Duties of the floodplain administrator shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(A) Permit review -
(1) Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied, including determination of substantial improvement and substantial damage of existing structures;
(2) Determine that all other required State and federal permits have been obtained;
(3) Determine that the site is reasonably safe from flooding; and
(4) Determine that the proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of the areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. 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.
(B) Use of other base flood data - When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with section 18-9, 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 section 18-3.
(C) If no base flood elevation data is available from a federal or State agency or other source, the floodplain administrator shall obtain a base flood elevation using one of the following methods from the FEMA publication "Managing Floodplain Development in Approximately Zone A Areas - A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (100-year) Flood Elevations," dated July 1995:
(1) Simplified method:
(a) Obtain a 100-year or base flood discharge using the appropriate regression equation found in a U.S. Geological Survey publication, or the discharge-drainage area method; and
(b) Obtain a base flood elevation using the Quick-2 computer program developed by FEMA; or
(2) Detailed method:
(a) Obtain a 100-year or base flood discharge using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC-HMS computer program; and
(b) Obtain a base flood elevation using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC.RAS computer program.
(D) Notification of other agencies.
(1) In alteration or relocation of a watercourse, the floodplain administrator shall:
(a) Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;
(b) Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
(c) Ensure that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.
(2) When base flood elevations change due to physical alterations, the floodplain administrator shall:
(a) Within six months of information becoming available or project completion, whichever comes first, the floodplain administrator shall submit or assure that the permit applicant submits technical or scientific data to FEMA for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR).
(b) All LOMR’s for flood control projects are approved prior to the issuance of building permits. Building permits must not be issued based on Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMR’s). Approved CLOMR’s allow construction of the proposed flood control project and land preparation as specified in the “start of construction” definition.
(c) Such submissions are necessary so that upon confirmation of those physical changes affecting flooding conditions, risk premium rates and floodplain management requirements are based on current data.
(3) The floodplain administrator shall notify FEMA in writing whenever the corporate boundaries have been modified by annexation or other means and include a copy of a map of the community clearly delineating the new corporate limits.
(E) The floodplain administrator shall obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available, as needed, the following:
(1) Certification required by section 18-35(C)(1) (lowest flood elevations);
(2) Certification required by section 18-35(C)(3) (elevation or flood proofing of nonresidential structures);
(3) Certification required by sections 18-35(C)(4) (wet flood proofing standard);
(4) Certification of elevation required by section 18-37 (subdivision standards);
(5) Certification required by section 18-38 (floodway encroachments);
(6) Information required by section 18-39(F) (coastal construction standards).
(F) The floodplain administrator shall make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard. Where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions, the floodplain administrator shall use grade and base flood elevations to determine the boundaries of the special flood hazard area. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in section 18-26.
(G) The floodplain administrator shall take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in section 18-10.
(`64 Code, Sec. 35-16) (Ord. No. 2426, 2640, 2783, 2989)