(A) The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by Congress to reduce annual flood losses through careful planning by communities and to provide property owners with affordable flood insurance. In 1976, the Common Council requested voluntary participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and adopted the “permanent” program in 1981.
(B) The city recognizes the inherent flood risk of Spearfish Creek and other potential flood tributaries which flow through the city. It recognizes the beneficial attributes of a National Flood Insurance Program, which protects existing and future structures within the flood area and ensures against potential financial loss and bodily harm. The city also recognizes the inherent constraints imposed by the flood insurance program which prohibit certain uses of property by its owners.
(C) The city, therefore, is adopting the new changes to the “permanent program” with the following management objectives in mind as permitted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
(1) Manage with a minimum intent of flood control regulations;
(2) Apply minimum regulations to variance authority; i.e., allow construction within the floodplain fringe as long as it meets minimum regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and does not increase the flood density or flood course;
(3) By legal authority elects not to control the 500-year flood area; and
(4) Recognizes all architectural and engineering techniques approved by FEMA, which provide for nondensity construction and floodproofing protection.
(Prior Code, § 8-5) (Ord. 1153, passed 3-19-2012)