A. Statutory Authorization. The Legislature of the state has in Government Code Sections 65302, 65560 and 65800 conferred upon local government units authority to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the city does adopt the following floodplain management regulations in compliance with the requirements for floodplain management established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Title 44, Chapter 1, Part 60, Subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations.
B. Short Title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “City of Visalia Floodplain Management Ordinance.”
C. Findings of Fact.
1. The flood hazard areas of the city are subject to periodic inundation which may result 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 the 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, floodproofed or protected from flood damage. The cumulative effect of obstruction in special flood hazard areas, which increase flood heights and velocities, may also contribute to the flood loss.
D. Statement of Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the 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 events 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 special flood hazard areas;
6. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of special flood hazard areas so as to minimize future blighted areas caused by flood damage;
7. Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is located in a special flood hazard area; and
8. Ensure that those who occupy properties located in special flood hazard areas assume responsibility for their actions.
E. Methods of Reducing Flood Losses. In order to accomplish its purpose, this chapter includes regulations to:
1. Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards;
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 floodwaters;
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. (Ord. 2010-08 (part), 2010; Ord. 9816 (part), 1998: prior code § 7192)