Subject:
Title
Approval of an Amendment to Chapter 62, Article XI, Flood Damage Protection, Division 1
End
Fiscal Impact:
None
Dept/Office:
Public Works & Planning & Development
Requested Action:
Recommendation
Staff is requesting the Board of County Commissioners review and approve the attached proposed ordinance.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On May 21, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners granted legislative intent and permission to advertise an amendment to the following codes:
• Chapter 62, Article XI, Division 1, Section 62-4001, “Definitions and rules of construction,”
• Chapter 62, Article XI, Division 1, Section 62-4005, “Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard and adoption of flood insurance rate map,”
• Chapter 62, Article XI, Division 1, Section 62-4061, “General standards,”
• Chapter 62, Article XI, Division 1, Section 62-4062, “Specific standards,”
The County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (the “NFIP") and participates in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (“CRS”), a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum program requirements, and the County has achieved a CRS rating of Class 7, making citizens who purchase NFIP flood insurance policies eligible for premium discounts. Communities which do not exceed the minimum requirements have a CRS rating of Class 10, consequently their citizens are not eligible to benefit from flood insurance premium discounts.
In 2020, the NFIP Community Rating System established certain minimum prerequisites for communities to qualify for or maintain class ratings of Class 8 or better; and
To satisfy the CRS prerequisite and for the County to at least maintain the current CRS rating, all manufactured homes newly installed or replaced in special flood hazard areas must be elevated so that the bottom of the frame of the manufactured home is at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation, which necessitates modification of the existing code requirements referenced in the requested action. The added benefit of this action is that the properties complying with the code are less likely to flood or if they do flood the duration and the severity of the flooding and the associated damage will be reduced.
Pursuant to Section 125.66, Florida Statutes, a business impact estimate is not required if the proposed ordinance is required for compliance with Federal or State law or regulation.
The proposed ordinance was reviewed and approved by both the BCAC and LPA. Based on feedback at the LPA meeting, additional changes were made to the proposed ordinance in consultation with the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s Ordinance Consultant.
Therefore, staff requests approval of the attached ordinance amending Chapter 62, Article XI, Flood Damage Protection, Division 1.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None