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Home My WebLink About7/6/2011 - STAFF REPORTS - 2E RECEIVED US.Department of Homeland Security CITY OF PALM S P R I LJ S I III Bmadway,Suite i20o Oakland CA 94W-4052 2811 JUL -6 PM 6: 25 5 � FEMA JAHES THCHPSUt b CITY CLERK +Gxa„ July 5,2011 Mayor Steven Pougnet City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs,California 92262 Subject: National Flood Insurance Program- Community Rating System Dear Mayor Pougnet: The U.S.Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA)congratulates the City of Palm Springs on achieving a Class 6 rating in the Community Rating System(CRS)of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). . The Class 6 rating affords flood insurance policy holders in Palm Springs an annual 20%premium savings on each flood insurance policy in place in identified special flood hazard areas(SFHA)and a 10%premium reduction in other flood hazard areas. This translates to an average savings of$149 per year,per policy held in identified SFHAs and$38,431 per year for the entire City. Participation in the CRS is limited to communities that are compliant with the minimum participating requirements of the NFIP and practice floodplain management in program areas such as public information,mapping and regulation,flood damage reduction and flood preparedness that demonstrably exceed minimum NFIP requirements. Credit points are awarded in each of these categories,and a CRS classification is assigned accordingly. The final classification determines the premium discount for flood insurance policyholders. Premium discounts of up to 45%in Class 1 communities are possible under the program. This plaque commemorates the commitment by Palm Springs flood risk management staff and its leadership to assure a high level of flood damage resistance and flood disaster resilience for all of its citizens. \` www.femaoAaa DVN(o iU� Mayor Seven Pougnet Page Two July 5,2011 Please visit our website at www.fema eov or www.floodsmart.gov for additional information about the NFIP. Again,congratulations and thank you for your commitment to citizen safety through floodplain management. Sincerely, Gregor Blackburn,CFM, Chief Floodplain Management&Insurance Branch Enclosed cc: S.Miranda,California Dept. of Water Resources D.Arken,Insurance Services Office D.Barakian, City of Palm Springs L.S.Department of Homeland Securit} strut s\\ \\,itihrngtnn r)( 204'1 =r FEMA MAY 1 6 2011 David Ready Palm Springs City Manager Post Office Box 2743 Palm Springs, California 92263-2743 Dear Mr. Ready: Congratulation-,I The Department of Homeland Security,Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), has determined that your community will increase to a Class 6 in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)Community Rating System(CRS). The floodplain management activities implemented by your community qualifies it for a 20 percent discount in the premium cost of flood insurance for NFIP policies issued or renewed in Special Flood Hazard Areas on or after May 1, 2011. This increase is based on a field verification of your five-year cycle CRS application. I am enclosing the field verification report showing the results of your application review for your records. Please note Preferred Risk Policies, applicable in Zones B, C,and X, on your community's NFIP Flood Insurance Rate Map are not eligible for the CRS discount. Standard rated flood insurance policies in Zones B, C, X.D. AR, and A99 are limited to a CRS discount of ten percent in Class 1-6 communities and five percent in Class 7-9 communities. The rates for these zones already reflect significant premium reductions. If there are no NFIP noncompliance actions,the CRS rating for your community will automatically be renewed annually and a notification letter will not be sent to your community. This renewal will occur as long as your community continues to implement the CRS activities you certify each October. If no additional modifications or new CRS activities are added,the next verification visit for your community will be in accordance with its established five-year cycle or three-year cycle for CRS Class 5 or better communities. In the interim,FEMA will periodically fiend the NFIP/CRS Update Newsletter and other notices to your CRS Coordinator to keep your community informed. I commend you on your community actions and your determination to lead your community to be more disaster resistant. This commitment enhances public safety, property protection, and protects the natural functions of floodplains, and reduces flood insurance premiums. If you have any question,or need additional infotmation,please contact the FEMA Region IX Office, CRS Coordinator, Cynthia McKenzie, by telephone at(510)627-7190. Sincerely, Sandra K.Knight,PhD.PE Deputy Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administrator,Mitigation Enclosure cc: David Barakian,CRS Coordinator ITEC.: N0. rr v-ii Ni lema.go,- I COMMUNITY VERIFICATION _ RATING NFIP/CRS SYSTEM REPORT City of Palm Springs, CA Verified Class 6 NFIP Number. 060257 Cycle Date of Verification Visit April 15, 2010 This Verification Report is provided to explain the recommendations of Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO) to DHS/FFMA concerning credits under the Community Rating System (CRS) for the above named community A total of 2134 credit points are verified which results in a recommendation that the community improve from a CRS Class 8 to a CRS Class 6. The community has mel the Class 6 prerequisite with a Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) Classification of 3/3. The following is a summary of our findings with the total CRS credit points for each activity listed in parenthesis Activity 310 — Elevation Certificates: The Public Works Department maintains elevation certificates for new and substantially improved buildings Copies of elevation certificates are made available upon request. Elevation Certificates are also listed on the community's website. (60 points) Activity 320 — Map Information Service: Credit is provided for furnishing inquirers with flood zone information from the community's latest Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), publicizing the service annually and maintaining records 1,140 pc;nts) Activity 330 — Outreach Projects: A community brochure is mailed to all properties in the community on an annual basis. An outreach brochure is mailed annually to all properties in the community's Sr)ecia► Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) The community also provides flood information through displays at public buildings (131 points) Activity 340 — Hazard Disclosure: Credit is provided for state regulations requiring disclosure of flood hazards. (15 points) Activity 350 — Flood Protection Information: Credit is provided for floodplain information displayed on the community's website. (13 points) Activity 360 — Flood Protection Assistance: The community provides technical advice and assistance to interested property owners and annually publicizes the service (35 points) Activity 410 — Additional Flood Data Credit is provided for conducting and adopting flood studies for areas not included on the flood insurance rate maps and that exceed minimum mapping standards (52 points) City of Palm Springs, CA Page 2 NFIN #: 060257 Activity 420 — Open Space Preservation: Credi+ is provided for preserving approximately 4077 acres in the SFHA as open spac,: +483 points) Activity 430 — Higher Regulatory Standards: Credit is provided for enforcing regulations that require freeboard for new and substantial improvernent construction, state mandated regulatory standards and land development criteria Credit is also provided for a BCEGS Classification of 3/3 and for adoption of the International Building Codes. (664 points) Activity 440 — Flood Data Maintenance: Credit is provided for maintaining and using digitized maps in the day to day management of the floodplain Credit is also provided for ma;ntaining copies of all previous FIRMs. (97 points) Activity 450 -- Stormwater Management: The community enforces regulations for stormwater management, freeboard in non-SFHA zones, soil and erosion control, and water quality (103 points) Activity 540 --Drainage System.Maintenance: A portion of the community's drainage system is inspected regularly throughout the year and maintenance is performed as needed by the Riverside County Flood Control District Records are being maintained for both inspections and required maintenance Credit is also provided for an ongoing Capital Improvements Program The community also enforces a regulation prohibiting dumping in the drainage system. (268 points) Activity 610 -- Flood Warning Program: Credit is provided for a program that provides timely identification of impending flood threats (9 points) Activity 630T Dam Safety_ All California communities currently receive CRS credit for the state's dam safety program 164 points) Attached is the Community Calculations Worksheet that lists the verified credit points for the Community Rating System CEO Name / Address: CRS Coordinator Name ! Address: David Ready David J. Barakian City Manager City Engineer Post Office Box 2743 Post Office Box 2743 Palm Springs, California 9226? Palm Springs, California 92263 (760) 323-8253 Date report Prepared December 2, 2010