Santa Ana Municipal Code § 7-13 Designation of the floodplain administrator

Except as to article V of this chapter, the executive director of planning and building agency shall be designated as the floodplain administrator and administer, implement, and enforce this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accord with its provisions. With respect to article V of this chapter, the executive director of the public works agency shall be designated as the floodplain administrator and administer, implement, and enforce said article.

(Ord. No. NS-2789, § 4, 7-20-09)

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

(a) Permit review. Review all development permits to determine:

(1) Permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied, including determination of substantial improvement and substantial damage of existing structures;

(2) All other required state and federal permits have been obtained;

(3) The site is reasonably safe from flooding;

(4) The proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. This means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one (1) foot at any point within the city; and

(5) 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.

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

(1) Using FEMA publication FEMA 213, "Answers to Questions About Substantially Damaged Buildings" as amended from time to time, develop detailed procedures for identifying and administering requirements for substantial improvement and substantial damage, to include defining "market value."

(2) Assure procedures are coordinated with other departments/divisions and implemented by community staff.

(c) Review, use, and development of other base flood data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with section 7-7, 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 III of this chapter.

Note: A base flood elevation may be obtained using one (1) of two (2) methods from the FEMA publication, FEMA 265, "Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas—A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (100-year) Flood Elevations" dated July 1995, as amended from time to time.

(d) Notification of other agencies.

(1) Alteration or relocation of a watercourse.

a. Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;

b. Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

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

(2) Base flood elevation changes due to physical alterations.

a. 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).

b. All 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.

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

(3) 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.

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

(1) Certification required by subsections 7-17(c)(1) and 7-20 (lowest floor elevations);

(2) Certification required by subsection 7-17(c)(2) (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);

(3) Certification required by subsection 7-14(c)(3) (wet floodproofing standard);

(4) Certification of elevation required by subsection 7-19(a)(3) (subdivisions and other proposed development standards);

(5) Certification required by subsection 7-22(b) (floodway encroachments); and

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

(f) 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. Such determination may be appealed by any interested person as provided in section 7-25.

(g) Remedial action. Take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in section 7-8.

(h) Biennial report. Complete and submit biennial report to FEMA.

(i) Planning. Assure the city's general plan is consistent with floodplain management objectives herein.

(Ord. No. NS-2789, § 4, 7-20-09)

A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 7-7. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the city. The applicant shall provide the following minimum information:

(a) Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:

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

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

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

(4) Location of the regulatory floodway when applicable;

(5) Base flood elevation information as specified in sections 7-7 and 7-14(c);

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

(7) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in subsection 7-17(c)(2) in FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93, as it may be amended from time to time.

(b) Certification from a registered civil engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed building meets the floodproofing criteria in subsection 7-17(c)(2).

(c) For a crawl-space foundation, location and total net area of foundation openings as required in subsection 7-17(c)(3) of this chapter and detailed in FEMA Technical Bulletins 1-93 and 7-93 as it may be amended from time to time.

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

(e) All appropriate certifications listed in subsection 7-14(e) of this chapter.

(Ord. No. NS-2789, § 4, 7-20-09)