TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: July 14, 2021
Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17- FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT; PROVIDING CRITERIA FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES IN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS; PROVIDING FOR SPECIFICATION OF ELEVATION OF MANUFACTURED HOMES IN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In 1968 Congress passed the National Flood Insurance Act and this act created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Participation in the NFIP is a condition for communities to receive Federal disaster assistance. In addition, buildings located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) are required to have flood insurance coverage as a condition of receiving Federal financial assistance or loans from federally insured or regulated lenders. The Community Rating System (CRS) is part of the NFIP that provides a reduction in flood insurance premium rates for communities that exceed the minimum requirements. There are 10 CRS classes. Class 1 gives the greatest flood insurance premium discount and Class 10 allows zero discount. Margate is currently a CRS class 7 community, and residents in the SFHA receive 15% discount on flood insurance; other residents receive a 5% discount.
The City of Margate currently has two flood zones that are classified as the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and these are the AH and AE Flood zones. Of the 26,600 addresses in Margate, 1,584 (or about 6%) are within the flood zones. The attached map illustrates the AH and AE flood zones in the City of Margate.
In 2020 the CRS was amended to establish minimum requirements for communities to qualify or maintain class ratings of 8 or better. To maintain the City's class 7 rating our floodplain management regulations must be amended to better protect owners and occupants of manufactured homes in the SFHA, by requiring that the lowest ...
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