Title
Approval of an Ordinance Amending Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 16.70 Relating to FEMA Required Amendments to Development Regulations Pertaining to Flooding - First and Final Reading
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the proposed Ordinance with FEMA required amendments on first and final reading.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the FEMA-required revisions to development regulations pertaining to flooding.
Staff Contact:
Erik Jensen, (Interim) Building Official, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8280
Presenter(s):
None. Consent Item.
Background and Analysis:
Department of Ecology (Ecology) has recently completed its process of conducting a Community Assistance Visit (CAV) to Olympia on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ecology requires all aspects in the CAV to be in compliance within 90 days of their visit. The CAV visit was in May, and Ecology has agreed to extend the timeline in consideration of the City's process to complete an ordinance. However, it is essential for Olympia's code to be updated as soon as possible to be in compliance with National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) to avoid possible flood insurance rate increases, or suspension or revocation of the NFIP. Therefore, an emergency situation exists based upon public health, safety, and welfare and staff recommends this ordinance be approved on first and final reading and take immediate effect.
The FEMA-established flood hazard areas of the City of Olympia are subject to periodic inundation which can result in property damage, loss of property, creation of health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the city.
Downtown Olympia has a history of flood...
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