The director of engineering shall be responsible for the general administration and enforcement of this chapter, which shall include the following:
A. Determining The Floodplain Designation: Check all new development sites to determine whether they are in a special flood hazard area (SFHA). If they are in an SFHA, determine whether they are in a floodway, flood fringe or in a floodplain on which a detailed study has not been conducted which drains more than one square mile.
1. Check whether the development is potentially within an extended SFHA (with a drainage area less than 1 square mile), indicating that the development would have adverse impacts regarding storage, conveyance, or inundation which would be the basis for the applicant being required to delineate the floodplain and floodway and be subject to the remaining sections of this chapter.
B. Professional Engineer Review: If the development site is within a floodway or in a floodplain on which a detailed study has not been conducted which drains more than one square mile, then the permit shall be referred to a registered professional engineer (PE) under the employ or contract of the city for review to ensure that the development meets the requirements of section 14-1-7 of this chapter. In the case of an appropriate use, the PE shall state in writing that the developer's engineer will provide a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analysis in conjunction with a detailed plan of the drainage basin and subbasins considered for any development site being submitted to the director of engineering for review.
C. Dam Safety Requirements:
1. Dams are classified as to their size and their hazard/damage potential in the event of failure.
2. The construction or major modification of all class I (high hazard) and class II (moderate hazard) dams require an IDNR/OWR dam safety permit.
3. Some class III (low hazard) dams require an IDNR/OWR dam safety permit, depending on the drainage area to the dam, the height of the dam and the impounding capacity behind the dam. Most off channel detention basins that have an embankment are nonjurisdictional class III dams. It is not required that IDNR/OWR "sign off" on all nonjurisdictional class III dams.
4. A consulting engineer with dam safety knowledge can estimate a hazard classification and determine if an IDNR/OWR dam safety permit is required.
5. A permit application submittal must be made to IDNR/OWR for the construction or major modification of jurisdictional dams.
6. Regulated dams may include weirs, restrictive culverts or impoundment structures.
D. Other Permit Requirements: Ensure any and all required federal, state and local permits are received prior to the issuance of a floodplain development permit.
E. Plan Review And Permit Issuance: Ensure that all development activities within the SFHAs of the jurisdiction of the city of Des Plaines meet the requirements of this chapter, and issue a floodplain development permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and other regulations of this community when the development meets the conditions of this chapter.
F. Inspection Review: Inspect all development projects before, during, and after construction to assure proper elevation of the structure and to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter; and schedule on an annual basis an inspection of the floodplain and document the results of the inspection.
G. Elevation And Floodproofing Certificates: Maintain in the permit files an elevation certificate certifying the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of a residential or nonresidential building or the elevation to which a nonresidential building has been subject to section 14-1-9 of this chapter for public inspection and provide copies of same.
H. Records For Public Inspection: Maintain for public inspection and furnish upon request base flood data, SFHA and regulatory floodway maps, copies of federal or state permit documents, variance documentation, conditional letter of map revision, letter of map revision, letter of map amendment and as built elevation and floodproofing or elevation and floodproofing certificates for all buildings constructed subject to this chapter.
I. State Permits: Ensure that construction authorization has been granted by the Illinois department of natural resources, office of water resources (IDNR/OWR), for all development projects subject to sections 14-1-7 and 14-1-8 of this chapter, unless enforcement responsibility has been delegated to the city. Upon acceptance of this chapter by IDNR/OWR and FEMA, responsibility is hereby delegated to the city as per 17 Illinois administrative code 3708 for construction in the designated floodway and floodplain when floodways have not been defined in sections 14-1-7 and 14-1-8 of this chapter. However, the following review approvals are not delegated to the city and shall require review or permits from IDNR/OWR:
1. Organizations which are exempt from this chapter, as per the Illinois Compiled Statutes;
3. An engineer's determination that an existing bridge or culvert crossing is not a source of flood damage and the analysis indicating the proposed flood profile, per subsection 14-1-7B2e of this chapter;
4. An engineer's analysis of the flood profile due to subsection 14-1-7B2d of this chapter;
5. Alternative transition sections and hydraulically equivalent compensatory storage as indicated in subsections 14-1-7B2a, B2b and B2h of this chapter;
6. Permit issuance of structures within or over publicly navigable rivers, lakes and streams;
7. Any changes in the base flood elevation or floodway locations; and
8. Base flood elevation determinations where none now exist.
J. Cooperation With Other Agencies: Cooperate with state and federal floodplain management agencies to improve the administration of this chapter. Submit data to OWR and the federal emergency management agency for proposed revisions of a designated map within six (6) months whenever a modification to the floodplain may change the base flood elevation or result in a change to the FIRM. Submit reports as required for the national flood insurance program. Notify the federal emergency management agency of any proposed amendments to this chapter.
K. Promulgate Regulations: Promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter, subject however to the review and approval of OWR and FEMA for any chapter changes.
L. Damage Determinations: Make damage determinations of all damaged buildings in the SFHA after any damage to determine if any structures have been substantially damaged. Any structures found to be substantially damaged must comply with section 14-1-9 of this chapter. (Ord. M-15-16, 6-6-2016)