West Covina Municipal Code Div. 2 Administration

A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established areas of flood-related erosion hazards or areas of mudslide (i.e. mudflow) in section 9-46. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the floodplain administrator 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 20-foot or smaller intervals along the foundation footprint, or one-foot contour elevations throughout the building site; and

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

(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; and

(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; and

(2) For a crawl-space foundation, location and total net area of foundation openings as required in subsection 9-56(c)(3) of this article 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); and

(c) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure will be floodproofed; as required in subsection 9-56(c)(2) of this article and FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93; and

(d) All appropriate certifications listed in subsection 9-56(d) of this article; and

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

(Ord. No. 2134, § 2, 5-17-05)

The city engineer is hereby appointed to administer, implement, and enforce this article by granting or denying development permits in accord with its provisions.

(Ord. No. 2134, § 2, 5-17-05)

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

(a) Permit review.

(1) Review all development permits to determine that permit requirements of this article have been satisfied.

(2) All other required state and federal permits required for floodplain management purposes 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 article, "adversely affects" 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 community.

(b) Review, use and development of other base flood data.

(1) When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with section 9-46, 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 the portion of the article concerning flood hazard reduction. Any such information shall be submitted to the city council 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 (1) of two (2) 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 section 5 [Division 3]:

a. Simplified method:

1. One-hundred-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

2. Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the Quick-2 computer program developed by FEMA; or

b. Detailed method. The one-hundred-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) Alteration or relocation of watercourse. When a watercourse is to be altered or relocated:

(1) Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to such alteration or relocation of watercourse and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(2) Within six (6) months, submit technical or scientific data of changes to the base flood elevation to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration; and

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

For the purpose of this subsection, a watercourse is any naturally occurring drainage channel which carries drainage runoff from upstream tributary areas as shown on FIRM.

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

(1) Certification required by subsection 9-56(c)(1) and section 9-59 (lowest floor elevations);

(2) Certification required by subsection 9-56(c)(2) (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);

(3) Certification required by subsections 9-56(c)(3) (wet floodproofing standard);

(4) Certification of elevation required by subsection 9-58(b) (subdivision standards);

(5) Certification required by subsection 9-60(a) (floodway encroachments); and

(6) Reports required by subsection 9-61(c) (mudflows standards).

(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 section 9-64.

(f) Remedial action. Take action to remedy violations of this article as specified in section 9-47.

(Ord. No. 2134, § 2, 5-17-05)

The City Council of City of West Covina 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 article.

(Ord. No. 2134, § 2, 5-17-05)