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ORDINANCE NO. O-1213-25 UPON SECOND AND FINAL READING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING SECTION 429.1 (FLOOD HAZARD DISTRICT) OF CHAPTER 22 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF NORMAN ADOPTING THE FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY AND DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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BACKGROUND: The City's Floodplain Ordinance, which is included in Sections 22-429.1 3(a) of the City of Norman Code of Ordinances, was first adopted by the City of Norman on July 8, 1975. The ordinance has been revised ten (10) times in 1978, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008. The floodplain ordinance was originally adopted as a requirement of the City of Norman's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which was established by the U.S. Congress in 1968 and is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
DISCUSSION: In 2011, a limited Flood Insurance Study (FIS) was done for a portion of Little River and a tributary of the Canadian River through a 100% grant valued at over $100,000 from FEMA's Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning Partners (RAMPP) Program. A detailed study of the Little River floodplain was performed from approximately 12th Avenue N.E. to Interstate 35, and a portion of a tributary of the Canadian River from 36th Avenue S.E. to Post Oak Road.
The Little River study area is currently mapped as Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) Zone A, which is defined as 1% chance (100 year) floodplain with no Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data determined. The new study remapped the Little River floodplain as Zone AE and determined BFEs that affected 2 Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) panels. Sixty one (61) property owners were affected by the change; however, no new property owners were added to the SFHA. These property owners were notified by the City in November, 2011 of the proposed map changes.
The portion of the tributary of the Canadian River from 36th Avenue S.E. to Post Oak Road is not currently mapped as SFHA. The new study remapped the floodplain as Zone AE and determined BFEs that affected 1 FIRM panel. One (1) property was affected and added to the SFHA as a result of this study. The property owner was notified by the City in November, 2011 of the proposed map changes. The benefits of the new FIRMs include:
· More detailed and accurate maps with BFE data
· Mapping and BFE data integrated with the City's Geographical Information System (GIS)
· More accurate data available to developers, engineers, surveyors, and citizens for Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) and Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA)
As part of the FIS process, the City's floodplain ordinance must be revised to reference the new FIS and be in effect by February 20, 2013. Failure to have the revised ordinance in effect by February 20, 2013 will result in the City being suspended by FEMA from the NFIP. In order to meet the FEMA deadline, staff proposes the following schedule reflected in Attachment A. The proposed revisions are listed in the attached ordinance.