NewCityLogo-August2008

Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager

 
 

Date

March 8, 2010

 

Agenda Item No.        11

Roll Call No.               10-

Communication No.   10-118

Submitted by:  Jeb E. Brewer,  P.E., City Engineer, Larry Hulse, Community Development Director, William Stowe, Public Works Director

 

 

AGENDA HEADING: 

 

Authorization for the Mayor to submit the City’s technical data appeal of the preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map information to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Region VII. 

 

 

SYNOPSIS: 

 

Recommend authorization for the Mayor to submit the City’s technical data appeal of the preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map information to FEMA Region VII. 

 

Preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map information was provided to the City on May 22, 2009.  All technical appeals of this information must be submitted to FEMA by the community Chief Executive Officer by March 16, 2010.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:  NONE

 

Amount:  N/A

 

Funding Source:  N/A

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

 

FEMA is the federal agency responsible for mapping flood hazard areas.  These maps are periodically updated to reflect changes in hydrology and topography.  New mapping is currently being proposed for Des Moines.  FEMA is in a comment period for the proposed mapping.  On December 31, 2009 a letter was sent under the City Manager’s signature to all title holders of properties believed to be within special flood hazard areas on the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map.  The letter described the technical appeal process and invited them to a public information open house meeting in the Council Chambers between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on January 12, 2010.  City staff members spoke with approximately 80 property owners at the meeting and 105 more in telephone conversations outside of the meeting.  No individual property owners have submitted technical appeals to the City. 

 

The City has also entered into a Professional Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates to review the mapping and provide the technical data necessary to appeal the preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map information provided in five different drainage basins across the City.  The results of this technical review will be submitted to FEMA Region VII under the Mayor’s signature no later than March 16, 2010.  These appeal comments are in accordance with the federal process which must deal with particular technical discrepancies.  The appeal is not related to previous decertified levees at Birdland and Central Place.  After the Birdland and Central Place levees are reconstructed, FEMA will then modify the maps to reflect the levees’ improvements.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  May 4, 2009

 

Roll Call Number:  09-749 

 

Action:  Approving letter of agreement for Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) Designation and Agreement to provide adequate compliance for the levee designated as RR-1 with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Section 65.10 with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  (Council Communication No.  09-280

)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

Date:  February 9, 2009

 

Roll Call Number:  09-168

 

Action:  Authorizing Public Works Director and Mayor to execute a Letter of Agreement and Request for Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) Designation and Agreement to Provide Adequate Compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Section 65.10 with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  (Council Communication No.  09-056) Moved by Vlassis to adopt.   Motion Carried 7-0.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):  NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:  NONE

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.