A. Floodplain Administrator Responsibilities: The Director, and/or his/her designee, hereinafter referred to as the "Floodplain Administrator," is hereby appointed to administer and implement the provisions of this article and shall have the following responsibilities in all special flood hazard areas:
1. Review all floodplain development applications and issue permits for all proposed development within Special Flood Hazard Areas to assure that the requirements of this article have been satisfied.
2. Review all proposed development within Special Flood Hazard Areas to assure that all necessary Local, State, and Federal permits have been received, including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 USC section 1334.
3. Notify adjacent communities and the Idaho Department of Water Resources State Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse. (This is the LOMC procedure.)
4. Assure that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of any watercourse is maintained. (This is a Hydraulic & Hydrology Analysis.)
5. Prevent encroachments into floodways unless the certification and flood hazard reduction provisions of section 8-3F-8-5
of this article are met.
6. Obtain and maintain actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest floor (including basement) and all attendant utilities of all new and substantially improved structures, in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-6
of this article.
7. Obtain and maintain actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which all new and substantially improved structures and utilities have been floodproofed, in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-6
of this article.
8. Review plans to verify public utilities are constructed in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-7
of this article.
9. When floodproofing is utilized for a particular structure, obtain and maintain certifications from a registered professional engineer or architect in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-6
of this article.
10. Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of boundaries of the Special Flood Hazard Areas, and floodways (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions), make the necessary interpretation. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in this article.
11. When Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data has not been provided in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-3
of this article, obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any BFE data, along with floodway data available from a Federal, State, or other source, including data developed pursuant to section 8-3F-6
of this article, in order to administer the provisions of this article.
12. When Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data is provided but no floodway data has been provided in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-3
of this article, require that no new construction, substantial improvements, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A (or A1-30) and AE on Ada County's FIRM, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within Ada County. (This is a Hydraulic & Hydrology Analysis.)
13. When the lowest floor and the lowest adjacent grade of a structure or the lowest ground elevation of a parcel in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), advise the property owner of the option to apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) from FEMA. Maintain a copy of the LOMA issued by FEMA in the floodplain development permit file.
14. Permanently maintain all records that pertain to the administration of this article.
15. Make on-site inspections of work in progress. As the work pursuant to a floodplain development permit progresses, the floodplain administrator shall make as many inspections of the work as may be necessary to ensure that the work is being done according to the provisions of this article and the terms of the permit. In exercising this power, the floodplain administrator has a right, upon presentation of proper credentials, to enter on any premises within Ada County at any reasonable hour for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement action.
16. Issue stop-work orders as required. Whenever a building or part thereof is being constructed, reconstructed, altered, or repaired in violation of this article, the floodplain administrator may order the work to be immediately stopped. The stop-work order shall be in writing and directed to the person doing or in charge of the work. The stop-work order shall state the specific work to be stopped, the specific reason(s) for the stoppage, and the condition(s) under which the work may be resumed.
17. Revoke floodplain development permits as required. The Floodplain administrator may revoke and require the return of the floodplain development permit by notifying the permit holder in writing stating the reason(s) for the revocation. Permits shall be revoked for any substantial departure from the approved application, plans, and specifications; for refusal or failure to comply with the requirements of State or local laws; or for false statements or misrepresentations made in securing the permit. Any floodplain development permit mistakenly issued in violation of an applicable State or local law may also be revoked.
18. Make periodic inspections throughout the Special Flood Hazard Areas within Ada County.
19. Prohibit activities that violate the regulations of this article.
20. Review, provide input, and make recommendations for variance requests.
21. Maintain a current map repository to include, but not limited to, the FIS Report, FIRM and other official flood maps, and studies adopted in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3F-3
of this article, including any revisions thereto including Letters of Map Change, issued by FEMA. Notify the NFIP State Coordinator and FEMA of your community's mapping needs.
22. Coordinate revisions to FIS reports and FIRMs, including Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs) and Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs).
B. Interpretation: All of the regulations of this article shall be considered as minimum requirements, shall be considered liberally construed in favor of the governing body and shall not be deemed to limit or repeal any other powers granted under state statutes. (Ord. 835, 12-3-2014; amd. Ord. 914, 6-10-2020)