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WS – Item #5 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 5 Date: March 3, 2014 To: City Council From: Michael Grochala Re: FEMA Flood Plain Map Update Background The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began work in 2009 to update the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Anoka County, including Lino Lakes. The original FIS and FIRM for Lino Lakes were completed in 1981. The information contained in the study is used to establish actuarial flood insurance rates and to assist the community in its efforts to promote floodplain management. Minimum floodplain management requirements for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations at 44 CFR, 60.3. Communities are required to adopt a floodplain management ordinance consistent with this regulation in order for properties to be eligible for participation in the flood insurance program. The City’s current Flood Plain Management Ordinance was adopted in 1995. The new study used information provided by the Rice Creek Watershed District as well as additional analysis to generate the revised Special Flood Hazard Areas. These are areas that would be inundated by the base (1-percent-annual-chance) flood, based flood elevations or depths; zone designations and regulatory boundaries. Based on the new information the Special Flood Hazard Areas have been modified from the 1982 FIRM. Based on a review of the map we have seen both expansion and contraction of the Flood Hazard Areas throughout the City. The most notable change is the increase in flood elevations for the majority of lakes within the City. The majority of properties effected by these changes were previously in the flood hazard areas. However the changes may impact the proximity of structures to flood hazard area. FEMA published the official notice concerning the appeal process in on February 14 and February 21. The publication date official starts the 90 day appeal period which will end on May 21, 2014. Staff has previously submitted comments to FEMA on the proposed maps. We are working with WSB, the City Engineer, to further review the changes and prepare, if necessary, an appeal response. FEMA has also provided documentation that 153 existing Letter of Map Amendments (LOMA’s) completed over the years, on individual properties, will remain in effect upon