4. Flood Plain Ordinance and MappingCity of Kalispell
Post office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406) 758-7000 Fax - (406) 758-7758
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: PJ Sorensen, Kalispell Planning Department
Jim Patrick, City Manager
SUBJECT: Floodplain ordinance and Mapping
MEETING DATE: May 14, 2007 (work session)
BACKGROUND: FEMA and the Montana DNRC have been working over the past several
years to develop new floodplain maps for several areas in the state, including Flathead County.
The new maps include a conversion to a digital format as well as the use of a more modern
datum for establishing base flood elevations (surveyors use a datum when expressing elevation
above sea level, typically a 1988 datum in Kalispell; base flood elevations have traditionally
been based on the older 1929 datum, which is about 3.74 feet lower). The maps do not appear to
show any appreciable change in the actual base flood elevation for properties within the city
limits. Essentially, the update just provides a much more user-friendly format.
FEMA and DNRC, along with their consulting engineers, began the update process by
conducting several scoping meetings which staff attended. on August 15, 2006, after the
consultants completed their initial study, FEMA issued a preliminary report. once the
preliminary report was issued, FEMA and the local agencies (including the City) made the new
maps available for public review. Formal public comment proceedings were conducted by
FEMA, including two publications in the Daily Interlake which provided for a 90 day appeal
period. FEMA did not receive any appeals during that time. Informal public review included a
booth at the fair manned jointly by the City and the County, and two panel discussions presented
jointly by FEMA, various state agencies, the City of Kalispell, and the County for flood week
during April. We have not received any negative comments about the map update.
DNRC has also put together a new model ordinance which changes very little in terms of
substance, but primarily serves to clarify a number of matters by adding definitions, graphics in
the appendix, and references to available on-line information, for example. The most significant
substantive change eliminates the provision which automatically grants a permit after 60 days if
the City does not take action. FEMA has required that the provision be removed.
Overall, the ordinance and mapping updates do not represent a significant change from
the ordinance and maps the City has used since first adopting floodplain regulations in 1980.
They are mainly intended to make our existing regulations more accessible to the public.
However, as part of the national flood insurance program, the City is required by FEMA to adopt
the updates as a condition of continued participation in the program, which allows individual
homeowners to purchase flood insurance for their property.
As we move forward through the adoption process, the Kalispell Planning Department
will continue to male the new maps available for public review. We will also have the full text
of the updated ordinance available on the Planning Department website
(www.kalispellplanning.com).
RECOMMENDATION: The Council direct staff to submit the updates for the City of
Kalispell Floodplain Ordinance, including the reap updates, to the City Council for formal
consideration.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the Council.
Respectfully submitted,
PJ Sorensen im Patric
Zoning Administrator City Manager
Report compiled May 4, 2007