Article 3 — Administration

A development permit must be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 18.05.050 of this chapter. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Planning Department and may include, but not be limited to: plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevation of the area in question; existing or proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required: A. Site plan, including but not limited to: 1. For all proposed structures, spot ground elevations at building corners and twenty (20) foot or smaller intervals along the foundation footprint, or one foot contour elevations throughout the building site, 2. Proposed locations of water supply, sanitary sewer and utilities, 3. If available, the base flood elevation from the flood insurance study and/or flood insurance rate map, and 4. If applicable, the location of the regulatory floodway; B. Foundation design detail, including but not limited to: 1.

Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures, 2. For a crawl-space foundation, location and total net area of foundation openings as required in Section 5.1.C.3 of this chapter and FEMA Technical Bulletins 1-93 and 7-93, and 3. For foundations placed on fill, the location and height of fill, and compaction requirements (compacted to ninety-five (95) percent using the Standard Proctor Test method); C. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in Section 18.05.160(B) of this chapter and FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93; D. All appropriate certifications listed in Section 18.05.120(C) of this chapter; and E. Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development. (Ord. 04-08 § 2 Exh. A (part))

The Orinda City Engineer is authorized to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying development permit applications and variances in accordance with its provisions. (Ord. 04-08 § 2 Exh. A (part))

The duties of the City Engineer include but are not limited to: A. Plan Review. Review of plans for development permits to determine that: 1. The permit requirements of this chapter are satisfied; 2. All other required state and federal permits have been obtained; 3.

That the site is reasonably safe from flooding; 4. The proposed development does not adversely affect the flood carrying capacity of the areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. For purposes of this chapter, "adversely affects" 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 foot at any point. B. Obtain Other Base Flood Data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 18.05.050 of this chapter, basis for establishing the areas of special flood hazard, the City Engineer shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, in order to administer Article 4 of this chapter. Any such information shall be submitted to the City Council of the city of Orinda for adoption. If no base flood elevation data is available from a federal or state agency or other source, then a base flood elevation shall be obtained using one of two methods from the FEMA publication "Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas—A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (100-year) Flood Elevations" dated July 1995 in order to administer Article 4 of this chapter: 1. Simplified Method. a. One hundred (100) year or base flood discharge shall be obtained using the appropriate regression equation found in a U.S. Geological Survey publication, or the discharge-drainage area method; and b. Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the Quick-2 computer program developed by FEMA; or 2. Detailed Method. The one hundred (100) year or base flood discharge and the base flood elevation shall be obtained using detailed methods identified in FEMA Publication 265, published in July 1995 and titled: "Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas-A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (100-year) Flood Elevations." C. Maintain Information. 1. Certification required by Sections 18.05.160(A) and 18.05.200 (lowest floor elevations);

Certification required by Section 18.05.160(B) (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures); 3. Certification required by Section 18.05.160(C) (wet floodproofing standard); 4. Certification of elevation required by Section 18.05.190(A), (subdivision standards); 5. Certification required by Section 18.05.220(B) (floodway encroachments). D. Alteration of Watercourses—Notice Requirements. Whenever a watercourse is to be altered or relocated, the City Engineer shall: 1. Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; 2. Require that the flood carrying capacity of the altered or relocated portion of such watercourse is maintained. E. Map Determinations. The City Engineer shall 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, grade and base flood elevations shall be used to determine the boundaries of the special flood hazard area. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in Section 18.05.320 of this chapter. F. Enforcement. Take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in Title 19 of this code. (Ord. 04-08 § 2 Exh. A (part))