Resolution 483-1990
Planning ~--~rtment
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RESOLUTION NO. 483-1990
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISS-
IONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA ADOPTING A
FLOODPLAIN PLAN AND SIGNIFYING INTENT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM
WHEREAS, it is desirable that Monroe County benefit from its
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, and
WHEREAS, it would be of great benefit to Monroe County to
participate in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community
Rating System, and
WHEREAS, it is desirable for the health, safety, welfare,
and economic well-being of the residents of Monroe County to
adopt a Floodplain Plan as identified by the Community Rating
System,
THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT, the Monroe County
Commission hereby adopts the Floodplain Plan and signifies Monroe
County's intent to participate in the Community Rating System.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the 3rd day of October, A.D., 1990.
The Clerk of the Board is hereby directed to forward a
certified copy of this resolution to the Florida Department of
Commu~ty Affa~rs.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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By
Mayor/Chairman (SEAL)
Attest:DANNY 1.. :rcOWAGE, Clerk
J2.t&.~,AL
Clerk
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FLOODPLAIN PLAN
Most of the goals, objectives and policies of the Monroe County
Floodplain Management Plan are presently in effect and embodied in our
Floodplain Management Ordinance, with the exception of a few additional
items which are part of our overall plan. Therefore most of this plan
is identical to and adopted by Ordinance 015-1990.
GOALS :
To promote health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public and
private losses due to flood conditions and to encourage individual pur-
chase of and continued renewal of Flood Insurance in Monroe County.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assure that all new construction and cumulative substantial im-
provements are regulated by ordinance to minimize private and public loss
and to periodically revise the floodplain management ordinance to comply
with all new federal regulations.
2. To assure that all agreements, leases or contracts for sale or ex-
change of property within areas of special flood hazard prominently dis-
play a flood warning disclosure statement.
3. To assure that all new property owners continue to contact the
Monroe County Planning Department, known as a repository for the Com-
munity FIRM's, for information on flood zones, base flood elevations,
community and panel numbers, and to provide interpretation on flood haz-
ard issues.
4. To assure that all citizens of the County know to contact the Monroe
County Planning Department with regard to repetitive loss properties.
5. To bring the repetitive loss properties into compliance with
floodplain regulations at the time of destruction of more than 50% of the
appraised value or application for permit for substantial improvement.
6. To continue to require certificates of elevation on all new construc-
tion and substantial improvements.
7. By 1995 to complete the Urban Residential Mobile Home - Limited
amendment process for all pure mobile home parks in Monroe County.
8. To encourage the purchase of and continued renewal of flood insur-
ance policies.
OBJECTIVE 1:
To assure that all new construction and cumulative substantial improve-
ments are regulated by ordinance to minimize private and public loss and
to periodically revise the floodplain management ordinance to comply
with all new federal regulations.
POLICY 1.1
The Monroe County Floodplain Management Ordinance shall continue to re-
strict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety and proper-
ty due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in increases in ero-
sion or in flood heights or velocities.
POLICY 1. 2
The Monroe County Land Development Regulations shall continue to re-
quire that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve
such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial con-
struction.
POLICY 1.3
The floodplain management ordinance shall be designed to control the
alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protec-
tive barriers which are involved in the accommodation of floodwaters.
POLICY 1.4
The Monroe County Land Development Regulations shall control filling,
grading, dredging and other development which may increase erosion or
flood damage.
POLICY 1.5
The Floodplain Management Ordinance shall prevent or regulate the con-
struction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or
which may increase flood hazards to other lands.
POLICY 1.6
The current Monroe County Land Development Regulations shall be
strengthened to minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such
as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, and streets
and bridges located in floodplains.
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POLICY 1.7
In Monroe County, all areas of special flood hazard, shall have new con-
struction and cumulative substantial improvements adequately anchored by
pilings or columns to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of
the structure. No fill shall be used for structural support in the high
hazard V-zones.
POLICY 1.8
All new construction and cumulative substantial improvements shall be
constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood dam-
age and by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.
POLICY 1. 9
The Monroe County Floodplain Management Ordinance shall require all new
or replacement water supply systems be designed and constructed by meth-
ods and practices that minimize flood damage.
POLICY 1. 10
The Monroe County Floodplain Management Ordinance shall require all new
or replacement sanitary sewage systems be designed and constructed to
minimize or eliminate the infiltration of floodwaters into the system
and, discharge from the system into floodwaters. On-site waste disposal
systems shall be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate any
damage to them and contamination from them during flooding.
POLICY 1.11
The Monroe County Land Development Regulations Environmental Design
Criteria shall be strengthened so that no man -made alteration of sand
dunes, dune ridge, mangrove stands or wetlands shall be allowed which
would increase potential flood damage.
POLICY 1.12
The Monroe County Land Development Regulations shall require all new
construction be located landward of the reach of mean high tides.
POLICY 1.13
In all areas of special flood hazard where base flood elevation data has
been provided new construction or cumulative substantial improvement of
any residential structure shall have the lowest floor elevated at or
above the base flood elevation level.
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POLICY 1.14
Sewer and storm drainage systems below the base flood elevation shall be
provided with automatic back flow prevention valves or devices installed
at the point where the line passes an exterior wall or slab.
POLICY 1.15
The Monroe County Floodplain Management Ordinance shall require the
space below the lowest floor of an elevated structure, when the lowest
floor is below base flood elevation, be used exclusively for parking of
vehicles, elevators, limited storage or building access purposes, and
under no circumstance shall "New Construction" enclosures be used for
habitable space.
OBJECTIVE 2:
To assure that all agreements, leases or contracts for sale or exchange
of property within areas of special flood hazard prominently display a
flood warning disclosure statement.
POLICY 2.1
To ensure that potential home buyers are notified that the property is in
a floodplain area by requiring flood zone, base flood elevation and panel
number to be part of Monroe County permit application form.
POLICY 2.2
The Floodplain Management Ordinance shall require all deed purchase
agreements, leases, or other contracts for sale or exchange of lots with-
in areas of special flood hazard to carry the following flood hazard
warning prominently displayed on the document:
FLOOD HAZARD WARNING
This property may be subject to flooding.
You should contact the County Department
of Planning and obtain the latest infor-
mation regarding flood elevations and
restrictions on development before making
use of this property.
OBJECTIVE 3:
To assure that all new property owners continue to contact the Monroe
County Planning Department, known as a repository for the Community
FIRM's, for information on flood zones, base flood elevations, community
and panel numbers, and to provide interpretation on flood hazard issues.
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POLICY 3.1
Required interpretations of Community FIRM maps for precise locations of
boundaries shall be made by the FEMA Coordinator, in consultation with
the Building Official. The Building Official shall be guided by the
current edition of FEMA's 44 CFR. Additionally, the Building Official
shall also obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation
and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, as a
criteria for requiring that new construction, substantial improvements,
or other developments meet the criteria required in the appropriate flood
zone. All applications deemed substantial or non substantial must be
approved by the FEMA Coordinator, Director of Growth Management,
Deputy Director of Growth Management, or the Building Official/Director.
OBJECTIVE 4:
To assure that all citizens of the County contact the Monroe County Plan-
ning Department with regard to repetitive loss properties.
POLICY 4.1
Require that all repetitive loss properties be identified and listed on
the land use district maps in the planning and building departments of
the Growth Management Division.
OBJECTIVE 5:
To bring the repetitive loss properties into compliance with floodplain
regulations at the time of destruction of more than 50% of the appraised
value or application for permit for substantial improvement.
POLICY 5.1
The Floodplain Management Ordinance shall require that repetitive loss
properties be brought into compliance upon application for permit for
substantial improvement, or reconstruction due to substantial damage.
POLICY 5.2
To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and
development of flood -prone areas in such manner as to minimize future
flood blight areas.
OBJECTIVE 6:
Continue to require certificates of elevation on all new construction and
substantial improvements.
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POLICY 6.1
The Monroe County Code shall require a certificate of elevation or a
floodproofing certificate prepared by or under the direction of a land
surveyor, engineer or architect registered, in the State of Florida, and
certified by same be provided to the building official within 21 calendar
days of the establishment of the lowest floor elevation or floodproofing,
whichever is applicable. Such certificates shall be maintained in the
individual building permit file of the Monroe County Building Department.
POLICY 6.2
The FEMA certificate of elevation form shall be used in Monroe County
and shall be available to the public upon request.
POLICY 6.3
Certificates of elevation on a particular piece of property may be ob-
tained by the general public upon request. Certificates may be located
by providing the building department with the permit number or name of
the owner at the time of construction. It may be located from the com-
puterized permit tracking system.
OBJECTIVE 7:
By 1995 Monroe County will complete the Urban Residential Mobile Home -
Limited amendment process for all pure manufactured home parks in
Monroe County. This amendment process will identify pure manufactured
home parks and re-designated them "LIMITED", in order to prohibit the
intrusion of single family homes within manufactured home districts, and
allow placement and replacement of manufactured homes below base flood
elevation within these districts.
POLICY 7. 1
Effective June 1, 1977, no manufactured home, not already in place, shall
be placed within areas of special flood hazard except in existing
mamufactured home parks or subdivisions, as hereafter defined. In the
event that the Federal Emergency Management Agency eliminates the exist-
ing manufactured home park or subdivision requirement of 44 CFR
60.3 (c) (12) , then no manufactured home may be placed below the base
flood elevation.
POLICY 7.2
A manufactured home that is to be placed on a qualified lot may be placed
at an elevation below base flood elevation provided that:
(i) The lot on which the manufactured home is to be placed is located in
an existing manufactured home park or subdivision and is contiguous to,
and surrounded, by manufactured homes not at base flood elevation. For
the purposes of this section, an existing mobile home park or subdivision
is one in which, at the time of application, there are no site built resi-
6
dences or a park or subdivision which is limited to manufactured homes
only by the Monroe County Land Development Regulations. In the event
the Federal Emergency Management Agency eliminates the
existing manufactured home park or subdivision exemption, then the exist-
ing manufactured home park or subdivision exemption of this subsection
shall no longer be of any force or effect.
POLICY 7.3
The Monroe County Floodplain Ordinance shall require manufactured
homes that are placed or substantially improved (for other than
substantial damage due to a flood) on sites in existing mobile home parks
or subdivisions in flood hazard areas be elevated so that the manufac-
tured home chassis is supported by reinforced piers or other foundation
elements that are no less than 36 inches in height above the grade at the
site. A lower foundation system could be used if the lower floor of the
manufactured home would be at or above the base flood elevation using
such foundation.
POLICY 7.4
The Monroe County Floodplain Management Ordinance shall require that in
the event an existing mobile home park or subdivision, in which the mo-
bile homes are allowed below b8,se flood elevation (URM-L), be damaged or
otherwise in need of repair, reconstruction, improvement, or replacement
due to the effects of a flood, and the substantial damage meets or ex-
ceeds 50% of the value of the mobile homes before rppair, reconstruction,
improvement or replacement, shall not be repaired, reconstructed, im-
proved or replaced except by a mobile homes which meet the most recent
standards promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment in 24 C.F.R. 3280.308(C)(2) and also must be brought into compli-
ance with all elevation requirements of the Monroe County Code.
OBJECTIVE 8:
To encourage the purchase of and continued renewal of flood insurance
policies.
POLICY 8.1
To ensure that Monroe County continues to receive, the benefit of partici-
pation in the National Flood Insurance Program and to participate in the
Community Rating System to the maximum extent possible.
POLICY 8.2
To promote, enact and amend floodplain management criteria by 1996 that
is more restrictive than the minimum NFIP requirements and thereby en-
couraging the purchase and maintenance of flood insurance by attaining a
premium class 1 credit which would allow the citizens of Monroe County
the benefit of lower flood insurance premiums.
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POLICY 8.3
Monroe County shall review its current building code and as appropriate
adopt structural standards and site alteration restrictions above and
beyond the minimum NFIP requirements. The building code shall be
reviewed every 5 years thereafter or upon the initiation of post disaster
redevelopment.
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, ~ODlDlD.u.ty
. ITSating
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Summary
National Flood Insurance Program
Community Rating System
SUMMARY
Backeround: Since 1968 the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has provided
federally backed flood insurance to encourage communities to enact and enforce floodplain
regulations. The program has been very successful in helping flood victims get back on their
feet. There are over 2.2 million policies in force. Since 1978,350,000 insurance losses have
been paid out for a total of $ 2.5 billion.
In order to be covered by a flood insurance policy, a property must be in a community that
participates in the NFIP. To qualify, a community adopts and enforces a floodplain
management ordinance to regulate proposed development in flood hazard areas. The
objective of the ordinance is to ensure that such development will not aggravate existing
flooding conditions and that new buildings will be protected from future flood damage. To
date nearly 18,000 communities in the United States participate.
The NFIP has been successful in requiring new buildings to be protected from damage by
the 100-year flood. However, the program had few incentives for communities to do more
than enforce the minimum regulatory standards. Flood insurance rates had been the same
in all participating communities, even though some do much more than regulate
construction of new buildings to the national standards.
Until now the program did little to recognize or encourage community activities to reduce
flood damages to existing buildings, to manage development in areas not mapped by the
NFIP, to protect new buildings beyond the minimum NFIP protection level, to help
insurance agents obtain flood data, or to help people obtain flood insurance. Because these
activities can have a great impact on the insurance premium base, flood damages, flood
insurance claims, and federal disaster assistance payments, the Federal Insurance
Administration (FIA) has implemented the Community Rating System (CRS).
The Concept: Experience since the turn of the century has shown that the fire insurance
public protection class given to a community has been a very strong incentive for local
officials to maintain or improve their fire protection programs. Local governing boards
ensure that their fire alarm communications, water supply and distribution, and overall fire
department facilities, including staffing, equipment, training, and other items meet or
exceed the insurance industry's minimum criteria in order to maintain favorable fire
insurance rate classes for their communities.
Summary
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Edition 1: 2/1/90
The Scht::;uUJ~ Jdentifies 18 creditable activities, organized under four cau::gories in Sections
300-600: Public Information, Mapping and Regulations, Flood Damage Reduction, and
Flood Preparedness. They are listed on the last page of this Summary. The Schedule
assigns credit points based on how well an activity affects the three goals of the CRS.
Communities are welcome to propose alternative approaches in their applications.
Some of the activities may be implemented by the state or a regional district rather than at
the local level. For example, some states have disclosure laws that may meet the credit
criteria of Activity 340 - Flood Hazard Disclosure. In such ca~es, any community in those
states or districts could receive credit points if the communitY applies for a CRS
classification and if the state or district program is, in fact, being implemented in the
community.
The Regional Office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the
State NFIP Coordinator review and comment on the application. FIA verifies the
information and the community's implementation of the activities. FIA sets the credit to be
granted and notifies the community, the state, the insurance companies, and other
appropriate parties.
The community's activities and performance are reviewed periodically. If it is not properly
or fully implementing the credited activities, its credit points and, possibly, its CRS
classification, will be revised. A community may add or drop creditable activities each year.
Credit criteria for each activity may also change as more experience is gained in
implementing, observing, and measuring the activities.
Costs and Benefits: No fee is charged for a community to apply for classification or to
participate in the CRS. Because there may be a cost to implement the creditable activities,
some communities may be concerned whether the cost of initiating a new activity will be
offset by the flood insurance premium credits.
It is important to note that reduction in flood insurance rates is only one of the rewards
communities receive from undertaking the activities credited under the Community Rating
System. Others include increased public safety, reduction of damages to property and
public infrastructure, avoidance of economic disruption and losses, reduction of human
suffering, and protection of the environment.
Communities should prepare and implement those activities that best deal with the local
flood problem, not just those items that are listed in the Schedule. In considering whether to
undertake a new activity, communities will want to consider all of the benefits the activity
will provide (in addition to insurance premium credits) in order to determine whether it is
cost effective.
Summary
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Edition 1: 211190