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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 2005 1109 CC SPC ITEM 05AITEM 59A • CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of ACTION: i �• ., � � iii i� REPORT - TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works DATE: November 3, 2005 (Council Meeting 11 -9 -05) SUBJECT: Public Meeting to Discuss the Proposed New Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map [DFIRM] BACKGROUND 1. New Hydrology Study and New DFIRM: For the past several years, the Ventura County Watershed Protection District [VCWPD] has been working with the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers [COE] , the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] and their consultants, on a new Hydrology Study for the Calleguas Creek Watershed and on FEMA's development of a new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map [DFIRM] for all of Ventura County. That effort is nearing completion. 2. New Flood Zone Boundaries: The recently completed Hydrology Study for the Calleguas Creek Watershed yielded data which indicates that peak storm flows will far exceed the capacity of the Arroyo Simi Channel through the City of Moorpark. As a result, the new draft DFIRM shows many more properties within the various Flood Zones than what is shown on the current 1986 Flood Insurance Rate Map [FIRM] . A representation of 1986 FIRM and the draft DFIRM are attached as Exhibits 1 and 2. 3. Public Meeting: At its meeting of October 5, 2005, the City Council directed staff to mail a notice to all property owners in the City, advising them of a public meeting on November 9, 2005, to discuss the draft DFIRM. A copy of that notice is attached as Exhibit 3. FIRM_0511 000001, Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map [DFIRM] November 9, 2005 Page 2 DISCUSSION A. Discussion Agenda The Agenda for the November 9th City Council meeting includes a list of discussion points to be addressed. Those points are listed as follows: 1. Introduction of officials 2. General description of the purpose and function of Flood Insurance Maps 3. New Hydrology Study for the Calleguas Creek Watershed 4. New draft DFIRM 5. Ninety (90) day public comment period 6. Appeal process and requirements 7. City's engineering investigation (technical review) 8. Flood Insurance requirements 9. Proposed future Arroyo Simi Channel improvement projects 10. Questions & Answers B. Presentations and Discussions It is the understanding of staff that representatives of both FEMA and the VCWPD will be attending the November 9th meeting to address the matters noted above. C. Technical Review The City has retained the services of a consultant to review and possibly critique the data, methodologies and assumptions used by the VCWPD and FEMA in determining the water surface elevations (WSE) which generated the floodway boundaries on the draft DFIRM. When the results of that effort are known, a report regarding those findings will be presented to the City Council. If that effort yields facts which could support an appeal of the draft DFIRM, staff would consider making a recommendation to the City Council that such an appeal be prepared. D. Fiscal Impact It is anticipated that the preliminary consultant services now underway will cost about $12,000. Should those services be expanded to include the development of an appeal, those additional services would be added. There are no funds budgeted for these costs. It is the intent of staff to present a Budget amendment to the City Council when the total estimated costs are known. FIRM_0511 00000, 02 Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map [ DFIRM] November 9, 2005 Page 3 E. Frequently Asked Questions Attached as Exhibit 4 is a copy of FEMA's answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Flood Zones and Flood Insurance. STAFF RECONSMNDATION Receive and file this report. Attachments: Exhibit l: Exhibit 2: Exhibit 3: Exhibit 4: FIRM 0511 Current FIRM Draft DFIRM Notice FEMA answers to FAQ 00001103 ZONE c ZONE I 'ZONE I �� ZONE I ZONES I—C ZONE ZONE 6 ZONE ZONE 9 ZONE 0 ZONE a 10.1 c ZONE ZONE a ZONE c {� — ZONE I-C K',T`Ni°" ~. ......... ... _~.~~..~~.`, -------- ��~""~`.°�~L U LSIGNATIO," — ' ^� ^� . . .. . . 2"AS7 �1� ` }�� tt Flood Insur �n' Rate Map M o A c :zp AN #A, 'ANNt Cr bl� Z VD C A §XN n I hi "1 14 EX MOORPARK 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 517 -6200 October 18, 2005 To: Moorpark Property Owner Subject: Notice of Public Meeting re: Proposed New Flood Insurance Rate Map Place: City Council Chambers Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2005 Time: 7:00 p.m. Dear Moorpark Property Owner This is to advise you that on November 9, 2005, the City Council will host a public meeting for the purpose of discussing the proposed new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map [DFIRM] for the City of Moorpark. Some interesting facts in this regard are summarized as follows: 1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] has prepared a new DFIRM for Ventura County. The proposed new DFIRM shows floodway and flood plain boundaries which include many more properties than that shown on the current FIRM map. 2. Your property may be included within the proposed revised boundaries of the floodway and flood plain. If you are affected by this proposed change, it is strongly suggested that you obtain flood insurance. The City has been advised that mortgage lenders will require flood insurance for those properties affected by the new DFIRM. We have also been advised that flood insurance imposed by a lender costs much more that a policy obtained by the property owner. 3. FEMA has advised that they intend to approve and adopt the new DFIRM subsequent to a ninety (90) day review period which is expected to start in November 2005. 4. You may view the proposed new DFIRM, and FEMA answers to FAQ regarding flood insurance, on the City's website: www.ci.moorpark.ca.us. 5. Representatives from both the Ventura County Watershed Protection District [VCWPD] and FEMA will be present at the November 9t' meeting to answer your questions. You are cordially invited to attend the November 9th meeting, to ask question and to learn more about these matters. If you should have any immediate questions, feel free to give me a call at 517 -6255. S4nc e , Ken Gilbert, Interim Director of Public Works c: The Honorable City Council 03 010�a� PATRICK HUNTER CLINT D. HARPER ROSEANN MIKOS KEITH F. MILLHOUSE JANICE S. PARVIN� Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember < a Federal Emergency Management Agency Washington, D.C. 20472 o www.FEMA.gov FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE EFFECT THAT REVISED FLOOD HAZARDS HAVE ON EXISTING STRUCTURES What factors determine flood insurance premiums? A number of factors determine premiums for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance coverage. Major factors include the amount of coverage purchase (l; the deductible; and the location, age, occupancy, and type of building. For newer buildings in fl'oodplains, the elevation of the lowest floor relative to the elevation of the I % annual chance flood can also be used to rate the policy. My house is not in a floodplain according to the current map, but the new map will show it as being in a floodplain. Will I have to purchase flood insurance when the new map officially takes effect? If you have Federal or federally related financing for the property in question and you do not already have flood insurance, your lender may contact you once the new map takes effect and require that you purchase flood insurance. If you do not purchase the insurance within 45 days after being informed that flood insurance is required, the lender can force place the insurance and charge you for the cost of it. If you dispute the lender's determination that your property is located in a floodplain, you and your lender can jointly request a Letter of Determination Review from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within 45 days of being informed by your lender that your property is located in a floodplain. If you have insurance before the new maps take effect, the basis for rating that policy remains unchanged (i.e., you can use the rate that was charged to you when your property was located outside the floodplain). I have flood insurance, and my house is in a floodplain according to the current map. Tire new map, however, will show my house as being outside the floodplain. Will I have to continue carrying flood insurance when the new map officially takes effect? If you have Federal or federally related financing for the property in question, you will no longer have a Federal requirement to purchase flood insurance when the new maps take effect; however, lenders retain the prerogative to require flood insurance, even for property that is not in a floodplain. If you wish to continue coverage once the new maps take effect, you may be eligible for preferred risk rates based on your property being outside the floodplain. you should have your policy re -rated using the new maps, which should lower your premium. Even if you are not required to purchase flood insurance, we encourage homeowners to continue coverage at the preferred risk rates, because you may be flooded by an event greater than the I% annual chance event. My house was built to the flood elevation shown on the current map (or a previous map). On the new map, ►ny house will remain in the floodplain, but the flood elevation will increase. What will happen to my insurance premium when the new map officially takes effect? If you can show that your house was built in compliance with local floodp ain management regulations and the flood map in effect at the time of construction, the basis for rating your policy does not change and your premium will be the same. If you cannot show that your house was built in compliance at the time of construction, your policy will be re -rated using the new flood map, which may raise your premium. However, if you can show that your home has been continuously insured since before the map change, your premium will not be affected. If you do not have Federal or federally related financing, you are not required by Federal regulations to have flood insurance, although it is available to you. MT -TS -HS 06/13/01 W)OP07 My house was built to the flood elevation shown on the current map (or a previous map). On the new map, my house will remain in the floodplain, but the flood elevation will decrease. What will happen to my insurance premium when the new map officially takes effect? You should contact your insurance agent to ensure that the policy is re -rated when the new map officially takes effect. The lower flood elevation may result in a lower premium. My house is in a floodplain according to the current map. On the new map, my house w remain in the floodplain, but the food elevation will be increased. Will my house j .: considered to be in violation of NFIP regulations when the new map officially takes effect? Any house that can be shown to have been built in compliance with local floodplain management regulations and the flood map at the time of construction will continue to be considered compliant, even if the new maps will show an increase in flood elevation or a change to a more restrictive zone designation. However, should your house be substantially damaged (damage is 50% or more of the pre - damage market value) and you wish to repair it, you will be required to bring the entire structure into compliance with the zone designation and flood elevations in effect at the time the repairs take place. If the structure is less than substantially damaged, you do not need to refer to the flood map when repairing damages. Please note, however, that there may be more stringent state or local requirements that take precedence over those stated here. Regardless of whether your building is substantially damaged, you will likely need a building permit to make repairs and need to contact your local building official. My house is in a floodplain. ii'bat do I do if I want to build an addition or otherwise improve it? If the value of the addition or improvement to the house is less than 50% of the market value of the existing structure, you need only make sure that the improvement meets or exceeds the standards that were used in constructing the existing structure (assuming the existing structure was built in compliance at the time it was constructed). Additions or other improvements valued at 50% or more of the market value of the existing structure are considered substantial improvements. In such cases, the entire structure must be brought into compliance with the elevations on the map in effect at the time the improvement begins. Under certain circumstances only the addition needs to be elevated to the flood elevations shown on that map. Please note, however, that there may be more stringent state or local requirements that take precedence over those stated here. Regardless of whether your building is substantially improved, you will likely need a building permit to make the improvement and need to contact your local building official. For Coastal Areas Onlv My house was built in Zone AE to the flood elevation in effect at the time of construction. On the new map, my house will remain in the floodplain, but the zone designation will be changed to Zone VE. What will happen to my insurance premium when the new map officially takes effect? if you can show that your house was built in compliance with local floodplain management regulations and the flood map in effect at the time of construction, the basis for rating your policy does not change and your premium will be the same when the new map officially takes effect. If you cannot show that your house was built in compliance at the time of construction, your policy will be re -rated when the new map takes effect using the new flood zone designation and flood elevations, which may raise your premium. However, if you can show that your home has been continuously insured since before the map change, your premium will not be affected. My house is shown as being in Zone VE on the current map. On the new map, my house will remain in the floodplain but the zone designation will be changed to Zone AE. What will happen to mi' insurance preniiwn when the new reap officially takes effect? You should contact your insurance agent to ensure that the policy is re -rated when the new map officially takes effect. The change to a Zone AE designation will likely lower your premium. MT -TS -HS 06/13/01 000008