufactured-home freeboard and designates the city engineer as floodplain administrator.
The City Council adopted a full restatement of the city’s floodplain ordinance to comply with an updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) study and new Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that become effective April 23, 2025.
John Thompson, public works director, said the ordinance revision is mandated by FEMA for continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). “This ordinance revision is mandated by FEMA in order for the city to continue participation in the federally subsidized National Flood Insurance Program known as NFIP,” Thompson said. He added the ordinance language derives from a FEMA template and that FEMA provided a courtesy review; an official review follows once the ordinance is effective.
Key changes
- Updated maps: the ordinance recognizes FEMA’s updated flood insurance study and FIRM (effective April 23, 2025). - Mobile/manufactured homes: the freeboard requirement for new and expanded manufactured/mobile home parks is raised from 0 feet to 2 feet. - Structure elevation and compensatory storage: the ordinance requires structures be built at least 2 feet above base flood elevation and mandates compensatory storage for displaced floodplain volume. - Administration and enforcement: the city engineer is designated the floodplain administrator; the ordinance clarifies penalties for noncompliance and removes joint jurisdictional enforcement references for areas outside city limits.
Council questions and local impacts
Councilmember Specker asked whether the newly widened floodway in the northwest would affect the 6 Mile Creek planned alternatives. Thompson said the new hydrologic study shows a larger floodway in that area but did not expect it to change the 6 Mile Creek alternatives; staff consulted the same model used for FEMA mapping. Thompson noted property owners affected by the change who had previously used Letters of Map Correction were directly contacted.
Roll call and outcome
A motion to approve the second reading and adopt Ordinance 25-010 passed on a roll call vote with council members recorded as “aye.” The ordinance will become effective 20 calendar days after public notice.
