8.16.140 Duties and responsibilities of the floodplain administrator.

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

(A) Permit Review. Review all development permits to determine that:

(1) Permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;

(2) All other required state and federal permits have been obtained;

(3) The site is reasonably safe from flooding; and

(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 chapter, "adversely affects" means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point.

(B) Review and Use of Any Other Base Flood Data.

(1) When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 8.16.070, 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 Section 8.16.160. Any such information shall be submitted to the city council for adoption.

(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 of two methods from the FEMA publication "Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas — A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (one-hundred-year) Flood Elevations" dated July 1995 in order to administer Article IV:

(a) Simplified method:

(i) One-hundred-year or base year 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

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

(b) Detailed method:

(i) One-hundred-year or base year flood discharge shall be obtained using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC-HMS computer program, and

(ii) Base flood elevation shall be obtained using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC-RAS computer program.

(1) Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;

(2) Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

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

(D) Documentation of Floodplain Development. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:

(1) Certification required by Sections 8.16.160(C)(1) and 8.16.190 (lowest floor elevations);

(2) Certification required by Section 8.16.160(C)(2) (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);

(3) Certification required by Section 8.16.160(C)(3) (wet floodproofing standard);

(4) Certification of elevation required by Section 8.16.180(B) (subdivision standards);

(5) Certification required by Section 8.16.210(A) (floodway encroachments); and

(6) Reports required by Section 8.16.220(D) (mudflow standards).

(E) Map Determinations. Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard, for example, 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 Article V.

(F) Remedial Action. Take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in Section 8.16.080.