TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall hear a presentation regarding the City's efforts to update the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Discussion only.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Maricopa started the City's first comprehensive Master Drainage Study in 2008. The City of Maricopa Master Drainage Study and Plan (MDSP) was developed to help the City identify drainage problems and recommend solutions to alleviate or manage flooding within the City limits. As part of the draft report submitted in 2009, it was determined that there were some storm water flows not identified, or underestimated, in the existing FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that were published on December 4, 2007. The inaccuracies of the existing maps could potentially misidentify the potential of flooding to the affected subdivisions. It was decided to contact FEMA and discuss the possibility of updating the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). FEMA agreed that the City of Maricopa, due to its explosive growth, was a perfect candidate for a re-map. It was agreed the City's in-kind match was to supply all the City's data that was generated by the City's MDSP. This included the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) using 2 foot contours, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. As part of the FEMA re-map there is a 90 day appeal period, afforded in accordance with Part 67 of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations. The appeal period was advertised in the Federal Register on May 11, 2012. The appeal period ends on August 8, 2012. There are two formal appeals that will be submitted, as well as many smaller appeals that are being handled through a less formal process.
The City of Maricopa is in the process of designing the City's Regional Park, located on the southeast corner of Bowlin Road and John Wayne Parkway. Early plans included utilizing this project to benefit the community as both a regional park and a storm water detention facility; this is common practice throughout Maricopa County and nationally.
After the design team was chosen they saw an opportunity to appeal the current storm water flows based on improved data. The City of Maricopa and Pinal County agreed to work together on this appeal and have an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that also documents cost sharing on the appeal. The City's consultant, Wood/Patel, performed an exhaustive review of the Vekol Wash Tributary. The current HEC-1, HEC-RAS and topographic data were reviewed, and a plan of attack was devised. After multiple trips in the field, a draft hydrologic report was created. As of present, Wood/Patel has created work maps that constitute the City of Maricopa-Pinal County Vekol Wash Tributary Flood Plain Delineation Study.
The City is also participating in a second appeal. A development group has come forward and asked to appeal the Southside Water Sheds based on better available data. The City's position is that appeals to the FEMA FIRMs should be reviewed and approved to ensure a consistent methodology across appeals that affect the City of Maricopa. FEMA agreed to this idea and Pinal County supported the City's efforts. The City hosted meetings and field visits. The City's contribution is to provide technical support, advice and no charges on reviews. The City has reviewed the hydrologic analysis and had no comments. The City has also reviewed the first submittal of the hydraulic analysis and flood plain delineation. The City had comments and hosted a conflict resolution meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Mayor and City Council hear the presentation on the City's efforts to update the FEMA FIRMs.