(A) This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority conferred by Cal. Gov't Code sections 65302, 65560 and 65800 to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety and general welfare.
(B) The City Council finds as follows:
(1) The flood hazard areas of the city are subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare.
(2) These flood losses are caused by uses that are inadequately elevated, flood proofed or protected from flood damage. The cumulative effect of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards that increase flood heights and velocities also contribute to the flood loss.
(C) The purpose of this chapter is to promote public health, safety and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:
(1) Protect human life and health;
(2) Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;
(3) Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
(4) Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
(5) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; and streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;
(6) Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future blighted areas caused by flood damage;
(7) Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and
(8) Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
(D) In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods and provisions to:
(1) Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities;
(2) Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
(3) Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters;
(4) Control filling, grading, dredging and other development which may increase flood damage; and
(5) Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.
(`64 Code, Sec. 35-1) (Ord. No. 2426, 2640)