1985-09-16 Public Hearing and Special Meeting

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., I, . . Fede:al Emergency Manage~ent Agency Region VI Federal Center Denton, Texas 76201 May 3, 1983 Honorable Virginia Cline Mayor, City of La Porte P. O. Box 1115 La Porte, Texas 77571 Dear Mayor Cline: I want to thank you for the cooperation and courtesy shown to Mr. Carl McChesney on his recent visit to review the City's flood- plain management program. Please express my thanks also to Mr. John Joerns, graduate Engineer and Mr. David Paulissen, Building Official. They were knowledgeable and interested in achieving good floodplain management. Although we found your program to be adequate, two serious deficiencies were found which warrant your attention. 1. The revised Flood Insurance Stuc:!.Y__PJ:,~UJ'!!.i.Dar.Y..J!@.p~2-<;ontaininCJ wa_y~ h~iCJht-aata, were presented t9~e City__~~ewb.er 11. 1~8Z~ Although the City has challenged the accuracy of the maps in some flood prone areas and requested several changes in the maps, includ- ing additional map panels, the ma~~~q_~Qotain the latest and best fJoodpl a in i nformat iOJLlli i 1 alll~ and sho_l!l..JLilLcJ.u:Y'ent us.Lt..Q-sy.Lde deve 1 opments. especi ally thQ.S-.-e~LlQ,cat(\d wit.b..iILdesi.g~'LelQj;jJY_ Zones. Since your current ordinance does not contain development stand- ards for Velocity Zone construction, we strongly recommend the immediate adoption of appropriate amendments. We are enclosing a copy of our recommended model ordinance for your consideration and use. 2. A field review of the city's flood hazard areas resulted in locating construction of solid, non-breakaway walls within a Velocity Zone. A small portion of the Woods-on-the-Bay development and a single family residence located at the east end of Bay Harbor Street are located in velocity zones. Adoption of the above referenced Velocity Zone standards can prevent this type of high risk construction in the future. We were pleased to hear that the city has established an excellent ground control survey system which can be readily used,for floodplain management purposes and which can be updated in the future to correct elevations to compensate for anticipated subsidence within the community. We also dis- cussed the possibility of the city adopting an overall storm-water manage- ment program incorporating development standards and criteria more compre- hensive than FE~~'s standards. -,