(A) The Floodplain Administrator and/or designated staff is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Administrator is further authorized to render interpretations of this chapter, which are consistent with its spirit and purpose.
(B) Duties and responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator shall include, but are not limited to:
(1) Enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Review all floodplain development permits to assure that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied.
(3) Interpret floodplain boundaries and provide flood hazard and flood protection elevation information.
(4) Issue permits to develop in special flood hazard areas when the provisions of these regulations have been met or refuse to issue the same in the event of noncompliance.
(5) Advise permittee that additional federal, state, and/or local permits may be required. If specific federal, state, and/or local permits area known, require that copies of such permits be provided and maintained on file with the floodplain development permit.
(6) Inspect and inventory damaged structures in the SFHA identified by FEMA and complete substantial damage determinations to determine whether existing structures damaged from any source meet the development standard of these regulations.
(7) For applications to improve structures, including alterations, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, change of occupancy, additions, rehabilitations, renovations, substantial improvements, repairs of substantial damage, and any other improvement of or work on such buildings and structures, the Floodplain Administrator shall:
(a) Verify and document the market value of the pre-damaged or pre-improved structure;
(b) Compare the cost to perform the improvement; or the cost to repair a damaged building to its pre-damaged or pre-improved structure. The cost of all work must be included in the project costs, including work that might otherwise be considered routine maintenance. Items/activities that must be included in the cost shall be keeping with guidance published by FEMA to ensure compliance with the NFIP and to avoid any conflict with future flood insurance claims of policy holders within the community;
(c) Determine and document whether the proposed work constitutes substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage; the determination requires evaluation of previous permits issued for improvements and repairs as specified in the definition of “substantial improvement” for proposed work to repair damage caused by flood, the determination requires evaluation of previous permits issued to repair flood-related damage as specified in the definition of substantial damage; and
(8) Ensure that construction authorization has been granted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for all development projects subject to § 155.049 and § 155.051(A), and maintain a record of such authorization (either copy of actual permit/authorization or floodplain analysis/regulatory assessment).
(9) Verify the upstream drainage area of any proposed development site near any watercourse not identified on a FEMA map to determine if § 155.037(B)(8) is applicable.
(10) Make on-site inspections of projects in accordance with § 155.037(A)(23).
(11) Coordinate with insurance adjusters prior to permitting any proposed work to bring any flood damaged structure covered by a standard flood insurance policy into compliance (either a substantially damaged structure or a repetitive loss structure) to ensure eligibility for ICC funds.
(12) Ensure that an approved connection to a public sewer system or an approved on-site septic system is planned for any structures (residential or non-residential) to be equipped with a restroom, kitchen, or other facilities requiring disposal of wastewater.
(13) Provide information, testimony, or other evidence as needed during variance hearings.
(14) Ensure that all necessary federal or state permits have been received prior to issuance of the local floodplain development permit. Copies of such permits/authorizations are to be maintained on file with the floodplain development permit.
(15) Maintain and track permit records involving additions and improvements to residences located in the floodway.
(16) Notify adjacent communities and the State Floodplain Coordinator prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit copies of such notifications to FEMA.
(17) Maintain for public inspection and furnish upon request local permit documents, damaged structure inventories, substantial damage determinations, regulatory flood data, SFHA maps, Letters of Map Change (LOMC), copies of DNR permits, letters of authorization, and floodplain analysis and regulatory assessments (letters of recommendation), federal permit documents, and “as-built” elevation and floodproofing data for all buildings constructed subject to this chapter.
(18) Utilize and enforce all Letters of Map Change (LOMC) or Physical Map Revisions (PMR) issued by FEMA for the currently effective SFHA maps of the community.
(19) Assure that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished.
(20) Review certified plans and specifications for compliance.
(21) Verify and record the actual elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures, in accordance with § 155.036.
(22) Verify and record the actual elevation to which any new or substantially improved structures have been floodproofed in accordance with § 155.036.
(23) Perform a minimum of three inspections to ensure that all applicable ordinance and floodplain development requirements have been satisfied. The first upon the establishment of the Flood Protection Grade reference mark at the development site; the second upon the establishment of the structure’s footprint/establishment of the lowest floor; and the final inspection upon completion and submission of the required finished construction elevation certificate. Authorized city officials shall have the right to enter and inspect properties located in the SFHA.
(24) Stop work orders.
(a) Upon notice from the Floodplain Administrator, work on any building, structure or premises that is being done contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall immediately cease.
(b) Such notice shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property, or to his or her agent, or to the person doing the work, and shall state the conditions under which work may be resumed.
(25) Revocation of permits.
(a) The Floodplain Administrator may revoke a permit or approval issued under the provisions of this chapter, in cases where 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.
(26) Floodplain management records.
(a) Regardless of any limitation on the period required for retention of public records, records and actions associated with the administration of this chapter shall be kept on file and maintained under the direction of the Floodplain Administrator in perpetuity. These records include permit application, plans, certifications, Flood Insurance Rate Maps; Letter of Map Change; records of issuance of permits and denial of permits; determinations of whether proposed work constitutes substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage; required design certificates and documentation of elevations required by this chapter; notifications to adjacent communities, FEMA, and the state related to alterations of watercourses; assurances that the flood carrying capacity of altered watercourses will be maintained; documentation related to appeals and variances, including justification for issuance or denial; and records of enforcement actions taken pursuant to this chapter.
(b) These records shall be available for public inspection at Decatur City Hall, Building and Zoning Department, located at 172 N 2nd St, Decatur, IN 46733.
(27) Periodic inspection. Once a project is completed, periodic inspections may be conducted by the Floodplain Administrator to ensure compliance. The Floodplain Administrator shall have a right, upon presentation of proper credential, to enter any premises within the territorial jurisdiction of the department at any reasonable hour for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement action.
(28) Map maintenance activities. To meet NFIP minimum requirements to have flood data reviewed and approved by FEMA, and to ensure that the City of Decatur flood maps, studies and other data identified in § 155.021 accurately represent flooding conditions so appropriate floodplain management criteria are based on current data, the following map maintenance activities are identified:
(a) Requirements to submit new technical data.
1. For all development proposals that impact floodway delineations or base flood elevations, the community shall ensure technical data reflecting such changes be submitted to FEMA within six months of the date such information becomes available. These development proposals include:
a. Floodway encroachments that increase or decrease base flood elevations or alter floodway boundaries;
b. Fill sites to be used for the placement of proposed structures where the applicant desires to remove the site from the special flood hazard area;
c. Alteration of watercourses that result in a relocation or elimination of the special flood hazard area including the placement of culverts; and subdivision or large-scale development proposals requiring the establishment of base flood elevations.
2. It is the responsibility of the applicant to have required technical data for Conditional Letter of Map Revision or Letter of Map Revision and submitted to FEMA. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will review the submittals as part of a partnership with FEMA. The submittal should be mailed to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as the address provided on the FEMA form (MT-2) or submitted through the online Letter of Map Change website. Submittal and processing fees for these map revisions shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
3. The Floodplain Administrator shall require a Conditional Letter of Map Revision prior to the issuance of a floodplain development permit for proposed floodway encroachments that increase the base flood elevation.
4. Floodplain development permits issued by the Floodplain administrator shall be conditioned upon the applicant obtaining a Letter of Map Revision from FEMA for any development proposal subject to this section.
(29) Right to submit new technical data. The Floodplain Administrator may request changes to any of the information shown on an effective map that does not impact floodplain or floodway delineations or base flood elevations, such as labeling or planimetric details. Such submissions shall include appropriate supporting documentation made in writing by the Mayor of the City of Decatur and may be submitted to FEMA at any time.
(30) Annexation/detachment. Upon occurrence, the Floodplain Administrator shall notify FEMA in writing whenever the boundaries of the City of Decatur have been modified by annexation or the community has assumed authority over an area, or no longer has authority to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations for a particular area. In order that the Adams County, Indiana and Incorporated Areas Flood Insurance Rate Map accurately represent the City of Decatur boundaries, include within such notification a copy of a map of the City of Decatur suitable for reproduction, clearly showing the new corporate limits or the new area for which the City of Decatur has assumed or relinquished floodplain management regulatory authority.
(Ord. 2017-7, passed 8-15-2017; Ord. 2022-10, passed 6-21-2022)