a. The Floodplain Administrator and/or staff is hereby appointed, authorized and directed to administer, implement and enforce the provisions of this Chapter. The Floodplain Administrator is further authorized to render interpretations of this Chapter which are consistent with its spirit and purpose by granting or denying development permits in accordance with its provisions.
b. The duties and responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Permit Review: Review all development permits to ensure that:
a) Permit requirements of this Chapter have been satisfied;
b) All other required state and federal permits have been obtained and to advise the permittee that additional federal or state permits may be required, and if specific federal or state permit requirements are known, require that copies of such permits be provided and maintained on file with the development permit;
c) Flood damages will be reduced in the best possible manner; and,
d) The proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of affected watercourses. For purposes of this Chapter, "adversely affects" means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point.
2. Review and use of other base flood data when base flood elevation data has not been provided above. The Floodplain Administrator shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal or state agency or other source in order to administer the provisions of this Chapter. Any such information shall be submitted to the City of Bowling Green for adoption.
3. Notification of other agencies:
a) Notify adjacent communities, the Kentucky Division of Water and any other federal and/or state agencies with statutory or regulatory authority prior to any alteration or relocation of the watercourse;
b) Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and,
c) Assure that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse is maintained.
4. Documentation of floodplain development. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:
a) Certification of lowest floor elevations as required herein as shown on a completed and certified elevation certificate. Verify and record the actual elevation (in relation to Mean Sea Level) of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures in accordance with this Chapter;
b) Certification of elevation or floodproofing of new residential structures as required by this Chapter as shown on a completed and certified floodprooofing certificate. Verify and record the actual elevation (in relation to Mean Sea Level) to which the new or substantially improved structures have been flood-proofed in accordance with this Chapter;
c) Certification of elevated structure as required by this Chapter;
d) Certification of elevation regarding subdivision standards as required by this ordinance;
e) Certification regarding floodway encroachment as required by this Chapter;
f) Assure that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of any watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished;
g) Review certified plans and specifications for compliance; and,
h) Take remedial action to remedy violations of this Chapter.
5. Map Determinations. Make interpretations where needed as to the exact location of the boundaries of the special flood hazard areas, for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions:
a) Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard, the Floodplain Administrator shall make the necessary interpretation. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation;
b) When base flood elevation data or floodway data have not been provided, the Floodplain Administrator shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source in order to administer the provisions of this Chapter;
c) When flood-proofing is utilized for a particular structure, the Floodplain Administrator shall obtain a floodproofing certification from a registered professional engineer or architect in accordance with this Chapter; and,
d) All records pertaining to the provisions of this Chapter shall be maintained in the office of the Floodplain Administrator and shall be open for public inspection.
6. Right of Entry.
a) Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this Chapter, or whenever the Floorplain Administrator has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any structure or upon any premises any condition or ordinance violation which makes such building, structure or premises unsafe, dangerous or hazardous, the administrator or other designated code officials may enter such building, structure or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or perform any duty imposed upon the administrator by this Chapter.
b) If such structure or premises are occupied, the Floodplain Administrator or other code official shall first present proper credentials and request entry. If such building, structure or premises are unoccupied, he shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of such request entry.
c) If entry is refused, the Floodplain Administrator or other designated code official shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry.
d) When the Floodplain Administrator or other code official shall have first obtained a proper inspection warrant or other remedy provided by law to secure entry, no owner or occupant or any other persons having charge, care or control of any building, structure or premises shall fail or neglect, after proper request is made as herein provided, to promptly permit entry therein by the Floodplain Administrator or other designated code official for the purpose of inspection and examination pursuant to this Chapter.
7. Stop Work Orders.
Upon notice from the Floodplain Administrator or other designated code officials, work on any building, structure or premises that is being done contrary to the provisions of this Chapter shall immediately cease. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property, his agent or to the person doing the work and shall state the conditions under which work may be resumed.
8. Revocation of Permits.
a) The Floodplain Administrator may revoke a permit or approval issued under the provisions of this Chapter in case there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to the material fact in the application or plans on which the permit or approval was based.
b) The Floodplain Administrator may revoke a permit upon determination by the Floodplain Administrator that the construction, erection, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, installation or replacement of the structure for which the permit was issued is in violation of, or not in conformity with, the provisions of this Chapter.
9. Liability.
Any official officer, employee or member of the City of Bowling Green or the Floodplain Administrator’s staff charged with the enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter, acting for the city in the discharge of his duties, shall not thereby render himself personally liable and is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his duties. Any suit brought against any official officer, employee or member because of such act performed by him in the enforcement of any provision of this Chapter shall be defended by the City’s Department of Law or the attorney for the City-County Planning Commission until the final termination of the proceedings.
10. Expiration of Floodplain Construction Permit.
A floodplain construction permit and all provisions contained therein shall expire if the holder of a floodplain construction permit has not commenced construction within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from the date of its issuance by the Floodplain Administrator.