Jurupa Valley Municipal Code Art. 4 Administration

The City Engineer is hereby appointed Floodplain Administrator to administer, implement, and enforce this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accord with its provisions.

(Ord. No. 2013-06, § 2(8.10.120), 8-15-2013)

The duties and responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Permit review.

(a) Review all development permits to determine if the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;

(b) Confirm that all other required state and federal permits have been obtained;

(c) Ensure the site is reasonably safe from flooding;

(d) Ensure that the proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations (BFE) have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. For purposes of this chapter, the term "adversely effect" shall mean 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 (1) foot at any point within the city; and

(e) Review all development permits to determine that all Letters of Map Revision (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.

(f) Obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state, or other source as criteria for requiring that new construction, substantial improvements, or other development in Zone A is adequately elevated.

(2) Development of substantial improvement and substantial damage procedures.

(a) For applications for building permits to improve buildings and structures, including alterations, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, additions, rehabilitations, renovations, substantial improvements, repairs of substantial damage, and any other improvement of or work on such buildings and structures, the Floodplain Administrator, in coordination with the Building Official, shall:

(i) Estimate the market value, or require the applicant to obtain an appraisal of the market value prepared by a qualified independent appraiser, of the building or structure before the start of construction of the proposed work; in the case of repair, the market value of the building or structure shall be the market value before the damage occurred and before any repairs are made.

(ii) Compare the cost to perform the improvement, the cost to repair the damaged building to its pre-damaged condition, or the combined costs of improvements and repairs, when applicable, to the market value of the building or structure.

(iii) Determine and document whether the proposed work constitutes substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage.

(iii) Notify the applicant when it is determined that the work constitutes substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage and that compliance with the flood resistant construction requirements of the building code is required and notify the applicant when it is determined that work does not constitute substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage.

(b) Require that procedures are coordinated with other departments/divisions and implemented by community staff.

(3) Review, use and development of other base flood data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 8.15.070, "Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard," the Floodplain Administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal or state agency, or other source, in order to administer Article V, "Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction," of this chapter.

(4) Notification of other agencies.

(a) Alteration or relocation of a watercourse:

(i) Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;

(ii) Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

(iii) Assure that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.

(b) Base Flood Elevation (BFE) changes due to physical alterations:

(i) 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).

(ii) The analyses shall be prepared by a qualified CA Licensed Civil Engineer in a format required by FEMA.

(iii) Such submissions are necessary so that upon confirmation of those physical changes affecting flooding conditions, and floodplain management requirements are based on current data.

(c) Changes in corporate boundaries: 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.

(5) Documentation of floodplain development. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:

(a) Certification required for lowest floor elevations as specified in Sections 8.15.150(3)(a) and 8.15.180;

(b) Certification required for elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures as specified in Section 8.15.150(3)(b);

(c) Certification required for wet floodproofing standard as specified in Section 8.15.150(3)(c);

(d) Certification of elevation required for subdivisions and other proposed development standards as specified in Section 8.15.170;

(e) Certification required for floodway encroachments as specified in Section 8.15.200(2); and

(f) Maintain a record of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance, and report such variances issued in its biennial report submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(6) Map determination. Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided for in this chapter.

(7) Remedial action. Take any and all actions to remedy violations of this chapter.

(8) Biennial report. Complete and submit a Biennial Report to FEMA.

(9) Planning. Assure the City's General Plan is consistent with floodplain management objectives herein.

(Ord. No. 2013-06, § 2(8.10.130), 8-15-2013; Ord. No. 2024-16, § 7, 8-1-2024)

A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established under this chapter. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the city. The applicant shall provide the following minimum information:

(1) Content. Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:

(a) Location, dimensions, and elevation of the area in question, existing or proposed structures, storage of materials and equipment and their location;

(b) Proposed locations of water supply, sanitary sewer, and other utilities;

(c) Grading information showing existing and proposed contours, any proposed fill, and drainage facilities;

(d) Location of the regulatory floodway when applicable;

(e) Base flood elevation (BFE) information as specified in this chapter;

(f) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; and

(g) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in Section 8.15.150(3)(b) and detailed in FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93.

(2) Certification. Certification from a registered civil engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed building meets the floodproofing criteria in Section 8.15.150(3)(b).

(3) Foundation openings. For a crawl-space foundation, location and total net area of foundation openings as required in Section 8.15.150(3)(c) and detailed in FEMA Technical Bulletins 1-93 and 7-93.

(4) Watercourse alteration. Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.

(5) Other certifications. All appropriate certifications listed in this chapter.

(6) Areas below Base Flood Elevation (BFE). To ensure that the areas below the base flood elevation (BFE) shall be used solely for parking vehicles, limited storage, or access to the building and not be finished for use as human habitation without first becoming fully compliant with the floodplain management ordinance in effect at the time of conversion, the Floodplain Administrator shall proceed in compliance with Section 8.15.200(4).

(Ord. No. 2013-06, § 2(8.10.140), 8-15-2013)