La Palma Municipal Code Div. 8 Floodplain Management

This division shall apply to all areas identified as flood-prone within the jurisdiction of the City.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

The Floodplain Administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood data available from other Federal or state agencies or other source to identify flood-prone areas within the jurisdiction of the City. This data will be on file with the Community Development Department, Planning Division, at La Palma City Hall.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the term of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violation of the requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a misdemeanor. Nothing herein shall prevent the City from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

This division is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this division, and an easement, covenant, or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

In the interpretation and application of this division, all provisions shall be:

(1) Considered as minimum requirements;

(2) Liberally construed in favor of the City; and

(3) Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under State statutes.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

The degree of flood protection required by this division is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes. This division does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazards or uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages. This division shall not create liability on the part of the City, any officer or employee thereof, the State of California, or the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, for any flood damages that result from reliance on this division or any administrative decision lawfully made hereunder.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

A precise plan or precise plan amendment shall be obtained for all proposed construction or other development in the City, including the placement of manufactured homes, so that it may be determined whether such construction or other development is within a flood-prone area.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

The Community Development Director is hereby appointed to administer, implement, and enforce this division by processing precise plan permits for development in accord with this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

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

(1) Permit review. Review all development permit applications to determine whether:

a. Permit requirements of this division have been satisfied;

b. All other required state and federal permits have been obtained; and

c. The site is reasonably safe from flooding.

(2) Review and use of any other base flood data. The Floodplain Administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood data available from other Federal or state agency or other source.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements, including manufactured homes, shall:

(1) Be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.

(2) Be constructed:

a. With materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage;

b. Using methods and practices that minimize flood damage;

c. With electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

If a subdivision proposal or other proposed new development, including manufactured home parks or subdivisions, is in a flood-prone area, any such proposals shall be reviewed to assure that:

(1) All such proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage within the flood prone area;

(2) All public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems are located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage; and

(3) Adequate drainage is provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)

(a) All new and replacement water supply and sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate:

(1) Infiltration of flood waters into the systems, and

(2) Discharge from the systems into flood waters.

(b) On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them, or contamination from them during flooding.

(Ord. No. 2016-01, § 5, 5-5-2015)