The chief building official, as the designated floodplain administrator, shall administer, implement, and enforce this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accordance with its provisions and the chief building official duties and responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to:
A. Permit Review:
1. Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;
2. Ensure that all other state and federal permits have been obtained;
3. Determine that the site is reasonably safe from flooding; and
4. The proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of 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 (1') at any point.
B. Review, Use And Development Of Other Base Flood Data:
1. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with section 15.32.040 of this chapter, the chief building official shall obtain, review and utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other sources, or if no base flood elevation data is available from a federal or state agency or other source, in order to administer section 15.32.110 of this chapter. Any such information shall be submitted to the city for adoption; or
2. If no base flood elevation data is available from a federal or state agency or other source, then a base flood elevation shall be obtained using one of the two (2) methods from the FEMA publication "Managing Floodplain Development In Approximate Zone A Areas-A Guide Of Obtaining And Developing Base (100-Year) Flood Elevations" dated July 1995, in order to administer section 15.32.110 of this chapter.
a. Simplified method:
(1) 100-year or base flood discharge shall be obtained using the appropriate regression equation found in a U.S. geological survey publication, or the discharge-drainage area method; and
(2) Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the Quick-2 computer program developed by FEMA; or
b. Detail method:
(1) 100-year or base flood discharge shall be obtained using the U.S. army corps of engineers' HEC-HMS computer program; and
(2) Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the U.S. army corps of engineers' HEC-RAS computer program.
C. Notification Of Other Agencies:
1. In alteration or relocation of a watercourse:
a. Notify adjacent communities and the California department of water resources prior to alteration or relocation;
b. Submit evidence of such notification to the FEMA; and
c. Assure that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.
2. Base Flood Elevation Changes Due To Physical Alterations:
a. Within six (6) 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.
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. Changes In Corporate Boundaries:
a. 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.
D. Documentation Of Floodplain Development: Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:
2. Certification required by subsection 15.32.110C4 of this chapter (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);
3. Certification of elevation required by subsection 15.32.110C5 of this chapter (wet floodproofing standards);
4. Certification of elevation required by section 15.32.130, "Subdivision Standards", of this chapter;
5. Certification required by section 15.32.160 of this chapter (floodway encroachments);
6. Reports required by section 15.32.170 of this chapter (mudflow standards).
E. Map Determinations: Make interpretations, where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). Any person contesting the location of a boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in sections 15.32.180 and 15.32.190 of this chapter.
F. Remedial Action: Take action to remedy violations of this chapter. (Ord. 2914 § 1 (part), 2020; Ord. 2837, 2016)