11.19.045 Flood zone development administration

11.19.045 Flood zone development administration.

(a) Designation of the Floodplain Administrator. The mayor of the city of Selah, or the mayor's designee, is designated as the floodplain administrator and appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying flood zone development permit applications in accordance with its provisions.

(b) Duties and Responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator. Duties of the flood zone administrator shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Permit review:

(A) Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;

(B) Review all development permits to determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state, or local governmental agencies from which prior approval is required;

(C) Review all development permits to determine if the proposed development is located in the floodway. If located in the floodway, assure that the encroachment provisions of Section 11.19.070 are met;

(D) Review all development permits to determine the site is reasonably safe from flooding;

(E) Notify FEMA when annexations occur in the special flood hazard area;

(F) Notify FEMA of changes to the base flood elevation within six months of when technical information of such changes becomes available. Such notification shall include technical or scientific information.

(2) Use of other base flood data: When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 11.19.030(b), the floodplain administrator shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, in order to administer Sections 11.19.065(a) and (b) and Section 11.19.070, Floodways.

(3) Information to be obtained and maintained:

(A) Where base flood elevation data is provided through the flood insurance study or required as in subsection (b)(2) of this section, obtain and maintain a record of the actual (as-built) elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures, and whether or not the structure contains a basement;

(B) For all new or substantially improved floodproofed nonresidential structures where base flood elevation data is provided through the FIS, FIRM, or as required as in subsection (b)(2) of this section:

(i) Obtain and maintain a record of the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure was floodproofed; and

(ii) Obtain and maintain the floodproofing certifications required in Section 11.19.040(3);

(D) Certification required by Section 11.19.070(a) (floodway encroachments);

(E) Records of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance;

(F) Improvement and damage calculations.

(4) Alteration of watercourses:

(A) Notify adjacent communities and the Washington State Department of Ecology prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administrator through appropriate notification means; and

(B) Require that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished.

(5) Interpretation of FIRM boundaries: Make interpretations where needed as to exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in Section 11.19.050. (Ord. 2129, § 2, 2021.)