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September 9, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting
Title
19. Approval to Amend Section 8-7046.3.b.i of the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Entitled “Specific Standards,” to Ensure Manufactured Homes’ Lowest Horizontal Member is Elevated One-Foot Above FEMA’s NFIP Base Flood Elevation (BFE) Plus One Foot Freeboard. The Current Ordinance Allows Manufactured Homes to be Either One Foot Above the BFE or Three Feet Above the Existing Grade.
Strategic Priority
N/A
Description

Section 8-7046.3.b.i “Specific Standards” allows manufactured home (MH) development in the Special Flood Hazard Area, 100-year floodplain, to be placed 36” above the existing grade. This does not meet the City’s one-foot freeboard requirement.

An example for the required change:   if a new MH is being placed in an AE-11 flood zone where the existing grade is at 7 NAVD 1988, the current ordinance allows the MH finish lowest beam be at 10 NAVD 1988 (36” above the existing grade) and does not require the finish floor to be at the design flood elevation of 12 NAVD 1988.

The required change was identified by FEMA’s consultant (the Insurance Services Office (ISO)) when the City’s Flood Ordinance and the Community Rating System (CRS) program’s activities were reviewed. Failure to adopt the change would result in the lowering of the City’s current CRS Class 5 community rating, which currently results in a 25% flood insurance discount for polices in the SFHA, to a Class 9 community receiving only a 5% insurance premium discount. The revision corrects the City’s ability to enforce the one-foot freeboard and remain in good standing with the City’s CRS program.

This modification only applies to manufactured homes.

Recommendation

Approval

Contact
Tom McDonald, Permitting & Floodplain Manager
Financial Impact
N/A
Review Comments
Attachments
Exhibit 1: Flood Damage Protection Ordinance - Language Existing.pdf
Exhibit 2: Flood Damage Protection Ordinance - Language Proposed.pdf
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