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Jenkins holds first reading of floodplain management amendment, discusses FEMA mapping and USGS gauges
Summary
The council heard a first reading of an amendment to Chapter 151 to adopt floodplain management measures consistent with the National Flood Insurance Program (44 CFR 60.3); staff discussed pilot mapping tools and USGS stream gauges to guide construction and culvert sizing.
Presenter read the first reading of an amendment to Chapter 151 (flood damage prevention) that would adopt floodplain management measures consistent with the National Flood Insurance Program and 44 CFR 60.3. The reading noted that failure to adopt required regulations could put the city at risk of losing access to the federal flood-insurance program.
"This amendment ... the city hereby adopt floodplain management measures that meet or exceed the minimum language set out in the National Floodplain Insurance Program ... promulgated under 44 CFR 60.3," the presenter read during the ordinance introduction. Chair Daniel described the measure as aligning local rules with current flood-plain maps and highlighted a regional pilot "flood risk pool" program that can model what areas would flood given defined rainfall inputs.
Staff also described ongoing work with USGS stream gauges and a mapping portal that will let planners and citizens model rainfall (for example, 3 inches in 24 hours) to see potential flood depths and impacts at specific sites. The council noted survey work by stormwater crews next week to collect data for the mapping effort.
The reading was noted as the first reading; the council did not adopt the amendment at this meeting. Staff said further review and follow-up are expected, and the USGS data and pilot mapping tool are intended to assist planning, construction and culvert-sizing decisions.
