Agenda - 06-26-2007-4r - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 26, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. L}- ''L SUBJECT: Consultant Services to Determine Topographic Elevation Data DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENTS: Background Floodplain Management Information Request for Proposals Listing of Professional Land Surveyors Summary of Responses to RFP INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Benedict, 245 2592 Glenn Bowles, Certified Floodplain Manager, 245 2577 PURPOSE: To authorize the expenditure of funds to complete land surveying required for floodplain elevation certificates. BACKGROUND: On September 15, 2005, a letter was received from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) outlining why Orange County could not receive approval to participate in the Community Rating System (CRS). CRS is a voluntary program for local government to encourage, enact, and enforce floodplain regulations. The CRS recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates can be discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote the awareness of flood insurance. If the County can document floodplain elevations and the appropriate adjacent grade and first floor elevations for a good portion of the estimated number of residences and accessory buildings found in flood-prone areas, it can participate and gain the benefit to all those benefiting from the National Flood Insurance Program. With the BOCC acceptance of the new floodplain maps on January 23, 2007, which became effective on February 2, 2007, there are only 71 residences and accessory buildings now in flood-prone areas and 39 of those are due to the new mapping. However, to re-petition to become eligible for the CRS program, the County will have to prove elevation certificates for the former and existing flood-prone structures. Such certificates can only be completed through collaboration between a professional, licensed Land Surveyor and the Orange County Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). The CFM provides required data regarding the Base Flood Elevation and the surveyor provides data on the lowest adjacent grade of the structure and the elevation of the first occupied floor. Letters were sent in October 2006 to all property owners who had structures located in the floodplain to inform them of these floodplain issues as well as to invite them to an Open House meeting that occurred on November 7, 2006.