Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 4 Administration

A floodplain development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in WMC Section 9-2.301. Application for a floodplain development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Floodplain Administrator and shall include all information called out on the form and requested by the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

The City Manager or his/her designee is hereby appointed to administer, implement, and enforce this Chapter by granting or denying flood prevention permits in accord with its provisions.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

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 that:

(1) Permit requirements of this Chapter have been satisfied;

(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. For purposes of this Chapter;

(5) Review all proposals for development to assure that the flood discharge exiting the development after construction is equal to or less than the flood discharge at the location prior to development where the proposed development adversely affects the flood carrying capacity of downstream drainage ways; and

(6) Select suitable recurrence intervals other than the 100-year level of protection for the design of a development mitigation measure, such as detention ponds to reduce increased post construction run-off.

(b) Review, Use and Development of Other Base Flood Data.

(1) When the base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with WMC Section 9-2.301, 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 5 of this Chapter. Any such information shall be submitted to the City of Watsonville for adoption; or

(2) 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 5 of this Chapter:

(i) Simplified method. 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 base flood elevation shall be obtained using the Quick-2 computer program developed by FEMA; or

(ii) Detailed method. 100-year or base flood discharge shall be obtained using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ HEC-HMS computer program; and base flood elevation shall be obtained using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ HEC-RAS computer program.

(c) Notification of Other Agencies. In alteration or relocation of a watercourse:

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

(2) Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

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

(d) Documentation of Floodplain Development. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:

(1) Certification required by WMC Subsection (c)(1) of Section 9-2.500 and Section 9-2.504 (lowest floor elevations);

(2) Certification required by WMC Subsection (c)(2) of Section 9-2.500 (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);

(3) Certification required by WMC Subsection (c)(3) of Section 9-2.500 (wet proofing standard);

(4) Certification of elevation required by WMC Subsection (b) of Section 9-2.503 (subdivision standards);

(5) Certification of anchoring required by WMC Section 9-2.504 (manufactured homes);

(e) Map Determinations. 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 Article 6 of this Chapter.

(f) Remedial Action. Take action to remedy violations of this Chapter as specified in WMC Section 9-2.302.

(g) Letter of Map Revision. The applicant may be required to apply to FEMA for a conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR) and subsequent letter of map revision (LOMR) in order that a finding can be made regarding the impacts from proposed development.

(h) Duty to notify the Federal Emergency Management Agency of base flood elevation changes due to physical alterations.

(1) 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 the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR).

(2) All LOMRs 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 CLOMRs allow construction of the proposed flood control project and land preparation as specified in Subsection 9-2.200(oo) of this Chapter.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1204-06 C-M, eff. November 23, 2006)

The Watsonville City Council shall hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision, or determination made by the Floodplain Administrator in the enforcement or administration of this Chapter.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

The maintenance of any and all flood protection measures (levees, dikes, dams, or reservoirs) shall be required of the jurisdiction where such measures provide protection. If such measures are privately owned, an operation or maintenance plan shall be required of the owner to be on file with the City of Watsonville.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)

The Floodplain Administrator shall review the conformance of all requests for future floodplain development against the City’s General Plan. Consideration of the following elements shall be required before approval:

(a) Determine if the proposed development is located within or affects a known floodplain;

(b) Inform the public of the proposed activity;

(c) Determine if there is a practicable alternative or site for the proposed activity;

(d) Identify the impact of any activity in the floodplain; and

(e) Require the applicant to develop a plan to mitigate the impact of the activity in accordance with WMC Section 9-2.402.

(§ 1, Ord. 1121-01 C-M, eff. January 10, 2002)