Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout_1999 01 18 City Commission Workshop Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP JANUARY 18, 1999 I. ROLL CALL: Mayor Paul P. Partyka, absent Deputy Mayor Cindy Gennell, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, present City Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher, absent Attorney Robert Guthrie, present City Clerk Margo M. Pierce, CMC, present COMMISSIONERS: Robe11 S. Miller, present Michael S. Blake, present Edward Martinez, Jr., present David W. McLeod, absent Deputy Mayor Cindy Gennell called the Workshop to order m the Commission Chambers. II. Community Development Department/Engineering Division Requests the Commission Hold a Workshop Regarding a Proposed Floodplain Management Ordinance There was brief discussion on the outline for the Workshop. City Manager Ronald W. McLemore informed the Commission that the Ordinance presented to them for this meeting was for informational purposes and should not be considered a "proposed Ordinance" . Mr. Charles Carrington, AICP, Community Development Director, informed the Commission that "Staff spent a lot of time researching the correspondence provided to us by several Commissioners in regards to Floodplain Management dealing with a variety of different issues". He stated that the model Ordinance was distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and "does not necessarily make it the ideal Ordinance for this Municipality or any other Municipality", however, the City does have current regulations that are more "stringent" than the model Ordinance. Mr. Carrington stated that Staff wanted to address some "principal issues" such as: notification of potential buyers in an area of specific flood hazard; minimizing public and private loss due to flood conditions; the need for reserve and relief efforts associated with flooding; and variances. Discussion ensued regarding various Creeks in the City. Mr. Mark Jenkins, P.E., City Engineer, detailed actions being taken to correct inaccurate locations. There was conversation regarding the possibilities of developing a 200-year flood plan. Examples were given of previous flooding damage within other Cities. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION - WORKSHOP JANGARY 18, 1999 Page 2 00 Manager McLemore elaborated to the Commission that the purpose of the Workshop is to see if the Commission is comfortable with the standards that have been set and if the set standards are meeting "that good test of protection for the public". There was continued discussion regarding the floodplain. Mr. Carrington summarized the "three things" that they have been talking about: 1. Mr. Carrington spoke about the floodways. Floodways are the main channel and "nothing should happen" in the floodway unless the alignment is proven incorrect. 2. "In this City, the Ordinance is more stringent and requires that the finished floor be eighteen (18) inches above the BFE (Base Blood Elevation)", as opposed to the usual twelve (12) inches. 3. Mr. Carrington stated that the "Variance as I understand it and as I see it, is an isolated case" and explained that "it would certainly not be a variance to allow construction of a home in an area where it is not allowed". He asked for direction from the Commission and the City Attorney on how they would like Staff to proceed with "touching up" the existing Ordinance or if they would prefer to work with the City Attorney to develop the model Ordinance. Attorney Robert Guthrie spoke about the existing Ordinance and the model Ordinance. He suggested that if the Commission was to make changes, that the changes would be to the existing Ordinance, due to the Ordinance being more organized and concise. Attorney Guthrie reiterated that "FEMA does encourage us to have stronger regulations, but we do it at our own risk". Commissioner Michael S. Blake asked if the existing Ordinance, or the model Ordinance, refers to any area that "is not near a waterway or floodway but is an area that collects water when we have an inordinate amount of rain". Mr. Jenkins responded that some do exist in various areas and are designated. There was further discussion on this issue; on the uncertainty of where flooding will next occur; and the restrictions on the amount of fill that can be used on new or existing lots. Deputy Mayor Gennell asked if the City can "make the developers more accountable as to the accuracy of the FIRM (flood insurance rate map) maps in relation to their subdivision in both directions". Mr. Carrington suggested updating the Seminole County maps and unifying the cities within Seminole County to do so. Discussions took place in reference to upgrading the City's Community Rating System, CITY OF W[NTER SPRINGS M[NUTES CITY COMMISSION - WORKSHOP JANUARY [8, [999 Page 3 of3 Deputy Mayor Gennell then summarized the following points from this meeting. · Attorney Guthrie will "clarify the discrepancy between what FEMA told the City it could do and the applicable state law". · "We are going to work off of the old Ordinance" and look at strengthening the regulations. · Staff will bring back a draft of the Ordinance with the changes. · Staff will "check on the fill restrictions in neighboring communities and what we can do here". · The City will approach Seminole County and the other Cities within the County to update the FIRM maps. Deputy Mayor Gennell mentioned that the February 1999 CALNO Meeting will be held at City Hall and suggested Manager McLemore give a presentation regarding the updating of the FIRM maps at that time. III. ADJOURNMENT Deputy Mayor Gennell adjoumed the meeting. Minutes respectfully submitted by: Amy Lovingfoss Clerk