Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flooding Maps Nfip Crs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council moves to adopt updated floodplain law as FEMA remapping takes effect; CRS options examined
Summary
City planning staff told council the proposed repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 is required to keep Ithaca in the National Flood Insurance Program after new FEMA maps become effective; staff also updated council on the Community Rating System and preliminary cost-benefit findings.
The Ithaca City Common Council moved a proposed repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 (flood damage prevention) out of committee for consideration at the council’s next meeting, as staff described an accelerated timeline tied to new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps.
Planning staff said the city must adopt updated local floodplain regulations and the new FEMA flood maps into local code and transmit documentation to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) by May 19 to meet a June 18 effective date for the remapped floodplain. Failure to adopt would jeopardize the city’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), staff said — a step that would affect residents’ access to federally backed flood insurance.
What staff presented: Planning staff explained the proposed local law updates fall largely in line with FEMA/DEC minimum standards for NFIP participation. Changes included updated map references, expanded definitions (accessory structures, crawl spaces, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, historic structures), clarified floodplain permit and inspection procedures, provisions for variances, and a newly proposed $150 floodplain development permit fee intended to cover staff review costs.
Sam Quinn Jacobs, a planner in the planning department, and a planning director described the background: FEMA’s newly released maps for Tompkins County expand the set of residential properties mapped into the 100‑year floodplain. Staff cited that the older maps included roughly 100 residential properties and that the new maps include about 750 residential properties — an increase of roughly 650 parcels that could become subject to federal flood‑insurance requirements (staff said specific parcel counts should be confirmed individually by property owners with FEMA and their insurers).
Staff also briefed council on the Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary FEMA program that can reduce federally backed flood‑insurance premiums for residents when a municipality undertakes specified flood‑risk reduction and outreach activities. Sam Quinn Jacobs and a consultant summarized a city-conducted benefit‑cost analysis. Using conservative modeling and assuming current staff capacities, staff concluded the city could apply for CRS participation at a Class 8 or 9 (equating to roughly a 5%–10% reduction in federal flood-insurance premiums). They estimated that, in a scenario without a countywide flood‑mitigation project, CRS participation at those levels could deliver roughly $1.5 million in premiums savings to policyholders across 20 years. If a large mitigation project successfully removes a large share of properties (staff modeled a 75% removal scenario), then fewer residents would require federal flood insurance and the aggregate CRS benefit would shrink; under that scenario the consultant models showed a much smaller net benefit and potential net loss to the city for the administrative costs.
Staff reminded council that federal flood insurance (NFIP) typically covers up to $250,000 in building coverage and that private insurers or lenders sometimes require additional private policies that can be larger and vary widely by company and property. FEMA’s zone estimates used in staff modeling included an illustrative starting annual premium figure of about $1,800 for the city’s ZIP code; individual property premiums can vary widely.
Action and timeline: The council moved Local Law 186 forward (moved by Alderman Letterman, seconded by Alderman Kumar) and the committee action to refer the ordinance to the main meeting carried 9–0. Staff told council that, to maintain NFIP participation and avoid suspension, the city must finalize the local law and transmit required documentation to DEC by May 19 ahead of the maps’ June 18 effective date.
What this means for residents: property owners with federally backed mortgages who are newly mapped into the floodplain will be required to carry federal flood insurance; property owners without federally backed mortgages may not be required but could be advised to obtain coverage. Staff and consultants urged property owners to consult FEMA and their insurers for property‑specific obligations and rate estimates. Staff said they will publish resources and a press release and continue public outreach.
Ending: Council expects a public hearing and a formal vote on the updated local law at the upcoming meeting; staff emphasized the time-limited nature of the adoption deadline to maintain eligibility for federally backed flood insurance and the NFIP.
