The Legislature of the State, in Sections 65302, 65560, and
65800 of the
Government Code of the State, has conferred upon local
government units authority to adopt regulations designed to promote
the public health, safety, and general welfare of their citizenry.
Therefore, the City does hereby adopt the following floodplain management
regulations.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988, as amended by § 2, Ord.
914, eff. March 24, 2021)
(a) The
flood hazard areas of the City are subject to periodic inundation
which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards,
the disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary
public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment
of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health,
safety, and general welfare.
(b) Such
flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in
areas of special flood hazard which increase flood heights and velocities
and, when inadequately anchored, damage uses in other areas. Uses
which are inadequately floodproofed, elevated, or otherwise protected
from flood damage also contribute to flood losses.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health,
safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses
due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed:
(a) To
protect human life and health;
(b) To
minimize expenditures of public moneys for costly flood control projects;
(c) To
minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding
and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
(d) To
minimize prolonged business interruptions;
(e) To
minimize damages to public facilities and utilities, such as water
and gas mains, electric, telephone, and sewer lines, streets, and
bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;
(f) To
help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the reuse and development
of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight
areas;
(g) To
ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area
of special flood hazard; and
(h) To
ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume
responsibility for their actions.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988, as amended by § 2, Ord.
914, eff. March 24, 2021)
In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods
and provisions for:
(a) Restricting
or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property
due to water or erosion hazards or which result in damaging increases
in erosion or flood heights or velocities;
(b) Requiring
that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such
uses, be protected against flood damages at the time of initial construction;
(c) Controlling
the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural
protective barriers which help accommodate or channel floodwaters;
(d) Controlling
filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase
flood damages; and
(e) Preventing
or regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally
divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.
(§ 1, Ord. 655, eff. May 19, 1988)