From
Stephanie Griffin, Floodplain Administrator
Title
Resolution approving the Floodplain Management Plan for the Community Rating System Program Update
Presenter
Stephanie Griffin, Floodplain Administrator
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The City of Grand Prairie participates in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program as part of the City’s floodplain management program. The Community Rating System provides insurance rate incentives to communities that participate in this federal program by implementing standards that help with educating and reducing the risk of flooding in the community. The City is currently ranked as a Class 5, which provides our community the opportunity to purchase floodplain insurance at a 25 percent discount. With over one-third of the City being located within the regulatory floodplain, the opportunity to purchase discounted flood insurance is a critical benefit to our residents and businesses.
FEMA has updated the CRS Program Manual. In order to remain a Class 5, the City must update its CRS program to align with the new manual and new requirements. On January 20, 2015, City Council authorized the Stormwater Department to enter into a contract with LAN to update the City’s CRS program. One of the deliverables of this contract is the development of a Floodplain Management Plan. This Plan is one of the requirements to move from a CRS Class 5 to a CRS Class 4 rating. Another requirement to become a CRS Class 4 community is to obtain a Building Code Effective Grading Schedule (BCEGS) of a 4 or better. Grand Prairie recently obtained a BCEGS rating of 3 for non-residential structures and 4 for residential structures. Thus, the building code requirement has been met.
The Floodplain Management Plan is based on the existing Hazard Mitigation Action Plan flood section with some additional FEMA requirements specific to the flood hazard. The Floodplain Management Plan was developed with a committee comprised of City staff and community representatives. The committee reviewed the flood information in the current Hazard Mitigation Action Plan and incorporated the additional FEMA requirements. Once approved, the Floodplain Management Plan will be incorporated into the next update of the Hazard Mitigation Action Plan.
City staff requests City Council consideration and approval of the Floodplain Management Plan by resolution.
Financial Consideration
No funding is required for this resolution request.
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, APPROVING THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM PROGRAM UPDATE.
WHEREAS, the flood hazard in THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE historically has caused significant hardship with property damage and natural resources damage; and
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); and
WHEREAS, the NFIP has been effective in requiring new building to be protected from damage by the 1% annual chance flood, or base flood. However, flood damage still results from floods that exceed the base flood, from flooding in unmapped areas, and from flooding that affects buildings constructed before the community joined the NFIP.
WHEREAS, communities can be rewarded for adopting higher regulatory standards above the minimum NFIP requirements by joining the Community Rating System (CRS.) CRS recognizes, encourages, and rewards - by the use of flood insurance premium adjustments - community and state activities that go beyond the minimum required by the NFIP to reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property, strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and foster comprehensive floodplain management.
Flood insurance premiums for NFIP policyholders in the City, for both residents and businesses, are discounted to reflect the community’s work to reduce flood damage to existing buildings, manage development in areas not mapped by NFIP, protect new buildings beyond the minimum NIFP requirements, preserve and/or restore natural floodplain functions of floodplains, and encourage residents to obtain flood insurance.
WHEREAS, the FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN credits the CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE with an overall strategy of programs, projects, and measures that will reduce the adverse impact of the flood hazard on the community. Development of a FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN provides a systematic process of planning to identify existing and future flood-related hazards and their causes, ensures a comprehensive review of all possible activities and mitigation measures so the most appropriate solutions will be implemented to address the flood hazard, educate residents and property owners about the flood hazard, build public and political support for activities and projects that prevent new problems, reduce losses, and protect the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains, and implement recommendations and activities as warranted by community resources, costs, and benefit.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
Section 1. THAT THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE’S FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN is approved in its entirety; and
Section 2. THAT THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE will pursue implementation of the activities designated therein, and will seek to implement the actions contained in the FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN; and
SECTION 3. THAT THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE vests with the City Council the responsibility, authority, and means to inform all parties of this action; assure that the FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN will be reviewed at least annually; and that any needed adjustments will be presented to the City Council for consideration; and
SECTION 4. THAT THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE agrees to take such other action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the objectives of the FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN and report on progress as required by FEMA.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, OCTOBER 13TH, 2015.